JP2006295471A - Ip phone call charge notification system and ip phone call charge notification method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an IP phone call charge notification system and an IP phone call charge notification method, capable of notifying a caller and a called destination about call charge information in voice, at call origination from an IP phone. <P>SOLUTION: The IP phone call charge notification system 1 includes a VoIP server 10 connected to the IP phone 30 via an IP network and a charging server 20 connected to the VoIP server 10. A charging control section 14 of the VoIP server 10 transmits call destination information from the IP phone 30 to the charging server 20, a charging information management section 22 of the charging server 20 searches a call charge information table on the basis of the received call destination information, acquires call charge information to the call destination denoted by the call destination information and transmits the call charge information to the VoIP server 10. The charging control section 14 outputs the received call charge information to a voice responding section 15, and the voice responding section 15 generates voice data for informing of the call charge information in voice, on the basis of the received call charge information and transmits the data to the IP phone 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an IP telephone call charge notification system and an IP telephone call charge notification method, and in particular, an IP telephone call charge notification system suitable for notifying a caller or a callee of call charge information when making a call from an IP phone, and The present invention relates to an IP telephone call charge notification method.

In recent years, IP (Internet Protocol) telephones, which are free of call charges, have begun to spread. However, call charges can be free of charge if you are subscribed to the same IP telephone provider or affiliated IP telephone provider. It is limited to IP phone calls.
That is, as shown in FIG. 3, using the first IP telephone 71 that is the transmission source, the second IP telephone 72 that is subscribed to the same IP telephone operator (first ISP network 81) is used. When making a call (first route a), or when making a call with a third IP phone 73 subscribing to a partner IP phone carrier (second ISP network 82) (second route) There is no call charge for route b). However, when the first IP phone 71 is used to make a call with the mobile phone 75 via the mobile phone carrier network 91 (third route c), or the fixed land phone 76 via the fixed phone network 92. (4th route d), or a 4th IP phone 74 subscribing to a non-affiliated IP phone carrier (3rd ISP network 83) ( The fifth route e) is charged and has a different call charge per unit time (hereinafter referred to as “call unit price”).

  In Patent Document 1 below, the customer dials the service access code based on the customer's current location, the time of the day and the code dialed in the billing band information, A telecommunications network is disclosed that is informed about such charges for calls.

  Further, in Patent Document 2 below, in order to be able to know a call charge regardless of the type of telephone, the telephone exchange sometimes sets a call channel between the call paths during an internal line call and an external line call. When the call is sent to the outside line, the call frequency is recorded in the call memory for the call to the outside line, and after the outside line call is finished, when the call charge notification special number is dialed from the telephone, the central processing unit sets the channel number on the telephone Accordingly, the call memory is accessed, the call frequency is converted into call charge data, and this is given to the variable voice guidance trunk, and the variable voice guidance trunk is connected to the telephone via the time division switch, and the variable voice guidance trunk is connected. However, it sends out a voice message such as “Current call charge is *** yen” or “This month's call charge is *** yen.” Telephone exchange has been disclosed.

Further, in the service that provides predetermined information, such as NTT Corp. dial Q ² services to customers, the total price for the information fee and the telephone charge when accessing a system for advance notice to the customer has been put to practical use.
JP 2000-507419 JP-A-8-223322

As described above, in a conventional IP phone, a caller makes a call without knowing whether the call charge is free or charged, or whether or not there is a charge for the call and information on the call unit price (hereinafter, In order to obtain “calling charge information”) before a call, it is necessary to dial and confirm a service access code each time a call is made, as in the remote communication network disclosed in Patent Document 1. There was a problem.
In addition, there is a problem that the callee cannot obtain the call charge information and keeps talking without being aware of the call charge.
In addition, services to provide certain information, such as dial-Q ² service to the customer, are those based on the premise that it is paid, it will not be notified of the effect that is free of charge.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an IP telephone call charge notification system and an IP telephone call charge notification method capable of notifying a caller and a callee of call charge information by voice when making a call from an IP telephone.

The IP telephone call charge notification system of the present invention includes a VoIP server (10) connected to an IP telephone (30) via an IP network, and comprising a charging control unit (14) and a voice response unit (15), An IP telephone call charge notification system connected to the VoIP server and including a charging server (20) having a charging information management unit (22), wherein the charging control unit is transmitted from the IP phone The incoming call destination information is transmitted to the billing server, and the billing information management unit stores the call stored in the billing information database (23) of the billing server based on the destination information from the billing control unit. After searching the charge information table and acquiring the call charge information related to the call to the destination indicated by the destination information, the acquired call charge information is transmitted to the VoIP server, The charging control unit outputs call charge information from the charging server to the voice response unit, and the voice response unit notifies the call charge information by voice based on the call charge information from the charge control unit. After the voice data for generating is generated, the generated voice data is transmitted to the IP phone.
Here, the voice response unit may transmit voice data for notifying the call charge information by voice to a destination indicated by the destination information.
When the VoIP server receives notification from the voice response unit that voice data for notifying the call charge information by voice is received from the voice response unit, the VoIP server further includes an exchange control unit (12) that starts a call connection process. Good.
The call charge information may include information related to whether or not there is a charge for a call and information related to a call unit price.

In the IP telephone call charge notification method according to the present invention, the exchange control unit (12) of the VoIP server (10) extracts the destination information included in the telephone number information transmitted from the IP telephone (30), The step (S11) of outputting the extracted destination information to the charging control unit (14) of the VoIP server, and the charging control unit sends the destination information input from the exchange control unit to the charging server (20). The transmission step (S12) and the charging information management unit (22) of the charging server are stored in the charging information database (23) of the charging server based on the destination information from the charging control unit. A step of searching the call charge information table and acquiring call charge information related to a call to the callee indicated by the callee information, and then transmitting the acquired call charge information to the VoIP server (S1) ), The charging control unit outputting the call charge information from the charging information management unit to the voice response unit (15) of the VoIP server, and the voice response unit from the charging control unit And generating voice data for notifying the call charge information by voice on the basis of the call charge information, and transmitting the generated voice data to the IP phone (S15). To do.
In the step of transmitting the generated voice data to the IP phone, the voice response unit may transmit voice data for notifying the call charge information by voice to a destination indicated by the destination information. Good.
When the exchange control unit (12) of the VoIP server receives notification from the voice response unit that voice data for notifying the call charge information by voice is sent from the voice response unit, a step of starting call connection processing (S16) May further be provided.
The call charge information may include information related to whether or not there is a charge for a call and information related to a call unit price.

The IP telephone call charge notification system and the IP telephone call charge notification method of the present invention have the following effects.
(1) When the caller dials the destination telephone number using the IP phone, the call charge information related to this call is transmitted from the VoIP server as voice data before the call is connected. It is possible to know information by voice and to determine whether or not to make a call with the call charge.
(2) Since the call charge information is also transmitted to the callee as voice data, the called party can make a call while being aware of the call charge.
(3) Since information regarding whether or not there is a charge for a call is also transmitted as voice data from the VoIP server, the caller can also know whether or not the call is free.

  A call charge information table is stored in the charge information database of the charge server for the purpose of notifying the call source and destination of the call charge information by voice when making a call from the IP phone, and the call destination sent from the IP phone The call charge information table is searched based on the information, call charge information related to the call to the callee indicated by the callee information is acquired, and the call charge information is notified to the caller and callee by voice in the VoIP server. Was realized.

Embodiments of the IP telephone call charge notification system and IP telephone call charge notification method of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, an IP telephone call charge notification system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a VoIP (Voice Over IP) server 10 and a billing server 20 connected to the VoIP server 10 via an IP network. It has. Note that an IP phone 30 is connected to the VoIP server 10 via an IP network.

The VoIP server 10 includes an interface unit (I / F unit) 11, an exchange control unit 12, a network control unit 13, a charging control unit 14, and a voice response unit 15.
Here, the interface unit 11 transmits / receives various data to / from the IP phone 30 via the IP network.

  Exchange control unit 12 extracts source information and destination information included in telephone number information input from IP phone 30 through interface unit 11, and performs accounting control on the extracted source information and destination information. To the unit 14. In addition, the exchange control unit 12 performs call establishment processing and also performs call connection processing when a notification that “voice data for notifying the call charge information is transmitted by voice” is input from the voice response unit 15. .

  The network control unit 13 controls transmission / reception of voice data and the like via the network between the source IP phone 30 and the destination phone.

When the destination information is input from the exchange control unit 12, the billing control unit 14 transmits the destination information to the billing server 20 via the interface unit 11, and the call charge information is billed via the interface unit 11. When transmitted from the server 20, the transmitted call charge information is output to the voice response unit 15.
In addition, upon receiving a call completion notification from the exchange control unit 12, the charging control unit 14 creates connection information indicating a connection time and transmits the created connection information to the charging server 20 via the interface unit 11. .

  When the call charge information is input from the charging control unit 14, the voice response unit 15 generates voice data for notifying the call charge information by voice based on the call charge information. In addition, the voice response unit 15 transmits the generated voice data to the IP phone 30 or the destination telephone via the interface unit 11 and “transmits voice data for notifying the call charge information by voice”. Is output to the exchange control unit 12.

The accounting server 20 includes an interface unit (I / F unit) 21 and an accounting information management unit 22.
Here, the interface unit 21 transmits and receives various data to and from the VoIP server 10 via the IP network.

  When the destination information is transmitted from the accounting control unit 14 of the VoIP server 10 via the interface unit 21 to the accounting information management unit 22, the accounting information management unit 22 stores the information in the accounting information database (accounting information DB) 22 based on the destination information. The stored call charge information table is searched to obtain call charge information (information on whether or not the call is charged and information on the call unit price) for this call destination. The billing information management unit 22 transmits the acquired call charge information to the VoIP server 10 via the interface unit 21.

Table 1 shows an example of a call charge information table. This call charge information table shows call charge information for each of the first to fifth routes a to e shown in FIG.

  When the connection information is transmitted from the charging control unit 14 of the VoIP server 10 via the interface unit 21, the charging information management unit 22 performs a charging process for the subscriber of the IP telephone 30 based on the connection information. .

  Next, regarding the operation of the IP telephone call charge notification system 1 according to the present embodiment (one embodiment of the IP telephone call charge notification method of the present invention), the caller uses the IP telephone 30 to perform the operation shown in FIG. An example in which a call is made with the mobile phone 75 via the route c of 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the caller dials the phone number of the mobile phone 75 using the IP phone 30, phone number information representing the dialed phone number and the like is transmitted from the IP phone 30 to the VoIP server 10 via the interface unit 11. .

  When the telephone number information is input from the interface unit 11, the exchange control unit 12 of the VoIP server 10 transmits the source information (such as the telephone number of the IP phone 30) and the destination information ( After extracting the telephone number of the cellular phone 75, etc., the extracted destination information is output to the accounting control unit 14 and the call establishment process is started (step S11).

  When the destination information is input from the exchange control unit 12, the billing control unit 14 transmits the destination information to the billing server 20 via the interface unit 11 (step S12).

The billing information management unit 22 of the billing server 20 searches the call charge information table (see Table 1) stored in the billing information database 23 based on the received destination information, and relates to a call to this destination. Get call charge information. In this example, since the call is made via the third route c shown in FIG. 3, the billing information management unit 22 acquires the call charge information “XX yen / minute”.
Thereafter, the billing information management unit 22 transmits the acquired call charge information “XX yen / minute” to the VoIP server 10 via the interface unit 21 (step S13).

  When the charge control unit 14 of the VoIP server 10 receives the call charge information “XX yen / minute” via the interface unit 11, the charge control unit 14 outputs the call charge information to the voice response unit 15 (step S14).

The voice response unit 15 generates voice data for voice notification of the call charge information “XX yen / minute” based on the call charge information “XX yen / minute” input from the charging control unit 14. After that, the generated voice data is transmitted to the IP phone 30 and the mobile phone 75 via the interface unit 11. As a result, the caller (user of IP phone 30) and the callee (user of mobile phone 75) can know the unit price “XX yen / minute” of the call charge for a call to be made from the voice. The caller only has to disconnect the connection to the VoIP server 10 when he / she wants to know the unit price of the call charge and cancels the call.
In addition, the voice response unit 15 outputs a notification signal indicating that “voice data for notifying the call charge information by voice has been transmitted” to the exchange control unit 12 (step S15).

When the exchange control unit 12 receives from the voice response unit 15 a notification that “voice data notifying the call charge has been transmitted”, the exchange control unit 12 starts the call connection process. Thereby, a call connection is established between the caller and the callee, and the caller can start a call with the callee.
Further, when the call is completed, the exchange control unit 12 notifies the charge control unit 14 to that effect (step S16).

  Upon receiving the call completion notification from the exchange control unit 12, the charging control unit 14 creates connection information indicating source information and connection time, and sends the created connection information to the charging server 20 via the interface unit 11. Send.

  The billing information management unit 22 of the billing server 20 calculates a call charge based on the connection information received via the interface unit 21, and the total call charge of the subscriber of the IP phone 30 stored in the charge information database 23. After the data is read out and the calculated call charge is added to the total call charge represented by the read out call charge data, the total call charge data representing the added call charge is stored in the billing information database 23 ( Step S17).

In the above description, the call charge information is notified to both the caller (IP phone 30) and the callee (mobile phone 75) by voice. However, only the caller may be notified by voice.
Further, when the call charge is charged, the call unit price is notified to the caller (IP phone 30) and the callee (mobile phone 75), but only “pay” may be notified.

  As described above, the IP telephone call charge notification system and the IP telephone call charge notification method according to the present invention are used as a system and method for notifying the call charge information by voice to a caller or a callee when making a call from an IP telephone. can do.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the IP telephone call charge notification system by one Example of this invention. Example 1 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the IP telephone call charge notification system shown in FIG. 1. Example 1 It is a figure which shows the call path | route of IP telephone.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 IP telephone call charge notification system 10 VoIP server 11 Interface part 12 Exchange control part 13 Network control part 14 Charge control part 15 Voice response part 20 Charge server 21 Interface part 22 Charge information management part 23 Charge information database 30 IP telephone S11-S17 Step

Claims (8)

A VoIP server (10) connected to the IP telephone (30) via the IP network and including a charging control unit (14) and a voice response unit (15);
A charging server (20) connected to the VoIP server and including a charging information management unit (22);
An IP telephone call charge notification system comprising:
The charging control unit transmits destination information transmitted from the IP phone to the charging server;
The billing information management unit searches a call charge information table stored in a billing information database (23) provided in the billing server based on the destination information from the billing control unit, and the destination information is After acquiring the call charge information related to the call to the indicated destination, the acquired call charge information is transmitted to the VoIP server,
The charging control unit outputs call charge information from the charging server to the voice response unit,
The voice response unit generates voice data for voice notification of the call charge information based on the call charge information from the charging control unit, and then transmits the generated voice data to the IP phone.
An IP telephone call charge notification system.   2. The IP telephone call charge notification system according to claim 1, wherein the voice response unit transmits voice data for notifying the call charge information by voice to a destination indicated by the destination information. .   When the VoIP server receives from the voice response unit a notification that voice data for notifying the call charge information by voice is transmitted from the voice response unit, the VoIP server further includes an exchange control unit (12) that starts a call connection process. The IP telephone call charge notification system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:   The IP telephone call charge notification system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the call charge information includes information related to whether or not there is a charge for a call and information related to a call unit price. The exchange control unit (12) of the VoIP server (10) extracts the destination information included in the telephone number information transmitted from the IP phone (30), and the extracted destination information is extracted from the VoIP server. A step (S11) of outputting to the charge control unit (14);
A step (S12) in which the charging control unit transmits destination information input from the exchange control unit to the charging server (20);
The billing information management unit (22) of the billing server searches the call charge information table stored in the billing information database (23) of the billing server based on the destination information from the billing control unit. After acquiring the call charge information related to the call to the callee indicated by the callee information, the step of transmitting the acquired call charge information to the VoIP server (S13);
The charging control unit outputting the call charge information from the charging information management unit to the voice response unit (15) of the VoIP server;
The voice response unit generates voice data for notifying the call charge information by voice based on the call charge information from the charging control unit, and then transmitting the generated voice data to the IP phone. (S15),
An IP telephone call charge notification method comprising:   In the step of transmitting the generated voice data to the IP phone, the voice response unit transmits voice data for notifying the call charge information by voice to a destination indicated by the destination information. The IP telephone call charge notification method according to claim 5, wherein the IP telephone call charge is notified.   When the exchange control unit (12) of the VoIP server receives notification from the voice response unit that voice data for notifying the call charge information by voice is sent from the voice response unit, a step of starting call connection processing (S16) The IP telephone call charge notification method according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising:   8. The IP telephone call charge notification method according to claim 5, wherein the call charge information includes information related to whether or not there is a charge for a call and information related to a call unit price.

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