Communication fee calculation system and communication fee calculation method

Abstract

To provide a communication fee calculation system and method for performing processing in a unified manner to reduce the communication fee of a user according as the user takes designated action.SOLUTION: In a communication fee calculation system, a settlement server is configured to: acquire characteristic information indicating characteristics of communication data corresponding to designated action which is designated by a predetermined business operator, as action of subscribers of a mobile communication service; inspect communication data passing through a network of the mobile communication service to detect communication data having the characteristics indicated by the characteristic information, from the communication data passing through the network, and acquire a subtraction amount; subtract the acquired subtraction amount from a communication fee according to consumed communication traffic which has been consumed by a subscriber, who has transmitted or is to be receive the detected communication data, from the start of a period, out of the subscribers of the mobile communication service, to calculate a presentation communication fee to be presented to the subscriber.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 18

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for calculating charges for data communication using a mobile communication service. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, it is known that there are various pricing plans for data communication services provided by mobile communication services. For example, a pay-as-you-go pricing plan is known. In a pay-as-you-go pricing plan, the communication fee borne by the user varies depending on the amount of communication during a period (e.g., one month). For example, there is a pricing plan in which the communication fee increases in stages as the amount of communication increases.

[0003] Also, a technology is known in which the communication fee to be paid by a user is reduced by a business entity such as an advertiser depending on the user's behavior. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that an entity providing an advertising service gives points to a user when the user clicks on an advertisement displayed on a mobile terminal, or gives points to a user when a call is automatically made to the advertiser's store in response to the user clicking on the advertisement. Patent Document 1 also discloses that the entity uses all or a part of the points given to reduce the data communication fee related to viewing the advertisement. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-150118 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the conventional technology, it was necessary to implement a process for reducing communication charges in a system that delivers data such as advertisements. Therefore, every time a type of user behavior that is subject to a reduction in communication charges is added, it is necessary to implement a process for reducing communication charges in a system that performs a process corresponding to that type of behavior.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and one example of its objective is to provide a communication fee calculation system and a communication fee calculation method that enable uniform processing to be performed to reduce a user's communication fees in accordance with the user's taking a specified action. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a characteristic information acquisition means for acquiring characteristic information indicating characteristics of communication data corresponding to a designated behavior designated by a specified carrier as the behavior of a subscriber of the mobile communication service, among communication data communicated through a network of a mobile communication service in which a communication fee is determined according to the amount of communication consumed by the subscriber during a period; a detection means for detecting communication data having the characteristic indicated by the acquired characteristic information from the communication data passing through the network of the mobile communication service by inspecting the communication data passing through the network of the mobile communication service; a deduction amount acquisition means for acquiring a deduction amount predetermined for the carrier; and a calculation means for calculating a proposed communication fee to be presented to the communication subscriber by subtracting the acquired deduction amount from a communication fee corresponding to the amount of communication consumed from the start of the period by a communication subscriber who is the source or destination of the detected communication data among the subscribers of the mobile communication service.

[0008] According to this aspect, communication data passing through a network of a mobile communication service is inspected, and communication data having a characteristic indicated by the characteristic information is detected. The detected communication data may be communication data transmitted or received by a terminal device of a mobile communication service subscriber through the network of the mobile communication service as the subscriber takes a designated action designated by a predetermined carrier. When communication data having a characteristic indicated by the characteristic information is detected, a communication fee to be presented to the subscriber is calculated by subtracting a predetermined deduction amount from a communication fee according to the amount of communication consumed by the subscriber from the start of a period. Communication related to a subscriber of a mobile communication service is usually performed through the network of the mobile communication service. The communication fee calculation system only needs to be capable of capturing communication data passing through the network of the mobile communication service. Therefore, a process for reducing a user's communication fee in response to the user taking a designated action can be performed in a unified manner.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the device further comprises a transmitting means for transmitting the proposed communication fee to a terminal device of the communication subscriber for which the proposed communication fee was calculated so that the calculated proposed communication fee can be presented.

[0010] According to this aspect, it is possible to present the subscriber with a reduced communication fee in accordance with the subscriber taking a designated action.

[0011] In still another aspect of the present invention, the communication fee for the mobile communication service increases stepwise as the communication volume increases.

[0012] According to this aspect, it is possible to reduce communication charges that increase stepwise according to communication volume.

[0013] Yet another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the subscriber is billed by the mobile communications service for a communication fee corresponding to the consumed communication volume consumed by the subscriber during the period, a member of a specified service different from the mobile communications service, which is a specified service for which a member of the specified service can use a specified points program, may be a subscriber of the mobile communications service, the mobile communications service is capable of identifying the subscriber using subscriber identification information different from member identification information for identifying the subscriber of the mobile communications service as a member of the specified service, the point program system manages a number of owned points indicating the number of points held by a member of the specified service in association with the member identification information of the member, and, when there is a fee difference between the communication fee corresponding to the consumed communication volume and the calculated presented communication fee, the system further comprises an addition control means for adding a number of points equivalent to the fee difference to the number of owned points associated with the member identification information for identifying the communications subscriber as a member of the specified service.

[0014] According to this aspect, a subscriber of a mobile communication service is also a member of a predetermined service different from the mobile communication service. The mobile communication service identifies each subscriber using subscriber identification information for identifying the subscriber. The predetermined service identifies each member using member identification information for identifying the member. The subscriber identification information and member identification information of the same user may be different from each other. Members of the predetermined service can use a predetermined point program. The number of points held by each member in the point program is managed using the member identification information of the member. The subscriber is charged a communication fee according to the communication volume actually consumed by the subscriber during a period. Instead of a reduction in the communication fee, the subscriber is given a number of points equivalent to the fee difference between the communication fee and the presented communication fee. Therefore, the communication fee can be substantially reduced by adding a number of points equivalent to the fee difference to the number of points held by the subscriber managed in a service different from the mobile communication service.

[0015] In still another aspect of the present invention, the detection means operates every time the communication data passes through the network.

[0016] According to this aspect, communication data having the characteristics indicated by the characteristic information can be detected in real time.

[0017] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the information processing device further comprises accounting means for accounting for a cost for reducing the communication fee by the calculation means to an advertising cost of the business operator.

[0018] According to this aspect, the cost of reducing the communication fee can be borne by the business operator acting as the advertiser.

[0019] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the specified action is downloading and executing a predetermined application that can be installed on a terminal device of a subscriber of the mobile communication service.

[0020] According to this aspect, when a subscriber downloads and executes a specific application, the communication fee is reduced, and therefore the number of users of the application can be increased.

[0021] Yet another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the application is an application that causes the terminal device to communicate with other devices while the application is being executed, the acquired feature information includes first feature information corresponding to a download of the application and second feature information corresponding to an execution of the application, and the calculation means calculates the offered communication fee when the detection means detects communication data having characteristics indicated by the second feature information after the detection means detects communication data having characteristics indicated by the first feature information.

[0022] According to this aspect, the communication fee is not yet reduced when the application is downloaded, but is reduced when the application is subsequently executed.

[0023] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the specified behavior is using a predetermined application executable by a terminal device of a subscriber of the mobile communication service for a predetermined period of time or longer.

[0024] According to this aspect, if a subscriber uses a predetermined application for a predetermined period of time or more, the communication fee is reduced, which can encourage long-term use of the application.

[0025] Yet another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the application is an application that causes the terminal device to communicate with other devices while the application is being executed, and the calculation means calculates the presented communication fee when the length of a detection period during which communication data having characteristics indicated by the acquired characteristic information is detected by the detection means at a time interval less than a predetermined interval is equal to or longer than a predetermined time.

[0026] According to this aspect, while communication data is generated at time intervals less than a predetermined interval due to the use of the application, the subscriber is considered to be continuously using the application, and when the length of time during which the application is continuously used reaches or exceeds a predetermined time, the communication fee is reduced.

[0027] In still another aspect of the present invention, the specified action is browsing a predetermined website.

[0028] According to this aspect, when a subscriber browses a specific website, the communication fee is reduced, which can encourage the subscriber to browse websites.

[0029] Yet another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the characteristic information acquisition means is capable of acquiring a plurality of pieces of characteristic information corresponding to a plurality of designated actions each designated by a plurality of operators including a first operator and a second operator, the detection means detects the communication data having the characteristics indicated by the characteristic information for each of the plurality of pieces of characteristic information, and the type of the designated action designated by the first operator is different from the type of the designated action designated by the second operator.

[0030] According to this aspect, the first carrier and the second carrier specify different types of behavior from each other. For a plurality of pieces of characteristic information corresponding to the behaviors specified by the plurality of carriers, communication data having characteristics indicated by the characteristic information is detected. Therefore, communication charges can be reduced in accordance with the different types of behaviors taken by the subscribers.

[0031] Yet another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the detection means detects the communication data having the characteristics indicated by the acquired characteristic information by inspecting the communication data passing through the network using deep packet inspection.

[0032] According to this aspect, the payload of the packets constituting the communication data is inspected, which enables detailed analysis of the communication data and appropriately detects the communication data corresponding to a specified action.

[0033] Yet another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it includes a characteristic information acquisition step of acquiring characteristic information indicating characteristics of communication data corresponding to a designated behavior designated by a specified carrier as the behavior of a subscriber of the mobile communication service, from communication data communicated through a network of a mobile communication service in which a communication fee is determined according to the amount of communication consumed by the subscriber during a period; a detection step of detecting communication data having the characteristic indicated by the acquired characteristic information from the communication data passing through the network of the mobile communication service by inspecting the communication data passing through the network of the mobile communication service; a deduction amount acquisition step of acquiring a deduction amount predetermined for the carrier; and a calculation step of calculating a presented communication fee to be presented to the communication subscriber by subtracting the acquired deduction amount from a communication fee corresponding to the amount of communication consumed from the start of the period by a communication subscriber who is the source or destination of the detected communication data, among the subscribers of the mobile communication service. Effect of the Invention

[0034] According to the present invention, it is possible to carry out a unified process for reducing a user's communication charges in response to the user taking a specified action. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a communication system S according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a communication fee system for a data communication service. [Diagram 3] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a communication amount calculation device 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram showing an example of the contents stored in a database of the communication amount calculation device 1. FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a subscriber support server 2 according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a billing server 3 according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 13 is a diagram showing an example of the contents stored in the database of the billing server 3. FIG. [Figure 8] 11 is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in a database of a billing server 3 according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of functional blocks of a system control unit 11 of the communication amount calculation device 1 in one embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of how communication charges are reduced. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of how communication charges are reduced. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of how communication charges are reduced. [Figure 13] 2 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of a system control unit 21 of a subscriber support server 2 in one embodiment. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a data usage status screen. [Figure 15] 2 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of a system control unit 31 of a billing server 3 according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 16] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a communication amount update process by a system control unit 11 of the communication amount calculation device 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 17] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a deduction amount total update process by a system control unit 31 of a billing server 3 according to an embodiment. [Figure 18] 11 is a sequence diagram showing an example of processing by the communication system S when the mobile terminal 7 displays a data usage status screen. FIG. [Figure 19] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a communication fee billing amount determination process performed by a system control unit 31 of a billing server 3 according to an embodiment. [Figure 20] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a communication system S according to an embodiment. [Figure 21] 13 is a diagram showing an example of the contents stored in the database of the point management server 8. FIG. [Figure 22]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of how points are given in place of a reduction in communication charges. [Figure 23] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a data usage status screen. [Figure 24] 2 is a diagram showing an example of functional blocks of a system control unit 31 of a billing server 3 according to an embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 25] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a communication fee billing amount determination process performed by a system control unit 31 of a billing server 3 according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] [1. First embodiment] [1-1. Communication system configuration] First, the configuration and functional overview of a communication system S according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a communication system S according to this embodiment.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system S includes a communication amount calculation device 1, a subscriber support server 2, a billing server 3, a member information management server 4, an application distribution server 5, a plurality of carrier servers 6, and a plurality of mobile terminals 7. The combination of the communication amount calculation device 1, the subscriber support server 2, and the billing server 3 may correspond to the communication fee calculation system of the present invention. The subscriber support server 2, the billing server 3, the member information management server 4, the application distribution server 5, and each carrier server 6 are connected to the Internet NI. Each mobile terminal 7 can be connected to a mobile communication network NM. The mobile communication network NM may be, for example, a network constructed by a specific mobile communication operator (MNO) to provide a mobile communication service. The mobile communication operator provides a call service and a data communication service as a mobile communication service. Examples of the mobile communication system include third generation systems such as W-CDMA, CDMA2000, and WiMAX, fourth generation communication systems such as LTE and WiMAX2, and fifth generation communication systems. The mobile communication network NM may include, for example, a core network NC and a plurality of base stations BS. The core network NC may be a network that forms the core of the mobile communication network NM. The core network NC may include a packet switched core network (PSCN) for implementing data communication (or packet communication) by the mobile terminal 7. When the fifth generation system is adopted, the core network NC may include nodes or functions such as a user plane function (UPF), a session management function (SMF), an access and mobility management function (AMF), a policy control function (PCF), and a unified data management (UDM). These functions may be virtually implemented by a plurality of server devices that constitute cloud computing. Each base station BS is connected to the core network NC. Each base station BS is capable of wireless communication with the mobile terminal 7, and relays communication between the mobile terminal 7 and the core network NC.The communication amount calculation device 1 may be connected to the core network NC or may be one of the nodes of the core network NC. The subscriber support server 2 and the billing server 3 may be connectable to the communication amount calculation device 1 and other devices in the core network NC via, for example, a billing gateway (not shown).

[0038] The communication amount calculation device 1 may be a device that calculates the communication amount consumed by a subscriber of a mobile communication service during a period by data communication performed by each mobile terminal 7. The length of the period may be, for example, one month. The consumed communication amount may be the total data size of communication data that passed through the core network NC during the period. The consumed communication amount is also called the consumed communication amount, the data usage amount, or the data communication amount. The communication amount calculation device 1 may be connected to the core network NC so as to capture data transmitted and received by each mobile terminal 7 via the mobile communication network NM. The data transmitted and received via the mobile communication network NM is also called communication data. The communication amount calculation device 1 may be realized by a device that is responsible for functions such as a Serving General packet radio service support Node (SGSN), a Gateway General packet radio service support Node (GGSN), a Serving Gateway (SGW), a Packet data network Gateway (PGW), a UPF, or a Traffic Detection Function (TDF) related to packet switching.

[0039] The communication amount calculation device 1 may also inspect the contents of communication between the mobile terminal 7 and the Internet NI via the mobile communication network NM. For example, the communication amount calculation device 1 may analyze communication data passing through the core network NC mainly using DPI (Deep Packet Inspection). The communication amount calculation device 1 may detect communication data having a predetermined characteristic as a result of inspecting the communication data. When the communication data having the predetermined characteristic is detected, the communication amount calculation device 1 may request the billing server 3 to perform a process for reducing or deducting a predetermined amount of the communication fee to be charged to the subscriber who uses the mobile terminal 7 that is the source or destination of the communication data. The communication fee after the reduction is also called the presented communication fee. The presented communication fee may indicate the communication fee that is scheduled to be presented to the subscriber. For example, the presented communication fee may be displayed on a website for supporting the subscriber, or the presented communication fee may be presented to the subscriber as the communication fee to be charged to the subscriber. The amount to be reduced is called the communication fee reduction amount or simply the reduction amount. For example, the communication fee reduction conditions may be determined by the business operator who is the advertiser. The communication fee reduction condition may indicate what action the subscriber needs to take as a condition for reducing the communication fee. This action is also called a communication fee reduction target action. The communication fee reduction target action may be an action designated by an advertiser as an action of a subscriber of a mobile communication service. The communication fee reduction target action may be an action that requires the subscriber to operate the mobile terminal 7 to communicate via the mobile communication network NM in order to take the communication fee reduction target action. Examples of the types of such actions include browsing a website, downloading an application or other content, running or using an application, and listening to videos or music. The application can be installed on the mobile terminal 7. An application that is a target of the communication fee reduction target action may be an application that causes the mobile terminal 7 to communicate with another device via the mobile communication network NM while the application is being run. Examples of devices that the mobile terminal 7 can communicate with include the application distribution server 5 and each carrier server 6.The behavior for which the communication fee is reduced may generally be behavior related to an advertiser. For example, if the behavior for which the communication fee is reduced is browsing a website, the website may be a site operated by an advertiser. Also, if the behavior for which the communication fee is reduced is behavior related to an application, the application may be, for example, an application created by an advertiser or an application for using a service provided by an advertiser. The communication amount calculation device 1 may detect communication data received or transmitted by the mobile terminal 7 when the subscriber performs such an action.

[0040] The subscriber support server 2 may be a server device that executes processes related to a subscriber support site. The subscriber support site is a website for supporting each subscriber of a mobile communication service. For example, the subscriber support server 2 may transmit a web page including information such as contract details, communication consumption, and communication charges to the mobile terminal 7 in response to a request from the mobile terminal 7. The subscriber support server 2 may also transmit a web page including the advertisement of the above-mentioned business operator to the mobile terminal 7. This advertisement may include information that encourages the subscriber to take an action that is eligible for a communication charge reduction. When the subscriber selects the advertisement, the mobile terminal 7 may display a screen corresponding to the action encouraged by the advertisement. For example, if the action that is eligible for a communication charge reduction is browsing a website, the mobile terminal 7 may display the top page of the website. Also, for example, if the action that is eligible for a communication charge reduction includes downloading an application, the mobile terminal 7 may display a screen for downloading the application. The web page on which the advertisement is displayed may include a button for the subscriber to enter any campaign that reduces communication charges. When the subscriber selects this button, the mobile terminal 7 may display a web page including a document for entering into a contract that analyzes the communication data of the subscriber. By performing an operation to agree to the contents of the contract, the subscriber consents to the analysis of the communication data.

[0041] The billing server 3 may be a server device for managing the communication fee billed to each subscriber of the mobile communication service. In this embodiment, the communication fee of the data communication service is determined according to the amount of communication consumed during the period. For example, the communication fee may become higher as the amount of communication consumed increases. For example, the communication fee may become higher in stages as the amount of communication consumed increases. The communication fee of the data communication service may or may not include the communication fee of the call service. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a communication fee system for the data communication service. As shown in FIG. 2, when the amount of communication consumed in the month is 3GB or less, the monthly communication fee is 980 yen. When the amount of communication consumed is more than 3GB and less than 20GB, the monthly communication fee is 1,980 yen. When the amount of communication consumed is more than 20GB, the monthly communication fee is 2,980 yen. These communication fees are exclusive of tax. The subscriber may be able to communicate data unlimitedly beyond 20GB.

[0042] Furthermore, the billing server 3 may execute a process for reducing the communication charges billed to the subscriber in response to the subscriber's taking an action that is eligible for a communication charge reduction. For example, the amount of deduction may be determined in advance for each campaign. For example, in response to a request from the communication volume calculation device 1, the billing server 3 may add the amount of deduction determined in the campaign corresponding to the action that is eligible for a communication charge reduction to the total amount of deductions made up to that point. The billing server 3 may subtract the total amount of deduction from the communication charge according to the communication volume consumed.

[0043] Furthermore, the billing server 3 may manage advertising fees billed to each business entity acting as an advertiser. The advertising fees may be incurred, for example, in response to a subscriber taking an action that is eligible for a reduction in communication fees.

[0044] The member information management server 4 may be a server device that manages information about members of a predetermined service. For convenience, this predetermined service is referred to as an R service. The R service may be a service different from the above-mentioned mobile communication service. Examples of the R service include an Internet comprehensive service and an intermediation for buying and selling goods in an online shopping mall. The Internet comprehensive service may include a plurality of services. These services may be services provided, for example, using a computer network. Such services may include online services. The online services may be provided through a website. Examples of services included in the Internet comprehensive service include online shopping, facility reservation services, point programs, content distribution, information search, carrier payment, credit card payment, application payment, electronic money, online securities, online banking, and social networking services. In order to use the R service, each user may need to become a member of the R service. When a user becomes a member, a user ID, which is information for identifying the user in the service, may be registered in the member information management server 4. It may be determined that the user can subscribe to the mobile communication service on the condition that the user is a member of the R service, or there may be no such condition. The mobile communications operator providing the mobile communications services and the operator providing the R services may, for example, be the same company, or may be related companies within the same corporate group, or may be companies that have some kind of business or capital alliance.

[0045] The application distribution server 5 may be a server device that distributes various applications executable by the mobile terminal 7 to the mobile terminal 7. For example, the application distribution server 5 may search for applications that satisfy conditions specified by a subscriber. The mobile terminal 7 may download from the application distribution server 5 an application selected by the subscriber from among the searched applications.

[0046] Each business server 6 may be a server device that performs processing for a business that can be an advertiser to transmit information or provide a service. The business server 6 may be managed by the business itself, or may not be managed by the business itself. For example, at least one business server 6 may execute processing related to a website related to the business. At least one business server 6 may execute processing of the back-end part of an application executable by the mobile terminal 7. For example, the business server 6 may be a server device for making the application operate and function properly by the mobile terminal 7. For example, the business server 6 may execute processing in response to a request transmitted from the mobile terminal 7 according to the application, and transmit the result of the processing to the mobile terminal 7. The mobile terminal 7 may perform screen display, etc. based on information received from the business server 6. Examples of applications that require the business server 6 include online games, social games, applications for searching for information, applications for displaying maps, applications for purchasing products through online shopping, applications for reserving services, applications for using online banking and online securities, and applications that allow a user to edit the user's data stored in the business server 6.

[0047] Each mobile terminal 7 is a portable terminal device that performs data communication via a mobile communication network NM. For example, each mobile terminal 7 connects to the Internet NI via a core network NC by performing wireless communication with a base station BS. As a result, the mobile terminal 7 communicates with server devices such as a subscriber support server 2, an application distribution server 5, and a carrier server 6. The mobile terminal 7 may be, for example, a mobile phone (including a smartphone) capable of both telephone calls and data communication using the mobile communication network NM, or may be a terminal device capable of only data communication, such as a tablet computer. An IC card such as a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card is connected to each mobile terminal 7. Subscriber identification information for identifying a user who uses the mobile terminal 7 as a subscriber of a mobile communication service may be stored in this IC card. Examples of subscriber identification information include MSISDN and IMSI (International Mobile Subscription Identity). The mobile communication service can identify each subscriber by its subscriber identification information. Each mobile terminal 7 can download an application from a server device such as an application distribution server 5 via the mobile communication network NM. In addition, a web browser may be installed in each mobile terminal 7.

[0048] [1-2.Device configuration] [1-2-1. Communication amount calculation device] Next, the configuration of the communication amount calculation device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the communication amount calculation device 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the communication amount calculation device 1 includes a system control unit 11, a system bus 12, an input / output interface 13, a storage unit 14, and a communication unit 15. The system control unit 11 and the input / output interface 13 are connected via the system bus 12.

[0049] The system control unit 11 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11a, a read only memory (ROM) 11b, a random access memory (RAM) 11c, and the like.

[0050] The input / output interface 13 performs interface processing between the storage unit 14 and the communication unit 15 and the system control unit 11 .

[0051] The storage unit 14 is configured, for example, with a hard disk drive, etc. Databases such as a communication volume DB 14a, a campaign DB 14b, a signature DB 14c, a DPI consent DB 14d, and a communication fee reduction status DB 14e may be stored in the storage unit 14. "DB" is an abbreviation for database.

[0052] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in the database of the communication amount calculation device 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the communication amount DB 14a may store the communication amount consumed by each subscriber of the mobile communication service for each period. For example, the communication amount DB 14a may store the MSISDN, the target period, the consumed communication amount, etc. in association with each other. The MSISDN indicates the subscriber for whom the communication amount is indicated. The target period indicates the period during which the communication amount was consumed, as a combination of the year and the month. The consumed communication amount indicates the communication amount consumed by the subscriber during that period. The initial value of the consumed communication amount may be 0 GB.

[0053] The campaign DB 14b may store campaign information related to each campaign for reducing communication charges. The campaign DB 14b may store campaign information for each of a plurality of advertisers. For example, the campaign DB 14b may store a campaign ID, an advertiser ID, a budget amount, communication charge reduction condition information, and the like, as the campaign information, in association with each other. The campaign ID is identification information for identifying a campaign. The advertiser ID is identification information for identifying a business entity that is the advertiser of the campaign. The budget amount indicates the amount of the budget for advertising expenses for the campaign. The budget amount may be designated by the advertiser. The communication charge reduction condition information may be information indicating an action that is subject to a communication charge reduction as a communication charge reduction condition. The communication charge reduction condition information may include, for example, information for identifying a type of action that is subject to a communication charge reduction. As described above, examples of the type of action include browsing a website, downloading and executing an application, using an application, using an application for a predetermined time or more, watching a video, and the like. Each advertiser may be able to designate an action that is subject to a communication charge reduction and its type. The type of communication fee reduction target behavior designated by at least one of the multiple advertisers may be different from the type of communication fee reduction target behavior designated by at least one advertiser other than the advertiser. For example, one advertiser may designate browsing of a website, and another advertiser may designate downloading and execution of an application. When the communication fee reduction condition includes a time length condition, such as using an application for a predetermined time or more, the communication fee reduction condition information may include the time length. In addition, the communication fee reduction condition information may include the length of a period during which the reduction of the communication fee is restricted when the subscriber performs the communication fee reduction target behavior again after performing the communication fee reduction target behavior for the first time. Examples of the length of the period during which the reduction of the communication fee is restricted include one day, one month, and indefinitely. Periods such as one day and one month indicate that the communication fee is reduced only once within that period. Indefinitely indicates that the communication fee is reduced only for the first communication fee reduction target behavior regardless of the period.For example, when the communication fee reduction target behavior includes downloading an application, the period during which the communication fee reduction is restricted may be unlimited. The communication fee reduction condition information may include a signature ID of a signature corresponding to the communication fee reduction target behavior. The signature ID is identification information for identifying the signature. The signature may be used in DPI. The signature may be information indicating the characteristics of communication data corresponding to the communication fee reduction target behavior. For example, the signature may be information identifying the content of communication data that the mobile terminal 7 transmits or receives via the mobile communication network NM when the subscriber performs the communication fee reduction target behavior. When the communication fee reduction target behavior is a combination of multiple behaviors, such as downloading and executing an application, the communication fee reduction condition information may include a signature ID of a signature corresponding to each of the multiple behaviors. If the behavior is different, the signature is basically different. The communication fee reduction condition information may include a signature ID of multiple signatures for the same behavior. In this case, communication data corresponding to an action that is subject to a communication fee reduction may include a characteristic indicated by at least one of the plurality of signatures. When communication data having a characteristic indicated by any one of the plurality of signatures is detected, the communication data may be subject to a communication fee reduction.

[0054] The signature DB14c may store a signature corresponding to each behavior included in the behavior subject to communication charge reduction. For example, the signature DB14c may store a signature ID, a campaign ID, and a signature in association with each other. The signature ID is identification information for identifying a signature. The campaign ID indicates a campaign in which communication charges are reduced in response to the detection of communication data having the characteristics indicated by the signature. The signature may include communication content identification information included in the payload of the transport layer of the packet of the communication data. Hereinafter, when simply referring to a payload, it indicates that it is a payload of the transport layer. The communication content identification information may be information indicating the characteristics of the communication data or information identifying the communication content. In the DPI, the payload of the transport layer of the packet of the communication data is mainly analyzed. When the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) reference model is adopted, the payload to be analyzed may include a PDU (Program Data Unit) of the session layer, a PDU of the presentation layer, and a PDU of the application layer. The PDUs of all of these layers may be analyzed, or the PDUs of some of the layers may be analyzed. When a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) model is adopted, the analyzed payload may be a PDU of the application layer. The following description is based on the TCP / IP model. The analyzed PDU may be either a header of the application layer or a payload of the application layer, or may be both. Examples of communication content identification information include keywords, wildcards, regular expressions, numerical values, and numerical ranges. One signature may include multiple pieces of communication content identification information. In this case, communication data including all of the multiple pieces of communication content identification information may be detected, or communication data including at least one of the communication content identification information may be detected. In addition, the signature may indicate an address or an address range indicating the position where the information identifying the communication content appears.This address may indicate the number of bytes from the beginning of the application layer data where the communication content identification information is located. The signature may also include information indicating whether the mobile terminal 7 is the source or destination of the communication data. The signature may also include information included in the header of the packet that can identify the communication content or information that assists in identifying the communication content. Examples of such information include an IP address, a port number, and a window size. Depending on the communication charge reduction target action, it may be possible to determine whether the communication data corresponds to the communication charge reduction target action only by analyzing the header of the packet. Also, it may be possible to determine whether it is necessary to analyze the PDU of the application layer based on the information included in the header of the packet. For example, communication data corresponding to each communication charge reduction condition information is generally transmitted or received between the mobile terminal 7 and a specific carrier server 6. Therefore, the communication data corresponding to the communication charge reduction condition information includes the IP address of the carrier server 6. Also, in order for a subscriber to take a specific action, it may be necessary to communicate using a specific port number.

[0055] The DPI consent DB 14d may store information indicating whether each subscriber of a mobile communication service has consented to the analysis of the subscriber's communications by the DPI. The communication amount calculation device 1 analyzes the communication contents only for those subscribers who have consented to the analysis. The DPI consent DB 14d may store, for example, an MSISDN and a DPI consent flag in association with each other. The DPI consent flag indicates whether a subscriber identified by the MSISDN has consented to the analysis of the communication contents. The DPI consent flag may be set to either "unconsented" or "consented". "Unconsented" indicates that the subscriber has not consented to the analysis. "Consented" indicates that the subscriber has consented to the analysis. The initial value of the DPI consent flag is "unconsented".

[0056] The communication fee reduction status DB14e may store information indicating whether or not the communication fee has been reduced for each combination of a campaign and a subscriber. For example, the communication fee reduction status DB14e may store a campaign ID, an MSISDN, a reduction flag, and the like, in association with each other. The reduction flag indicates whether or not the communication fee of the subscriber identified by the MSISDN has been reduced for the campaign identified by the campaign ID. The reduction flag may be set to, for example, either "not reduced" or "reduced." "Not reduced" indicates that the communication amount has not been reduced. "Reduced" indicates that the communication amount has been reduced. The initial value of the reduction flag is "not reduced." When the communication amount calculation device 1 reduces the communication amount, the communication amount calculation device 1 may change the reduction flag to "reduced." If the reduction flag is set to "reduced," the communication amount calculation device 1 does not reduce the communication amount. When the period during which the reduction of the communication amount is restricted is one day, the communication amount calculation device 1 resets the reduction flag to "unreduced" at a predetermined time every day, for example. When the period during which the reduction of the communication amount is restricted is one month, the communication amount calculation device 1 resets the reduction flag to "unreduced" at the first day of each month, for example. When the period during which the reduction of the communication amount is restricted is indefinite, the reduction flag is not reset.

[0057] The storage unit 14 further stores various programs such as an operating system, a DBMS (Database Management System), and a communication traffic calculation program. The communication traffic calculation program is a program that causes the system control unit 11 to execute processes such as calculation of communication traffic and analysis of communication contents. The communication traffic calculation program may be obtained from another device via the Internet NI, for example, or may be recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, an optical disk, or a memory card and read via a drive device.

[0058] The communication unit 15 is configured with, for example, a network interface card, etc. The communication unit 15 may receive packets flowing through the core network NC. The communication unit 15 may also be connected to the subscriber support server 2, the billing server 3, etc., and control the communication state with the connected devices.

[0059] [1-2-2. Subscriber support server] Next, the configuration of the subscriber support server 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the subscriber support server 2 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 5, the subscriber support server 2 includes a system control unit 21, a system bus 22, an input / output interface 23, a storage unit 24, and a communication unit 25. The system control unit 21 and the input / output interface 23 are connected via the system bus 22.

[0060] The system control unit 21 includes a CPU 21a, a ROM 21b, a RAM 21c, and the like.

[0061] The input / output interface 23 performs interface processing between the storage unit 24 and the communication unit 25 and the system control unit 21 .

[0062] The storage unit 24 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive. An operating system, a DBMS, and a subscriber support server program are stored in this storage unit 24. The subscriber support server program is a program that causes the system control unit 21 to execute processes related to the subscriber support site. The subscriber support server program may be obtained, for example, from another device via the Internet NI, or may be recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, an optical disk, or a memory card and read via a drive device.

[0063] The communication unit 25 is configured by, for example, a network interface card, etc. The communication unit 25 connects to the communication amount calculation device 1, the billing server 3, the member information management server 4, the mobile terminal 7, etc. via the Internet NI, and controls communication with the connected devices.

[0064] [1-2-3. Billing Server] Next, the configuration of the billing server 3 will be described with reference to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the billing server 3 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 6, the billing server 3 includes a system control unit 31, a system bus 32, an input / output interface 33, a storage unit 34, and a communication unit 35. The system control unit 31 and the input / output interface 33 are connected via the system bus 32.

[0065] The system control unit 31 includes a CPU 31a, a ROM 31b, a RAM 31c, and the like.

[0066] The input / output interface 33 performs interface processing between the storage unit 34 and the communication unit 35 and the system control unit 31 .

[0067] The storage unit 34 is configured by, for example, a hard disk drive, etc. The storage unit 34 may store databases such as a communication fee DB 34a, an advertisement fee DB 34b, and a communication fee deduction amount DB 34c.

[0068] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in the database of the billing server 3. As shown in FIG. 7, the communication fee DB 34a may store communication fee billing information related to communication fees billed to each subscriber of a mobile communication service for each period. For example, the communication fee DB 34a may store MSISDN, target period, consumed communication volume, total deduction amount, and communication fee billing amount, etc., as communication fee billing information, in association with each other. The MSISDN indicates the subscriber for whom the communication fee is billed. The target period indicates the period during which the communication volume for which the communication fee is billed was consumed. The consumed communication volume indicates the communication volume consumed by the subscriber during the target period. This communication volume may correspond to the presented communication volume. The total deduction amount indicates the total amount to be subtracted from the communication fee for the subscriber during the period. The initial value of the total deduction amount is 0 yen. The communication fee billing amount indicates the amount of communication fee to be billed.

[0069] The advertising fee DB 34b may store advertising fee billing information regarding the advertising fees billed to the advertisers of each campaign for each period. For example, the advertising fee billing information may include a campaign ID, an advertiser ID, a target period, and an advertising fee billing amount. The campaign ID indicates the campaign for which the advertising fee is billed. The advertiser ID indicates the advertiser for which the advertising fee is billed. The target period indicates the period for which the advertising fee was incurred. The advertising fee billing amount indicates the amount of the advertising fee billed to the advertiser.

[0070] The communication fee deduction amount DB 34c may store a deduction amount of the communication fee for each campaign. For example, the communication fee deduction amount DB 34c may store a campaign ID and a deduction amount in association with each other. The deduction amount may be set by the advertiser.

[0071] The storage unit 34 further stores various programs such as an operating system, a DBMS, a billing server program, etc. The billing server program is a program that causes the system control unit 31 to execute various processes related to billing for communication fees and advertising fees. The billing server program may be obtained from another device via the Internet NI, for example, or may be recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, an optical disk, or a memory card and read via a drive device.

[0072] The communication unit 35 is configured by, for example, a network interface card, etc. The communication unit 35 is connected to the communication amount calculation device 1, the subscriber support server 2, the member information management server 4, the mobile terminal 7, etc. via the Internet NI, and controls communication with the connected devices.

[0073] [1-2-4. Membership information management server] Next, the configuration of the member information management server 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in the database of the billing server 3 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the member information management server 4 may store a database such as a user identification information conversion DB 41. In the user identification information conversion DB 41, for each subscriber of the mobile communication service, the MSISDN of the subscriber and the user ID of the subscriber in the R service may be stored in association with each other. Since the MSISDN and user ID of the same subscriber are basically different, the user identification information conversion DB 41 may be used for mutual conversion of these identification information. If the user is required to be a member of the R service as a condition for subscribing to the mobile communication service, for example, the user specifies the user ID when applying for the mobile communication service. In this way, the member information management server 4 may store the MSISDN and user ID of the user in association with each other in the user identification information conversion DB 41. The member information management server 4 may provide an API (Application Programming Interface) for accessing the database stored in the member information management server 4. The subscriber support server 2 and the billing server 3 may access databases such as the user identification information conversion DB 41 via this API.

[0074] [1-3. Functional overview of the system control unit] [1-3-1. Data inspection equipment] Next, a functional overview of the system control unit 11 of the communication amount calculation device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 9 to Fig. 12. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block of the system control unit 11 of the communication amount calculation device 1 in this embodiment. The system control unit 11 may function as a signature acquisition unit 1101, a detection unit 1102, a communication amount calculation unit 1103, a subtraction amount total update request unit 1104, and the like, as shown in Fig. 9, by the CPU 11a reading and executing various program codes included in the communication amount calculation program.

[0075] The signature acquisition unit 1101 may acquire a signature indicating a feature of communication data corresponding to an action for which a communication charge is reduced, among communication data communicated via the mobile communication network NM. For example, the signature acquisition unit 1101 may acquire at least one signature from the signature DB 14c each time communication data flows into the core network NC, or each time each packet constituting the communication data flows into the core network NC. The signature acquisition unit 1101 may be capable of acquiring a plurality of signatures corresponding to a plurality of actions for which a communication charge is reduced, respectively, designated by a plurality of advertisers.

[0076] The detection unit 1102 may inspect communication data passing through the mobile communication network NM. The detection unit 1102 may detect communication data having a characteristic indicated by the signature acquired by the signature acquisition unit 1101 from the communication data passing through the mobile communication network NM through the inspection. For example, the detection unit 1102 may capture the communication data when the communication data flows into the core network NC. Each packet constituting the communication data may include subscriber identification information that identifies a subscriber who is the source or destination of the packet. This subscriber identification information may be, for example, MSISDN or IMSI. The detection unit 1102 may inspect the communication data for each subscriber based on the subscriber identification information included in the header. The detection unit 1102 may also inspect only the communication data for a subscriber who has consented to the analysis of the communication data by DPI. The detection unit 1102 may operate every time the communication data passes through the mobile network NM.

[0077] The detection unit 1102 may inspect the communication data, for example, in application layer PDU units. This indicates that the communication data may be inspected in data units consisting of multiple packets. For example, the application layer PDU may contain information indicating the length of the main body of the communication data. An example of such information is Content-Length in HTTP. From such information, the total number of packets constituting the communication data may be specified. When the communication data is transmitted using TCP, the header of each packet contains a sequence number. Based on the sequence number, the original communication data can be constructed from multiple packets. When UDP is used, the detection unit 1102 may analyze the communication data, for example, in packet units.

[0078] The detection unit 1102 may detect communication data having a characteristic indicated by the signature, for example, by using pattern matching. For example, the detection unit 1102 may detect communication data including communication content identification information included in the signature. As described above, the signature may include at least one of the following in addition to the communication content identification information: an IP address, a port number, a window size, information regarding the address of the communication content identification information, and information indicating whether the mobile terminal 7 is the source or destination of the communication data. The detection unit 1102 may detect communication data having a characteristic indicated by the signature, taking such information into consideration. The detection unit 1102 may also determine whether to inspect the application layer PDU using an IP address included in a packet constituting the communication data, or a combination of an IP address and a port number. As described above, each signature may include an IP address and a port number of the carrier server 6. The detection unit 1102 may inspect the application layer PDU only when an IP address included in any of the signatures, or a combination of an IP address and a port number, is included in the header of the packet.

[0079] There are cases where the PDU of the application layer is encrypted. An example of an encryption protocol is SSL / TLS (Secure Sockets Layer / Transport Layer Security). In this case, the detection unit 1102 may decrypt the PDU and then perform the inspection. The consent of the subscriber to the analysis of the communication data includes consent to the decryption of the communication data. In addition, the mobile communication operator obtains consent to the decryption of the communication data from each operator who is an advertiser in advance. The detection unit 1102 may obtain a private key for decrypting a common key used for encryption and decryption of the communication data from, for example, each operator server 6 and store the private key in the storage unit 14. When the mobile terminal 7 transmits an encrypted common key to any one of the operator servers 6, the detection unit 1102 may decrypt the common key. Then, the detection unit 1102 may decrypt the communication data transmitted and received between the mobile terminal 7 and the operator server 6 thereafter with the common key. Alternatively, the detection unit 1102 may obtain the common key from the mobile terminal 7. As described above, there are cases where the communication contents can be identified from the headers of packets that constitute the communication data, even without decrypting the PDU of the application layer. Alternatively, a method of analyzing the PDU of the application layer without decrypting the PDU may be used. Examples of such methods include Blindbox and Fast Packet Inspection.

[0080] The communication amount calculation unit 1103 may calculate the communication amount consumed by each subscriber during the period. For example, the communication amount calculation unit 1103 may update the consumed communication amount stored in the communication amount DB 14a every time a packet constituting communication data flows into the core network NC. For example, the communication amount calculation unit 1103 may update the consumed communication amount by adding the size of the packet to the consumed communication amount associated with the MSISDN included in the packet.

[0081] When the detection unit 1102 detects communication data having the characteristics indicated by the signature acquired by the signature acquisition unit 1101, the deduction total update request unit 1104 may transmit a deduction total update request indicating a request to update or increase the deduction total to the billing server 3. As a result of the deduction total update request being transmitted, the deduction total is updated by the billing server 3, and the communication fee is reduced. The deduction total update request may include, for example, the MSISDN included in the header of the packet of the detected communication data. Also, for example, the deduction total update request may include the campaign ID of the campaign corresponding to the signature. Also, for example, the deduction total update request may include the communication volume calculated by the communication volume calculation unit 1103.

[0082] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of how communication charges are reduced. As shown in FIG. 10(a), the communication amount consumed by a certain subscriber at the beginning of the month is 0 GB. After that, the subscriber performs communication 101 of 2.8 GB as shown in FIG. 10(b). The communication 101 is not subject to the reduction of the communication charges. After that, the subscriber performs communication 102 of 0.3 GB as shown in FIG. 10(c). The communication amount consumed at this point is 3.1 GB. The communication 102 is, for example, communication for browsing an advertiser's website. Therefore, the communication 102 is subject to the reduction of the communication charges. Therefore, the reduction amount total update request unit 1104 transmits a reduction amount total update request to the billing server 3. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the communication charge corresponding to the current communication amount is 1,980 yen. For example, if the reduction amount is 100 yen, the current communication charge is reduced to 1,880 yen.

[0083] The timing at which the communication fee is reduced or the total amount of reduction is updated may vary depending on the behavior for which the communication fee is reduced. In a simple method, the communication fee may be reduced every time communication data having the characteristics indicated by the signature passes through the mobile communication network NM. For example, if the behavior for which the communication fee is reduced is browsing a specific website, the total amount of reduction update request unit 1104 may transmit a total amount of reduction update request when any of an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) document, a style sheet, a script, image data, video data, and other data required for providing a web page that constitutes the website is transmitted from the carrier server 6 to the mobile terminal 7.

[0084] When the communication fee reduction target behavior is downloading and executing an application, at least two signatures may be stored in the signature DB 14c. The first signature is a signature corresponding to the downloading of the application. For example, one or more pieces of communication data constituting the application transmitted from the application distribution server 5 to the mobile terminal 7 may each include a feature indicated by the first signature. The second signature is a signature corresponding to the execution of the application. For example, communication data transmitted from the mobile terminal 7 to the business server 6 or from the business server 6 to the mobile terminal 7 when the application is started may include a feature indicated by the second signature. Alternatively, any communication data transmitted without fail during the execution of the application may include a feature indicated by the second signature. The signature acquisition unit 1101 acquires the first signature and the second signature. The deduction total update request unit 1104 may send a deduction total update request when the detection unit 1102 detects communication data having characteristics identified by a second signature after the detection unit 1102 detects communication data having characteristics indicated by a first signature.

[0085] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of how communication charges are reduced. For example, assume that an action subject to a communication charge reduction is downloading and executing application A. As shown in FIG. 11(a), a certain subscriber performs communication 111 that is not subject to a communication charge reduction, and then downloads 112 application A. At this point, the communication charge is not reduced. Next, the subscriber uses application A as shown in FIG. 11(b), resulting in communication 113. In response to the occurrence of communication 113, the communication charge is reduced. For example, if the current communication volume is 14 GB, the communication charge corresponding to this communication volume is 1,980 yen. If the amount of reduction is, for example, 150 yen, the communication charge is reduced to 1,830 yen.

[0086] When the behavior subject to communication fee reduction is the use of an application for a predetermined time or more, the application may be required to be used continuously for a predetermined time or more, or the communication fee may be reduced if the total time the application is used is a predetermined time or more. The total reduction amount update request unit 1104 may transmit a total reduction amount update request when, for example, the length of the period during which communication data having a characteristic indicated by the signature acquired by the signature acquisition unit 1101 is detected by the detection unit 1102 at a time interval less than a predetermined interval is a predetermined time or more. Examples of the predetermined time interval include 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes, etc. The application subject to communication fee reduction may be an application that has a relatively high frequency of communication between the mobile terminal 7 and the carrier server 6 due to the execution of the application. Examples of such applications include online games, social games, etc. The predetermined time interval may be a time during which the subscriber is considered to be using the application continuously if communication is performed at least once per time. The communication data used for this determination may be either or both of the communication data transmitted from the mobile terminal 7 to the business operator server 6 and the communication data transmitted from the business operator server 6 to the mobile terminal 7. The time interval may be included in, for example, the communication fee reduction condition information.

[0087] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of how communication charges are reduced. For example, assume that the behavior subject to communication charge reduction is the use of application B for two hours. As shown in FIG. 12(a), a subscriber performs communication 121 that is not subject to communication charge reduction, and then uses application B for 30 minutes, resulting in communication 122. At this point, the communication charge is not reduced. On the next day, as shown in FIG. 12(b), the subscriber performs communication 123 that is not subject to communication charge reduction, and then uses application B for one hour and a half, resulting in communication 124. As a result, application B is used for two hours. If the communication volume at this point is 24 GB, the communication charge corresponding to this communication volume is 2,980 yen. If the amount of reduction is, for example, 400 yen, the communication charge is reduced to 2,580 yen.

[0088] [1-3-2. Subscriber support server] Next, a functional overview of the system control unit 21 of the subscriber support server 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 13 and Fig. 14. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block of the system control unit 21 of the subscriber support server 2 in this embodiment. The system control unit 21 may function as a communication fee acquisition unit 2101, an information transmission unit 2102, etc., as shown in Fig. 13, by the CPU 21a reading and executing various program codes included in the subscriber support server program.

[0089] The communication fee acquisition unit 2101 may acquire the communication fee at the current time of this month. The acquired communication fee may be the presented communication fee. For example, the communication fee acquisition unit 2101 may acquire the communication fee from the billing server 3. For example, at a subscriber support site, a certain subscriber requests the display of the data usage status of this month. In response to this request, the communication fee acquisition unit 2101 may transmit a data usage status information request to the billing server 3. The data usage status information request may include, for example, the MSISDN of the subscriber who has requested the display of the data usage status. The communication fee acquisition unit 2101 may acquire the communication fee of the subscriber identified by the MSISDN by transmitting the data usage status information request. The communication fee acquisition unit 2101 may further acquire at least one of the current communication volume, the communication fee before reduction, and the total amount of reduction from the billing server 3.

[0090] The information transmitting unit 2102 may transmit the communication fee acquired by the communication fee acquiring unit 2101 to the mobile terminal 7 of the subscriber whose communication fee has been calculated by the billing server 3 so that the communication fee can be presented. The communication fee may be presented, for example, by a screen display or by audio output. For example, the information transmitting unit 2102 may transmit information to the mobile terminal 7 for displaying a screen including the communication fee on the mobile terminal 7. This information may be, for example, an HTML document or other information. The information transmitting unit 2102 may further transmit at least one of the current communication volume, the communication fee before reduction, and the total amount to be reduced.

[0091] Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a data usage status screen. The data usage status screen 200 may be a screen showing the current amount of communication consumed and communication fee. As shown in Fig. 14, the data usage status screen 200 may include a consumed communication amount 210, a communication fee 220, and a total deduction amount 230. The consumed communication amount 210 indicates the current amount of communication consumed. The communication fee 220 indicates the currently presented communication fee. The total deduction amount 230 indicates the current total amount of deduction.

[0092] [1-3-3. Billing Server] Next, a functional overview of the system control unit 31 of the billing server 3 will be described with reference to Fig. 15. Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block of the system control unit 31 of the billing server 3 in this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 15, the system control unit 31 may function as a deduction amount total update request receiving unit 3101, a deduction amount total updating unit 3102, a communication amount acquiring unit 3103, a deduction amount acquiring unit 3104, a communication fee calculation unit 3105, a communication fee transmitting unit 3106, an advertising expense accounting unit 3107, and a communication fee billing unit 3108, etc., by the CPU 31a reading and executing various program codes included in the billing server program.

[0093] The deduction total update request receiving unit 3101 may receive a deduction total update request transmitted from the communication amount calculation device 1 .

[0094] The subtraction amount total updating unit 3102 may update the subtraction amount total stored in the communication fee DB 34a in response to the subtraction amount total update request received by the subtraction amount total update request receiving unit 3101. For example, the subtraction amount total updating unit 3102 may acquire a subtraction amount stored in the communication fee subtraction amount DB 34c in association with a campaign ID included in the subtraction amount total update request. The subtraction amount total updating unit 3102 may add the acquired subtraction amount to the subtraction amount total associated with the MSISDN included in the subtraction amount total update request to update the subtraction amount total.

[0095] The communication amount acquisition unit 3103 may acquire the communication amount consumed calculated by the communication amount calculation unit 1103 from the communication amount calculation device 1. For example, when a data usage status information request is transmitted from the subscriber support server 2, the communication amount acquisition unit 3103 may acquire the communication amount consumed at the current time of this month. Also, for example, when the month changes, the communication amount acquisition unit 3103 needs to calculate the communication fee to be charged according to the communication amount consumed by each subscriber in the previous month. In this case, the communication amount acquisition unit 3103 may acquire the communication amount consumed in the previous month for each subscriber. For example, the communication amount acquisition unit 3103 may transmit a communication amount consumption request to the communication amount calculation device 1. The communication amount consumption request may include, for example, the MSISDN of the subscriber whose communication amount consumption is to be acquired and the target period. The target period indicates either the current month or the expiration month. The communication amount acquisition unit 3103 may acquire the communication amount consumed by transmitting the communication amount consumption request.

[0096] The deduction amount acquisition unit 3104 may acquire a deduction amount determined in advance for an advertiser who has specified a communication fee deduction target behavior corresponding to the communication data detected by the detection unit 1102 of the communication amount calculation device 1. The deduction amount acquisition unit 3104 may acquire the deduction amount, for example, when the communication amount is acquired by the communication amount acquisition unit 3103. For example, the deduction amount acquisition unit 3104 may acquire the total deduction amount stored in the communication fee DB 34a in association with the MSISDN included in the data usage status information request from the subscriber support server 2. The total deduction amount indicates one deduction amount or an accumulated deduction amount.

[0097] The communication fee calculation unit 3105 may calculate the presented communication fee based on the communication amount acquired by the communication amount acquisition unit 3103 and the deduction amount acquired by the deduction amount acquisition unit 3104. For example, the communication fee calculation unit 3105 may determine the communication fee according to the consumed communication amount according to the correspondence relationship between the consumed communication amount and the communication fee. The communication fee calculation unit 3105 may calculate the presented communication fee by subtracting the deduction amount acquired by the deduction amount acquisition unit 3104 or the accumulated deduction amount from this communication fee.

[0098] The communication fee transmission unit 3106 may transmit the presented communication fee acquired by the communication fee calculation unit 3105 to the subscriber support server 2. The communication fee transmission unit 3106 may transmit at least one of the communication volume acquired by the communication volume acquisition unit 3103, the communication fee before deduction, and the total deduction amount acquired by the deduction amount acquisition unit 3104 to the subscriber support server 2.

[0099] The advertising cost accrual unit 3107 may accrue the cost for reducing the communication fee by the communication fee calculation unit 3105 to the advertising cost of the business entity that is the advertiser. For example, the advertising cost accrual unit 3107 may accrue the cost each time the subtraction amount total update unit 3102 updates the subtraction amount total in response to the detection unit 1102 of the communication fee calculation device 1 detecting communication data having a characteristic indicated by any signature. For example, the advertising cost accrual unit 3107 may add the advertising fee as the current cost to the advertising fee billed amount stored in the advertising fee DB 34b in association with the campaign ID included in the subtraction amount total update request transmitted from the communication amount calculation device 1. The advertising cost accrual unit 3107 may determine this advertising fee. For example, it may determine an advertising fee higher than the subtraction amount acquired from the communication fee subtraction amount DB 34c by the subtraction amount total update unit 3102. For example, the advertising fee may be a predetermined percentage higher than the subtraction amount.

[0100] For example, when the month changes, the advertising expense accounting unit 3107 may execute a process for billing the advertiser for the advertising expense incurred in the previous month. For example, the advertising expense accounting unit 3107 may execute a process for settling the advertising fee billing amount stored in the advertising fee DB 34b in association with the target period indicating the previous month. The memory unit 34 of the billing server 3 may store, for example, credit card information of each advertiser. The credit card information may include, for example, the card number, expiration date, and the name of the cardholder. The advertising expense accounting unit 3107 may use the credit card information to settle the advertising fee billing amount. For example, the advertising expense accounting unit 3107 may request a credit check or a settlement from a system managed by a credit card company.

[0101] When the communication fee calculation unit 3105 calculates the communication fee to be charged to the subscriber according to the communication volume consumed in the previous month, the communication fee billing unit 3108 may store the communication fee in the communication fee DB 34a as the communication fee billing amount. The communication fee billing unit 3108 may also execute a process for billing each subscriber for the communication fee billing amount stored in the communication fee DB 34a. The memory unit 14 of the billing server 3 may store, for example, credit card information of each subscriber. The communication fee billing unit 3108 may settle the communication fee billing amount using the credit card information.

[0102] [1-4. Operation of communication system] Next, the operation of the communication system S will be described with reference to Fig. 16 to Fig. 19. Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a communication amount update process by the system control unit 11 of the communication amount calculation device 1 according to this embodiment. The system control unit 11 may execute the communication amount update process every time communication data flowing through the core network NC is captured.

[0103] As shown in Fig. 16, first, the communication amount calculation unit 1103 updates the consumed communication amount by adding the size of the captured communication data to the consumed communication amount (step S101). For example, the communication amount calculation unit 1103 may obtain the MSISDN included in the packets constituting the communication data. The communication amount calculation unit 1103 may update the consumed communication amount stored in the communication amount DB 14a in association with the combination of this MSISDN and the target period indicating the current month. In practice, the consumed communication amount may be updated every time a packet flows into the core network NC.

[0104] Next, the detection unit 1102 determines whether the DPI consent flag stored in the DPI consent DB 14d in association with the acquired MSISDN is "approved" (step S102). If the DPI consent flag is not "approved" (step S102: NO), the communication amount update process ends.

[0105] If the DPI consent flag is "approved" (step S102: YES), the signature acquisition unit 1101 and the detection unit 1102 inspect the communication data and search the signature DB 14c for a signature that indicates the characteristics of the communication data (step S103). As a result of the search, the communication volume calculation unit 1103 determines whether or not there is a corresponding signature (step S104). If there is no corresponding signature (step S104: NO), the communication volume update process ends.

[0106] If there is a corresponding signature (step S104: YES), the communication amount calculation unit 1103 acquires the campaign ID associated with the corresponding signature from the signature DB 14c. The communication amount calculation unit 1103 determines whether the reduction flag stored in the communication fee reduction status DB 14e in association with the combination of the acquired campaign ID and the acquired MSISDN is "unreduced" (step S105). If the reduction flag is not "unreduced" (step S105: NO), the communication amount update process ends.

[0107] If the reduction flag is "not reduced" (step S105: YES), the communication amount calculation unit 1103 judges whether the communication fee reduction condition is satisfied (step S106). For example, the communication amount calculation unit 1103 may acquire communication fee reduction condition information stored in the campaign DB 14b in association with the acquired campaign ID. The communication amount calculation unit 1103 may make a judgment based on the communication fee reduction condition information and situation data described later. For example, if the communication fee reduction target behavior is browsing a web page, the communication fee reduction condition is basically satisfied at the time when the corresponding communication data is detected. Assume that the communication fee reduction target behavior is downloading and executing an application. If communication data corresponding to the download of the application has been detected in the past and the communication data detected this time corresponds to the execution of the application, the communication fee reduction condition is satisfied. At the time when the communication data corresponding to the download of the application is detected, the communication fee reduction condition is not satisfied. If the behavior subject to communication fee reduction is using an application for a predetermined period of time or more, the communication amount calculation unit 1103 calculates the total length of the period during which each communication data for the use of the application was detected within a predetermined time interval, based on the date and time when the detection unit 1102 detected each communication data. If the total is equal to or greater than the time length indicated by the communication fee reduction condition information, the communication fee reduction condition is met. If the total is less than the time indicated by the communication fee reduction condition information, the communication fee reduction condition is not met.

[0108] If the communication fee reduction condition is not satisfied (step S106: NO), the communication amount calculation unit 1103 stores the situation data in the storage unit 14 or updates the situation data stored in the storage unit 14 (step S107). For example, the situation data may include at least the acquired MSISDN, the acquired campaign ID, and the length of the period during which the reduction of the communication fee is restricted. If the situation data including the corresponding MSISDN and campaign ID is not stored in the storage unit 14, the communication amount calculation unit 1103 stores new situation data including this information in the storage unit 14. This situation data may further include the detection date and time of the communication data, the data size of the communication data, and the signature ID of the searched signature. If the situation data including the corresponding MSISDN and campaign ID is already stored in the storage unit 14, the communication amount calculation unit 1103 adds the detection date and time of the latest communication data, the data size of the communication data, and the signature ID of the searched signature to this situation data. The situation data may be periodically deleted from storage unit 14 depending on the length of the period during which the reduction of the communication fee is restricted. The situation data whose period is one day is deleted at a predetermined time every day. The situation data whose period is one month is deleted on the first day of each month. When step S107 ends, the communication amount update process ends.

[0109] If the communication fee reduction condition is satisfied (step S106: YES), the reduction total update request unit 1104 transmits a reduction total update request including the acquired campaign ID and MSISDN to the billing server 3 (step S108). Next, the reduction total update request unit 1104 changes the reduction flag stored in the communication fee reduction status DB 14e in association with the combination of the acquired campaign ID and the acquired MSISDN to "reduced" (step S109), and the communication amount update process ends.

[0110] 17 is a flowchart showing an example of a deduction amount total update process by the system control unit 31 of the billing server 3 according to this embodiment. The system control unit 31 may execute the deduction amount total update process every time a deduction amount total update request is received from the communication amount calculation device 1.

[0111] 17, the subtraction amount total update unit 3102 acquires the subtraction amount associated with the campaign ID included in the subtraction amount total update request from the communication fee subtraction amount DB 34c (step S201). Next, the subtraction amount total update unit 3102 adds the acquired subtraction amount to the subtraction amount total stored in the communication fee DB 34a in association with the combination of the MSISDN included in the subtraction amount total update request and the target period indicating the current month, thereby updating the subtraction amount total (step S202).

[0112] Next, the advertising expense accounting unit 3107 determines the advertising fee (step S203). For example, the advertising expense accounting unit 3107 may calculate the advertising fee by multiplying the subtraction amount by a predetermined coefficient. The value of the coefficient may be greater than 1. Next, the advertising expense accounting unit 3107 updates the advertising fee billing amount stored in the advertising fee DB 34b in association with the combination of the campaign ID included in the subtraction amount total update request and the target period indicating the current month by adding the determined advertising fee (step S204), and the subtraction amount total update process ends.

[0113] FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the process of the communication system S when the mobile terminal 7 displays a data usage status screen. For example, a subscriber performs an operation to select display of the data usage status of this month on a subscriber support site. The mobile terminal 7 detects this selection and transmits a data usage status screen request including the subscriber's MSISDN and the target period indicating this month to the subscriber support server 2 (step S301), as shown in FIG. 18. The communication fee acquisition unit 2101 of the subscriber support server 2 acquires a combination of the MSISDN and the target period included in the received data usage status screen request. The communication fee acquisition unit 2101 transmits a data usage status information request including this combination to the billing server 3 (step S302). The communication amount acquisition unit 3103 of the billing server 3 acquires a combination of the MSISDN and the target period included in the received data usage status information request. The communication amount acquisition unit 3103 transmits a communication amount consumption request including this combination to the communication amount calculation device 1 (step S303). The communication amount calculation unit 1103 of the communication amount calculation device 1 acquires the consumed communication amount stored in the communication amount DB 14a in association with the combination of the MSISDN and the target period included in the received consumed communication amount request. The communication amount calculation unit 1103 transmits this consumed communication amount to the billing server 3 (step S304).

[0114] The communication fee calculation unit 3105 of the billing server 3 determines the communication fee from the received consumed communication volume according to the correspondence between the consumed communication volume and the communication fee (step S305). Next, the subtraction amount acquisition unit 3104 acquires the total subtraction amount associated with the MSISDN included in the data usage information request from the communication fee DB 34a (step S306). Next, the communication fee calculation unit 3105 calculates the presented communication fee by subtracting the total subtraction amount from the communication fee (step S307). If the presented communication fee becomes less than 0 yen, the communication fee calculation unit 3105 changes the presented communication fee to 0 yen. Next, the communication fee calculation unit 3105 transmits the consumed communication volume, the presented communication fee, and the total subtraction amount to the subscriber support server 2 (step S308).

[0115] The information transmitting unit 2102 of the subscriber support server 2 generates HTML data for a data usage status screen including the information received from the billing server 3 (step S309). The information transmitting unit 2102 transmits the generated HTML data to the mobile terminal 7 (step S310). The mobile terminal 7 displays the data usage status screen based on the received HTML (step S311).

[0116] 19 is a flowchart showing an example of a communication fee billing amount determination process by the system control unit 31 of the billing server 3 according to this embodiment. For example, the system control unit 31 may execute the communication fee billing amount determination process for each subscriber at a predetermined date and time after the month has changed.

[0117] As shown in FIG. 19, the communication amount acquisition unit 3103 acquires the communication amount consumed in the previous month of the subscriber to be processed from the communication amount calculation device 1 (step S401). For example, the communication amount acquisition unit 3103 may acquire the communication amount consumed by transmitting a communication amount consumed request including the MSISDN of the subscriber and a target period indicating the previous month to the communication amount calculation device 1. Next, the communication fee calculation unit 3105 determines the communication fee from the acquired communication amount consumed according to the correspondence relationship between the communication amount consumed and the communication fee (step S402). Next, the subtraction amount acquisition unit 3104 acquires the total subtraction amount associated with the MSISDN of the subscriber from the communication fee DB 34a (step S403). Next, the communication fee calculation unit 3105 calculates the communication fee bill by subtracting the total subtraction amount from the communication fee (step S404). Next, the communication fee billing unit 3108 stores the communication fee billing amount and the consumed communication volume in the communication fee DB 34a in association with the combination of the subscriber's MSISDN and the target period indicating the previous month (step S405), and the communication fee billing amount determination process is terminated.

[0118] As described above, according to this embodiment, the communication amount calculation device 1 acquires a signature. Moreover, the communication amount calculation device 1 detects communication data having a characteristic indicated by the signature from the communication data passing through the mobile communication network NM by inspecting the communication data passing through the mobile communication network NM. Moreover, the billing server 3 acquires a predetermined deduction amount. Moreover, the billing server 3 calculates the presented communication fee by subtracting the deduction amount from the communication fee corresponding to the communication amount consumed by the subscriber who is the source or destination of the detected communication data among the subscribers of the mobile communication service from the start of the period. Therefore, it is sufficient that the communication amount calculation device 1 is capable of capturing the communication data passing through the mobile communication network NM. For example, such a function does not need to be implemented in some system outside the mobile communication network NM. Therefore, the process for reducing the communication fee of the user in response to the user taking an action that is subject to a communication fee reduction can be performed in a unified manner.

[0119] At this time, the subscriber support server 2 may transmit the proposed communication fee to the mobile terminal 7 of the subscriber for which the proposed communication fee was calculated so that the proposed communication fee can be presented. In this case, it is possible to present to the subscriber a communication fee that has been reduced in accordance with the subscriber's taking an action eligible for communication fee reduction.

[0120] Furthermore, the communication fee for the mobile communication service may be increased in stages as the communication volume increases. In this case, the communication fee that increases in stages according to the communication volume can be reduced.

[0121] Alternatively, the communication amount calculation device 1 may inspect the communication data every time the communication data passes through the mobile communication network NM. In this case, communication data having the characteristics indicated by the signature can be detected in real time.

[0122] In addition, the billing server 3 may include the cost of reducing the communication fee in the advertising fee of the business operator. In this case, the cost of reducing the communication fee can be borne by the business operator as the advertiser.

[0123] Furthermore, the behavior eligible for a communication fee reduction may be downloading and executing a specific application, in which case the number of users of the application can be increased.

[0124] Here, when the billing server 3 detects communication data having characteristics indicated by a first signature corresponding to the download of an application, and then detects communication data having characteristics indicated by a second signature corresponding to the execution of the application, the billing server 3 may calculate the presented communication fee.

[0125] Furthermore, the behavior that is eligible for a communication fee reduction may be using an application for a predetermined period of time or more. In this case, it is possible to promote long-term use of the application.

[0126] Here, the billing server 3 may calculate the presented communication fee if the length of the period during which communication data having the characteristic indicated by the signature was detected at a time interval less than a predetermined interval is equal to or longer than a predetermined time.

[0127] The communication fee reduction target behavior may be browsing of a predetermined website. In this case, browsing of the website can be promoted.

[0128] In addition, the types of behaviors for which communication charges are to be reduced designated by one carrier may be different from the types of behaviors for which communication charges are to be reduced designated by another carrier, in which case communication charges can be reduced in response to the subscriber taking different types of behaviors.

[0129] In addition, the communication amount calculation device 1 may inspect the communication data passing through the mobile communication network NM by deep packet inspection. In this case, detailed analysis of the communication data is possible, and communication data corresponding to the behavior subject to the reduction of the communication fee can be appropriately detected.

[0130] [2. Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, the communication fee actually charged to each subscriber is reduced in accordance with the reduction in the communication fee. In the second embodiment, points equivalent to the reduction in the communication fee are given to each subscriber. The given points can be used in a predetermined point program. Except for the points described below, the second embodiment may be the same as the first embodiment.

[0131] [2-1. Communication system configuration] First, the configuration and functional overview of the communication system S according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 20 to 22. Fig. 20 is a diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of the communication system S according to this embodiment. In Fig. 20, the same elements as in Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals. Fig. 20 differs from Fig. 1 in that the communication system S shown in Fig. 20 further includes a point management server 8. The point management server 8 is an example of a point program system. The point management server 8 is connected to the Internet NI.

[0132] The point management server 8 may be a server device that manages points of each user in a predetermined point program. Each member of the R service can use this point program. The point management server 8 may manage the number of points owned by each member of the R service in association with the user ID of the member. The number of points owned by the user is called the number of available points. In this embodiment, it is defined that the user can subscribe to the mobile communication service on the condition that the user is a member of the R service. Therefore, each subscriber of the mobile communication service can use the point program. Among the members of the R service, there may be subscribers of the mobile communication service, and there may also be members who are not subscribers of the mobile communication service. The point program may be a service that grants points to a user who purchases a transaction object at a predetermined ratio of the purchase price, and allows the user to use the points held by the user to purchase the transaction object. The transaction object may be something that can be traded commercially. Examples of the transaction object include goods and services. The user may be able to earn and use points at online services such as the R service and at facilities such as stores that are affiliated with the point program.

[0133] FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of the contents stored in the database of the point management server 8. As shown in FIG. 21, the point management server 8 may store a database such as a point DB 81. The point DB 81 may store information regarding points owned by each user. For example, the point DB 81 may store a user ID and the number of available points in association with each other. The point management server 8 may provide the subscriber support server 2 and the billing server 3 with an API for accessing the point DB 81.

[0134] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which points are given instead of a reduction in communication charges. In FIG. 22, the same elements as those in FIG. 10 are given the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 22, a certain subscriber performed communication 101 of 2.8 GB, and then performed communication 102 of 0.3 GB. The communication 101 is not subject to a reduction in communication charges, and the communication 102 is subject to a reduction in communication charges. The amount of deduction corresponding to this communication 102 is 100 yen. Since the actual communication consumption at this point is 3.1 GB, the communication charge is 1,980 yen as shown in FIG. 2. When the month changes in this state, in the first embodiment, the subscriber was billed for a communication charge of 1,880 yen. In this embodiment, the mobile communication service bills the subscriber for a communication charge according to the communication volume actually consumed by the subscriber during the period. Therefore, 1,980 yen, which is a communication charge corresponding to the consumed communication volume, is billed. The difference in communication charges is 100 yen. Points equivalent to this difference of 100 yen are given to the subscriber. In practice, points equivalent to the total amount of deductions may be awarded. The exchange rate between points and money is predetermined. For example, 1 point may be equivalent to 1 yen. In this case, 100 points are returned to the subscriber. For convenience, this calculation does not take into account consumption tax, but the number of points may be calculated taking consumption tax into account.

[0135] [2-2. Functional overview of the system control unit] [2-2-1. Subscriber support server] Next, a functional overview of the system control unit 21 of the subscriber support server 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 23. In this embodiment, the communication fee acquisition unit 2101 may acquire the presented communication fee and also acquire the communication fee according to the consumed communication volume from the billing server 3. The information transmission unit 2102 may transmit the two types of communication fees acquired by the communication fee acquisition unit 2101 to the mobile terminal 7. The communication fee according to the consumed communication volume is the communication fee that the subscriber actually pays. The presented communication fee is the communication fee that the subscriber actually pays through point redemption.

[0136] Fig. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a data usage status screen. In Fig. 23, the same elements as in Fig. 14 are given the same reference numerals. As shown in Fig. 23, a data usage status screen 200 may include consumed communication volume 210, and communication fees 240 and 220. The communication fee 240 indicates the communication fee according to the consumed communication volume. The communication fee 220 indicates the presented communication fee.

[0137] [2-2-2. Billing Server] Next, a functional overview of the system control unit 31 of the billing server 3 will be described with reference to Fig. 24. Fig. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block of the system control unit 31 of the billing server 3 in this embodiment. In Fig. 24, the same elements as in Fig. 15 are given the same reference numerals. Fig. 24 differs from Fig. 15 in that in Fig. 24, the system control unit 31 further functions as a point allocating unit 3109.

[0138] In this embodiment, the communication fee transmission unit 3106 may transmit both the communication fee according to the consumed communication volume and the presented communication fee to the subscriber support server 2 when the mobile terminal 7 displays the data usage status screen.

[0139] When determining the communication fee billing amount for each subscriber, the communication fee calculation unit 3105 may determine the amount of the communication fee according to the communication amount actually consumed by the subscriber during the period. Therefore, the communication fee calculation unit 3105 does not perform subtraction using the total subtraction amount when determining the communication fee billing amount.

[0140] The point allocating unit 3109 may allocate points to the subscriber of the mobile communication service. For example, when there is a fee difference between the communication fee according to the consumed communication amount and the presented communication fee, the point allocating unit 3109 may add the number of points corresponding to the fee difference to the number of available points stored in the point DB 81 in association with the user ID for identifying the subscriber as a member of the R service. In this way, the point allocating unit 3109 may increase the number of available points of the subscriber. In reality, the point allocating unit 3109 may allocate points when the total amount of deduction is higher than 0 yen. The point allocating unit 3109 may convert the MSISDN of the subscriber into the user ID of the R service by referring to the user identification information conversion DB 41 stored in the member information management server 4. The point allocating unit 3109 may cause the point management server 8 to add the number of points corresponding to the fee difference via an API provided by the point management server 8.

[0141] [2-3. Operation of communication system] Next, the operation of the communication system S will be described with reference to Fig. 25. Fig. 25 is a flow chart showing an example of a communication fee billing amount determination process by the system control unit 31 of the billing server 3 according to this embodiment. For example, the system control unit 31 may execute the communication fee billing amount determination process for each subscriber at a predetermined date and time after the month has changed.

[0142] 25 is a flowchart showing an example of a communication fee billing amount determination process by the system control unit 31 of the billing server 3 according to this embodiment. For example, the system control unit 31 may execute the communication fee billing amount determination process for each subscriber at a predetermined date and time after the month has changed.

[0143] 25, the communication amount acquisition unit 3103 acquires the communication amount consumed for the previous month of the subscriber to be processed from the communication amount calculation device 1 (step S411). Next, the communication fee calculation unit 3105 determines the communication fee billing amount from the received consumed communication amount according to the correspondence between the consumed communication amount and the communication fee (step S412). Next, the communication fee billing unit 3108 stores the communication fee billing amount and the consumed communication amount in the communication fee DB 34a in association with the combination of the subscriber's MSISDN and the target period indicating the previous month (step S413).

[0144] Next, the subtraction amount acquisition unit 3104 acquires the subtraction amount total associated with the combination of the subscriber's MSISDN and the target period indicating the previous month from the communication fee DB 34a (step S414). Next, the point allocation unit 3109 judges whether the subtraction amount total is higher than 0 yen (step S415). If the subtraction amount total is 0 yen (step S415: NO), the communication fee billing amount determination process ends. If the subtraction amount total is higher than 0 yen (step S415: YES), the point allocation unit 3109 acquires the user ID associated with the subscriber's MSISDN from the user identification information conversion DB 41 (step S416). Next, the point allocation unit 3109 transmits a point number update request to the point management server 8 (step S417). The point number update request is a message indicating a request to update the number of available points of the user. The point number update request may include, for example, the user ID of the user whose available points are to be updated and the number of points to be added to the available points. The point management server 8 may transmit a point number update request including the user ID and the number of points equivalent to the total subtraction amount acquired from the user identification information conversion DB 41. Upon receiving the point number update request, the point management server 8 adds the number of points included in the point number update request to the number of available points stored in the point DB 81 in association with the user ID included in the point number update request, thereby updating the number of available points. When step S417 ends, the communication fee billing amount determination process ends.

[0145] As described above, according to this embodiment, communication charges can be effectively reduced by adding a number of points equivalent to the fee difference to the number of available points managed by a service other than the mobile communication service.

[0146] (Supplementary Note 1) A communication fee calculation system comprising: a characteristic information acquisition means for acquiring characteristic information indicating characteristics of communication data corresponding to a designated behavior designated by a predetermined carrier as the behavior of a subscriber of a mobile communication service, among communication data communicated through a network of a mobile communication service in which a communication fee is determined according to the communication volume consumed by the subscriber during a period; a detection means for detecting communication data having the characteristic indicated by the acquired characteristic information from the communication data passing through the network of the mobile communication service by inspecting the communication data passing through the network of the mobile communication service; a deduction amount acquisition means for acquiring a deduction amount predetermined for the carrier; and a calculation means for calculating a presented communication fee to be presented to the communication subscriber by subtracting the acquired deduction amount from a communication fee corresponding to the communication volume consumed from the start of the period by a communication subscriber who is a sender or destination of the detected communication data among the subscribers of the mobile communication service.

[0147] (Appendix 2) The communication fee calculation system according to appendix 1, further comprising a transmitting means for transmitting the proposed communication fee to a terminal device of the communication subscriber for which the proposed communication fee was calculated so that the calculated proposed communication fee can be presented.

[0148] (Supplementary Note 3) The communication fee calculation system according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, characterized in that the communication fee for the mobile communication service increases in stages as the communication volume increases.

[0149] (Appendix 4) The communication fee calculation system according to any one of Appendices 1 to 3, characterized in that the subscriber is billed by the mobile communication service for a communication fee corresponding to the consumed communication volume consumed by the subscriber during the period, a member of a specified service different from the mobile communication service, which is capable of using a specified point program, a member of the specified service may be a subscriber of the mobile communication service, the mobile communication service is capable of identifying the subscriber using subscriber identification information different from member identification information for identifying the subscriber of the mobile communication service as a member of the specified service, the point program system manages a number of owned points indicating the number of points owned by the member of the specified service in association with the member identification information of the member, and, when there is a fee difference between the communication fee corresponding to the consumed communication volume and the calculated presented communication fee, the system further comprises an addition control means for adding a number of points equivalent to the fee difference to the number of owned points associated with the member identification information for identifying the communication subscriber as a member of the specified service.

[0150] (Supplementary Note 5) The communication fee calculation system according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 4, wherein the detection means operates every time the communication data passes through the network.

[0151] (Appendix 6) A communication fee calculation system as described in any one of appendices 1 to 5, further comprising a calculation means for calculating the cost of reducing the communication fee by the calculation means as advertising expenses of the operator.

[0152] (Appendix 7) A communication fee calculation system as described in any one of Appendices 1 to 6, characterized in that the specified action is to download and execute a predetermined application that can be installed on a terminal device of a subscriber of the mobile communication service.

[0153] (Appendix 8) The application is an application that causes the terminal device to communicate with other devices while the application is being executed, the acquired feature information includes first feature information corresponding to the download of the application and second feature information corresponding to the execution of the application, and the calculation means calculates the presented communication fee when the detection means detects communication data having the characteristics indicated by the second feature information after the detection means detects communication data having the characteristics indicated by the first feature information.

[0154] (Appendix 9) A communication fee calculation system as described in any one of Appendices 1 to 8, characterized in that the specified behavior is using a specified application executable by a terminal device of a subscriber to the mobile communication service for more than a specified period of time.

[0155] (Appendix 10) The communication fee calculation system described in Appendix 9, characterized in that the application is an application that causes the terminal device to communicate with other devices while the application is being executed, and the calculation means calculates the presented communication fee when the length of the detection period during which the communication data having the characteristics indicated by the acquired characteristic information is detected by the detection means at a time interval less than a predetermined interval is equal to or longer than a predetermined time.

[0156] (Supplementary Note 11) A communication fee calculation system according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 10, characterized in that the specified action is browsing a specified website.

[0157] (Appendix 12) The communication fee calculation system described in any one of Appendices 1 to 11, characterized in that the characteristic information acquisition means is capable of acquiring a plurality of pieces of characteristic information corresponding to a plurality of designated actions respectively designated by a plurality of operators including a first operator and a second operator, the detection means detects the communication data having the characteristics indicated by the characteristic information for each of the plurality of pieces of characteristic information, and the type of the designated action designated by the first operator is different from the type of the designated action designated by the second operator.

[0158] (Appendix 13) The communication fee calculation system according to any one of Appendices 1 to 12, characterized in that the detection means detects the communication data having the characteristics indicated by the acquired characteristic information by inspecting the communication data passing through the network using deep packet inspection.

[0159] (Supplementary Note 14) A method for calculating a communication charge, comprising: a characteristic information acquisition step of acquiring characteristic information indicating characteristics of communication data corresponding to a designated behavior designated by a predetermined carrier as a behavior of a subscriber of a mobile communication service, among communication data communicated through a network of a mobile communication service in which a communication charge is determined according to a communication volume consumed by the subscriber during a period; a detection step of detecting communication data having the characteristic indicated by the acquired characteristic information from the communication data passing through the network of the mobile communication service by inspecting the communication data passing through the network of the mobile communication service; a deduction amount acquisition step of acquiring a deduction amount predetermined for the carrier; and a calculation step of calculating a presented communication charge to be presented to the communication subscriber by subtracting the acquired deduction amount from a communication charge corresponding to a communication volume consumed from a start point of the period by a communication subscriber who is a source or destination of the detected communication data, among the subscribers of the mobile communication service. [Explanation of symbols]

[0160] 1 Communication amount calculation device 2. Subscriber support server 3. Billing Server 4. Membership information management server 5 Application Delivery Server 6. Business Server 7 Mobile devices 8 Point Management Server 11, 21, 31 System control section 12, 22, 32 system bus 13, 23, 33 Input / Output Interface 14, 24, 34 storage section 15, 25, 35 Communications Department 14a Traffic DB 14b Campaign DB 14c Signature DB 14d DPI acceptance DB 14e Communication fee reduction status DB 34a Communication fee DB 34b Advertising fee DB 34c Communication fee deduction amount DB 41 User identification information conversion DB 81 points DB 1101 Signature Acquisition Unit 1102 Detection unit 1103 Communication amount calculation section 1104 Subtraction total update request section 2101 Communication Charge Acquisition Department 2102 Information transmission unit 3101 Subtraction amount total update request receiving unit 3102 Total deduction amount update section 3103 Communication volume acquisition unit 3104 Deduction amount acquisition department 3105 Communication Charge Calculation Department 3106 Communication charge transmission unit 3107 Advertising Expenses Department 3108 Communications Billing Department 3109 Points Granting Department BS base station NC Core Network NM Mobile communication network NI Internet S Communication System

Claims

1. a characteristic information acquiring means for acquiring characteristic information indicating characteristics of communication data corresponding to a designated behavior designated by a predetermined carrier as a behavior of a subscriber of a mobile communication service among communication data communicated through a network of the mobile communication service in which a communication fee is determined according to the communication volume consumed by the subscriber during a period of time; a detection means for detecting, from the communication data passing through the network, the communication data having the characteristic indicated by the acquired characteristic information by inspecting the communication data passing through the network of the mobile communication service; A deduction amount acquisition means for acquiring a deduction amount determined in advance for the business operator; a calculation means for calculating a proposed communication fee to be presented to the communication subscriber by subtracting the acquired subtraction amount from a communication fee corresponding to a communication volume consumed by the communication subscriber who is a source or destination of the detected communication data from among the subscribers of the mobile communication service, from a start point of the period; A communication charge calculation system comprising:

2. 2. The communication fee calculation system according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitting means for transmitting the proposed communication fee to a terminal device of the communication subscriber for which the proposed communication fee has been calculated so that the proposed communication fee can be presented.

3. 2. The communication fee calculation system according to claim 1, wherein the communication fee for the mobile communication service increases stepwise as the communication volume increases.

4. A communication fee according to the communication volume consumed by the subscriber during the period is billed to the subscriber by the mobile communication service; a predetermined service different from the mobile communication service, the member of which can use a predetermined point program; a member of the predetermined service may be a subscriber of the mobile communication service; The mobile communication service is capable of identifying a subscriber of the mobile communication service by using subscriber identification information different from member identification information for identifying the subscriber of the mobile communication service as a member of the predetermined service, the point program system manages a number of points held by a member of the predetermined service, the number indicating the number of points held by the member, in association with the member identification information of the member; The communication fee calculation system according to claim 1, further comprising an addition control means for, when there is a fee difference between the communication fee corresponding to the consumed communication volume and the calculated presented communication fee, adding the number of points equivalent to the fee difference to the number of owned points associated with the member identification information for identifying the communication subscriber as a member of the specified service.

5. 2. The communication charge calculation system according to claim 1, wherein said detection means operates every time said communication data passes through said network.

6. 6. The communication fee calculation system according to claim 1, further comprising: accounting means for accounting for a cost for reducing the communication fee by said calculation means to an advertising cost of said business operator.

7. 6. The communication fee calculation system according to claim 1, wherein the specified action is to download and execute a predetermined application that can be installed on a terminal device of a subscriber of the mobile communication service.

8. the application causes the terminal device to communicate with other devices during execution of the application; the acquired characteristic information includes first characteristic information corresponding to downloading the application and second characteristic information corresponding to execution of the application; The communication fee calculation system according to claim 7, characterized in that the calculation means calculates the presented communication fee when the communication data having the characteristics indicated by the second characteristic information is detected by the detection means after the communication data having the characteristics indicated by the first characteristic information is detected by the detection means.

9. 6. The communication charge calculation system according to claim 1, wherein the specified behavior is to use a predetermined application executable by a terminal device of a subscriber of the mobile communication service for a predetermined period of time or more.

10. the application causes the terminal device to communicate with other devices during execution of the application; The communication fee calculation system according to claim 9, characterized in that the calculation means calculates the presented communication fee when the length of the detection period during which the communication data having the characteristics indicated by the acquired characteristic information is detected by the detection means at a time interval less than a predetermined interval is equal to or longer than a predetermined time.

11. 6. The communication fee calculation system according to claim 1, wherein the specified action is browsing a predetermined website.

12. the characteristic information acquisition means is capable of acquiring a plurality of pieces of characteristic information corresponding to a plurality of designated actions respectively designated by a plurality of businesses including a first business and a second business, the detection means detects, for each of the plurality of pieces of characteristic information, the communication data having the characteristic indicated by the piece of characteristic information; 6. The communication fee calculation system according to claim 1, wherein the type of the designated action designated by the first carrier is different from the type of the designated action designated by the second carrier.

13. The communication fee calculation system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the detection means detects the communication data having the characteristics indicated by the acquired characteristic information by inspecting the communication data passing through the network using deep packet inspection.

14. 1. A computer-implemented method for calculating communication charges, comprising: a characteristic information acquisition step of acquiring characteristic information indicating characteristics of communication data corresponding to a designated behavior designated by a predetermined carrier as a behavior of a subscriber of a mobile communication service among communication data communicated through a network of the mobile communication service in which a communication fee is determined according to the communication volume consumed by the subscriber during a period of time; a detection step of detecting, from the communication data passing through the network, the communication data having the characteristic indicated by the acquired characteristic information by inspecting the communication data passing through the network of the mobile communication service; a deduction amount acquisition step of acquiring a deduction amount determined in advance for the business operator; a calculation step of calculating a proposed communication fee to be presented to the communication subscriber by subtracting the acquired subtraction amount from a communication fee corresponding to a communication volume consumed by the communication subscriber who is a source or destination of the detected communication data from among the subscribers of the mobile communication service, from a start point of the period; A communication charge calculation method comprising:

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