Information processing system capable of calculating communication fees corresponding to communication utilization forms

• US 8,620,261 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Goto, Yukiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Amancio
• Application Number:
  US12/058,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20080242263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,104 Days
• Field of Search: 455405-409, 379/114.03, 379/114.01, 379/112.07, 379/114.22, 379/114.26, 379/114.05, 379/114.28, 705/40, 705/412, 705/32, 705/30
• 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 15/43 Billing software details

Abstract

An information processing system of the present invention comprises a storage apparatus storing calculation equations for calculating a communication fee corresponding to an identifier of said information terminal regarding first and second subscription courses whose said particular utilization forms are different each other, and storing subscription information including information on a date and time of starting the first subscription course, and an information processing apparatus connected to the storage apparatus through a network. Upon receipt of information on the second subscription course will be selected instead of the first subscription course and a date and time of starting the second subscription course from the information terminal through the network, the information processing apparatus stores received information in the storage apparatus, and changes the calculation equation for calculating the communication fee based on the date and time of starting the second subscription course.

Claims

1. An information processing system for calculating a communication fee in a particular utilization form among a plurality of utilization forms of an information terminal, said system comprising:

an information processing apparatus including a first storage device storing calculation equations for calculating said communication fee corresponding to an identifier of said information terminal regarding first and second subscription courses whose said particular utilization forms are different each other, and storing first subscription information including information on a date and time of starting said first subscription course, and a first control unit; and

an information disclosure apparatus connected to said information processing apparatus through a network, including a second storage device storing second subscription information including information that said second subscription course will be selected instead of said first subscription course corresponding to said identifier of said information terminal and a date and time of starting said second subscription course, and a second control unit, wherein

said second control unit, upon receipt of a notification that disclosure of said second subscription information is permitted from said information terminal through said network, transmits said second subscription information to said information processing apparatus,

said first control unit, upon receipt of said second subscription information from said information disclosure apparatus, stores said second subscription information in said first storage device,

said first control unit records a communication amount by a communication in said particular utilization form performed by said information terminal and a communication date and time which indicates a date and time at which said communication has been performed in said first storage device,

said first control unit determines whether or not said communication date and time is before said date and time of starting said second subscription course, and calculates said communication fee by using said communication amount and a calculation equation for said first subscription course when said communication date and time is before said date and time of starting said second subscription course, or calculates said communication fee by using said communication amount and a calculation equation for said second subscription course when said communication date and time is at or after said date and time of starting said second subscription course.

2. A method by an information processing apparatus for calculating a communication fee in a particular utilization form among a plurality of utilization forms of an information terminal and an information disclosure apparatus connected to said information processing apparatus through a network, said method comprising:

said information processing apparatus storing calculation equations for calculating said communication fee corresponding to an identifier of said information terminal regarding first and second subscription courses whose said particular utilization forms are different each other, and first subscription information including information on a date and time of starting said first subscription course, in a first storage device;

said information disclosure apparatus storing second subscription information including information that said second subscription course will be selected instead of said first subscription course corresponding to an identifier of said information terminal and a date and time of starting said second subscription course in a second storage device;

said information disclosure apparatus transmitting said second subscription information to said information processing apparatus upon receipt of a notification that disclosure of said second subscription information is permitted from said information terminal through said network;

said information processing apparatus, upon receipt of said second subscription information from said information disclosure apparatus, storing said second subscription information in said first storage device;

said information processing apparatus recording a communication amount by a communication in said particular utilization form performed by said information terminal and a communication date which indicates a date and time at which said communication has been performed in said first storage device; and

said information processing apparatus determining whether or not said communication date and time is before said date and time of starting said second subscription course, calculating said communication fee by using said communication amount and a calculation equation for said first subscription course when said communication date and time is before said date and time of starting said second subscription course, or calculating said communication fee by using said communication amount and a calculation equation for said second subscription course when said communication date and time is at or after said date and time of starting said second subscription course.