JP3456376B2 - Telephone service system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telephone service system that provides services to customers in relation to the usage status of telephone lines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a computer system, data transmission between a center and a terminal is generally carried out through a telephone line, except when a unique dedicated line is used. For example, a mobile phone having a built-in modem function is connected to a personal computer, or is attached to a card slot of the personal computer to perform data communication with a server or another terminal station via a telephone line.

In a telephone company, the presence or absence of data and carriers on such a telephone line is constantly monitored, and the monitoring information is used to maintain the normal operation of the system.
In addition to services that improve the quality and reliability of telephone lines, services that offer discounts on telephone charges depending on the usage status of telephone lines are being provided.

[0004]

Although the above discount service is provided as a part of customer service, it has not been very effective in promoting the number of times of telephone line use and the time of use. In order to receive the telephone charge discount service,
This is because it is difficult to be conscious of increasing the number of times the telephone line is used and the number of times it is used.

An object of the present invention is to provide a telephone service system in which the number of times of use and the time of use of the telephone line are effectively increased and the utilization of the telephone line is promoted.

[0006]

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Telephone service of the present invention
The system counts the line usage amount or the service points according to the line usage amount for each caller number of the customer or each customer, and detects that the line usage amount or the service point reaches a predetermined amount. , Means for transmitting customer service data having an expiration date to the terminal having the caller ID of the customer is provided in a telephone exchange or a station connected to a telephone line network, and the customer service data having the expiration date is provided. By receiving it, the operation processing function preset in the terminal or the device connected to the terminal can be operated within the expiration date.
There characterized in that a means to enable the device to be connected to the terminal or terminals. As a result, when a line usage fee or service points determined according to the line usage reaches a predetermined amount, for example, a certain program that is preset in a terminal such as a telephone or a mobile phone or a device such as a personal computer connected to the terminal is newly added. It can be executed within the valid period .

Further, the telephone service system of the present invention counts the line usage amount or the service points according to the line usage amount for each caller number of the customer or each customer,
The telephone line was unavailable when the customer accessed it
If the customer's line usage or service points reach a specified amount , other lines can be used
Ask the customer whether to receive the preferential treatment
Inquiries about the means to allow and whether to receive the preferential treatment
When the customer responds to the preferential treatment
Means for executing the preferential treatment, and the telephone exchange or
It is characterized in that it is equipped with a station connected to the telephone network .
This allows the customer to receive preferential treatment on the line connection when the line usage fee or the corresponding service points reaches a predetermined amount. For example, the number of channels that each base station of a mobile phone system normally uses is limited in advance (a few channels of all available channels are set as special channels that are not normally used), and the mobile phone is called. When the line of a base station whose service area is the location of the mobile phone is not connected when making a call, the central station issues a command to use that special channel to the base station. This allows the caller to be treated preferentially while respecting the intention and intention of the sender.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 the configuration of the telephone service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the entire telephone service system. In the figure, base stations are arranged for each predetermined service area. Each base station wirelessly transmits / receives to / from a mobile phone within its service area. Each base station is connected to a telephone company exchange. In addition to the other base stations, a home memory station that stores the position information of each mobile phone and a central station that monitors the number of times and the usage time of the telephone line by each mobile phone are connected to this exchange.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the function of transmitting service data in accordance with the line usage in the central office. In the figure, the line connection procedure and the service procedure according to the line usage will be described. First, when the mobile phone A makes a call to the mobile phone B, the base station in the service area in which the mobile phone A is located is Upon receiving the call signal from the mobile phone A, the call signal is transferred to the central office through the telephone line network. The central office detects the called party number and outputs a calling signal to the base station B nearest to the mobile phone B based on the position information of the mobile phone B registered in the home memory station (not shown). The base station B sends a calling signal to the mobile phone B. When the mobile phone B operates the off-hook button, the line connection is established and the call becomes possible. On the other hand, the central office detects the caller's telephone number and calculates the line usage fee according to the line connection time and the line connection route (connection distance). When the line usage charge exceeds a predetermined value, the state is stored, and when the caller accesses the service data (game program etc.), the service data is sent to the caller. To do.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile phone. In the figure, the controller 17 reads the operation content of the key switch 18, displays a predetermined content on the display 19, and controls the reception circuit 13 and the transmission circuit 15. The reception circuit 13 receives a reception signal via the antenna 11 and the antenna duplexer 12, and outputs a voice signal from the speaker 14. Also, the decoded digital data is given to the controller 17. The transmission circuit 15 transmits a voice input signal from the microphone 16 via the antenna duplexer 12 and the antenna 11. Also the controller 17
Performs data transmission with a personal computer (PC) via the interface 20.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the overall processing procedure in the central office. First, a call (line connection request) is accepted, and a caller number and a callee number are detected (n1 → n2 → n3). Then, the calling process of the corresponding terminal is performed based on the called party number (n4). After that, if the line connection is established, the line usage fee and the corresponding service points are counted (n5 → n6). This line usage fee is quantified by the line connection time and connection distance (billing distance). The service points are added with points proportional to the increase in the line usage fee, or with points weighted according to the line usage according to a predetermined table. For example, the service points to be added are increased as the line usage fee increases. After that, if the line is disconnected, the service processing described later is performed (n7 → n).
8). If the caller hooks on without establishing the line connection, the process is terminated (n9 → END).

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the contents of the above service processing in the central office. First, it is determined whether or not the service point (SP) corresponding to the line usage fee is equal to or more than a predetermined value (n11). If it is equal to or more than the predetermined value, the corresponding customer (caller number of the caller who accepted the call in step n1 of FIG. 4) is called (n1).
2). At the time of this call, if the answering machine function of the mobile phone is operating, the call is recorded on the answering machine. If the line connection is established, a guidance for service provision is notified by synthetic voice, and then the line is disconnected (n13 → n14 → n1).
5). This service provision guidance notification is, for example, guidance of a connection destination number for downloading a game program.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for receiving the above service in a terminal station such as a mobile phone. At the terminal station, as shown in FIG. 6, first, a call process to a connection destination for receiving service provision is performed by key operation (n21 → n22 → n23 → n24). This connection destination is one line of the central office, and as will be described later, if a call is made from a caller who is in the use permission state of service data, line connection is made. If the call is from a caller who is not permitted to use the service data, no line connection is made. When the line is connected, the central station will notify you of the procedure for downloading with synthetic voice.
The corresponding key operation is read and the dial tone of that key is output (n25 → n26 → n27). The operator selects, for example, which one of a plurality of games is to be selected with the numeric keys of the ten-key pad. After that, the download is performed in synchronization with the processing of the central station by a predetermined protocol (n
28). When the download is completed, the hook-on process is performed and the line is disconnected (n29).

When the key operation for starting the game is performed at the terminal station, it is determined whether or not the game program has already been downloaded, and whether or not the already downloaded program has expired (n30 → n31 →
n32). The data indicating the expiration date is included in the above program or is downloaded at the time of downloading the program. The service point (SP) when the download of the program is permitted and the data of the program It is predetermined according to the value. Normally, the higher the service point (SP) when the program is allowed to download, the longer the expiration date, and the higher the value of the program, the shorter the expiration date. If a valid game program has already been downloaded, execute that game program (n
33). If no valid game program exists, a message indicating that fact is output (n3
4). In this way, as the line usage increases, the usable period of the downloaded program will eventually become longer, and the effect of increasing the frequency of use of the line will be motivated by the consciousness of continuing to use the program. I will give you more.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure in the central office for providing the above service. As shown in FIG. 7, the central office first determines from the caller number whether or not there is a use permission state of the service data for the caller (n41 → n42). If it is in the permitted state, voice guidance output is performed and the key operation of the terminal station is waited (n43 → n4
4). For example, a guidance such as "Press No. 1 for XX game, No. 2 for □□ game, and then press # button" is output as voice. Then, the push button operation of the terminal station is detected, and the program corresponding thereto is downloaded (transmitted) (n45). As described above, data indicating the expiration date of the program is also transmitted at the time of this download. When the download is completed, a predetermined number of points corresponding to the value of the program downloaded this time is subtracted from the service points of the corresponding customer (n
46). When the service data has not been set to the use permission state for the caller (line usage or service points does not reach the predetermined value), a message to that effect is output as a synthetic voice (n47).

After the above processing, by executing the downloaded program off-line, the game can be played using the key switch and the display of the mobile phone. In this example, the game program or the like is downloaded, but the service data may be, for example, voice information such as horse racing prediction information or music information of the latest hit song, in addition to such a program.

In the above example, the mobile phone itself was made to download the program and the mobile phone itself was made to execute the program. However, by downloading the program to a personal computer to which a modem or a mobile phone is connected, The program may be executed on the personal computer. Further, in the above example, the central office may be a telephone exchange office or another office.

Next, processing procedures of the central station and the terminal station in the telephone service system according to the embodiment of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively.

At the terminal station, as shown in FIG. 9, if the calling process to the predetermined connection destination is performed by the key operation, the special function enabling data is received from the central station before the connection (n71).
→ n72 → n73 → n74 → n75). After that, the connection state to the connection destination is maintained until the hook-on key is operated.

When the key operation for using the special function is performed in the terminal station, the valid / invalid state of the special function is determined (n76 → n77). The special function activation data includes data indicating the expiration date. This expiration date is set in advance according to the service point (SP) when permitting the activation of the special function and the value of the special function. That is, the higher the value of the special function for the service point (SP) when the special function is permitted to be activated, the shorter the expiration date is set. If the special function is valid, the special function is executed (n78). If the special function is in the invalid state, a message indicating that is output (n79). In this way, as the line usage increases, the usable period of the special function will eventually become longer, and the effect of increasing the frequency of use of the line will be motivated by the consciousness of continuing to use the special function. I will give you more.

The above-mentioned special functions are functions provided in advance in a terminal station such as a mobile phone, and include a game execution function, a phone ringing tone selection function, a date display mode selection function, and the like.
By activating a predetermined function among these special functions, the function can be actually used.

[0024] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the service processing of the central station in the telephone service system according to another embodiment. First, a call (line connection request) is accepted, and a caller number and a callee number are detected (n91 → n92 → n93). Then, the calling process of the corresponding terminal is performed based on the called party number (n94). If this call is a call to a mobile phone and the line of the base station whose service area is the other party's mobile phone is not busy, it is determined whether the caller can receive preferential treatment. Is determined (n95 → n96). If the service point (SP) is a caller having a predetermined value or more, it is regarded as a preferential caller, and a notification asking whether or not to perform the preferential treatment is given by synthetic voice or the like (n97). If there is a response to this, a command for opening the special channel (making it available) is output to the base station of the called party (callee) (n99). If there is no response to the above inquiry and the terminal is hooked on, the process is terminated without making line connection (n100 → END).

When there is a response to the above inquiry and the connection by the special channel is established, guidance to that effect is given by a synthetic voice or the like, and the service points corresponding to the preferential processing this time are reduced (n95 → n101 → n102). →
n103). After that, until the line is disconnected by hook-on of the terminal, the line usage fee and the corresponding service points are counted (n104 → n105 →
...).

In the above-described first embodiment, the line usage fee is counted in units of caller numbers. However, when a single customer has a plurality of caller telephone numbers, the number of callers is increased. The line usage fee may be counted at. Further, in the first embodiment, in order for the customer to receive the service, the customer makes a call to a predetermined telephone number and the caller number is confirmed in the center to enhance the security. The data for service may be transmitted from the central station on the side providing the data to the terminal station of the customer. At that time, the customer's terminal station may receive no ringing so that the ringing tone does not sound. Then, the display indicating that the service has been received may be displayed on the display unit of the terminal station.

[0027]

[0028]

According to the present invention, when the line usage fee or the service points determined according to the line usage amount reaches a predetermined amount, it is preset in a terminal such as a telephone or a mobile phone or a device such as a personal computer connected to the terminal. Since the operation processing function being performed becomes effective only within the expiration date, it is possible to effectively promote the number of times the telephone line is used and the usage time of the customer.

Further, according to the present invention, the customer inquires whether to receive preferential treatment on the line connection when the line usage fee or the corresponding service points reaches a predetermined amount.
To receive preferential treatment for the inquiry.
Since the processing can be executed only when there is an intention display, it is possible to effectively promote the number of times and the usage time of the customer's telephone line. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a telephone service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a function of transmitting service data in accordance with a line usage amount in a central office.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an overall processing procedure in the central office.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of service processing in the central office.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in a terminal station.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of service reception processing in the central office.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the central office in the telephone service system according to the embodiment of the present invention .

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a terminal station in the telephone service system according to the embodiment.

10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a central office in a telephone service system according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

11-antenna 12-antenna duplexer

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-8-167948 (JP, A) JP-A-8-161261 (JP, A) JP-A-9-149137 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04M 3/42-3/58

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. The customer's caller ID or each customer,
Line usage amount or service points according to line usage amount is counted, and when the line usage amount or the service points reaches a predetermined amount, the customer service data with an expiration date is transmitted to the customer. Send to person's terminal
Connected to the telephone exchange or telephone line network
Data for customer service with the expiration date provided at the station
Device that is connected to the terminal by receiving the
The operation processing function preset in the
Means to activate at the terminal or connected to the terminal
A telephone service system installed on the device . 2. Times for each caller number of a customer or for each customer
Service points according to line usage or line usage
The line usage or the service points
Data that indicates that the specified amount has been reached and that indicates the expiration date
The data for customer service with the
A device connected to a terminal or a terminal that sends it to a terminal with a personal number
The container is a customer service to which the data indicating the expiration date is added.
When you receive the service data, you will be connected to the terminal or the terminal.
The operation processing function preset for the device
Telephone service method characterized by being activated within the deadline
Law. 3. A call is sent to each customer's sender number or each customer.
Service points according to line usage or line usage
It counts and uses the telephone line when the customer accesses it.
If the customer cannot use the line,
When the number of service points reaches a certain amount, another line will be
For customers whether to receive preferential treatment to enable
Customer for the means and, of whether or not receive the preferential treatment inquiry to query
Only when the person responds to receive the preferential treatment.
A means to perform processing to a telephone exchange or telephone network.
A telephone service system characterized by being equipped for connected stations.
Stem. 4. Connected to a telephone exchange or a telephone network.
At the station, once for each caller number of the customer or for each customer
Service points according to line usage or line usage
It counts and uses the telephone line when the customer accesses it.
If the customer cannot use the line,
Determine if service points have reached a certain amount
In addition, the service point has reached a predetermined amount
And whether to receive preferential treatment to allow other lines to be used
Ask the customer's terminal or the device connected to the terminal.
In addition, the customer is inquired about whether to receive the preferential treatment.
The preferential treatment in the terminal or the device connected to the terminal
Only if you respond
Perform the preferential treatment at a station connected to the telephone line network
A telephone service method characterized by the above.