Charging apparatus, method, system, and non-transitory medium

• US 10,863,037 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2020
• Issued: 12/08/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Nakano, Shintaro, Ishii, Satoru, Hasegawa, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cai, Wayne H
• Application Number:
  US16/733,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20200153975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• 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 15/61 based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/72 by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/771 per terminal or location, e.g. mobile device with multiple directory numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/852 Low balance or limit reached
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

User identification information for identifying a user of a first terminal connecting to a communication network of a virtual communication operator via a communication network of a first communication operator is specified, and, based on the user identification information, charging for communication of the first terminal and charging for a service that the virtual communication operator is enabled to provide to the user identified by the user identification information are managed.

Claims

1. A charging management apparatus comprising:

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to;

specify first user identification information comprising first charging information for connecting to a communication network via a first network operator;

specify second user identification information comprising second charging information for connecting to the communication network via a second network operator; and

based on the specified first user identification information and the specified second user identification information, unify the first charging information and the second charging information to an account for a service of a virtual network operator.

2. The charging management apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the service is provided by the virtual network operator, via a data center operated by the virtual network operator.

3. The charging management apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

charge for the service to the account.

4. The charging management apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

receive a charging method including at least one of prepayment or payment by a credit card, in correspondence with the first user identification information or the second user identification information.

5. The charging management apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first user identification information is for telecom carrier service provided by at least one of the first network operator or the second network operator;

and

wherein the second user identification information is for a cloud service.

6. The charging management apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

transmit to the account a notification when a prepaid balance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value or runs out.

7. A charging management method comprising:

specifying first user identification information comprising first charging information for connecting to a communication network via a first network operator;

specifying second user identification information comprising second charging information for connecting to the communication network via a second network operator; and

based on the specified first user identification information and the specified second user identification information, unifying the first charging information and the second charging information to an account for a service of a virtual network operator.

8. The charging management method according to claim 7,

wherein the service is provided by the virtual network operator, via a data center operated by the virtual network operator.

9. The charging management method according to claim 7, further comprising:

charging for the service to the account.

10. The charging management method according to claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a charging method including at least one of prepayment or payment by a credit card, in correspondence with the first user identification information or the second user identification information.

11. The charging management method according to claim 7,

wherein the first user identification information is for telecom carrier service provided by at least one of the first network operator or the second network operator;

and

wherein the second user identification information is for a cloud service.

12. The charging management method according to claim 7, further comprising:

transmitting to the account a notification when a prepaid balance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value or runs out.