JP2018125010A - Communication capacity management device, radio communication system, communication capacity management method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of a shortage of communication capability or balance without letting a user consciously operate when performing communication through a radio communication line having restrictions on communication capacity.SOLUTION: An additional purchase processing unit performs processing for additional purchase of communication capacity with expiration date. A residual capacity management unit performs management of residual quantity of communication capacity including additional purchase communication capacity which is the additionally-purchased communication capacity with expiration date. A purchase content specification unit specifies additional purchase communication capacity. A purchase condition determination unit, in the case where any radio communication line out of a plurality of radio communication lines sharing communication capacity satisfies a condition for purchase of additional purchase communication capacity, determines that other radio communication lines sharing communication capacity also satisfy the purchase condition. When it is determined that the condition for purchase of additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, the additional purchase processing unit performs processing for purchase of additional purchase communication capacity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication capacity management device, a wireless communication system, a communication capacity management method, and a program.

There is a terminal that performs communication via a wireless communication line having a limited communication capacity. A terminal that communicates via a wireless communication line with limited communication capacity may lose the remaining communication capacity when communicating with a predetermined communication capacity, and may not be able to communicate with external devices. There is.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 describes a technique for prepayment of a telecommunication service such as a long distance telephone as a related technique.

Special table 2001-504299 gazette

By the way, the prepayment of the telecommunications service as described above is generally performed when the user uses the telecommunications service in order to solve the shortage of the balance, and the user consciously operates the prepayment. Need to do.
For this reason, there has been a demand for a technique that can solve the shortage of communication capacity and balance without a user's conscious operation when performing communication via a wireless communication line with limited communication capacity.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication capacity management device, a wireless communication system, a communication capacity management method, and a program that can solve the above-described problems.

A first aspect is a communication capacity management device that manages the communication capacity of a wireless communication line with a limited communication capacity, and an additional purchase processing unit that performs processing for additional purchase of the communication capacity with a use period A remaining capacity management unit that manages the remaining capacity of the communication capacity, including the additional purchased communication capacity that is the additional purchased communication capacity with the expiration date, and a purchase content specifying unit that identifies the additional purchased communication capacity; A purchase condition determination unit that determines whether or not a condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, and the purchase condition determination unit performs the purchase process of the additional purchase communication capacity by the additional purchase processing unit. It is determined whether the number of purchases that has been made has reached the upper limit number of times to purchase the additional purchase communication capacity repeatedly, and it is determined that the purchase condition determination unit satisfies the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity When it is determined that the number of purchases has not reached the upper limit number, the additional purchase processing unit performs the purchase processing of the additional purchase communication capacity specified by the purchase content specifying unit, and the purchase condition determining unit When it is determined that the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, when it is determined that the number of purchases has reached the upper limit number, the additional purchase processing unit specifies the additional purchase communication capacity specified by the purchase content specifying unit. It is a communication capacity management device that does not perform the purchase process.
According to a second aspect, in the first aspect, the remaining capacity management unit uses the additional purchase communication as a periodic grant communication capacity, which is the communication capacity with a expiration date, given by a predetermined amount every predetermined period. It is a communication capacity management device that is consumed before the capacity.
According to a third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the purchase condition determination unit determines whether or not an expiration date for the communication capacity is equal to or less than a predetermined period, and the additional purchase process A communication capacity for performing the purchase processing of the additional purchased communication capacity specified by the purchase content specifying unit when the purchase condition determining unit determines that the expiration date for the communication capacity is equal to or less than a predetermined period. It is a management device.
According to a fourth aspect, in any one of the first to third aspects, the purchase condition determination unit is configured such that any one of the plurality of wireless communication lines sharing the communication capacity is the wireless communication line. When satisfying the condition for purchasing the additional purchased communication capacity, it is determined that the purchase condition for the additional purchased communication capacity shared by the plurality of wireless communication lines sharing the communication capacity is satisfied. It is a communication capacity management device.
A fifth aspect is a communication capacity management device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising an upper limit number setting unit that determines the upper limit number based on a user operation.
The sixth aspect is the purchase of the upper limit number or additional purchase communication capacity when the purchase condition determination unit determines that the number of purchases has reached the upper limit number in any one of the first to fifth aspects. The communication capacity management device further includes a reset recommendation notifying unit configured to notify a terminal using the wireless communication line of a notification recommending resetting of the condition.
According to a seventh aspect, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, a communication speed of a terminal using the wireless communication line when the remaining capacity management unit is outside a limit of a communication capacity of the wireless communication line. Is a communication capacity management device that performs notification recommending the purchase of additional purchased communication capacity to a terminal that uses the wireless communication line.
An eighth aspect is a communication capacity management apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, further comprising a purchase content setting unit that determines an additional purchase communication capacity based on a user operation.
A ninth aspect is the communication capacity management device according to the eighth aspect, wherein the purchase content setting unit determines an additional purchase communication capacity corresponding to a fee set by a user operation.

  According to a tenth aspect, a communication capacity management device that manages the communication capacity of a radio communication line with a limited communication capacity, and user data of a terminal connected to the base station via the radio communication line are transmitted via the base station. A gateway that transmits and receives to and from the terminal, and a communication control device that controls the gateway, and the communication capacity management device includes an additional purchase processing unit that performs processing for additional purchase of the communication capacity with an expiration date A remaining capacity management unit that manages the remaining capacity of the communication capacity, including the additional purchased communication capacity that is the additional purchased communication capacity with the expiration date, and a purchase content specifying unit that identifies the additional purchased communication capacity; A purchase condition determining unit that determines whether or not a condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, and the purchase condition determining unit includes the additional purchase communication unit. It is determined whether or not the number of purchases, which is the number of times the purchase processing of the amount has been reached, has reached the upper limit number of times to purchase the additional purchase communication capacity repeatedly, and the purchase condition determination unit sets the conditions for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity. If it is determined that the purchase number has not reached the upper limit number when it is determined that the purchase is satisfied, the additional purchase processing unit performs the purchase process of the additional purchase communication capacity specified by the purchase content specifying unit, and the purchase condition When the determination unit determines that the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, and when it is determined that the number of purchases has reached the upper limit number, the additional purchase processing unit determines the additional content specified by the purchase content specification unit Without performing the purchase processing of the purchased communication capacity, the gateway executes the transfer of the user data of the terminal according to the instruction from the communication control device, The communication control device receives the communication permission information of the wireless communication line from the communication capacity management device, performs the instruction on the transfer to the gateway based on the communication permission information, the communication capacity management device Based on the remaining amount of communication capacity, the communication permission information indicating permission or non-permission of communication of the terminal or restriction of the communication speed of the terminal is transmitted to the communication control device, and the communication control device The transfer data amount information indicating the transfer amount of user data transferred by the gateway in the communication is acquired from the gateway, and the transfer data amount information is transmitted to the communication capacity management device. The wireless communication system updates the remaining capacity of the communication capacity based on the transfer data amount information received from the communication control device.

  An eleventh aspect is a communication capacity management method of a communication capacity management apparatus that manages the communication capacity of a wireless communication line with a limited communication capacity, and the additional purchase processing unit adds the communication capacity with a use period The processing for purchase is performed, the remaining capacity management unit manages the remaining amount of the communication capacity including the additional purchased communication capacity that is the additional communication capacity with the expiration date, and the purchase content specifying unit The additional purchase communication capacity is specified, and the purchase condition determining unit determines whether or not the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, and the purchase condition determining unit is configured so that the additional purchase processing unit is the additional purchase processing unit. It is determined whether or not the number of purchases, which is the number of times the communication capacity has been purchased, has reached the upper limit number of times to purchase the additional purchase communication capacity, and the purchase condition determination unit purchases the additional purchase communication capacity If it is determined that the purchase number has not reached the upper limit number when it is determined that the purchase is satisfied, the additional purchase processing unit performs the purchase process of the additional purchase communication capacity specified by the purchase content specifying unit, and the purchase condition When the determination unit determines that the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, and when it is determined that the number of purchases has reached the upper limit number, the additional purchase processing unit determines the additional content specified by the purchase content specification unit This is a communication capacity management method in which purchase processing of purchased communication capacity is not performed.

  In a twelfth aspect, an additional purchase processing unit that performs processing for additional purchase of the communication capacity with an expiration date, using a computer of the communication capacity management device that manages the communication capacity of a wireless communication line with a limited communication capacity A remaining capacity management unit that manages the remaining amount of the communication capacity, including the additional purchased communication capacity that is the additional purchased communication capacity with the expiration date, and a purchase content specifying unit that identifies the additional purchased communication capacity And a purchase condition determination unit that determines whether or not the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, and the purchase condition determination unit is configured such that the additional purchase processing unit purchases the additional purchase communication capacity. It is determined whether or not the number of purchases that is the number of times of purchase has reached the upper limit number of times to purchase the additional purchase communication capacity repeatedly, and the purchase condition determination unit purchases the additional purchase communication capacity. If it is determined that the purchase count has not reached the upper limit count, the additional purchase processing unit performs the purchase processing of the additional purchase communication capacity specified by the purchase content specifying unit, and the purchase When the condition determining unit determines that the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, and when it is determined that the number of purchases has reached the upper limit number, the additional purchase processing unit is specified by the purchase content specifying unit It is a program that does not perform purchase processing of additional purchase communication capacity.

  According to the communication capacity management device according to the embodiment of the present invention, when communication is performed via a wireless communication line with a limited communication capacity, a shortage of communication capacity and balance can be prevented without a user's conscious operation. Can be resolved.

It is an example of the block diagram which shows the structure of the communication capacity management apparatus 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is an example of a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration that implements the communication capacity management device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the radio | wireless communications system using the communication capacity management apparatus 1 which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the data table 1 which shows the purchase conditions which purchase the additional purchase communication capacity which the purchase condition data storage part 30 memorize | stores. It is a figure which shows an example of the data table 2 which shows each charge plan which concerns on the additional purchase communication capacity which the purchase content data storage part 28 memorize | stores, and the charge plan currently set. It is a figure which shows an example of the processing flow of the communication capacity management apparatus 1 by embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an example of a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication capacity management device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the embodiment, the communication capacity management device 1 manages the communication capacity of a wireless communication line with a limited communication capacity. 1, the communication capacity management device 1 includes a communication unit 10, a remaining capacity management unit 12, a remaining capacity management data storage unit 14, an additional purchase processing unit 16, a purchase content specifying unit 18, and a purchase condition determining unit. 26, a purchase content data storage unit 28, and a purchase condition data storage unit 30.

The communication unit 10 is a communication unit that performs communication.
The remaining capacity management unit 12 is a functional unit that manages the remaining capacity of the communication capacity including the additional purchased communication capacity that is the additional purchased communication capacity with the expiration date.
The remaining capacity management data storage unit 14 is a storage unit that stores the remaining amount of communication capacity managed by the remaining capacity management unit 12. The remaining capacity management data storage unit 14 stores the remaining capacity of the communication capacity in association with the expiration date of the remaining capacity.
The additional purchase processing unit 16 is a functional unit that performs processing for the additional purchase of the communication capacity with the expiration date.
The purchase content identification unit 18 is a functional unit that identifies the additional purchase communication capacity to be additionally purchased. For example, the purchase content specifying unit 18 specifies a charge plan and an additional purchase communication capacity to be additionally purchased based on the charge plan.
The purchase condition determination unit 26 is a functional unit that determines whether or not a condition for purchasing additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied.
The purchase content data storage unit 28 is a storage unit that stores each rate plan related to the additional purchase communication capacity and the currently set rate plan. Each charge plan related to the additional purchased communication capacity indicates a correspondence relationship between the charge and the additional purchased communication capacity corresponding to the charge.
The purchase condition data storage unit 30 is a storage unit that stores conditions for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity used when the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines.
The remaining capacity management unit 12 included in the communication capacity management apparatus 1 manages the remaining capacity of the communication capacity. The additional purchase processing unit 16 included in the communication capacity management device 1 adds the additional purchase specified by the purchase content specifying unit 18 when the purchase condition determining unit 26 determines that the condition for purchasing the additional purchased communication capacity is satisfied. Perform purchase processing of purchased communication capacity.

FIG. 2 is an example of a block diagram showing a hardware configuration for realizing the communication capacity management apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
In FIG. 1, the communication capacity management device 1 includes a CPU unit 20, a communication unit 10, and a storage unit 22. These units are configured to exchange data. The CPU unit 20 controls the communication capacity management device 1. This control function is realized by the CPU unit 20 executing a computer program. The communication unit 10 communicates with other devices. The storage unit 22 stores a computer program executed by the CPU unit 20 and various data. The storage unit 22 stores a communication capacity management program 24.

  The functions of the remaining capacity management unit 12, the remaining capacity management data storage unit 14, the additional purchase processing unit 16, the purchase content identification unit 18 and the purchase condition determination unit 26 shown in FIG. 1 are performed by the CPU unit 20 shown in FIG. This is realized by executing the communication capacity management program 24 stored in the storage unit 22. Further, each of the remaining capacity management data storage unit 14, the purchase content data storage unit 28, and the purchase condition data storage unit 30 shown in FIG. 1 is provided in the storage unit 22 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a wireless communication system using the communication capacity management device 1 according to the embodiment.
In FIG. 3, a terminal 102 is connected to a base station 104 through a wireless communication line 106.
The wireless communication line 106 has a limited communication capacity. User data transmitted from the terminal 102 to the base station 104 using the wireless communication line 106 is transferred from the base station 104 to the gateway 108. If the communication of the terminal 102 using the wireless communication line 106 is permitted, the gateway 108 outputs the user data of the terminal 102 transferred from the base station 104 to the Internet 110. Similarly, the gateway 108 transfers user data input from the Internet 110 and destined for the terminal 102 to the terminal 102 via the base station 104 if the communication of the terminal 102 using the wireless communication line 106 is permitted. .

  If the communication capacity of the wireless communication line 106 is within the limit, communication of the terminal 102 using the wireless communication line 106 is permitted. On the other hand, when the communication capacity of the wireless communication line 106 is not limited, communication of the terminal 102 using the wireless communication line 106 is not permitted. Or, even if communication is permitted, the communication speed of the terminal 102 decreases. As a result, the terminal 102 can communicate with other communication devices connected to the Internet 110 using the wireless communication line 106 as long as the communication capacity of the wireless communication line 106 is within the limit. . On the other hand, when the communication capacity of the wireless communication line 106 is outside the limit, the terminal 102 can communicate with other communication devices connected to the Internet 110 using the wireless communication line 106. Can not. Alternatively, even if the terminal 102 can communicate, the communication speed decreases.

  The communication control device 112 instructs the gateway 108 whether to permit (non-permitted) communication of the terminal 102 that uses the wireless communication line 106 or the communication speed. The communication permission or non-permission or communication speed of the terminal 102 using the wireless communication line 106 is based on the communication permission information of the wireless communication line 106 from the communication capacity management device 1. Further, the communication control apparatus 112 acquires transfer data amount information indicating the transfer amount of user data transferred by the gateway 108 through communication of the terminal 102 using the wireless communication line 106 from the gateway 108. This transfer data amount information is transmitted from the communication control device 112 to the communication capacity management device 1.

  The communication capacity management apparatus 1 updates the remaining capacity of the communication capacity for the wireless communication line 106 based on the transfer data amount information received from the communication control apparatus 112. Further, the communication capacity management device 1 transmits the communication permission information of the wireless communication line 106 to the communication control device 112 based on the remaining communication capacity of the wireless communication line 106.

  The user contract information management device 114 manages information (user contract information) of users who have contracted with the wireless communication line 106. As the user contract information, there is information indicating a user identifier (user ID), an identification number (line number) of the wireless communication line 106, contract contents for communication capacity, and the like. The communication capacity management apparatus 1 inquires of the user contract information management apparatus 114 about user contract information as necessary.

  The payment device 116 performs payment processing for payment by the user. The communication capacity management device 1 inquires of the payment device 116 about the payment status of the payment by the user, if necessary.

  The terminal 102 can access the communication capacity management device 1 by communication. Communication between the terminal 102 and the communication capacity management apparatus 1 may be communication via the wireless communication line 106 or may be communication not via the wireless communication line 106. The communication capacity management device 1 performs a corresponding process in response to a request from the terminal 102.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data table 1 indicating purchase conditions for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity stored in the purchase condition data storage unit 30.
The data table 1 is associated with the user identifier or the identification number of the wireless communication line 106, and includes purchase conditions, the number of repetitions, and flag information indicating the current setting.
In FIG. 4, a flag indicating the current setting is indicated by “L”, which indicates that the purchase condition 1, the purchase condition 4, the purchase condition 5, and the purchase condition 10 are currently set.
When the purchase condition 1 is currently set, the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines whether or not the remaining amount of communication capacity managed by the remaining capacity management unit 12 is 100 Mbytes or less. In addition, when the purchase condition 4 is currently set, the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines whether or not the current day is “XX day”. In addition, when the purchase condition 5 is currently set, the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines whether or not the current time is “xx year XX month △ Δ day ◇◇ hour”. Further, when the purchase condition 10 is currently set, the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines whether or not the expiration date for use of the remaining amount of communication capacity managed by the remaining capacity management unit 12 is one week or less.
When a plurality of current settings indicated by the flags are set, the purchase condition determination unit 26 sets each of the purchase conditions indicated by the flags as a purchase condition No. Determine in the order of
The purchase condition 5 may be set for the same time on the same day of every month.
Moreover, it may be set for the date and time corresponding to the same day of the week.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data table 2 indicating each rate plan related to the additional purchase communication capacity stored in the purchase content data storage unit 28 and the currently set rate plan.
The data table 2 is associated with the user identifier or the identification number of the wireless communication line 106, and includes a charge plan, a correspondence between the charge that is the content of the charge plan and the additional purchase communication capacity, and a flag indicating the current setting. Contains information.
In FIG. 5, the charge plan 1 is associated with a charge of 500 yen and an additional purchased communication capacity of 1 GB. In the charge plan 4, a charge of 2000 yen is associated with an additional purchased communication capacity of 5 GB. Further, in FIG. 5, a flag indicating the current setting is indicated by “R”, which indicates that the charge plan 4 is set.
When the purchase condition determining unit 26 determines that the currently set purchase conditions are satisfied, the purchase content specifying unit 18 specifies a charge plan based on a flag indicating the current setting, and the charge indicated by the charge plan. And specify additional purchased communication capacity.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow of the communication capacity management device 1 according to the embodiment.
Next, processing of the communication capacity management device 1 according to the embodiment will be described.
Here, a process performed by the communication capacity management device 1 when the terminal 102 communicates with an external device via the wireless communication line 106 will be described as an example. In addition, it is assumed that the user presets purchase conditions for automatically purchasing additional purchase communication capacity, and the purchase condition data storage unit 30 stores the purchase conditions as the data table 1. In addition, it is assumed that the user sets a charge plan related to the additional purchase communication capacity in advance, and the purchase content data storage unit 28 stores the charge plan as the data table 2.

  When the terminal 102 communicates with an external device via the wireless communication line 106, the communication control device 112 transfers the user data transferred from the gateway 108 by the gateway 108 in communication of the terminal 102 using the wireless communication line 106. The transfer data amount information indicating the amount is acquired. The communication control device 112 transmits this transfer data amount information to the communication capacity management device 1.

The communication unit 10 included in the communication capacity management device 1 receives transfer data amount information from the communication control device 112.
The remaining capacity management unit 12 included in the communication capacity management apparatus 1 updates the remaining capacity of the communication capacity for the wireless communication line 106 stored in the remaining capacity management data storage unit 14 based on the received transfer data amount information (step) S1). When the remaining capacity management unit 12 has a remaining amount of the regularly granted communication capacity that is the communication capacity with the expiration date assigned by a predetermined amount for each predetermined period, the remaining granted capacity is given before the additional purchased communication capacity. To consume.
Here, the update of the remaining capacity of the communication capacity for the wireless communication line 106 performed by the remaining capacity management unit 12 includes a case where the remaining capacity of the communication capacity does not change.

  The purchase condition determination unit 26 included in the communication capacity management device 1 reads the data table 1 indicating the purchase conditions set in advance by the user from the purchase condition data storage unit 30. The purchase condition determination unit 26 specifies the purchase condition currently set based on the flag indicating the current setting included in the read data table 1. Then, the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines whether or not the specified purchase condition is satisfied at every predetermined time interval (step S2).

For example, the purchase condition determination unit 26 reads out the data table 1 shown in FIG. 4 and, based on the flag indicating the current setting, purchase conditions 1, purchase conditions 4, purchase conditions 5 and purchase as the set purchase conditions. Condition 10 is specified.
In this case, the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines whether or not the remaining amount of communication capacity managed by the remaining capacity management unit 12 is 100 Mbytes or less, corresponding to the purchase condition 1. The purchase condition determination unit 26 compares the remaining amount of communication capacity managed by the remaining capacity management unit 12 with 100 Mbytes. Then, the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines that the purchase condition is not satisfied when the remaining amount of communication capacity managed by the remaining capacity management unit 12 is greater than 100 Mbytes. The purchase condition determination unit 26 determines that the purchase condition is satisfied when the remaining amount of communication capacity managed by the remaining capacity management unit 12 is 100 Mbytes or less.

  Further, the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines whether the current date indicated by the timer is “XX day” corresponding to the purchase condition 4. The purchase condition determination unit 26 compares the current date indicated by the timer with “XX day”. Then, the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines that the purchase condition is not satisfied when the current date indicated by the timer does not match the “XX day”. In addition, the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines that the purchase condition is satisfied when the current date indicated by the timer matches the “XX day”.

  Further, the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines whether or not the current time indicated by the timer is “XX year XX month △ Δ day ◇◇ hour” corresponding to the purchase condition 5. The purchase condition determination unit 26 compares the current time indicated by the timer with “XX year XX month ΔΔ day ◇◇ hour”. Then, the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines that the purchase condition is not satisfied when the current time indicated by the timer does not coincide with “XX year XX month ΔΔ day ◇◇ hour”. Further, the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines that the purchase condition is satisfied when the current time indicated by the timer coincides with “XX year XX month ΔΔ day ◇◇ hour”.

In addition, the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines whether or not the expiration date of the remaining amount of communication capacity managed by the remaining capacity management unit 12 is one week or less, corresponding to the purchase condition 10. The purchase condition determination unit 26 compares the current time indicated by the timer with the time indicated by the expiration date of the remaining capacity of the communication capacity managed by the remaining capacity management unit 12. Then, the purchase condition determining unit 26 determines that the purchase condition is not satisfied when the difference between the times is not less than one week. Moreover, the purchase condition determination part 26 determines with satisfying purchase conditions, when the difference of those time is one week or less.
Note that the purchase condition determination unit 26 is not limited to determining whether or not the purchase condition is satisfied independently for each line. For example, when a plurality of lines are contracted and the communication capacity is shared among the plurality of lines, the purchase condition determination unit 26 shares the communication capacity when any line satisfies the purchase conditions. It may be determined that the other lines that are being used also satisfy the purchase conditions.

If the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines that the purchase condition is not satisfied (step S2, NO), the process returns to step S1.
In addition, when it is determined that the purchase condition is satisfied (step S2, YES), the purchase condition determination unit 26 adds 1 to n (step S3). Then, the purchase condition determination unit 26 compares n with the number of purchase repetitions N included in the data table 1 (step S4).
When the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines that n> N (step S4, YES), the processing of the communication capacity management device 1 is terminated.
When the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines that n> N is not satisfied (step S4, NO), the purchase content specifying unit 18 displays the data table 2 indicating the price plan set in advance by the user as the purchase content data storage unit 28. Read from. Then, the purchase content specifying unit 18 specifies the rate plan based on the flag indicating the current setting included in the read data table 2, and specifies the rate indicated by the rate plan and the additional purchase communication capacity (step S5). .
For example, the purchase content specifying unit 18 reads the data table 2 shown in FIG. 5 and specifies that the currently set rate plan is the rate plan 4 based on the flag indicating the current setting. In this case, the purchase content specifying unit 18 specifies the charge of 2000 yen associated with the charge plan 4 and the additional purchase communication capacity of 5 GB.
The purchase content specifying unit 18 outputs the specified fee and additional purchase communication capacity to the additional purchase processing unit 16.

When the charge and the additional purchase communication capacity are input from the purchase content specifying unit 18, the additional purchase processing unit 16 performs a purchase process of the additional purchase communication capacity based on the input charge and the additional purchase communication capacity (step S6).
For example, when the charge and the additional purchase communication capacity are input, the additional purchase processing unit 16 communicates with the payment apparatus 116 via the communication unit 10 and performs a payment process based on the input charge. Here, the additional purchase processing unit 16 performs this settlement processing on the user identifier associated with the data table 1 or the data table 2 or the identification number of the wireless communication line 106. Further, the additional purchase processing unit 16 outputs the input additional purchase communication capacity to the remaining capacity management unit 12.

  When the remaining capacity management unit 12 inputs the additional purchased communication capacity from the additional purchase processing unit 16, the additional purchased communication capacity that has been input (newly purchased) is the user identifier or wireless that is associated with the data table 1 or the data table 2. A process of adding to the remaining amount of additional purchased communication capacity additionally purchased in the past corresponding to the identification number of the communication line 106 is performed (step S7). Then, the remaining capacity management unit 12 records the remaining amount of additional purchased communication capacity after adding the newly purchased additional purchased communication capacity in the remaining capacity management data storage unit 14. At this time, the remaining capacity management unit 12 extends the remaining use period of the additional purchased communication capacity additionally purchased in the past by a predetermined period and records it in the remaining capacity management data storage unit 14 (step S8). Then, the process returns to step S1.

  Note that the remaining capacity management unit 12 may transmit a notification recommending a change of a charge plan to the terminal 102 via the communication unit 10 in accordance with the usage record of the communication capacity. For example, when the additional purchased communication capacity indicated by the set charge plan is 3 Gbytes and only 1 Gbyte is used within the expiration date, the remaining capacity management unit 12 has a 1 Gbyte additional purchased communication capacity. It is also possible to send an email recommending a change to to the terminal 102. In addition, the remaining capacity management unit 12 may attach a predetermined URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that transitions to a designated site that performs purchase processing when the user clicks on the mail.

  In addition, when the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines that n is equal to the number of purchase repetitions N, that is, when it is the final number of purchases that are currently set, the communication capacity management device 1 changes the communication unit 10. The terminal 102 may be notified to recommend resetting the number of repeated purchases and purchase conditions. Note that the communication capacity management apparatus 1 may set the expiration date of the settings such as the number of repeated purchases and purchase conditions currently set to the terminal 102 via the communication unit 10 based on a user operation. good.

The communication capacity management device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above. In the communication capacity management apparatus 1 that manages the communication capacity of the wireless communication line 106 with a limited communication capacity as described above, the additional purchase processing unit 16 performs processing for additional purchase of the communication capacity with the expiration date. The remaining capacity management unit 12 manages the remaining amount of communication capacity including the additionally purchased communication capacity that is the additional purchased communication capacity with the expiration date. The purchase content specifying unit 18 specifies the charge and the additional purchase communication capacity based on the charge plan related to the additional purchase communication capacity and the charge plan. The purchase condition determination unit 26 determines whether or not a condition for purchasing additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied. When the purchase condition determination unit 26 determines that the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, the additional purchase processing unit 16 adds the additional purchase communication capacity based on the charge indicated by the price plan and the additional purchase communication capacity. Process purchases.
In this way, when communication is performed via the wireless communication line 106 with a limited communication capacity, the shortage of communication capacity and balance can be solved without the user of the terminal 102 performing a conscious operation. .

In the above-described embodiment, the purchase condition shown in FIG. 4 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the purchase conditions are not limited to those selected by the user from conditions such as the remaining capacity of the communication capacity prepared in advance by the operator, the date and time, and the time until the expiration date of the remaining capacity of the communication capacity. The remaining capacity of the communication capacity, the date and time, and the time until the expiration date of the remaining capacity of the communication capacity can be arbitrarily determined and set as purchase conditions. The purchase conditions may be determined based on the usage history of the communication capacity. The purchase conditions may be determined according to the frequency of access to a heavy site such as a moving image. Further, the purchase condition may be determined at a certain ratio (for example, 10% of the remaining capacity) to the remaining capacity of the communication capacity.
Further, the fee plan shown in FIG. 5 described above is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. The charge plan is not limited to the one selected by the user from the combination of the charge prepared in advance by the operator and the additional purchase communication capacity, but the additional purchase communication capacity corresponding to the charge when the user arbitrarily determines and sets the charge May be determined. Further, when the user arbitrarily determines and sets the additional purchased communication capacity, the fee corresponding to the additional purchased communication capacity may be determined.

  Further, the communication capacity management device 1 may have a lock function that does not purchase additional purchased communication capacity even when the purchase conditions are satisfied. For example, when the parent locks the parent terminal on the child terminal 102, even if the child terminal 102 satisfies the purchase conditions, the communication capacity management device 1 performs the process of purchasing the additional purchased communication capacity. You may not do it.

  In addition, the remaining capacity management unit 12 may notify the terminal 102 via the communication unit 10 of recommendation for purchasing additional purchased communication capacity during the low-speed communication of the terminal 102.

  Note that the storage unit 22 in the present invention may be provided anywhere as long as appropriate information is transmitted and received. In addition, the storage unit 22 may exist in a plurality of ranges within a range where appropriate information is transmitted and received, and may store data in a distributed manner.

  In the processing flow according to the embodiment of the present invention, the order of processing may be changed within a range where appropriate processing is performed.

  In addition, although embodiment of this invention was described, the above-mentioned communication capacity management apparatus 1 has a computer system inside. The process described above is stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and the above process is performed by the computer reading and executing this program. Here, the computer-readable recording medium means a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, or the like. Alternatively, the computer program may be distributed to the computer via a communication line, and the computer that has received the distribution may execute the program.

The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above.
Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication capacity management apparatus 10 ... Communication part 12 ... Remaining capacity management part 14 ... Remaining capacity management data storage part 16 ... Additional purchase process part 18 ... Purchase content specific | specification part 20 ..CPU unit 22 ... storage unit 24 ... communication capacity management program 26 ... purchase condition determination unit 28 ... purchase content data storage unit 30 ... purchase condition data storage unit 102 ... terminal 104 ... Base station 106 ... Wireless communication line 108 ... Gateway 110 ... Internet 112 ... Communication control device 114 ... User contract information management device 116 ... Settlement device

Claims (12)

A communication capacity management device for managing the communication capacity of a wireless communication line having a limited communication capacity;
An additional purchase processing unit that performs processing for additional purchase of the communication capacity with an expiration date;
A remaining capacity management unit that manages the remaining capacity of the communication capacity, including the additional purchased communication capacity that is the communication capacity that is additionally purchased and has a usage period;
A purchase content specifying unit for specifying the additional purchase communication capacity;
A purchase condition determination unit that determines whether or not the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied;
With
The purchase condition determination unit determines whether or not the number of purchases, which is the number of times the additional purchase processing unit has performed the purchase processing of the additional purchase communication capacity, has reached an upper limit number of times to purchase the additional purchase communication capacity repeatedly. ,
When the purchase condition determining unit determines that the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, and when it is determined that the number of purchases has not reached the upper limit number, the additional purchase processing unit is Perform purchase processing of the specified additional purchase communication capacity,
When the purchase condition determining unit determines that the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, and when it is determined that the number of purchases has reached the upper limit number, the additional purchase processing unit is specified by the purchase content specifying unit The purchase processing of the additional purchased communication capacity is not performed.
Communication capacity management device. The remaining capacity management unit
A periodical granted communication capacity, which is the communication capacity with the expiration date given for a predetermined amount every predetermined period, is consumed before the additional purchase communication capacity.
The communication capacity management apparatus according to claim 1. The purchase condition determination unit
Determining whether the expiration date for the communication capacity is a predetermined period or less;
The additional purchase processing unit
When the purchase condition determining unit determines that the expiration date for the communication capacity is equal to or shorter than a predetermined period, the purchase condition specifying unit performs the purchase processing of the additional purchase communication capacity specified by the purchase content specifying unit;
The communication capacity management apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The purchase condition determination unit, when a plurality of the wireless communication lines sharing the communication capacity satisfy a condition for purchasing any of the additional purchased communication capacity, the wireless communication line, It is determined that the purchase condition of the additional purchased communication capacity shared by the plurality of wireless communication lines sharing the communication capacity is satisfied.
The communication capacity management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. An upper limit number setting unit that determines the upper limit number based on a user operation;
The communication capacity management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. When the purchase condition determination unit determines that the number of purchases has reached the upper limit number, a terminal that uses the wireless communication line is notified of a recommendation to reset the purchase condition of the upper limit number or additional purchase communication capacity. A re-setting recommendation notification unit
The communication capacity management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The remaining capacity management unit recommends the purchase of additional purchased communication capacity when the communication speed of a terminal using the wireless communication line is limited to a low speed because it is outside the limit of the communication capacity of the wireless communication line. To notify the terminal using the wireless communication line,
The communication capacity management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A purchase content setting unit for determining an additional purchase communication capacity based on a user operation;
The communication capacity management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The purchase content setting unit determines an additional purchase communication capacity corresponding to a fee set by a user operation.
The communication capacity management apparatus according to claim 8. A communication capacity management device for managing the communication capacity for a wireless communication line with a limited communication capacity;
A gateway for transmitting / receiving user data of a terminal connected to a base station via the wireless communication line to / from the terminal via the base station;
A communication control device for controlling the gateway,
The communication capacity management device
An additional purchase processing unit that performs processing for additional purchase of the communication capacity with an expiration date;
A remaining capacity management unit that manages the remaining capacity of the communication capacity, including the additional purchased communication capacity that is the communication capacity that is additionally purchased and has a usage period;
A purchase content specifying unit for specifying the additional purchase communication capacity;
A purchase condition determination unit that determines whether or not the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied;
With
The purchase condition determination unit determines whether or not the number of purchases, which is the number of times the additional purchase processing unit has performed the purchase processing of the additional purchase communication capacity, has reached an upper limit number of times to purchase the additional purchase communication capacity repeatedly. ,
When the purchase condition determining unit determines that the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, and when it is determined that the number of purchases has not reached the upper limit number, the additional purchase processing unit is Perform purchase processing of the specified additional purchase communication capacity,
When the purchase condition determining unit determines that the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, and when it is determined that the number of purchases has reached the upper limit number, the additional purchase processing unit is specified by the purchase content specifying unit Without purchasing the additional purchased communication capacity.
The gateway executes transfer of user data of the terminal according to an instruction from the communication control device,
The communication control device receives communication permission information of the wireless communication line from the communication capacity management device, performs the instruction on the transfer to the gateway based on the communication permission information,
The communication capacity management device transmits the communication permission information indicating permission or non-permission of communication of the terminal, or restriction of the communication speed of the terminal to the communication control device based on the remaining amount of the communication capacity,
The communication control device acquires transfer data amount information indicating the transfer amount of user data transferred by the gateway by communication of the terminal from the gateway, and transmits the transfer data amount information to the communication capacity management device.
The communication capacity management device updates the remaining capacity of the communication capacity based on the transfer data amount information received from the communication control device;
Wireless communication system. A communication capacity management method of a communication capacity management apparatus for managing the communication capacity for a wireless communication line with a limited communication capacity,
The additional purchase processing unit performs processing for the additional purchase of the communication capacity with the expiration date,
The remaining capacity management unit manages the remaining amount of the communication capacity, including the additional purchased communication capacity that is the additional communication capacity with the expiration date.
The purchase content identification unit identifies the additional purchase communication capacity,
The purchase condition determination unit determines whether or not the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied,
The purchase condition determination unit determines whether or not the number of purchases, which is the number of times the additional purchase processing unit has performed the purchase processing of the additional purchase communication capacity, has reached an upper limit number of times to purchase the additional purchase communication capacity repeatedly. ,
When the purchase condition determining unit determines that the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, and when it is determined that the number of purchases has not reached the upper limit number, the additional purchase processing unit is Perform purchase processing of the specified additional purchase communication capacity,
When the purchase condition determining unit determines that the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, and when it is determined that the number of purchases has reached the upper limit number, the additional purchase processing unit is specified by the purchase content specifying unit The purchase processing of the additional purchased communication capacity is not performed.
Communication capacity management method. A communication capacity management device for managing the communication capacity of a wireless communication line having a limited communication capacity;
An additional purchase processing unit that performs processing for additional purchase of the communication capacity with an expiration date;
A remaining capacity management unit that manages the remaining capacity of the communication capacity, including the additional purchased communication capacity that is the communication capacity that is additionally purchased and has a usage period;
A purchase content specifying unit for specifying the additional purchase communication capacity;
A purchase condition determination unit for determining whether or not the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied;
Function as
The purchase condition determination unit determines whether or not the number of purchases, which is the number of times the additional purchase processing unit has performed the purchase processing of the additional purchase communication capacity, has reached an upper limit number of times to purchase the additional purchase communication capacity repeatedly. ,
When the purchase condition determining unit determines that the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, and when it is determined that the number of purchases has not reached the upper limit number, the additional purchase processing unit is Perform purchase processing of the specified additional purchase communication capacity,
When the purchase condition determining unit determines that the condition for purchasing the additional purchase communication capacity is satisfied, and when it is determined that the number of purchases has reached the upper limit number, the additional purchase processing unit is specified by the purchase content specifying unit The purchase processing of the additional purchased communication capacity is not performed.
program.

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