Communication control device, location-dependent charge control system, and location-dependent charge control method

• US 8,055,239 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Ishii, Kenichi, Chihara, Shinpei
• Primary Examiner(s): Rampuria; Sharad
• Application Number:
  US12/296,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20090203351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,694 Days
• Field of Search: 455405-408, 455/445, 4554561-457, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/28 with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/74 Rating aspects, e.g. rating parameters or tariff determination apects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A communication control device (500) is capable of communicating with both a portable telephone terminal (100) and a location management device (400) that specifies the location of the portable telephone terminal (100). The communication control device (500) includes: a charge area management storage unit (530) that holds data regarding fee payment areas in which businesses that differ from the user of portable telephone terminal (100) pay the communication fees of the portable telephone terminal, a line connection unit (520) that can connect the portable telephone terminal (100) and the terminal of a communication partner while making the communication control device side the payer of communication fees of the portable telephone terminal (100), and a line connection management unit (510) that, upon accepting a communication request from the portable telephone terminal (100), acquires the location of the portable telephone terminal (100) from the location management device (400) and provides connection instructions to the line connection unit (520) to connect the portable telephone terminal (100) with the terminal of the communication partner while making the communication control device side the payer of the communication fees of the portable telephone terminal (100) only when the location of the portable telephone terminal (100) is contained in a fee payment area indicated by data held in the charge area management storage unit (530).

Claims

1. A communication control device capable of communicating with both a portable telephone terminal that transmits a communication request that designates a terminal of a communication partner and a location management device that specifies a location of said portable telephone terminal, said communication control device changing a payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal according to locations that are specified in said location management device;

said communication control device comprising;

a charge area management storage unit that holds data regarding fee payment areas in which a business that differs from a user of said portable telephone terminal pays the communication fees of said portable telephone terminal;

a communication control unit that can connect said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner while making the payer of the communication fees of said portable telephone terminal said communication control device side; and

a communication management unit that, upon receiving said communication request from said portable telephone terminal, acquires the location of said portable telephone terminal from said location management device, and that provides said communication control unit with connection instructions directing connection of said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner while making the payer of the communication fees of said portable telephone terminal said communication control device side only when the location of said portable telephone terminal is contained within said fee payment areas indicated by data held in said charge area management storage unit.

2. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein:

said communication control unit connects said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner by way of a fixed telephone network; and

said communication management unit provides said communication control unit with instructions to connect said portable telephone terminal to the terminal of said communication partner such that the communication fees of said portable telephone terminal are billed to said communication control device side from a charge system of said fixed telephone network only when the location of said portable telephone terminal is contained in said fee payment area indicated by data that are held in said charge area management storage unit.

3. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein said communication management unit provides instructions to said portable telephone terminal to connect directly to the terminal of said communication partner without being relayed through said communication control unit when the location of said portable telephone terminal is not contained in said fee payment area indicated by data that are held in said charge area management storage unit.

4. The communication control device according to claim 2, wherein, when the location of said portable telephone terminal is contained in said fee payment area indicated by data that are held in said charge area management storage unit, said communication management unit both:

supplies instructions to said portable telephone terminal to transmit to said communication control unit by a prescribed telephone number whereby the receiving side is charged, and provides instructions to said communication control unit to accept a transmission from said portable telephone terminal by said prescribed telephone number and then connect said portable telephone terminal to the terminal of said communication partner.

5. The communication control device according to claim 2, wherein, when the location of said portable telephone terminal is contained in said fee payment area indicated by data that are held in said charge area management storage unit, said communication management unit provides instructions to said communication control unit to transmit to both said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner and then connect said portable telephone terminal to the terminal of said communication partner.

6. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein:

said communication control device can further communicate with a charge-object management device that records a communication record between said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner,

said charge area management storage unit holds, in correspondence with data for said fee payment areas, business information for specifying businesses that pay communication fees of said portable telephone terminal in said fee payment areas; and

said communication management unit monitors the communication record between said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner by way of said communication control unit and records, in said charge-object management device, the communication record and said business information that corresponds to the location of the portable telephone terminal that has been acquired from said location management device.

7. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein:

said charge area management storage unit holds, in correspondence with data regarding said fee payment areas, valid time information indicating valid time of communication for which communication fees of the user of said portable telephone terminal are excused in said fee payment areas; and

said communication control unit limits communication between said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner based on said valid time that corresponds to the location of the portable telephone terminal that has been acquired from said location management device.

8. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein:

said location management device specifies a location of the terminal of said communication partner; and

said communication management unit acquires the location of the terminal of said communication partner from said location management device when said communication request from said portable telephone terminal has been accepted, and when the location of the terminal of said communication partner is contained in said fee payment area indicated by data that are held in said charge area management storage unit, provides instructions to said communication control unit to connect said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner while making said communication control device side the payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal.

9. The communication control device according to claim 4, wherein:

said charge area management storage unit holds, in correspondence with data regarding said fee payment areas, business information for specifying businesses that pay communication fees of said portable telephone terminal in said fee payment areas, and telephone numbers used when said communication control unit relays communication of said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner; and

said communication management unit changes the telephone number used when said communication control unit relays communication between said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner according to the location of said portable telephone terminal or according to said business information that corresponds to this location.

10. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein said location management device includes a location ID transmitter that transmits location ID by a radio signal and a location specification unit that accepts from said portable telephone terminal the location ID that is received by said portable telephone terminal and that specifies the location of said portable telephone terminal based on the location ID.

39. A location-dependent charge control system comprising the communication control device according to claim 1, and a location management device that specifies the location of a portable telephone terminal that communicates with said communication control device.

11. A communication control device capable of communicating with each of a portable telephone terminal that transmits a communication request that designates a terminal of a communication partner, a location management device that specifies a location of said portable telephone terminal, and a charge-object management device that manages a communication record in a location of use of said portable telephone terminal, said communication control device comprising:

a charge area management storage unit that holds, in correspondence with the location of said portable telephone terminal, payer information relating to a payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal at the location;

a communication control unit that connects said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner that was designated in said communication request by way of a fixed telephone network while making the payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal said communication control device side; and

a communication management unit that monitors the communication record of said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner by way of said communication control unit, and further, acquires the location of said portable telephone terminal from said location management device, acquires from said charge area management storage unit said payer information that corresponds to the location of said portable telephone terminal, and records in said charge-object management device said communication record and said payer information.

12. The communication control device according to claim 11, wherein, when said communication request has been accepted from said portable telephone terminal, said communication management unit both provides said portable telephone terminal with instructions to transmit to said communication control unit by a prescribed telephone number by which a call-receiving side is charged and provides said communication control unit with instructions to accept transmission from said portable telephone terminal by said prescribed telephone number and then connect said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner.

13. The communication control device according to claim 11, wherein said communication management unit, upon having accepted said communication request from said portable telephone terminal, provides instructions to said communication control unit to transmit to both said portable telephone terminal and said communication partner and then to connect said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner.

14. The communication control device according to claim 11, wherein said charge area management storage unit holds, as said payer information, business information for specifying businesses that pay communication fees of said portable telephone terminal.

15. The communication control device according to claim 14, wherein said charge area management storage unit holds, in correspondence with the location of said portable telephone terminal or with said business information, valid time information that indicates valid time of communication in which communication fees of the user of said portable telephone terminal are excused.

16. The communication control device according to claim 15, wherein said communication control unit limits communication between said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner based on said valid time.

17. The communication control device according to claim 16, wherein said communication management unit records in said charge-object management device communication that uses said communication control unit following said valid time as communication that is billed to the user of said portable telephone terminal.

18. The communication control device according to claim 14, wherein:

said charge area management storage unit holds, in correspondence with the location of said portable telephone terminal or said business information, payment ratios of the user of said portable telephone terminal and said business for said communication fees; and

said communication management unit records in said charge-object management device said payment ratios that correspond to the location of said portable telephone terminal together with said communication record.

19. The communication control device according to claim 11, wherein:

said location management device specifies a location of the terminal of said communication partner; and

said communication management unit, upon having accepted said communication request from said portable telephone terminal, acquires the location of the terminal of said communication partner from said location management device, acquires from said charge area management storage unit said payer information that corresponds to the location of the terminal of said communication partner, and records said payer information in said charge-object management device.

20. The communication control device according to claim 12, wherein:

said charge area management storage unit registers, in addition to said business information, telephone numbers that are used when said communication control unit relays communication between said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner; and

said communication management unit changes the telephone number used when said communication control unit relays communication between said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner according to the location of said portable telephone terminal or said business information.

21. The communication control device according to claim 11, wherein said location management device includes a location ID transmitter that transmits a location ID by a radio signal, and a location specification unit that accepts from said portable telephone terminal a location ID received by said portable telephone terminal and specifies the location of said portable telephone terminal based on said location ID.

40. A location-dependent charge control system comprising the communication control device according to claim 11, a location management device that specifies the location of a portable telephone terminal that communicates with said communication control device, and a charge-object management device that manages a communication record in locations of use of said portable telephone terminal.

22. A communication control device capable of communicating with each of a portable telephone terminal that transmits a communication request that designates a terminal of a communication partner, a location management device that specifies a location of said portable telephone terminal, and a charge-object management device that manages a communication record in a location of use of said portable telephone terminal;

said communication control device comprising;

a charge area management storage unit that holds, in correspondence with the location of said portable telephone terminal, payer information relating to a payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal at the location;

a communication control unit that connects said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner that was designated in said communication request by way of a fixed telephone network while making the payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal said portable telephone terminal side; and

a communication management unit that monitors the communication record of said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner by way of said communication control unit, and further, acquires the location of said portable telephone terminal from said location management device, acquires from said charge area management storage unit said payer information that corresponds to the location of said portable telephone terminal, and records in said charge-object management device said communication record and said payer information.

23. The communication control device according to claim 22, wherein said communication management unit, upon having accepted said communication request from said portable telephone terminal, both provides said portable telephone terminal with instructions to transmit to said communication control unit by a specified telephone number by which a transmitting side is charged and provides said communication control unit with instructions to receive transmission from said portable telephone terminal by said specified telephone number and then connect said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner.

24. The communication control device according to claim 22, wherein said charge area management storage unit holds, as said payer information, business information for specifying businesses that pay communication fees of said portable telephone terminal.

25. The communication control device according to claim 24, wherein said charge area management storage unit holds, in correspondence with the location of said portable telephone terminal or said business information, valid time information indicating valid time of communication for which communication fees of the user of said portable telephone terminal are excused.

26. The communication control device according to claim 25, wherein said communication control unit limits communication of said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner based on said valid time.

27. The communication control device according to claim 26, wherein said communication management unit records in said charge-object management device communication that uses said communication control unit following said valid time as communication for which the user of said portable telephone terminal is billed.

28. The communication control device according to claim 24, wherein:

said charge area management storage unit holds, in correspondence with the location of said portable telephone terminal or said business information, payment ratios of the user of said portable telephone terminal and said businesses for said communication fees; and

said communication management unit records in said charge-object management device said payment ratios that correspond to the location of said portable telephone terminal together with said communication record.

29. The communication control device according to claim 22, wherein:

said location management device further specifies a location of the terminal of said communication partner; and

said communication management unit, upon having accepted the communication request from said portable telephone terminal, acquires the location of the terminal of said communication partner from said location management device, acquires from said charge area management storage unit said payer information that corresponds to the location of the terminal of said communication partner, and records said payer information in said charge-object management device.

30. The communication control device according to claim 23, wherein:

said charge area management storage unit registers, in addition to said business information, telephone numbers that are used when said communication control unit relays communication of said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner; and

said communication management unit changes the telephone number used when said communication control unit relays communication of said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner according to the location of said portable telephone terminal or said business information.

31. The communication control device according to claim 22, wherein said location management device includes a location ID transmitter that transmits a location ID by a radio signal, and a location specification unit that accepts from said portable telephone terminal location ID received by said portable telephone terminal and specifies the location of said portable telephone terminal based on said location ID.

32. A communication control device capable of communicating with each of a portable telephone terminal that reports a communication start and a communication end, a location management device that specifies a location of said portable telephone terminal, and a charge-object management device that manages a communication record in a location of use of said portable telephone terminal;

said communication control device comprising;

a charge area management storage unit that holds, in correspondence with the location of said portable telephone terminal, payer information relating to a payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal at the location; and

a communication management unit that monitors the communication record of said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of a communication partner of said portable telephone terminal based on the communication starts and communication ends reported from said portable telephone terminal, and further, acquires the location of said portable telephone terminal from said location management device, acquires from said charge area management storage unit said payer information that corresponds to the location of said portable telephone terminal, and records in said charge-object management device said communication record and said payer information.

33. The communication control device according to claim 32, wherein said charge area management storage unit holds, as said payer information, business information for specifying businesses that pay communication fees of said portable telephone terminal.

34. The communication control device according to claim 33, wherein said charge area management storage unit holds, in correspondence with the location of said portable telephone terminal or said business information, valid time information indicating valid time of communication for which communication fees of the user of said portable telephone terminal are excused.

35. The communication control device according to claim 34, wherein said communication management unit records, in said charge-object management device, communication that follows said valid time as communication for which the user of said portable telephone terminal is billed.

36. The communication control device according to claim 33, wherein:

said charge area management storage unit holds, in correspondence with the location of said portable telephone terminal or said business information, payment ratios of the user of said portable telephone terminal and said businesses for said communication fees; and

said communication management unit records in said charge-object management device the payment ratios that correspond to the location of said portable telephone terminal together with said communication record.

37. The communication control device according to claim 32, wherein

said location management device further specifies a location of the terminal of said communication partner;

and

said communication management unit further acquires the location of the terminal of said communication partner from said location management device, acquires from said charge area management storage unit said payer information that corresponds to the location of the terminal of said communication partner, and records said payer information in said charge-object management device.

38. The communication control device according to claim 32, wherein said location management device further includes a location ID transmitter that transmits location ID by a radio signal, and a location specification unit that accepts from said portable telephone terminal location ID that was received by said portable telephone terminal and specifies the location of said portable telephone terminal based on the location ID.

41. A location-dependent charge control method performed by a communication control device that can communicate with both a portable telephone terminal that transmits a communication request that designates a terminal of a communication partner and a location management device that specifies a location of said portable telephone terminal, and further, that includes a charge area management storage unit that holds data regarding fee payment areas in which businesses that differ from a user of said portable telephone terminal pay communication fees of said portable telephone terminal;

said location-dependent charge control method comprising;

when said communication request is accepted from said portable telephone terminal, acquiring the location of said portable telephone terminal from said location management device; and

only when the location of said portable telephone terminal is contained in said fee payment area shown by data that are held in said charge area management storage unit, connecting said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner while making said communication control device side the payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal.

42. A location-dependent charge control method performed by a communication control device that can communicate with each of a portable telephone terminal that transmits a communication request that designates a terminal of a communication partner, a location management device that specifies a location of said portable telephone terminal, and a charge-object management device that manages a communication record in locations of use of said portable telephone terminal, and further, that includes a charge area management storage unit that holds, in correspondence with the location of said portable telephone terminal, payer information relating to payers of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal at the location;

said location-dependent charge control method comprising;

connecting said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner designated in said communication request by way of a fixed telephone network while making said communication control device side the payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal;

monitoring the communication record of said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner;

acquiring the location of said portable telephone terminal from said location management device;

acquiring from said charge area management storage unit said payer information that corresponds to the location of said portable telephone terminal; and

recording said communication record and said payer information in said charge-object management device.

43. A location-dependent charge control method performed by a communication control device that can communicate with each of a portable telephone terminal that transmits a communication request that designates a terminal of a communication partner, a location management device that specifies a location of said portable telephone terminal, and a charge-object management device that manages a communication record in locations of use of said portable telephone terminal, and further, that includes a charge area management storage unit that holds, in correspondence with the location of said portable telephone terminal, payer information relating to payers of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal at the location;

said location-dependent charge control method comprising;

connecting said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner designated in said communication request by way of a fixed telephone network while making said portable telephone terminal side the payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal;

monitoring a communication record of said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner;

acquiring the location of said portable telephone terminal from said location management device;

acquiring from said charge area management storage unit said payer information that corresponds to the location of said portable telephone terminal; and

recording said communication record and said payer information in said charge-object management device.

44. A location-dependent charge control method performed by a communication control device that can communicate with each of a portable telephone terminal that reports communication starts and communication ends, a location management device that specifies a location of said portable telephone terminal, and a charge-object management device that manages a communication record in locations of use of said portable telephone terminal, and further, that includes a charge area management storage unit that holds, in correspondence with the location of said portable telephone terminal, payer information relating to payers of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal at the location;

said location-dependent charge control method comprising;

monitoring the communication record of said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner of said portable telephone terminal based on communication starts and communication ends reported from said portable telephone terminal;

acquiring the location of said portable telephone terminal from said location management device;

acquiring from said charge area management storage unit said payer information that corresponds to the location of said portable telephone terminal; and

recording said communication record and said payer information in said charge-object management device.

45. A communication control device capable of communicating with both a portable telephone terminal for transmitting a communication request that designates a terminal of a communication partner and a location management device for specifying a location of said portable telephone terminal, said communication control device changing a payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal according to locations that are specified in said location management device;

said communication control device comprising;

charge area management storage means for holding data regarding fee payment areas in which a business that differs from a user of said portable telephone terminal pays the communication fees of said portable telephone terminal;

communication control means that can connect said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner while making the payer of the communication fees of said portable telephone terminal said communication control device side; and

communication management means for, upon receiving said communication request from said portable telephone terminal, acquiring the location of said portable telephone terminal from said location management device, and providing said communication control means with connection instructions directing connection of said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner while making the payer of the communication fees of said portable telephone terminal said communication control device side only when the location of said portable telephone terminal is contained within said fee payment areas indicated by data held in said charge area management storage means.

46. A communication control device capable of communicating with each of a portable telephone terminal for transmitting a communication request that designates a terminal of a communication partner, a location management device for specifying a location of said portable telephone terminal, and a charge-object management device for managing a communication record in a location of use of said portable telephone terminal, said communication control device comprising:

charge area management storage means for holding, in correspondence with the location of said portable telephone terminal, payer information relating to a payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal at the location;

communication control means for connecting said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner that was designated in said communication request by way of a fixed telephone network while making the payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal said communication control device side; and

communication management means for monitoring the communication record of said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner by way of said communication control means, and further, acquiring the location of said portable telephone terminal from said location management device, acquiring from said charge area management storage means said payer information that corresponds to the location of said portable telephone terminal, and recording in said charge-object management device said communication record and said payer information.

47. A communication control device capable of communicating with each of a portable telephone terminal for transmitting a communication request that designates a terminal of a communication partner, a location management device for specifying a location of said portable telephone terminal, and a charge-object management device for managing a communication record in a location of use of said portable telephone terminal;

said communication control device comprising;

charge area management storage means for holding, in correspondence with the location of said portable telephone terminal, payer information relating to a payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal at the location;

communication control means for connecting said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner that was designated in said communication request by way of a fixed telephone network while making the payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal said portable telephone terminal side; and

communication management means for monitoring the communication record of said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of said communication partner by way of said communication control means, and further, acquiring the location of said portable telephone terminal from said location management device, acquiring from said charge area management storage means said payer information that corresponds to the location of said portable telephone terminal, and recording in said charge-object management device said communication record and said payer information.

48. A communication control device capable of communicating with each of a portable telephone terminal for reporting a communication start and a communication end, a location management device for specifying a location of said portable telephone terminal, and a charge-object management device for managing a communication record in a location of use of said portable telephone terminal;

said communication control device comprising;

charge area management storage means for holding, in correspondence with the location of said portable telephone terminal, payer information relating to a payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal at the location; and

communication management means for monitoring the communication record of said portable telephone terminal and the terminal of a communication partner of said portable telephone terminal based on the communication starts and communication ends reported from said portable telephone terminal, and further, acquiring the location of said portable telephone terminal from said location management device, acquiring from said charge area management storage means said payer information that corresponds to the location of said portable telephone terminal, and recording in said charge-object management device said communication record and said payer information.

49. A communication control device for changing the payer of communication fees according to the location of a mobile terminal, comprising:

a charge area management storage unit for holding data regarding fee payment areas in which a business that differs from the user of said mobile terminal pays communication fees of said mobile terminal;

a communication control unit that can connect said mobile terminal with the terminal of a communication partner while making said communication control device side the payer of communication fees of said mobile terminal; and

a communication management unit that, when a communication request has been accepted from said mobile terminal, provides said communication control unit with connection instructions to connect said mobile terminal with the terminal of said communication partner while making said communication control device side the payer of communication fees of said mobile terminal when the location of the mobile terminal is within said fee payment areas shown by data that are held in said charge area management storage unit.

50. A communication control device capable of communicating with both a portable telephone terminal that transmits a communication request that designates a terminal of a communication partner and a location management device that specifies a location of said portable telephone terminal, said communication control device controlling and changing communication based on a call from said portable telephone terminal, choosing a payer of communication fees of the communication between a user of said portable telephone terminal and a service provider according to a location of the call;

said communication control device comprising;

a charge area management storage unit that holds data regarding fee payment areas in which the service provider that differs from the user of said portable telephone terminal pays the communication fees of said portable telephone terminal;

a communication control unit that can connect said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner; and

a communication management unit that, upon receiving said communication request from said portable telephone terminal, acquires the location of said portable telephone terminal from said location management device, and that provides said communication control unit with connection instructions directing connection of said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner while making the payer of the communication fees of said portable telephone terminal said service provider side when the location of said portable telephone terminal is contained within said fee payment areas indicated by data held in said charge area management storage unit, and that provides said communication control unit with connection instructions directing connection of said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner while making the payer of the communication fees said user when the location of said portable telephone terminal is not contained within said fee payment areas.

51. The communication control device according to claim 50, wherein, when the location of said portable telephone terminal is contained in said fee payment areas indicated by data that are held in said charge area management storage unit, said communication management unit both:

supplies instructions to said portable telephone terminal to transmit to said communication control unit by a prescribed telephone number whereby the receiving side is charged, and provides instructions to said communication control unit to accept a transmission from said portable telephone terminal by said prescribed telephone number and then connect said portable telephone terminal to the terminal of said communication partner.

52. A location-dependent charge control method performed by a communication control device that can communicate with both a portable telephone terminal that transmits a communication request that designates a terminal of a communication partner and a location management device that specifies a location of said portable telephone terminal, the communication control device including a charge area management storage unit that holds data regarding fee payment areas in which a service provider that differs from a user of said portable telephone terminal pays communication fees of said portable telephone terminal, the communication control device controlling and changing communication based on a call from said portable telephone terminal, choosing a payer of communication fees of the communication between a user of said portable telephone terminal and a service provider according to a location of the call;

said location-dependent charge control method comprising;

when said communication request is accepted from said portable telephone terminal, acquiring the location of said portable telephone terminal from said location management device; and

when the location of said portable telephone terminal is contained in said fee payment area shown by data that are held in said charge area management storage unit, connecting said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner while making said service provider side the payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal, when the location of said portable telephone terminal is not contained in said fee payment area, connecting said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner while making said user the payer of communication fees.

53. The location-dependent charge control method according to claim 52, wherein, said connecting said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner while making said service provider side the payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal comprises:

supplying instructions to said portable telephone terminal to transmit to said communication control unit by a prescribed telephone number whereby the receiving side is charged, and

providing instructions to said communication control unit to accept a transmission from said portable telephone terminal by said prescribed telephone number and then connect said portable telephone terminal to the terminal of said communication partner.

54. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium in which a program is embedded, the program causing a computer to implement a communication control, the computer being able to communicate with both a portable telephone terminal that transmits a communication request that designates a terminal of a communication partner and a location management device that specifies a location of said portable telephone terminal, the computer including a charge area management storage unit that holds data regarding fee payment areas in which a service provider that differs from a user of said portable telephone terminal pays communication fees of said portable telephone terminal, the computer controlling and changing communication based on a call from said portable telephone terminal, choosing a payer of communication fees of the communication between the user of said portable telephone terminal and the service provider according to a location of the call by implementing the program:

the communication control comprising;

when said communication request is accepted from said portable telephone terminal, acquiring the location of said portable telephone terminal from said location management device, and,

when the location of said portable telephone terminal is contained in said fee payment area shown by data that are held in said charge area management storage unit, connecting said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner while making said service provider side the payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal, when the location of said portable telephone terminal is not contained in said fee payment area, connecting said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner while making said user the payer of communication fees.

55. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium according to claim 54, wherein, said connecting said portable telephone terminal with the terminal of said communication partner while making said service provider side the payer of communication fees of said portable telephone terminal comprises:

supplying instructions to said portable telephone terminal to transmit to said communication control unit by a prescribed telephone number whereby the receiving side is charged, and

providing instructions to said communication control unit to accept a transmission from said portable telephone terminal by said prescribed telephone number and then connect said portable telephone terminal to the terminal of said communication partner.