JP2000041116A - Communication terminal device and accounting control device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transmit various types of information before connection of a circuit and to reduce the communication cost by sending the information including data and incidental to a call signal which is stored in a prescribed area contained in the information to a terminal of the opposite party via a communication circuit when a circuit connection request is received. SOLUTION: A call signal is transmitted from a client to a server (S3) when the data inputted from a user (S1) are stored in a prescribed area contained in the information which is incidental to the call signal (S2). The server receives the information incidental to the call signal together with the call signal (S4). Then the server acquires the data which are stored in the information incidental to the call signal and analyzes the contents of the data (S5). A circuit disconnecting or connecting process is decided based on a circuit disconnecting/ connecting flag that is recorded in the information incidental to the call signal. Thus, a circuit is immediately disconnected or connected after the DCE 3C and 3S are negotiated with each other (S6).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a communication system in which a plurality of communication terminals are connected via a wired or wireless communication line (hereinafter referred to as "line" as appropriate). The present invention relates to a technology for effectively using communication and a technology for charging such communication.

[Prior art]

In a client-server type network system, usually, authentication information such as a user ID and a password for logging in from a client to a server includes:
DCE (Data Circuit terminating Equipme) connected to the line and connected to each of the client and server
(nt: line terminating device) is transmitted from the client to the server after the connection processing between them is completed. Alternatively, the connection with the server is performed by using the caller number on the client side as a trigger. Further, when some data communication is performed using a line, data can be transmitted for the first time after a negotiation of a modem or the like is completed as a DCE and the line is connected. When the client remotely logs in to the server to perform various information processing tasks, after the negotiation is completed and the line is connected, a request command is issued to the server according to the task content, and the command is issued. While the receiving server is performing processing,
On the client side, it was decided to wait until the server returned the processing result while keeping the line connected.

[0003]

Therefore, in order for the client to log in to the server and perform various exchanges, the connection time of the line, the connection processing time between DCEs, the transmission / reception time of the authentication information, and the authentication of participation in the network. Time was needed. For this reason, it takes time until the line is actually connected and communication is performed, and the above-mentioned time before the start of the original communication is also charged. Also, even when sending small data,
It required a certain amount of communication time and line usage fees. Therefore, when small data must be distributed and transmitted many times, it is wasteful and communication costs cannot be ignored.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and various data can be transmitted before a line is connected, and the original data can be smoothly transmitted after the line is connected. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal device capable of shifting to the communication operation of the above, and a charging control device and a charging control method for charging such communication.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a communication terminal device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a communication terminal device for communicating with a partner terminal via a communication line. Input means for inputting data to be transmitted, and data storage means for storing data input by the input means in a predetermined area in information accompanying a call signal transmitted at the time of a line connection request to the partner terminal. ,
Transmitting means for transmitting information accompanying the call signal including data stored by the data storing means to the partner terminal via the communication line at the time of the line connection request. is there.

A communication terminal device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the communication terminal device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the information accompanying the call signal is transmitted to the other terminal by the transmission means, and the information is transmitted for a predetermined time from the time of the line connection request. If no response signal is returned from the partner terminal during the transmission, the transmitting means retransmits information accompanying the call signal.

A communication terminal device according to a third aspect of the present invention is a communication terminal device for communicating with a partner terminal via a communication line, and before a line is connected in response to a line connection request from the partner terminal. Means for receiving information accompanying a call signal transmitted from the other terminal at the time of the line connection request, and transmission data from the other terminal in a predetermined area in the information accompanying the received call signal. A determination unit that determines whether or not the transmission data is included; and when the determination unit determines that the transmission data is included,
Data extracting means for extracting the transmission data.

A communication terminal device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the communication terminal device according to the third aspect of the present invention, wherein, when receiving information accompanying a call signal transmitted from the opposite terminal, the opposite terminal is notified to that effect. It is characterized by comprising means for sending a response signal.

A communication terminal device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the communication terminal device according to the third or fourth aspect, wherein, when receiving information accompanying a call signal transmitted from the other terminal, the other terminal receives the call signal. On the other hand, there is provided a determination means for determining whether to perform a line connection process or a line disconnection process.

A communication terminal device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the communication terminal device according to the third or fourth aspect, wherein, when receiving information accompanying a call signal sent from the other terminal, Line disconnection means for performing line disconnection processing, and various information processing based on the transmission data extracted by the data extraction means, and attaches the result to a call signal directed to the partner terminal. Means for storing the information in a predetermined area in the information to be transmitted and transmitting the information together with the call signal to the partner terminal.

A communication terminal device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the communication terminal device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, wherein the line extracting means for performing line disconnection processing based on the result of the determination by the determining means and the data extracting means. Based on the transmission data, various information processing is executed, and the result is stored in a predetermined area in information attached to a call signal directed to the counterpart terminal, and is transmitted to the counterpart terminal together with the call signal. A transmission means is provided.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a billing control device for controlling a billing device which is interposed in a communication path connecting a calling terminal and a called terminal and collects billing information indicating a line usage fee of the calling terminal. Means for receiving information accompanying a call signal directed from the calling terminal to the called terminal, and a transmission target in a predetermined area in the information accompanying the received calling signal. Determining means for determining whether data is included; and determining that the data to be transmitted is included in a predetermined area in the information accompanying the calling signal by the determining means, Means for instructing the billing device to update the billing information of the originating terminal according to a billing method.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a charging control method for controlling a charging apparatus interposed in a communication path connecting a calling side terminal and a called side terminal and counting charging information indicating a line usage fee of the calling side terminal. A method of receiving information accompanying a call signal directed to the called terminal from the calling terminal, and transmitting the information to a predetermined area in the information attached to the received calling signal. A step of determining whether or not data is included; and a step of determining whether a predetermined area in the information accompanying the calling signal includes data to be transmitted by the determination unit. Instructing the charging device to update the charging information of the calling terminal in accordance with a system.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1. FIG. 1 illustrates the configuration of a communication system according to the present embodiment. The client C has a communication control module 1C that recognizes a communication port connected to the DCE 3C and controls communication, and a communication module 2C including a communication application. Similarly, the server S also has a communication control module 1S and a communication module 2S. Then, the client C and the server S are respectively DCE3
They are connected by a communication line 4 via C and 3S, and can communicate with each other.

1.1. Next, the operation principle of data communication using the information area attached to the call signal will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, data to be transmitted to the server S is input from the client C using an appropriate GUI (Graphical User Interface) (S1). As will be described later, this data includes, for example, authentication information such as a user ID and a password, and an SQL (Structured Query LAN) for issuing a predetermined command to the database server.
guage) Data composed of character strings such as sentences.

The data input as described above is stored in a predetermined area (hereinafter referred to as "call signal supplementary information") accompanying a call signal transmitted when client C accesses server S. This is an area in which the user can arbitrarily write data, and is stored in a "user data storage area"), and the use flag of the user data storage area in the calling signal supplementary information is set to ON ( S2). Therefore, the data input in step S1 must be of a size (number of characters) that can be stored in the user data storage area. Here, the above-mentioned calling signal means a caller's telephone number (originating caller ID) when the client C and the server S are connected by a telephone line (including a mobile network).
D) including RING signal (for example, if the telephone number of the calling party is 03- (0123) 4567, “RING CALLING ID = 0
301234567 RING "is transmitted to the called party.)

When the data input by the user is stored in a predetermined area in the call signal supplementary information, the client C
Sends a call signal to the server S (S
3). The server S receives the call signal accompanying information together with the call signal (S4). Subsequently, the server S acquires the data stored in the call signal supplementary information and analyzes the contents (S5). Then, based on the line disconnection / line connection flag recorded in the call signal supplementary information, one of the line disconnection / connection processes is determined, and the line disconnection process is immediately performed or the DCE 3C and 3S communicate with each other. Negotiation is performed and the line is connected (S
6).

1.2. Call signal supplementary information PDC
(RCR used in Personal Digital Cellular)
A sub address and a user data area based on STD-27F (digital mobile phone system standard of the Radio System Development Center) will be described as an example.

1.2.1. Sub Address Area (Destination Sub Address Information Element) FIG. 6 shows a case where a sub address area is used as call signal accompanying information. This sub-address area is called a destination sub-address information element and is used to identify the sub-address of the called side, and is coded as shown in FIG. The maximum length of this information element is 23 octets.

In this data format, the user data storage area in which the user can arbitrarily write data is a data area of octets 4 to 23, and the maximum length of the field is 20 octets. Octet 1 ~
Numeral 3 corresponds to a header portion, and the data size stored in the user data storage area is recorded as the content length of the destination sub-address of octet 2. Octet 3
6th bit is ON, 5th and 7th bits are OFF
(User-specific address), it is determined that the user data storage area is being used. And
After data is transmitted together with the call signal using the user data storage area, an area for storing information on whether to connect or disconnect the line is provided (FIG. 6).
In the example of octet 4, it is provided in the 8th bit of octet 4.)

1.2.2. User Data Area (User / User Information Element) On the other hand, FIG. 7 shows a case where the user data area is used as the call signal supplementary information. This user data area is called a user-user information element and is used for information transfer between users. Then, the content of this information element is not released by the network, but is transferred transparently and carried to the other user. This user / user information element is coded as shown in FIG. There is no restriction on the content of the user information field, and the length of this information element in the message depends on the network, and is 131 octets at maximum.

In this data format, the user data storage area in which the user can arbitrarily write is a data area of octets 4 to 131, and the maximum length of the field is 128 octets. Octets 1 to 3 correspond to a header portion, and the data size stored in the user data storage area is recorded as the user / user content length of octet 2. Then, a flag relating to the use of the user data storage area is provided at an appropriate position in this data format (in the example of FIG. 7, it is provided at the eighth bit of the user information area of octet 4). Further, after transmitting data together with a call signal using the user data storage area, an area for storing information on whether to connect or disconnect the line is provided (in the example of FIG. It is provided in the seventh bit of the information area).

The above is the principle of the embodiment. A more specific embodiment based on this principle will be described below.

2. First Embodiment (Transmission of Authentication Information Using Call Signal Ancillary Information) The communication system of the present embodiment incorporates authentication information such as a user name and a password into the user data storage area (128 octets at maximum) and stores this information. It authenticates the client based on it.

2.1. Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 3 shows a configuration in which a client C as a DTE (Data terminal Equipment) and an access server S are connected by a communication line 4 via DCE3C and DCE3S.

The client C is a communication port to which the DCE3C is connected (mainly a serial port, but a parallel port, a USB (Universal Serial Port).
t) etc.), a port driver 5C that recognizes this communication port 6C and controls its operation, and an application (PPP) higher than the port driver 5C.
(Point to Point Protocol; protocol for IP connection via a public line), etc.).

Similarly, the access server S also includes a communication port 6S to which the DCE 3S is connected, a port driver 5S for recognizing and controlling the communication port 6S, an application (such as PPP) 7S above the port driver 5S,
A database 8 having a table for performing user authentication such as a user name and a password.

In this communication system, when the client C accesses the server S via the communication line 4, the caller ID and the user ID and the password stored in the information accompanying the call signal are transmitted together with the call signal. The authentication information including the authentication information is transmitted, the authentication information is compared with the user data registered in the database 8, and the line is connected only when it is confirmed that the user is an authorized user.

2.2. Operation of Embodiment FIG. 4 shows an operation sequence from when authentication information is transmitted from the client side to when connection of the line is completed. The connection of the line is completed by the following connection procedure. When a line connection request is made from the client C side to the server S (S10), the authentication information stored in the Ring signal, the caller ID and the information accompanying the Ring signal is transmitted to the server through the DCE 3C, the communication line 4, and the DCE 3S. The communication is transmitted to the communication port 6S on the S side (S11), and the port driver 5S acquires the Ring signal, the caller ID, and the authentication information, and obtains the upper application (PPP).
Etc.) Notify 7S virtually of completion of line connection (S
12). Next, based on the notified caller ID and authentication information, information necessary for user authentication is provided to the upper-level application (PPP or the like) 7S with reference to the unique user information table 8 (S13). In this case, the caller number may be used as the user name for convenience. At the same time, it goes off-hook under the control of the port driver 5S (S14), and negotiates between the DCEs 3C and 3S (S15). When the negotiation is completed, the DCE 3C transmits to the client-side port driver 5C, and from the DCE 3S to the port driver 5S. , A line connection completion notification is made (S16). As soon as the user authentication / negotiation is completed, the network connection completion notification is sent to the AP 7S, the port driver 5S, the DCE 3S, and the DCE 3 via the communication line 4.
C, transmitted to the port driver 5C of the client C (S17 → S18), and the original communication processing is executed between the client C and the server S.

2.3. Effect of Embodiment As described above, the authentication information in the information accompanying the call signal is transmitted before the line is connected.
By performing user authentication based on the authentication information transmitted before this line connection during negotiation between CEs,
Communication time can be reduced. In addition, there is no call charge for transmitting data such as a user name and a password.

3. Second Embodiment (Application to Database System) The communication system according to the present embodiment remotely executes processes such as database search and update by performing data communication using information accompanying a call signal of a line. Things. In this communication system, a search request for a database is incorporated in a user data storage area and transmitted. Here, by preparing middleware for the database, it is possible to disconnect the line from issuing a processing request to the database to receiving the result. Therefore, when only the request for the database is transmitted and the line is disconnected and the processing result on the database side can be accommodated in the user data storage area, the processing result is stored in the user data storage area and returned to the client side. .

3.1. Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 5 shows a configuration of a database system including a client C and a database server DBS. In the figure, a client C is a user terminal that accesses a database server DBS via a communication line 4 and performs various business processes.

The database server DBS has a database 8 and a DBMS (DataBase Manager System) 9 that controls access to the database.
The call signal management server YS extracts data (an SQL sentence input by the user of the client C (only the main parts such as search and update are described) included in the information accompanying the call signal from the client C). This is a device for supplying to the middleware server MS.

The middleware server MS creates an SQL program including information on opening / closing of a database and an output format based on the SQL sentence supplied from the call signal management server YS, and supplies it to the DBMS 9.
The middleware server MS has a function of controlling communication between the client C and the database server DBS, a transaction management function, a recovery function when a failure occurs, and the like.

3.2. Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIGS. 5B and 5C, only the main parts related to the operation are described, and the clients C and D are described.
The description of CE3C is omitted. In FIG. 5A, first, a user of the client C inputs an SQL sentence to the database 8 according to processing contents such as search and update. If the SQL statement issues a search request to the database 8, only the SELECT statement may be used. For example,
"DB (employee database) indicating search condition expression; select
Employee name from employee where blood type = "O". This SQL sentence is a call signal Ri
The information is stored in information accompanying the ng signal and transmitted to the server.

In FIG. 5B, this SQL statement is supplied to the database server DBS via the call signal management server YS and the middleware server MS. In this process, the line 4 is disconnected when the SQL statement input by the user has passed to the call signal management server YS. Then, in the above search condition expression, SQL is started in the database server DBS, and a process of “searching the employee database for employees whose blood type is O” is executed under the control of the DBMS 9.

In FIG. 5C, the processing result is output to the middleware server MS, and the output result is supplied to the call signal management server YS.

In FIG. 5D, the result of the above processing is a Ring signal from the call signal management server YS to the client C.
It is stored in the accompanying information of the signal and transmitted. The client C receiving this can receive the result for the command issued to the database 8 issued by itself.

3.3. Effects of the Embodiment In the database system of the above embodiment, there is no need to establish a line or negotiate a modem when accessing a database from a client. Therefore DC
The negotiation time between the Es can be completely eliminated, and operations such as searching and updating the database can be performed without incurring a call charge.

4. Third Embodiment (Charging Control System) In the communication systems of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, no call charge is generated, and the traffic becomes useless for a communication carrier. Therefore, the telecommunications carrier can charge the fee by looking at the information element identifier and the content length in the additional information area, and can increase the profit for the exchange of the call signal.

4.1. Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 8 shows a configuration of a charging control system of the present embodiment. A signal transmitted from the calling terminal 20 passes through the local exchange (LS) 21 and is output from the output trunk (OG).
T) 22 to the destination exchange. In the subscriber memory 21 m in the exchange 21, the line use time of the subscriber is converted into a frequency and registered as billing information. In this accounting control system, a means for receiving a call signal transmitted from the calling terminal 20 and determining whether or not there is data to be transmitted stored in a predetermined area in information accompanying the signal. have. And
By giving an instruction to the billing device to update the billing information based on the result of the determination by the determination means, data communication using information accompanying the call signal can be charged.

4.2. Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the exchange 21 receives the calling signal transmitted from the calling terminal 20 (S20), it is determined whether or not the flag relating to the use of the user data storage area accompanying the calling signal is ON (S2).
1). As described above, in the destination sub-address information element shown in FIG. 6, the sub-address type stored in octet 3 is 010 (the sixth bit of octet 3 is ON).
So the 5th and 7th bits of octet 3 are OFF)
, It is determined that the user data storage area is being used.

If the data structure does not have the flag information regarding the use of the user data storage area, the user data storage area is read in blank and whether or not data is actually stored in this area is determined. May be determined.

If it is determined in step S21 that the flag relating to the use of the user data area is OFF, a normal charging process is performed after the line is connected (S2).
2). On the other hand, if the flag relating to the use of the user data area is ON in step S21, the registration is made for a predetermined number of times, and the result is stored in the subscriber memory 2.
It is written in the corresponding subscriber column of 1 m. In other words, in the case of fixed billing, data communication is performed using the information area attached to the call signal, so that the data is uniformly added for the fixed number (S23 → S25). For pay-as-you-go,
The content length of the data transmitted by the user is converted into a quantity and registered by referring to the content length area in the call signal supplementary information (S23 → S24).

4.3. Effects of the Embodiment By introducing such a charging system, it becomes possible to perform charging even for communication using an information area accompanying a call signal performed before line connection.

5. Modifications The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible as follows, for example. (1) When communication is performed by storing data in a user data storage area in information accompanying a call signal as in the communication system according to the present embodiment, usually, only a unilateral transmission from the calling side to the called side is performed. Therefore, the transmitting side cannot confirm whether the data has been correctly transferred. Therefore, if data can be received on the receiving side, a response signal is returned to the transmitting side, and if this response signal is not returned within a predetermined time, it may be retransmitted from the transmitting side. Good. (2) The communication system according to the second embodiment can be applied to various information service fields other than the database inquiry. For example, when the user has a communication terminal (such as a portable information terminal) with a built-in GPS, the current position information returned by the GPS is transmitted to the position information server together with a call signal to disconnect the line, and the position information server disconnects the user. Information such as a financial institution, a hospital, and a restaurant near the current position can be transmitted to a terminal owned by the user together with a call signal. Further, if the communication system of the present embodiment is applied to the alarm system, the response becomes faster as there is no negotiation of the modem and the like, and the security company can be contacted immediately.

[0048]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, since various information can be transmitted before a line is connected, for example, DCE connection processing time, authentication information transmission / reception time, network participation authentication Time, such as time, and communication costs for the time can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation principle of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration of a communication system according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows an operation sequence of the communication system of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration of a communication system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a sub address area.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a user data area.

FIG. 8 illustrates a configuration of a charging control system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the charging control system according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 (1C, 1S) Communication control module 2 (2C, 2S) Communication module 3 (3C, 3S) DCE 4 Communication line 5 (5C, 5S) Port driver 6 (6C, 6S) Communication port 7 (7C, 7S) Application Reference Signs List 8 database 9 DBMS 20 originating terminal 21 local exchange (LS) 21m subscriber memory 22 output trunk (OGT) C client S server YS call signal management server MS middleware server DBS database server

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A communication terminal device for communicating with a counterpart terminal via a communication line, comprising: input means for inputting data to be transmitted to the counterpart terminal; Data storage means for storing in a predetermined area in information accompanying a call signal transmitted at the time of a line connection request to a counterpart terminal; and information accompanying the call signal including data stored by the data storage means. Transmission means for transmitting to the partner terminal via the communication line when a line connection request is made. 2. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the information accompanying the call signal is transmitted to the partner terminal by the transmitting means, and the partner terminal is transmitted within a predetermined time from the time of the line connection request. The communication terminal device, wherein, if no response signal is returned from the communication terminal, the transmission means retransmits information accompanying the call signal. 3. A communication terminal device for communicating with a partner terminal via a communication line, wherein the line connection is requested before the line is connected in response to the line connection request from the partner terminal. Means for receiving information attached to the call signal transmitted from the opposite terminal, and whether or not a predetermined area in the information attached to the received call signal includes transmission data from the opposite terminal. A communication terminal device comprising: a determination unit; and a data extraction unit that extracts the transmission data when the determination unit determines that the transmission data is included. 4. The communication terminal device according to claim 3, wherein, when receiving information accompanying the call signal transmitted from the other terminal, a means for transmitting a response signal to the effect to the other terminal. A communication terminal device comprising: 5. The communication terminal device according to claim 3, wherein a line connection process is performed with respect to the partner terminal when receiving information accompanying a call signal transmitted from the partner terminal. A communication terminal device comprising: a determination unit for determining whether to perform a line disconnection process. 6. The communication terminal device according to claim 3, wherein when information accompanying a call signal transmitted from the other terminal is received, a line disconnection process is performed on the other terminal. A line disconnecting unit for performing, based on the transmission data extracted by the data extracting unit, perform various information processing, and a predetermined area in information accompanying a call signal directed to the counterpart terminal based on the result. And a means for transmitting the call signal together with the call signal to the partner terminal. 7. The communication terminal device according to claim 5, wherein: a line disconnecting unit that performs a line disconnecting process based on a result of the determination by the determining unit; and a transmission data extracted by the data extracting unit. Means for executing various information processing, storing the results in a predetermined area in information accompanying a call signal directed to the counterpart terminal, and transmitting the result together with the call signal to the counterpart terminal. A communication terminal device characterized by the above-mentioned. 8. A billing control device for controlling a billing device interposed in a communication path connecting a calling terminal and a called terminal and counting billing information indicating a line usage fee of the calling terminal. Means for receiving, from the originating terminal, information associated with a call signal directed to the called terminal, and whether or not data to be transmitted is included in a predetermined area in the information associated with the received call signal. Determining means for determining whether the data to be transmitted is included in a predetermined area in the information accompanying the call signal by the determining means; Means for giving an instruction to update the charging information of the calling side terminal. 9. A billing control method for controlling a billing device interposed in a communication path connecting a calling terminal and a called terminal and counting billing information indicating a line usage fee of the calling terminal. Receiving information associated with a calling signal directed to the called terminal from the calling terminal; and determining whether a predetermined area in the information attached to the received calling signal includes data to be transmitted. Determining whether the data to be transmitted is included in a predetermined area in the information accompanying the calling signal by the determination unit, the charging device according to a predetermined charging method, Providing a command to update the charging information of the calling terminal.