JPH05191510A - Charge collection method and exchange - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Regarding the proxy collection method of charges for the services of information providers, the information about proxy collection services is held in the destination network, and the information is transferred to the originating network to be an economical charge agent. The purpose is to realize a collection method. In a communication system including a switch 10 of a calling network 100 and a switch 20 of a receiving network 200 accommodating a terminal 30 of an information provider, the amount of information provided by an information provider to a caller 15 A proxy collection charging information database 40 for charging is provided in the exchange 20 of the destination network 200, and charging information regarding charge proxy collection is transferred from the exchange 20 of the destination network 200 to the originating network 100 and charged by the originating network 100. To configure.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of collecting charges for services of an information provider. With the progress of the information society, the number of information service industries that provide information and collect a fee according to the provided information is increasing. Such information services may be provided across multiple networks.

There is a demand for a method of economically collecting fees for such information services.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows a block diagram for explaining a conventional example. Reference numeral 10A in the figure is an exchange of the originating network 100.
Is a central controller, 12 is a main memory, 13 is a network (shown as NW in the figure), and 14 is a trunk (TR in the figure).
, 15 is a telephone, 16 is a database access function, and 40A is a proxy collection service information database accommodated in the exchange 10A.

Further, 20A is an exchange of the destination network 200, 21 is a central control unit, 22 is a main storage unit, 23 is a network, 24 is a trunk, and 30 is an information provider terminal accommodated in the exchange 20A. .. For example, with the dial Q ² provided by NTT, by dialing 0990-XXXX, the user is connected to the specified information provider and charged according to the amount of information provided. The information charge is fixed per unit time (hereinafter referred to as unit price), and is the product of the call time and the charge per unit time.

At this time, NTT collects from the caller a normal call charge using the company's network plus an information charge, and pays a charge corresponding to the information charge to the information provider. Such a service is a general fee collection service. In the figure, from the telephone 15, for example,
When dialing 0990-XXXX, the central control unit 1
1 analyzes the dialed number and detects that it is a call to an information provider. Next, the proxy collection service information database 40 is passed through the database access function 16.
Access A.

This proxy collection service information database 4
The information charge unit and the routing information for each information provider are written in 0A, and the information charge unit corresponding to the dial number and the routing information read database access function 16 are sent to the central control unit 11. send. The central controller 11 makes a call to the exchange 20A of the destination network 200 based on the sent routing information, and the trunk 24 and the network 23 are controlled by the central controller 21.
Connect to the information provider terminal 30 via
T collects the call charge plus the information charge of NTT from the caller according to the call time.

Information charges collected from the caller will be sent to NTT later.
More information providers are paid.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, it is necessary for the calling side network to collect the information on the corresponding proxy collection service and set the charging condition prior to the connection of the call. .. That is, it is necessary to input information (a special number such as “0990”) indicating the activation of the proxy collection service at the time of calling, and the operation is complicated for the user.

When connecting to an information provider accommodated in another network (such as a network operated by another telecommunications carrier), the originating side must collect information about the other network related to the information provider in advance. However, it was difficult to provide such a proxy collection service in terms of operation. In addition, it is necessary to store information such as the incoming call number of the information provider, the information fee, or the connection condition with the destination network in the database that stores the information regarding the proxy charging service. Therefore, the database is large in scale and difficult to maintain.

The present invention intends to realize an economical fee proxy collecting method by having information on the proxy collecting service in the destination network and transferring the information to the originating network.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a switchboard of the originating network 100, 11 is a central control unit that executes call processing, 12 is a main storage unit that stores a call processing program and call processing data, and 13 is a designated input. Reference numeral 14 is a network that connects a line to a designated output line, 14 is a trunk that interfaces the input and output lines, and 15 is a caller.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an exchange of the destination network 200, and the central controller 21, the main memory 22, the network 23, and the trunk 24 are each an exchange 1 of the originating network 100.
It has the same composition as 0. Further, 40 is a proxy collection fee information database for charging the amount of information provided by the information provider, 30 is an information provider terminal,
Reference numeral 25 is a database access means for accessing the proxy collection charging information database, and 26 is a charging information transfer means for transferring the charging information as a result of accessing the proxy collecting charging information database 40 to the exchange 100 of the originating network 100. When the caller 15 receives the information provided by the information provider, the receiving side network 20 receives the charging information about the fee collection.
Accessing and collecting the proxy collection fee information database 40 accommodated in the 0 exchange 20, the fee information is transferred to the exchange 10 of the originating network 100 via the fee transferring means 26, and the fee is charged at the originating side. ..

[0013]

When the caller 15 receives information from the information provider, the caller 15 dials the usual telephone number of the information provider to make a call. At this time, the call processing from the exchange 10 of the originating network 100 to the exchange 20 of the destination network 200 is
It is the same as normal call processing and does not require special processing or special equipment.

The exchange 20 of the destination network 200 decodes the called number by the central control unit 21, and if the called party is an information provider, the database access means 25 accesses the designated proxy collection / charging information database 40. Then
The charging information as a result of accessing the database of the specified information provider is transferred through the charging information transfer means 26 to the calling side network 1
00 to the exchange 10, and the calling side network 100 charges.

At this time, the composition of the proxy collection charging information database 40 is only the charging information, the structure of the database is simple, and the system can be economically constructed.

[0016]

Embodiments (1) Embodiment of the present invention FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. The operation will be described with reference to the drawing. The caller 15 dials the dial number of the information provider to set up a call between the exchange 10 of the calling network 100 and the exchange 20 of the receiving network 200.

The central control unit 21 of the exchange 20 of the destination network 200 determines from the dial number whether or not the call is to the information provider. In the case of an incoming call to the information provider, the proxy collection fee information database 40 is accessed. Information fee per unit time of the called information provider,
That is, the charging rate is transferred to the exchange 10 of the originating network 100.

The originating exchange 10 inquires of the caller 15 based on the transferred information whether to make a call with the information provider. When the caller 15 approves the call with the information provider, a signal indicating the approval and a facility response are sent to the exchange 20 of the destination network 200. The exchange 20 of the destination network 200 sets up a call with the information provider terminal 30 by a facility response.

Information is provided between the information provider terminal 30 and the caller 15. When it is determined that the call is a normal call, the normal call setting is performed on the called telephone. As described above, since the exchange 20 of the destination network 200 holds the billing information relating to the information provision and transfers the billing information to the exchange 10 of the originating network 100, the exchange 10 of the originating network 100 performs normal call processing. Since it is only performed, no special configuration or special program is required, and the system can be economically configured. (2) Other Embodiments Conventionally, the packet switching network has been charged by the packet delivery confirmation charging system as described below. First, when each packet switch accommodating the terminal in communication confirms that the packet transmitted from the terminal on the partner side has been delivered to the terminal on its own side, the number of delivered packets is counted each time. Then, when the communication is completed, the total number of packets delivered and received during the communication is recorded by summing up the number of packets recorded by each exchange, and the communication fee per packet (unit price) ) Was charged to subscribers as the communication unit price.

In this embodiment, a case where the proxy collecting service according to the present invention is applied to the charging method in the packet switching network as described above will be exemplified. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. 10, 20 in the figure
Is a packet switch which accommodates the information user terminal 15 and the information provider terminal 30, and 12 and 22 are packet switches 10 and 2.
0 main memory. The main storage units 12 and 22 are provided with logical channel control memories 121 and 221 for setting control information for each logical channel. Reference numerals 17 and 27 denote the number of packets delivered, and a billing control unit for billing the exchanges 10 and 20, and 18 and 28, a settlement for notifying the partner exchanges of the number of packet delivery billed by the billing controllers 17 and 27. It is a control unit.

Reference numeral 25 is a proxy collection database DB4
A charging information management unit 26 having a function of accessing 0 and outputting charging information corresponding to the information provider 30 that the information user 15 intends to use, 26 is a charging information management unit 25 that charges the information provider 30 A billing information transmission control unit that receives information, sets the billing information in the network control header of the packet, and notifies the billing information reception control unit 16 of the other party,
Is a billing information reception control unit having a function of setting the billing information notified by the billing information transmission control unit 26 in the billing information storage area 122 provided in the main storage device 12 of the exchange 10.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the sequence of another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 and 20 are packet switches,
30 and 15 are terminals of information providers and information users. With the above configuration, the following operation is performed.
In the packet switch 20, the information providing fee (unit price) desired by the information provider 30 is set in the proxy collection / charging database DB 40 corresponding to the information provider 30 and registered as a target of the proxy collection / charging service.

The packet switch 10 has an information user 15
The billing information storage area 122 (SA # 1) is allocated corresponding to the logical channel control memory 121 (CM # 1) provided for each logical channel (for example, VC # 1) with which the contract has been made. First, when a call setup request packet CR requesting a logical channel (VC) setup is transmitted from the information user 15 to the information provider 30, a call setup acceptance packet CA corresponding to the call setup request packet CR is sent from the information provider 30. A reply is sent to the user 15. Call setup packet C
When the information provider 30 transmits A, the charging information transmission control unit 26 of the exchange 20 sets the charging information of the information provider 30 in the proxy collection charging database DB 40 in the inter-station control header of the call setting acceptance packet CA. Packet switch 10
Send to. In the packet switch 10 having received the call setting acceptance packet CA from the packet switch 20, the accounting information reception control unit 16 stores the accounting information set in the inter-station control header of the call setting acceptance packet CA in the accounting information storage area 122 (SA). Set to # 1). As described above, the logical channel VC between the information user 15 and the information provider 30 is connected (set).

Next, from the information provider 30 to the information user 1
When the exchange 10 performs the packet delivery confirmation billing when the data packet DT is transmitted to the billing device 5, the billing controller 17 uses the billing information storage area 122 (SA # 1).
The information providing fee is set in the logical channel control memory 121 (CM # 1) with reference to the charging information (unit price) set in.

In addition, the information provider 15 to the information user 30
The data packet DT is transmitted to the exchange 20
At the time of executing the packet delivery confirmation billing, the billing control unit 27 refers to the proxy collection billing database DB 40 corresponding to the information provider 30, and refers to the logical channel control memory 22.
The information provision fee is set to 1 (CM # 1). Then, when the packet switch 10 receives the disconnection request packet CLR transmitted by the information user 15 when the communication with the information provider 30 is terminated, the billing control unit 18 of the packet exchange 10 has the logical channel control memory 121 (CM # 1). The information provision fee X set therein is added to the information provision fee meter M2 of the information user 15, and at the same time, the information provision fee X is set in the inter-station control header of the disconnection request packet CLR. The packet switch 2 that receives the disconnection request packet CLR from the packet switch 10
At 0, the charge settlement control unit 28 causes the disconnection request packet CL
The information providing fee X set in the inter-station control header of R is added to the information provided fee meter M1 of the information provider 30.

Disconnection confirmation packet CL from the information provider 30
In the packet switch 20 having received C, the information provision fee Y set in the logical channel control memory 221 (CM # 1) by the billing adjustment control unit 28 is added to the information provision fee meter M1 of the information user 30. At the same time, the information provision fee Y is set in the inter-station control header of the disconnection confirmation packet CLC. Disconnect confirmation packet from packet switch 20 CLC
In the packet switch 10 that has received the
At 8, the information provision fee Y set in the inter-station control header of the disconnection confirmation packet CLC is added to the information provision fee meter M2 of the information provider 15.

By the above operation, the information usage fee (X + Y) is added to the fee meter M1 and the fee meter M2, and the information usage fee collected by proxy from the information user can be paid to the information provider. In addition, the information provider 30
If the user desires to change the information usage fee (unit price), for example, by inputting a fee change command, the billing information management unit 25 charges the fee in the proxy collection fee database DB 40 corresponding to the information provider 30. You can change the information. When the information provider 30 is communicating with another person (assuming that the information user 15 is in communication), for example, the charge information transmission control unit 26 sets a new charge information for changing the charge. The control packet is transmitted to the packet switch 10. In the packet switch 10 which has received the control packet from the packet switch 20, the charging information reception control unit 16 causes the charging information storage area 122 (SA #
The charging information set in the charge change signal can be set in 1).

In the above embodiment, the information user is charged by a uniform information providing fee, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the information providing fee may be classified by time of day or day of the week, or the charging condition may be changed according to the caller's attribute or the like. Further, the method of providing the billing information storage area for the information user 15 is not limited to the method described above. That is, at the time of setting the connection of the logical channels, a configuration may be adopted in which an area of an arbitrary size is appropriately captured from the memory space commonly available to any logical channel. Although the communication form of the is a logical channel (VC) type, a fixed logical channel (PV
The C type may also be used, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0029]

According to the present invention, since it is determined by the exchange of the destination network whether the service is a proxy collection service, a special number is assigned to the proxy collection service or special information about the information provider is issued. There is no need to have a switch on the side network.
In addition, the information regarding the proxy collection service is held by the exchange on the destination network and is notified from the exchange on the destination network to the exchange on the originating network. No special configuration is required to collect the information of the provider, which allows an economical fee collection method.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Calling side network 200 Calling side network 10, 10A, 20, 20A Switch 11, 21 Central control unit 12, 22 Main memory 13, 23 Network 14, 24 Trunk 15 Caller 16 Database access function 25 Database access means 26 Billing Information transfer means 30 Information provider terminal 40 Proxy collection fee information database 40A Proxy collection service information database

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A method of proxy collection of charges for services of an information provider, comprising: an exchange (10) of a source network (100) and a destination network (200) accommodating the information provider terminal (30). In the communication system including the exchange (20), the proxy collection fee information database (40) for charging the caller (15) for the amount of information provided by the information provider is provided to the destination network (200). ) The exchange (20)
Installed in the destination network (200).
A method of collecting charges by proxy, comprising: transferring from the exchange (20) to the calling side network (100) and charging at the calling side network (100). 2. Central control unit (21) for controlling call processing.
In a switch equipped with a main storage device (22) for storing a call processing program and call processing data, and a network (23) for connecting a designated input line to a designated output line, a proxy collection fee information database (40) A database access means (25) for accessing the proxy collection charge information database, and a charge information transfer means (26) for transferring the charge information as a result of accessing the proxy collection charge information database (40) to the exchange (10) of the originating network (100). ) Is provided.