JP2002033855A - Accounting transfer system and transfer information providing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system by which communication between specific communication parties are smoothly conducted without the need for a burden of a communication charge of a caller. SOLUTION: The accounting transfer system 1 uses accounting information stored by an accounting system 3 of a communication enterprise in a conventional communication job and accounting transfer information by the acceptance of a receiver side provided from a service center 5 to transfer part of the communication charge of the caller to the receiver side and imposes the result. Thus, the communication between specific parties is conducted under a predetermined condition setting without imposing the charge of communication charge on the caller. Furthermore, since the system adopts a configuration of transferring the accounting posteriorly, the communication is smoothed without the need for troublesome procedure such as a collect call.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a billing transfer system for transferring a communication charge between specific communicators using a predetermined communication line by transferring the charge under a predetermined condition.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art
As a system for performing communication between specific communicators, for example, there is a collect call (toll receiver payment system). However, in such a system, the caller must inform each time that the call is a collect call, and the procedure up to the call is complicated. In addition, the psychological burden of having to obtain the permission of the receiver each time is large.
On the other hand, the receiver side must immediately indicate his / her decision on whether to understand the burden of the communication fee each time, and the procedure up to the telephone call is complicated, so the psychological burden is large. In addition, such a system
This is a system that can be used in a conversation in which a sender and a receiver talk at the same time, and cannot be used in an e-mail where the access timing of the sender and the receiver is shifted.

[0003] There is also a system using a telephone card specifying a recipient. In this system,
It can be used only with card-type public telephones, not with ordinary telephones and personal digital assistants. Furthermore, in the free dial, the sender who bears the communication fee cannot be specified on the receiver side.

[0004] Further, in all of the above-mentioned systems, even though the call charge can be transferred, a reward cannot be paid. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a system in which communication between specific communicators can be performed smoothly without burdening a communication charge of a caller.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, a billing transfer system according to claim 1 transfers at least a part of a communication charge imposed between a plurality of communicators using a predetermined communication line. It is to charge.

First, the first storage means stores a communication history of a communication party using the communication line, while the second storage means stores a communication history between specific communication parties communicating through the communication line. The individual information of the specific sender to whom the receiver or the specific third party is permitted to subscribe for the communication fee and the transfer condition of the communication fee are stored.

[0007] Here, the "individual information of a specific caller" is information for specifying the caller when the transfer of the communication charge is performed, and the telephone number and mail address of the caller are included in the information. Applicable. The “transfer condition” corresponds to, for example, a period during which a billing transfer is permitted, a communication time zone, an upper limit of a transfer amount, and the like.

[0008] The term "specific third party" is also included in a case where a communication fee of a sender is replaced by a person different from the receiver. For example, when an employee (sender) of a company communicates with the customer (recipient), the company (specific third party) takes over the communication fee.

In operation, the extraction means searches the communication history stored in the first storage means based on the individual information and the transfer condition stored in the second storage means, The communication history that matches the transfer condition is extracted.
Then, the charging transfer unit calculates a transfer fee based on the communication charge relating to the communication history extracted by the extraction unit and the transfer condition stored in the second storage unit, and transfers the transfer charge to the recipient or Charge the third party.

[0010] According to such a system, communication between specific communicators can be performed without burdening a communication fee on the caller side under predetermined condition settings. In addition, the communication can be smoothly performed because the billing is changed afterward without performing a complicated procedure such as the collect call described above.

For example, when the transfer destination is set to the receiver, communication from a child's portable information terminal to a parent who has little conversation, communication to a grandfather / grandmother who lives away from the grandchild's portable information terminal, a couple, etc. The communication from the male (female) portable information terminal to the female (male) increases, and each communication can be performed smoothly. Further, the communication from the portable information terminal of the employee to the company can be accurately grasped, and the payment of the communication fee can be surely performed.

When the transfer destination is set to a specific third party, for example, the employee can access the business partner from his / her own portable information terminal without hesitation, and the communication with the business partner can be actively and promptly performed. Can be done. Further, in an organization or the like that collects a small membership fee or the like, it is possible to use this system to complete the collection of the membership fee or the like.

On the other hand, since the receiver or the third party will undertake a communication charge within a preset allowable range, the receiver or the third party will use the system without worrying about an undesired charging situation. can do. In the above configuration, the first storage unit and the second storage unit may be configured to be the same storage unit.

[0014] Further, if the charge transfer system is used, a reward system as described in claim 2 can be constructed. Specifically, the billing transfer means further calculates a reward based on the communication history extracted by the extracting means and the transfer conditions stored in the second storage means, and provides the sender with the reward. However, it is conceivable to charge a reward to the recipient or the third party.

According to such a system, for example, a grandfather / grandmother can use the present system instead of spending money on grandchildren who live away. In this case, it is assumed that the grandchild also proceeds to the pocket money and contacts the grandfather / grandmother. In other words, this little play-like reward system can activate each communication and make the human relations smoother.

In this case, the incentive transfer means may take the form of depositing the caller's side with respect to the incentive, but as described in claim 3, the invoice transfer means imposes the amount of the incentive on the sender. The communication fee may be reduced from the communication fee. As a result, the same applies, but since the sender is also charged periodically, it is considered that the same charging process performed once at the same time simplifies the procedure.

Various methods of setting the reward can be considered. For example, the reward can be set in units of the number of times of communication, or weighted according to communication time, communication time zone, or the like. However, the communication fee on the caller side is 0
It is considered that it is too much to pay the reward even after the payment has been made, and in order to avoid the trouble of performing the payment process on the sender side, for example, as described in claim 4, the charge transfer means is Alternatively, the smaller of the communication fee after the transfer fee is reduced and the bounty may be charged to the receiver or the third party, and the sender may reduce the fee.

It is preferable that a portable information terminal can be connected to the communication line as a sender terminal and a receiver or a third party terminal. According to the portable information terminal, communication is possible at any time and from any place, which is considered to contribute to the promotion of the use of the present system and the development of the information industry.

A transfer information providing device according to claim 6 is used in the charging transfer system, and provides the individual information and the transfer condition stored in the second storage means. In this transfer information providing apparatus, the presenting unit presents a plurality of transfer information in which the individual information and the transfer condition are set in advance in a selectable manner in accordance with a request input from the terminal of the recipient via the wide area network. Then, the third storage unit stores the transfer condition selected by the receiver and the individual information of the receiver based on the input from the terminal of the receiver based on the presentation by the presenting unit. Then, the transfer information providing unit provides the transfer condition and the individual information stored in the third storage unit to the second storage unit.

The transfer information providing device may constitute a part of the above-mentioned billing transfer system, or may constitute a part of an independent system for providing only the above-mentioned transfer conditions and individual information to an existing billing system. You may comprise. In particular, in the latter case, the transfer condition and the individual information can be provided to each of the communication carriers of a plurality of types of communication lines. As a result, the system can be used by all communicators using different communication lines, and the versatility as a billing transfer system is enhanced.

When the transfer information providing device is incorporated in the charging transfer system, the third storage means may be configured to also serve as the second storage means.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a charging transfer system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a billing transfer system 1 includes a billing system 3 of a telecommunications carrier that operates a communication business via a telephone line 2 and a service center 5 (transfer information providing device) connected to the Internet 4 (wide area network). ) In collaboration with

The billing transfer system 1 can be used by a large number of members. In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation,
A portable information terminal (hereinafter referred to as a “sender terminal”) 6 of a specific caller and a portable information terminal (hereinafter referred to as a “recipient terminal”) 7 of a specific receiver who communicates using the telephone line 2 A description will be given in relation to the charging system 3 of the operating telecommunications carrier and the service center 5 that provides the charging system 3 with charging transfer information.

In FIG. 1, a caller terminal 6, a receiver terminal 7, and a terminal on the billing system 3 side of a communication carrier are I
It is connected to the Internet 4 via an SP (Internet Service Provider) 8. Although FIG. 1 shows only one ISP 8 for convenience of explanation, each terminal has a different ISP.
It goes without saying that it may be connected to the Internet 4 via the SP.

The service center 5 has a dedicated WWW (Worl
d Wide Web) and has a predetermined communication with the sender terminal 6, the receiver terminal 7, and the billing system 3 connected to the Internet 4 via the ISP 8.
Note that the service center 5 may be operated by the communication carrier itself, or may be operated by another carrier.

The billing transfer system 1 is used by a sender and a receiver who communicate with each other via a portable information terminal via a communication carrier (mobile phone company) having a mail transmission / reception system. The billing system 3 can transfer a part of the billing fee on the caller side to the receiver side using the billing information accumulated in the normal communication operation and the billing transfer information provided from the service center 5. It is configured as a system.

Hereinafter, a specific operation method of the billing transfer system 1 will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, a registration process performed by a user (recipient) to use the charge transfer system 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The user (recipient) uses the charge transfer system 1
First, the user terminal (the receiver terminal 7 in the present embodiment) is connected to the Internet 4 via the ISP 8 in order to use the Internet.
, And input a command to connect to the service center 5 (S110). The service center 5 determines whether or not there is a connection from the user terminal (S210). If it is determined that the connection has been made (S210: YES), it requests individual information (S220). This individual information includes information such as the user's name, address, mobile phone number, and mail address. The individual information is input by the user according to a selection screen displayed on the user terminal.

At this time, when the individual information is not input from the user terminal and the reception is not confirmed (S230:
NO), the service center 5 determines that the user does not intend to register as a member, and ends the registration processing. On the other hand, when the individual information is input from the user terminal (S120) and the reception is confirmed in the service center 5 (S2).
30: YES), the service center 5 stores the individual information in its own database (third storage means). Then, identification information (identification ID, password, etc.) used for authentication or the like when the user uses the accounting transfer system 1 is determined (S240).

Then, the service center 5 issues this identification information to the user terminal (S250), and the user acquires this (S130). It should be noted that this identification information may be issued by means such as mailing or home delivery. Next, the charging transfer condition setting process performed by the charging transfer system 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the user connects the user terminal to the Internet 4 via the ISP 8, and inputs a command to connect to the service center 5 (S310). Service Center 5
Determines that the connection has been made (S410: YE
S), and requests the above-mentioned identification information (such as a password) from the user terminal (S420). At this time, when the identification information is not input from the user terminal and the reception is not confirmed (S430: NO), the service center 5
It is determined that the user is not a member of the present system or does not intend to use the present system, and the process ends.

On the other hand, when the identification information is input from the user terminal (S320) and the reception is confirmed in the service center 5 (S430: YES), the service center 5 performs the authentication process using the identification information. (S44)
0). At this time, if the authentication is not performed (S45
0: NO), and terminates the process.

In S450, if the authentication is normally performed (S450: YES), a billing transfer setting screen according to a preset format is displayed on the user terminal, and the billing transfer is performed. A request is made for selection of transfer information such as the telephone number of the portable information terminal of the caller to be permitted, the period for which the transfer is permitted, the time zone, the upper limit amount, the presence or absence of the setting of the reward, and the setting mode of the reward. At this time, if no input is made from the user terminal and this cannot be received (S
470: NO), the process ends.

On the other hand, the above input is made from the user terminal (S330), and when it is received (S470:
YES), the service center 5 creates the charge transfer processing data according to the input. And the service center 5
Transmits the transfer condition based on the created billing transfer processing data to the user terminal, and requests approval for executing the billing transfer processing with the contents (S480).

Then, when it is determined from the approval permission / refusal notification input from the user terminal that the approval has been obtained (S49).
0: YES), the charge transfer processing data is determined, and the completion is notified to the user terminal (S500). The user acquires the information (S350). The billing transfer processing data is also transmitted to the billing system 3 on the communication carrier side (S510), and is stored in the database (second storage unit) of the billing system 3. At this time, the determined charge transfer processing data may be transmitted to the sender terminal 6.

Next, the charging process performed by the charging transfer system 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the billing system 3 stores, based on the billing transfer data stored in the database, information on a sender and a receiver to which the present system is applied and data representing the communication history information in a database (first storage means). ) (610). Then, filtering is performed on the data extracted due to the time limitation, the period limitation, and the like according to the transfer condition, and the charge transfer process for the communication history that does not match the transfer condition is prevented (S620).

Then, the communication charge subject to the charge transfer by this filtering is compared with the upper limit amount of the transfer condition to determine the transfer amount (S630). In other words, if the communication charge subject to the charge transfer is within the upper limit, the communication charge is determined as the transfer amount, and if the communication charge subject to the charge transfer exceeds the upper limit, the transfer amount is determined as the transfer amount. To be determined.

Subsequently, it is detected whether or not a reward has been set (S640). That is, in the charging transfer system 1 of the present embodiment, a reward system can be additionally set as transfer information other than charging. By setting the reward, for example, the receiver (parents, grandparents, etc.) receives a reward (for example, 20 yen) for the caller (child, grandchild) for each call.
Can be given.

If it is determined that there is no bounty (S650: NO), the determined charging information is added to the receiver, while the charging information is subtracted from the sender (S69).
0). On the other hand, if it is determined that the reward is set (S650: YES), the reward is transferred.

Specifically, when the billing system 3 determines that there is reward information, which is transfer information other than the billing information, the billing system 3 counts the number of times of the filtered communication (S660). Then, a reward is calculated by multiplying the counted number by the reward unit price data (S
670). Then, the incentive money is compared with the communication charge after subtracting the transfer amount of the sender, and the smaller amount is determined as the transfer amount (S680). The reason for selecting the smaller amount in this manner is that, in this embodiment, even if the call charge of the receiver becomes 0, it is considered that it is too much to pay the bounty, and the conditions for avoiding this are considered. This is because the settings have been made.

Then, the charging information determined at this time is added to the receiver, while the charging information is subtracted from the sender (S69).
0). By performing the processing as described above, communication between specific communicators can be performed without setting a communication charge on the caller side under predetermined condition settings. In addition, the communication can be smoothly performed because the billing is changed afterward without performing a complicated procedure such as the collect call described above.

In this embodiment, the processing of S460 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 corresponds to the processing as the presentation means, and the processing of S510 corresponds to the processing as the transfer information providing means. Also, the processing of S610 shown in the flowchart of FIG.
The processing of S620 to S690 corresponds to the processing as billing transfer means.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, but may take various forms within the technical scope of the present invention. Needless to say. For example, it is also possible to construct a donation system by e-mail using the charge transfer system of the present invention. In this case, for example, a specific volunteer organization or the like that has been certified by the mobile phone company distributes an e-mail soliciting donations to individuals, and those who try to make a donation receive an e-mail from their own mobile phone. Send an e-mail to a mobile phone company (telecommunications carrier). The mobile phone company can receive this, remit a predetermined amount to the above-mentioned group, and charge the donor as a telephone charge.
At this time, for example, a configuration may be adopted in which the amount of the donation can be set by an input number from a mobile phone.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the mode in which the receiver charges the communication fee of the sender is shown. However, a configuration may be adopted in which a specific third party different from the receiver takes over.
Specifically, for example, when an employee (sender) of a company communicates with its customer (recipient), the company (specific third party) can take over the communication fee. May be. In this case, a specific third party terminal is connected to the communication mall (telephone line) in the system configuration of FIG.
The service center 5 transfers the communication fee of the employee to the communication fee of the third party.

According to such a system, an employee can access a business partner from his / her own portable information terminal without hesitation, and can actively and promptly communicate with the business partner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a billing transfer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a registration process for using the accounting transfer system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a transfer condition setting process when using the charge transfer system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a charge transfer process of the charge transfer system according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Billing transfer system 2. Telephone line 3.
... Billing system, 4 ... Internet, 5
..Service center, 6 ... Sender terminal, 7 ...
Recipient terminal

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A billing transfer system for billing by transferring at least a part of a communication fee charged between a plurality of communicators using a predetermined communication line, wherein a communication history of the communicator using the communication line is provided. And a first storage means for storing, between a specific communicator communicating through the communication line, a contract of at least a part of a communication fee charged to the communication by the receiver or a specific third party. Second storage means for storing the individual information of a specific caller who permits the transfer and the transfer condition of the communication charge; and the first information based on the individual information and the transfer condition stored in the second storage means. Extracting communication history stored in the storage means, and extracting a communication history that matches the transfer condition between the specific communicators; a communication fee for the communication history extracted by the extraction means; The second storage means Billing transfer system based on the stored transfer conditions to calculate the transfer charges, characterized in that the vibrating exchange rates with a, a charging transfer means for charging the recipient or the third party side. 2. The billing transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said billing transfer means further comprises a reward money based on a communication history extracted by said extraction means and a transfer condition stored in said second storage means. A billing transfer system which calculates the fee, gives the reward to the sender, and charges the recipient or the third party for the reward. 3. The charging transfer system according to claim 2, wherein said charging transfer means reduces the amount of said reward from a communication charge charged to said caller. 4. The charging transfer means charges the receiver or a third party the smaller of the communication charge of the sender after the transfer charge is reduced and the reward. The charge transfer system according to claim 3, wherein the charge is reduced from the side. 5. The communication line according to claim 1, wherein the communication line is configured to be connectable to a portable information terminal as a terminal for communication between the caller and the receiver. Billing transfer system. 6. A transfer information providing device for use in the charging transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the transfer information providing device provides the individual information and transfer conditions stored in the second storage unit. A presentation unit that presents a plurality of transfer information set in advance to be selectable with respect to the individual information and the transfer condition according to a request input from a terminal of the receiver via a wide area network; and A third storage unit configured to store the individual information and the transfer condition selected by the receiver and the individual information of the receiver based on an input from the terminal of the receiver; and a transfer condition stored in the third storage unit. Individual information,
A transfer information providing unit for providing the transfer information to the second storage unit.