Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To perform communication between terminals using the address information assigned to a user terminal.SOLUTION: An information processing device comprises: a storage unit which stores information processing service data in which information for identifying user terminals of an information processing service is associated with service availability information; a reception unit that receives a communication request including connection source terminal identification information and connection destination terminal identification information from a connection source terminal; a transmission unit which transmits address information to the connection source terminal when the service availability information stored in association with the connection source terminal identification information included in the communication request in the storage unit indicates that the terminal can perform communication via the network; and a relay unit which relays communication between the connection source terminal and the connection destination terminal on the basis of the address information when the service availability information stored in association with the connection source terminal identification information included in the communication request in the storage unit indicates that the terminal cannot perform communication via the network.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, telephone calls are made between users via telephone lines using an application for making telephone calls (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-9965 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Telecommunications carriers that provide telephone lines have established communication networks for communication separate from the telephone lines. Address information, such as an IP (Internet Protocol) address, is assigned to user terminals used by users of the carriers so that they can communicate via the communication network. Because telephone calls via telephone lines incur telephone charges, there is a demand for inexpensive communication, including telephone calls, by communicating between terminals using the address information assigned to the user terminals. Furthermore, terminals that have been assigned address information can communicate with other terminals via the communication network, but terminals that do not have assigned address information, such as telephones, cannot communicate with other terminals via the communication network. Therefore, there is a demand for a system that allows communication between terminals regardless of which terminal requests communication with another terminal.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of these points, and has as its object to enable communication between terminals using address information assigned to user terminals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The information processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores information processing service data in which information for identifying a user terminal of an information processing service for communication between a plurality of terminals is associated with service availability information indicating whether the user terminal of the information processing service is a terminal that can communicate via a network provided by a communication service that is a service different from the information processing service; a reception unit that receives, from a source terminal that is a user terminal of the information processing service, a communication request that is a request for communication with the destination terminal, the communication request including source terminal identification information for identifying the source terminal and destination terminal identification information for identifying a destination terminal designated by the source terminal as a connection destination; and a communication request stored in the storage unit in association with the source terminal identification information included in the communication request. a transmitting unit that transmits to the source terminal, when the service availability information stored in the storage unit in association with the source terminal identification information included in the communication request indicates that the terminal is not capable of communicating via the network, the address information being assigned to the user terminal of the communication service for communication via the network, and managed by a telecommunications carrier that provides the communication service in association with the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request; and a relay unit that relays communication between the source terminal and the destination terminal based on the address information managed by the telecommunications carrier in association with the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request when the service availability information stored in the storage unit in association with the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request indicates that the terminal is not capable of communicating via the network.

[0007] The communication request may further include information indicating the type of communication to be communicated with the destination terminal, and the information processing device may further have an acquisition unit that acquires from the telecommunications carrier information indicating the grade of communication quality in the communication service that is set for the destination terminal so that the destination terminal can communicate via the network, and the relay unit may further relay communication between the source terminal and the destination terminal based on the relationship between the communication type and the grade corresponding to the destination terminal.

[0008] The information processing service may be a service for transmitting and receiving at least one of audio and images between the plurality of terminals. The destination terminal identification information may be at least one of a telephone number assigned to the destination terminal and a serial number of the destination terminal.

[0009] The memory unit may further store communication service data that associates information for identifying a user terminal of the communication service with address information assigned to the user terminal of the communication service for communication via the network, the transmission unit may transmit the address information stored in the memory unit in association with the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request to the source terminal, and the relay unit may access the destination terminal via the network based on the address information stored in the memory unit in association with the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request.

[0010] The information processing device may further include a notification unit that, when the transmission unit has transmitted the address information, notifies the destination terminal that the address information has been transmitted.

[0011] The information processing device may have a calculation unit that acquires communication history information indicating the amount of communication involved in communication between the source terminal and the destination terminal, and calculates a fee for use of the information processing service between the source terminal and the destination terminal based on the amount of communication indicated by the acquired communication history information, and a billing unit that bills at least one of the source terminal and the destination terminal for the fee calculated by the calculation unit.

[0012] A specified application for using the information processing service may be installed on the source terminal, and the calculation unit may acquire the communication history information indicating the amount of communication associated with the communication between the source terminal and the destination terminal measured by the specified application.

[0013] The destination terminal may have the specified application installed, and the source terminal and the destination terminal that are capable of communicating via the network may communicate using the address information via the specified application, and the calculation unit may calculate fees for the use of the information processing service for each of the source terminal and the destination terminal based on the amount of data that the source terminal sent to the destination terminal and the amount of data that the source terminal received from the destination terminal, as indicated in the acquired communication history information.

[0014] The destination terminal may have the specified application installed, and the source terminal and the destination terminal that are capable of communicating via the network may communicate using the address information via the specified application, and the calculation unit may calculate the fees for using the information processing service for each of the source terminal and the destination terminal based on the communication time between the source terminal and the destination terminal indicated in the acquired communication history information.

[0015] The calculation unit may calculate a fee for the use of the information processing service by the source terminal based on the number of times the reception unit receives the communication request from the source terminal, and the billing unit may bill the source terminal for the fee for the use of the information processing service by the source terminal calculated by the calculation unit.

[0016] An information processing method according to a second aspect of the present invention is executed by a computer having a storage unit that stores information processing service data in which information for identifying a user terminal of an information processing service for communication between a plurality of terminals and service availability information indicating whether the user terminal of the information processing service is a terminal that can communicate via a network provided by a communication service that is a service different from the information processing service is associated, the information processing method comprising the steps of: receiving, from a source terminal that is a user terminal of the information processing service, a communication request that is a request for communication with the destination terminal, the request including source terminal identification information for identifying the source terminal and destination terminal identification information for identifying a destination terminal designated by the source terminal as a connection destination; and storing, in the storage unit, information related to the source terminal identification information included in the communication request. the service availability information stored in the storage unit in association with the connection source terminal identification information included in the communication request indicates that the terminal is not capable of communicating via the network, the method comprising: a step of transmitting to the source terminal address information assigned to the user terminal of the communication service for communication via the network, the address information being managed by a telecommunications carrier providing the communication service in association with the connection destination terminal identification information included in the communication request; and a step of relaying communication between the source terminal and the connection destination terminal based on the address information managed by the telecommunications carrier in association with the connection destination terminal identification information included in the communication request, when the service availability information stored in the storage unit in association with the connection source terminal identification information included in the communication request indicates that the terminal is not capable of communicating via the network.

[0017] A program according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a computer having a storage unit that stores information processing service data in which information for identifying a user terminal of an information processing service for communication between a plurality of terminals is associated with service availability information indicating whether the user terminal of the information processing service is a terminal that can communicate via a network provided by a communication service that is a service different from the information processing service; a reception unit that receives, from a source terminal that is a user terminal of the information processing service, a communication request that is a request for communication with the destination terminal, the communication request including source terminal identification information for identifying the source terminal and destination terminal identification information for identifying a destination terminal designated by the source terminal as a connection destination; and a storage unit that stores the communication request in association with the source terminal identification information included in the communication request. and a relay unit that relays communication between the source terminal and the destination terminal based on the address information that the telecommunications carrier that provides the communication service manages in association with the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request when the service availability information stored in the memory unit indicates that the terminal is not capable of communicating via the network. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to perform communication between terminals using address information assigned to user terminals. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a functional configuration of an information processing device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an information processing service management database. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a terminal management database. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a processing flow of the information processing system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating a functional configuration of an information processing device according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an information processing system S according to a first embodiment. The information processing system S is a system used to provide an information processing service. The information processing service is a service for realizing communication between multiple terminals via a communication network, for example, a service for transmitting and receiving at least one of voice and image between multiple terminals. The communication network is a network constructed by a telecommunications carrier for communication different from communication using telephone lines. The telecommunications carrier provides a communication service that enables communication using the communication network. The information processing system S has a source terminal 1, a destination terminal 2, a management device 3, and an information processing device 4.

[0021] The source terminal 1 is a user terminal of the information processing service, and is a terminal used by a user who utilizes the information processing service to request communication with the destination terminal 2, and is, for example, either a network communication terminal that is a terminal that communicates using a communication network (e.g., a smartphone, tablet terminal, personal computer), or a line communication terminal that is a telephone that communicates using a telephone line (e.g., a landline telephone, etc.). The line communication terminal may be an IP telephone that communicates using a communication network.

[0022] The destination terminal 2 is a terminal, such as a network communication terminal, used by a user who is required to communicate with the source terminal 1. The destination terminal 2 may be a user terminal of an information processing service.

[0023] For example, a dedicated application program (hereinafter referred to as a "dedicated app"), which is a predetermined application program for providing an information processing service, is installed in the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2. The source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 can receive the information processing service by using the dedicated app.

[0024] For example, the information processing service provides address information to the source terminal 1, causing the source terminal 1 to communicate with the destination terminal 2 based on the address information. The address information is information, such as an IPv6 address, assigned to the user terminal so that the user terminal can communicate via a communication network provided by the communication service. The information processing service also connects to the destination terminal 2 based on the address information and relays communication between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2.

[0025] The dedicated app may also be used to provide services other than information processing services. Examples of other services include a shopping service for buying and selling goods between stores and individuals, and an auction service for buying and selling goods between individuals. For example, a user of source terminal 1 can use the dedicated app to talk to or send and receive data with a user of destination terminal 2, thereby trading goods, introducing goods for sale, and so on.

[0026] The management device 3 is a device, such as a server, that manages the addresses of terminals that use communication services provided by a communication carrier. The management device 3 manages terminal identification information and address information in association with each other. The terminal identification information is information for identifying a user terminal used by a user who uses a communication service, and includes, for example, at least one of a telephone number assigned to the user terminal and a serial number of the user terminal.

[0027] The management device 3 also manages APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) provided to the outside world by the core network of the mobile phone system, which may be formulated by international standardization organizations, such as the GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association) (registered trademark) Open Gateway (registered trademark).

[0028] The information processing device 4 is a server that provides an information processing service. The information processing device 4 can acquire information managed by the management device 3 by using the API.

[0029] The information processing device 4 provides an information processing service in response to a request from the source terminal 1 to communicate with the destination terminal 2 designated as the communication destination. In this case, the information processing device 4 provides the information processing service in accordance with the type of terminal (network communication terminal, line communication terminal) of the source terminal 1.

[0030] For example, if the connection source terminal 1 is a network communication terminal, the information processing device 4 uses an API to obtain address information corresponding to the connection destination terminal 2 from the management device 3 and transmits the obtained address information to the connection source terminal 1. When the connection source terminal 1 obtains the address information corresponding to the connection destination terminal 2, the connection source terminal 1 communicates with the connection destination terminal 2 specified by the address information. As a result, the connection source terminal 1 and the connection destination terminal 2 communicate using the address information via a dedicated app.

[0031] On the other hand, when the source terminal 1 is a line communication terminal, the information processing device 4 acquires address information corresponding to the destination terminal 2 from the management device 3 using the API, connects to the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 specified by the acquired address information, and relays communication between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2. As a result, the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 communicate via the information processing device 4.

[0032] In this way, the information processing system S can use the address information assigned to the destination terminal 2 to enable communication between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2. The configuration of the information processing device 4 will be described below.

[0033] [Configuration of information processing device 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the functional configuration of an information processing device 4 according to the first embodiment. The information processing device 4 includes a first communication unit 41, a second communication unit 42, a storage unit 43, and a control unit 44. In FIG. 2, arrows indicate main data flows, and there may be data flows not shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, each functional block indicates a configuration in functional units, rather than a configuration in hardware (device) units. Therefore, the functional blocks shown in FIG. 2 may be implemented in a single device, or may be implemented separately in multiple devices. Data may be exchanged between functional blocks via any means, such as a data bus, a network, or a portable storage medium.

[0034] The first communication unit 41 is a communication interface for connecting to a network and has a communication controller for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external terminal (e.g., a network communication terminal) or an external server. The second communication unit 42 is a communication interface for connecting to a telephone line network and has a communication controller for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external terminal (e.g., a line communication terminal).

[0035] The storage unit 43 is a large-capacity storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) of a computer that implements the information processing device 4, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that serves as a work area for the information processing device 4, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores an OS (Operating System), application programs, and various information referenced when the application programs are executed. The storage unit 43 stores, for example, an API of the GSMA Open Gateway. The storage unit 43 also stores an information processing service management database that manages information processing service data, which is information related to user terminals of information processing services.

[0036] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an information processing service management database. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the information processing service management database stores terminal identification information and service availability information in association with each other. The terminal identification information is information for identifying a user terminal of an information processing service.

[0037] The service availability information is information indicating whether a terminal is capable of communicating via a communication network provided in a communication service. For example, for a network communication terminal, information indicating that the terminal is capable of communicating via a communication network is set as the service availability information. Also, for example, for a line communication terminal, information indicating that the terminal is not capable of communicating via the communication network is set as the service availability information. Note that the service availability information may also be information indicating the type of user terminal of the information processing service (either a network communication terminal or a line communication terminal).

[0038] Returning to Figure 2, the control unit 44 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) of the information processing device 4, and by executing programs stored in the memory unit 43, it functions as a reception unit 441, an acquisition unit 442, a judgment unit 443, a transmission unit 444, a notification unit 445, a relay unit 446, a calculation unit 447, and a billing unit 448.

[0039] (Provision processing) First, a process executed by the information processing device 4 to provide an information processing service will be described. The reception unit 441 receives a communication request from the source terminal 1, which is a request to communicate with the destination terminal 2 designated by the source terminal 1 as the destination. The communication request includes source terminal identification information and destination terminal identification information. The source terminal identification information is terminal identification information corresponding to the source terminal 1, such as a telephone number. The destination terminal identification information is terminal identification information corresponding to the destination terminal 2, such as at least one of a telephone number and the serial number of the destination terminal 2.

[0040] For example, the user of the connection source terminal 1 performs an operation to specify destination terminal identification information at the connection source terminal 1. For example, a plurality of destination terminal identification information is registered in the connection source terminal 1 by the user, and the connection source terminal 1 accepts an operation to specify one of the plurality of destination terminal identification information. The connection source terminal 1 may accept the specification of destination terminal identification information by accepting input of destination terminal identification information from the user.

[0041] When the destination terminal identification information is specified, the source terminal 1 transmits a communication request including the source terminal identification information and the specified destination terminal identification information to the information processing device 4. The reception unit 441 receives the communication request from the source terminal 1 and thereby accepts the communication request. The reception unit 441 may accept a communication request from the source terminal 1 that further includes the user ID of the source terminal 1 in the information processing service.

[0042] The acquiring unit 442 transmits the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request to a telecommunications carrier that provides communication services, and acquires address information associated with the destination terminal identification information from the carrier. For example, in response to the acceptance of a communication request by the accepting unit 441, the acquiring unit 442 transmits the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request to the management device 3 using an API. Note that the acquiring unit 442 may further transmit information indicating the source terminal 1 that has requested communication with the destination terminal 2 (for example, the source terminal identification information or the user ID of the source terminal 1) to the management device 3.

[0043] When the management device 3 acquires the destination terminal identification information from the information processing device 4, it identifies address information associated with the destination terminal identification information and transmits the identified address information to the information processing device 4. For example, the management device 3 stores terminal management database information that manages information about user terminals used by users who use communication services.

[0044] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a terminal management database. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the terminal management database stores terminal identification information, address information, and grade information in association with each other. The grade information is information indicating the grade of communication quality in a communication service that is set for a user terminal of a communication service so that the user terminal can communicate via a communication network, and is, for example, high-speed communication (e.g., 5G, 4G / LTE, etc.), medium-speed communication (e.g., 3G, etc.), low-speed communication (e.g., 128 kbps or less, etc.). The grade information may also be information indicating the type of communication service to which a divided network, which is a virtual division of a communication network, is assigned, such as high speed / large capacity, multiple connections, high reliability / low latency, etc.

[0045] The management device 3 refers to the terminal management database, identifies address information associated with the destination terminal identification information acquired from the information processing device 4, and transmits the identified address information to the information processing device 4. If the management device 3 is unable to identify the address information, it transmits error information indicating that the address information could not be identified to the information processing device 4.

[0046] The acquiring unit 442 acquires the address information by receiving the address information from the management device 3. When the acquiring unit 442 receives error information from the management device 3, it may transmit the destination terminal identification information to another external device (not shown) that stores the terminal identification information and the address information in association with each other, and acquire the address information from the external device. The external device is a device that manages a communication service different from the communication service managed by the information processing device 4.

[0047] Among the users of the connection source terminal 1, there are businesses that attempt to transmit information such as advertising information to an unspecified number of users, and the transmission of such advertising information causes problems such as an increased load on the information processing device 4 and the management device 3, and an increased load on the communication network. In response to this, the reception unit 441 may acquire a number of communication requests from the connection source terminal 1 per unit time that exceeds a predetermined threshold, and may not accept the communication requests when the acquisition unit 442 receives error information for the communication requests at a rate equal to or greater than a predetermined rate. In this way, the information processing device 4 can suppress the transmission of information to an unspecified number of users.

[0048] The determination unit 443 determines whether the source terminal 1 that has requested communication with the destination terminal 2 is either a network communication terminal or a line communication terminal. Specifically, the determination unit 443 determines whether the service availability information stored in the information processing service management database in association with the source terminal identification information included in the communication request indicates that the terminal is capable of communicating via a communication network.

[0049] Note that the determination unit 443 may determine whether the source terminal 1 that requested communication with the destination terminal 2 is a network communication terminal or a line communication terminal, based on the type of communication when the reception unit 441 received the communication request. For example, when the reception unit 441 receives a communication request via the first communication unit 41, the determination unit 443 determines that the source terminal 1 that requested communication with the destination terminal 2 is a terminal that can communicate via a communication network, that is, a network communication terminal. On the other hand, when the reception unit 441 receives a communication request via the second communication unit 42, the determination unit 443 determines that the source terminal 1 that requested communication with the destination terminal 2 is not a terminal that can communicate via a communication network, that is, a line communication terminal.

[0050] The information processing device 4 executes a provision process for providing an information processing service depending on whether the source terminal 1 that has requested communication with the destination terminal 2 is a network communication terminal or a line communication terminal. As part of the information processing service provision process, if the source terminal 1 that has requested communication with the destination terminal 2 is a network communication terminal, the information processing device 4 transmits address information corresponding to the destination terminal 2 to the source terminal 1.

[0051] Specifically, when the service availability information stored in the information processing service management database in association with the connection source terminal identification information included in the communication request indicates that the terminal is capable of communicating via the communication network, the transmitter 444 transmits address information that is assigned to the user terminal of the communication service to communicate via the communication network and that is managed by the communication carrier providing the communication service in association with the connection destination terminal identification information included in the communication request to the connection source terminal 1. More specifically, when the determination unit 443 determines that the connection source terminal 1 that has requested communication with the connection destination terminal 2 is a terminal capable of communicating via the communication network, the transmitter 444 transmits the address information that the acquisition unit 442 acquired from the management device 3 to the connection source terminal 1.

[0052] When information processing device 4 has transmitted address information corresponding to destination terminal 2 to source terminal 1, it may notify destination terminal 2 to that effect. Specifically, when transmitter 444 has transmitted address information corresponding to destination terminal 2, notifier 445 notifies destination terminal 2 that the address information has been transmitted. For example, notifier 445 notifies destination terminal 2 that the address information has been transmitted to source terminal 1 by transmitting notification information indicating that address information corresponding to destination terminal 2 has been transmitted to destination terminal 2.

[0053] The notification unit 445 may include the source terminal identification information in the notification information. In this way, the user of the destination terminal 2 recognizes that the source terminal 1 has acquired the address information of the destination terminal 2, and can consider whether or not to communicate with the source terminal 1 before a communication request is received from the source terminal 1.

[0054] After acquiring the address information, the connection source terminal 1 uses, for example, a dedicated application to transmit a communication start request, which is a request to start communication with the connection destination terminal 2 identified by the address information. When the connection destination terminal 2 receives the communication start request, the connection source terminal 1 and the connection destination terminal 2 communicate using the address information via the dedicated application. In response to receiving the communication start request, the connection destination terminal 2 may accept a selection from the user as to whether or not to start communication with the connection source terminal 1. Then, in response to the connection destination terminal 2 accepting the selection to start communication from the user, the connection destination terminal 2 may start communication with the connection source terminal 1.

[0055] In the above, an example has been described in which when the source terminal 1 that has requested communication with the destination terminal 2 is a terminal that can communicate via a communication network, the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 communicate directly, but this is not limiting. For example, the information processing device 4 may relay communication between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2. For example, the relay unit 446, which will be described later, connects to each of the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2, and relays communication between the connected source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2.

[0056] As part of the process of providing an information processing service, when the source terminal 1 that has requested communication with the destination terminal 2 is a line communication terminal, the information processing device 4 relays communication between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2. Specifically, when the service availability information stored in the information processing service management database in association with the source terminal identification information included in the communication request indicates that the terminal is not capable of communicating via a communication network, the relay unit 446 relays communication between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 based on address information that is managed by the telecommunications carrier in association with the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request. More specifically, when the determination unit 443 determines that the source terminal 1 that has requested communication with the destination terminal 2 is not a terminal capable of communicating via a communication network, the relay unit 446 relays communication between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 based on the address information that the acquisition unit 442 acquired from the management device 3.

[0057] For example, first, relay unit 446 connects to source terminal 1 that has requested communication with destination terminal 2, and then connects to destination terminal 2 that is specified by address information that acquisition unit 442 has acquired from management device 3. Note that relay unit 446 may also connect to source terminal 1 when acceptance unit 441 accepts a communication request from source terminal 1. Then, relay unit 446 converts a signal received from source terminal 1 (e.g., an analog signal) into a signal that can be received by destination terminal 2 (e.g., a digital signal) and transmits the signal to destination terminal 2, and converts a signal acquired from destination terminal 2 into a signal that can be received by source terminal 1 and transmits the signal to source terminal 1, thereby relaying communication between source terminal 1 and destination terminal 2.

[0058] Here, relay unit 446 may relay communication between originating terminal 1 and destination terminal 2, taking into consideration the communication type, which is the type of communication with destination terminal 2 requested by originating terminal 1, and the grade of communication quality in the communication service defined for destination terminal 2. The communication type may be, for example, a voice-only (low quality or high quality) telephone call, a videophone call including voice and video, a videophone call including voice and three-dimensional video, data transfer, etc.

[0059] For example, the communication request received by the reception unit 441 from the connection source terminal 1 further includes information indicating the type of communication to be performed with the connection destination terminal 2. The type of communication may be specified by the user of the connection source terminal 1, or may be determined by the connection source terminal 1.

[0060] In this case, first, the acquisition unit 442 further acquires, from a telecommunications carrier that provides a communication service, grade information that indicates the grade of communication quality in a communication service that is set for the destination terminal 2 so that the destination terminal 2 can communicate via a communication network. The acquisition unit 442 acquires, for example, from the management device 3, address information and grade information associated with the destination terminal identification information.

[0061] Then, relay unit 446 further relays communication between originating terminal 1 and destination terminal 2 based on the relationship between the type of communication requested by originating terminal 1 and the grade corresponding to destination terminal 2 (the grade of destination terminal 2 indicated by the grade information acquired by acquisition unit 442). For example, if the type of communication requested by originating terminal 1 is a type of communication with a large communication capacity (e.g., videophone including voice and video, videophone including voice and 3D video, data transfer, etc.) and the grade of destination terminal 2 is high (e.g., high-speed communication, etc.), relay unit 446 converts the signal received from originating terminal 1 into a signal receivable by destination terminal 2 without degrading the quality. Also, for example, if the type of communication requested by originating terminal 1 is a type of communication with a small communication capacity (e.g., a voice-only phone call with low sound quality, etc.), relay unit 446 converts the signal received from originating terminal 1 into a signal receivable by destination terminal 2 without degrading the quality, regardless of whether the grade of destination terminal 2 is high or low.

[0062] Furthermore, for example, if the type of communication requested by source terminal 1 is a type of communication with a large communication capacity and the grade of destination terminal 2 is low (for example, low-speed communication, etc.), relay unit 446 reduces the quality of the signal received from source terminal 1 and converts it into a signal that can be received by destination terminal 2. "Reducing the quality of the signal received from source terminal 1 and converting it" means, for example, converting the audio quality from high to low in a high-quality audio phone call, converting (sending) only the audio without converting (sending) the video in a video call that includes audio and video, converting the image quality of an image (for example, video in a video call, still image in a data transfer, etc.) from 4K to HD (High Vision), compressing and converting an image into a compression format with a high compression ratio, or reducing and converting a three-dimensional image to a two-dimensional image, etc.

[0063] For example, information processing device 4 has defined conversion content of the received signal (e.g., converting the received signal while lowering the quality, converting the received signal without lowering the quality, etc.) for each combination of communication type and grade. In this case, relay unit 446 converts the received signal in accordance with the conversion content defined for the combination of the communication type requested by source terminal 1 and the grade corresponding to destination terminal 2 indicated by the grade information acquired by acquisition unit 442. In this way, information processing device 4 can reduce the occurrence of a situation in which communication between source terminal 1 and destination terminal 2 is disrupted due to source terminal 1 transmitting a large amount of data to destination terminal 2 to which a low grade is assigned.

[0064] When relaying communication between source terminal 1 and destination terminal 2, which are network communication terminals, relay unit 446 may relay the communication between source terminal 1 and destination terminal 2, taking into consideration the type of communication requested by source terminal 1, the grade corresponding to source terminal 1, and the grade corresponding to destination terminal 2. For example, first, acquisition unit 442 acquires grade information corresponding to source terminal 1. Acquisition unit 442 acquires grade information associated with source terminal identification information from, for example, management device 3. Acquisition unit 442 may also acquire grade information associated with source terminal identification information from an external device.

[0065] Then, relay unit 446 relays communication between source terminal 1 and destination terminal 2 based on the relationship between the type of communication requested by source terminal 1, the grade of source terminal 1 indicated by the grade information corresponding to source terminal 1, and the grade of destination terminal 2 indicated by the grade information corresponding to destination terminal 2. For example, if the type of communication requested by source terminal 1 is a type of communication with a large communication capacity and the grades of source terminal 1 and destination terminal 2 are both high, relay unit 446 converts the signal received from source terminal 1 into a signal that can be received by destination terminal 2 without degrading the quality. Also, for example, if the type of communication requested by source terminal 1 is a type of communication with a small communication capacity (for example, a low-quality voice-only call), relay unit 446 converts the signal received from source terminal 1 into a signal that can be received by destination terminal 2 without degrading the quality, regardless of whether the grades of source terminal 1 and destination terminal 2 are both high or low.

[0066] Furthermore, for example, if the type of communication requested by source terminal 1 is a type of communication with a large communication capacity and the grade of at least one of source terminal 1 and destination terminal 2 is low (for example, low-speed communication), relay unit 446 lowers the quality of the signal received from source terminal 1 and converts it into a signal that can be received by destination terminal 2. In this way, information processing device 4 can reduce the occurrence of a situation in which communication between source terminal 1 and destination terminal 2 is disrupted due to source terminal 1 transmitting a large amount of data when a low grade is assigned to either source terminal 1 or destination terminal 2.

[0067] Note that, since the grade of the user terminal of the communication service may be updated, the acquisition unit 442 may acquire grade information of each of the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 at predetermined intervals while the communication between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 is being relayed. In this case, the relay unit 446 may update the relay of the communication between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 every time the acquisition unit 442 acquires grade information. For example, when the grade of at least one of the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 is lowered, the relay unit 446 converts the received signal in accordance with the conversion content determined for the combination of the communication type requested by the source terminal 1 and the lowered grade.

[0068] (Billing processing) Next, a description will be given of a process for billing a service usage fee, which is a fee for using an information processing service executed by the information processing device 4. A calculation unit 447 calculates a service usage fee, and a billing unit 448 bills at least one of the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 for the fee calculated by the calculation unit 447.

[0069] Specifically, first, the calculation unit 447 acquires communication history information indicating the amount of data communication between the connection source terminal 1 and the connection destination terminal 2. For example, the calculation unit 447 acquires communication history information indicating the amount of data communication between the connection source terminal 1 and the connection destination terminal 2, measured by a dedicated app for at least one of the connection source terminal 1 and the connection destination terminal 2. The communication history information includes, for example, a communication history with each of one or more connection destination terminals 2 with which the connection source terminal 1 has communicated, as information indicating the amount of data communication during the billing period. The communication history includes, for example, address information of the connection destination terminal 2 with which the connection source terminal 1 has communicated, information indicating a first data amount which is the amount of data transmitted to the connection destination terminal 2, and information indicating a second data amount which is the amount of data received by the connection source terminal 1 from the connection destination terminal 2.

[0070] The calculation unit 447 calculates the service usage fee based on the amount of data communication between the connection source terminal 1 and the connection destination terminal 2, which is indicated by the acquired communication history information. For example, the calculation unit 447 calculates the service usage fee, which is the fee for using the information processing service of the connection source terminal 1, based on the first data amount and the second data amount indicated by the acquired communication history information.

[0071] For example, the calculation unit 447 calculates the service usage fee corresponding to the source terminal 1 based on the total data amount of the first data amount and the second data amount and a predetermined communication fee per unit data amount. In this case, the calculation unit 447 does not calculate the service usage fee for the destination terminal 2. By doing so, the information processing device 4 can prevent the destination terminal 2 from being charged a fee for the use of the information processing service caused by the source terminal 1.

[0072] When the relay unit 446 relays communication between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2, a service usage fee, which is a fee for using the information processing service of the source terminal 1, may be calculated based on the data communication volume measured by the relay unit 446. Here, the calculated service usage fee is billed to the user of the source terminal 1 who obtained address information using the information processing service, but this is not limitative.

[0073] The calculation unit 447 may calculate the service usage fees for each of the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 based on the first data amount and the second data amount. For example, the calculation unit 447 may calculate the service usage fee to be charged to the user of the source terminal 1 and the service usage fee to be charged to the user of the destination terminal 2 based on the first data amount and the second data amount between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 and a predetermined communication fee per unit data amount. For example, the calculation unit 447 may calculate the service usage fee based on the first data amount and the second data amount between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 and the predetermined communication fee per unit data amount, and divide the calculated service usage fee into the service usage fee to be charged to the user of the source terminal 1 and the service usage fee to be charged to the user of the destination terminal 2 at a predetermined burden rate.

[0074] Furthermore, although the calculation unit 447 calculated the service usage fee based on the first data amount and the second data amount indicated by the communication history information, this is not limiting. The calculation unit 447 may calculate the service usage fee based on the communication time between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 indicated by the acquired communication history information. In this case, the communication history information includes a communication start time, which is the time when the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 started communication using a dedicated app, and a communication end time, which is the time when the communication ended. The calculation unit 447 calculates the communication time between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 based on the communication start time and communication end time included in the acquired communication history information, and calculates the service usage fee based on the calculated communication time. In this way, the information processing device 4 can appropriately calculate the fee for use, even when, for example, communication with a small amount of communication data, such as a telephone call, is used for a long period of time using a dedicated app.

[0075] Furthermore, the calculation unit 447 may calculate the service usage fee for the source terminal 1 based on the number of times the reception unit 441 has received a communication request from the source terminal 1. In this case, the number of times the reception unit 441 has received a communication request from the source terminal 1 is associated with the user ID of the source terminal 1 and stored as communication request history information in the storage unit 43. In this case, the number of times the reception unit 441 has received a communication request from the source terminal 1 may be counted, including communication requests when the address of the destination terminal 2 could not be obtained. The calculation unit 447 identifies the number of times the reception corresponding to the source terminal 1 has received a request based on the communication request history information, and calculates the service usage fee based on the number of times the reception has been received. For example, the calculation unit 447 calculates the service usage fee so that the service usage fee increases as the number of times the reception is increased. In this way, the information processing device 4 can increase the service usage fee charged to a business that transmits information to an unspecified number of users, thereby suppressing the transmission of information to an unspecified number of users.

[0076] Furthermore, although the calculation unit 447 calculated the service usage fee based on the communication history information acquired from the dedicated app, this is not limiting. For example, it is conceivable that an address information providing service provider may bill the fees for the use of these communication networks on behalf of a first communication carrier that provides a communication network to which the source terminal 1 is connected for communication and a second communication carrier (communication carrier that provides address information) that provides a communication network to which the destination terminal 2 is connected for communication. In this case, the calculation unit 447 may acquire communication history information from each communication carrier and, further based on the communication history information, calculate the fees for the use of these communication networks as the service usage fee.

[0077] In this case, the calculation unit 447 acquires, as communication history information, the amount of transmission data Tx1 transmitted from the source terminal 1 to the destination terminal 2 from the first communication carrier that provides the communication network to which the source terminal 1 communicates. The calculation unit 447 also acquires the amount of transmission data Tx2 transmitted from the source terminal 1 to the destination terminal 2, measured by a dedicated application of the source terminal 1. The calculation unit 447 also acquires the amount of transmission data Tx3 transmitted from the source terminal 1 to the destination terminal 2, acquired by the dedicated application from the device driver.

[0078] The calculation unit 447 calculates the packet loss rate LT on the transmitting side based on the following formula (1). LT=1-Tx3 / Tx1 (1)

[0079] Then, the calculation unit 447 calculates the service usage fee Ct to be charged to the user of the source terminal 1 based on the following formula (2), where C1 is the communication fee per unit data amount determined by the first carrier. Ct = (Tx2 / (1-LT))*C1 (2)

[0080] Furthermore, calculation unit 447 acquires, as communication history information, the amount of received data Rx1 that destination terminal 2 has received from source terminal 1, from a second carrier (a carrier that provides address information) that provides a communication network to which destination terminal 2 has a communication connection. Calculation unit 447 acquires the amount of received data Rx2 that destination terminal 2 has received from source terminal 1, measured by a dedicated application of destination terminal 2. Calculation unit 447 also acquires the amount of received data Rx3 that destination terminal 2 has received from source terminal 1, acquired from a device driver by the dedicated application.

[0081] The calculation unit 447 calculates the packet loss rate LR on the receiving side based on the following equation (3). LR=1-Rx3 / Rx1 (3)

[0082] Then, the calculation unit 447 calculates the service usage fee Cr to be charged to the user of the destination terminal 2 based on the following formula (4), where C2 is the communication fee per unit data amount determined by the second carrier. Cr=(Rx2 / (1-LR))*C2 (4)

[0083] In this way, the information processing device 4 can calculate a service usage fee appropriate for the use of the communication network of each communication carrier, taking into account packet loss during data transmission and reception.

[0084] [Processing of Information Processing System S] Next, a description will be given of the processing flow of the information processing system S. Fig. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the processing flow of the information processing system S according to the first embodiment. This processing starts when the receiving unit 441 receives a communication request including source terminal identification information and destination terminal identification information from the source terminal 1 (S1).

[0085] The determination unit 443 determines whether the service availability information stored in the information processing service management database in association with the source terminal identification information included in the communication request indicates that the source terminal is capable of communicating via the communication network (S2). If the determination unit 443 determines that the source terminal 1 that requested communication with the destination terminal 2 is a terminal capable of communicating via the communication network (YES in S2), the transmission unit 444 transmits to the source terminal 1 the address information that the acquisition unit 442 acquired from the management device 3 using the API (S3).

[0086] When the source terminal 1 acquires the address information, it accesses the destination terminal 2 using the address information and starts communication between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 (S4, S5). If the determination unit 443 determines that the source terminal 1 that has requested communication with the destination terminal 2 is not a terminal that can communicate via the communication network (NO in S2), the relay unit 446 relays the communication between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 based on the address information acquired by the acquisition unit 442 from the management device 3.

[0087] The relay unit 446 connects to the source terminal 1 that has requested communication with the destination terminal 2, and connects to the destination terminal 2 that is specified by the address information that the acquisition unit 442 acquired from the management device 3 (S6). Then, the relay unit 446 converts the signal received from the source terminal 1 into a signal that can be received by the destination terminal 2 and transmits it to the destination terminal 2, and converts the signal acquired from the destination terminal 2 into a signal that can be received by the source terminal 1 and transmits it to the source terminal 1, thereby relaying communication between the source terminal 1 and the destination terminal 2 (S7).

[0088] [Advantages of the first embodiment] As explained above, if the connection source terminal 1 is a terminal capable of communicating via a communication network, the information processing device 4 transmits address information acquired from the management device 3 to the connection source terminal 1 to enable communication between the connection source terminal 1 and the connection destination terminal 2, and if the connection source terminal 1 is not a terminal capable of communicating via a communication network, the information processing device 4 relays communication between the connection source terminal 1 and the connection destination terminal 2. In this way, the information processing device 4 can enable communication between terminals using address information assigned to the user terminal.

[0089] <Second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment will be described. An information processing device 4 according to the second embodiment has a terminal management database, and differs from the first embodiment in that it identifies address information by referring to the terminal management database. The information processing device 4 according to the second embodiment will be described below. The information processing device 4 according to the second embodiment will be described below. Note that descriptions of parts that are the same as those in the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

[0090] 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a functional configuration of an information processing device 4 according to the second embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the control unit 44 of the information processing device 4 according to the second embodiment further includes a storage control unit 449.

[0091] The storage unit 43 stores a terminal management database that manages communication service data, which is information related to user terminals of communication services. The terminal management database stores terminal identification information, which is information for identifying user terminals used by users who use communication services, in association with address information assigned to the user terminals so that the user terminals can communicate via a communication network provided in the communication service.

[0092] In the second embodiment, the storage control unit 449 associates the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request accepted by the accepting unit 441 with the address information acquired by the acquiring unit 442 and stores them in the terminal management database.

[0093] For example, the storage control unit 449 determines whether the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request accepted by the accepting unit 441 and the address information acquired by the acquiring unit 442 are stored in association with each other in the terminal management database. If the storage control unit 449 determines that the destination terminal identification information and the address information are not stored in association with each other, the storage control unit 449 stores the destination terminal identification information and the address information in association with each other in the terminal management database. In this way, the information processing device 4 can enrich the terminal management database and reduce the number of times it queries an external device for address information.

[0094] The acquisition unit 442 acquires address information stored in the terminal management database in association with the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request accepted by the acceptance unit 441. Specifically, in response to acceptance of a communication request by the acceptance unit 441, the acquisition unit 442 refers to the terminal management database stored in the storage unit 43 and acquires address information associated with the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request.

[0095] When the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request acquired by the reception unit 441 is not stored in the terminal management database, the acquisition unit 442 requests the management device 3 to acquire address information associated with the destination terminal identification information in the management device 3 using the API of the GSMA, thereby acquiring the address information from the management device 3. Furthermore, when the acquisition unit 442 acquires error information from the management device 3 indicating that the address information could not be identified, the acquisition unit 442 acquires the address information from the external device by requesting an external device different from the management device 3 to acquire the address information using the API of the GSMA.

[0096] The transmitting unit 444 transmits address information (for example, address information acquired by the acquiring unit 442 from the terminal management database) stored in association with the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request in the terminal management database to the originating terminal 1. Furthermore, the relaying unit 446 accesses the destination terminal 2 via the communication network based on the address information (for example, address information acquired by the acquiring unit 442 from the terminal management database) stored in association with the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request in the terminal management database.

[0097] The storage control unit 449 associates the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request acquired by the receiving unit 441 with the address information acquired by the acquisition unit 442 from the management device 3 or an external device in correspondence with the destination terminal identification information, and stores them in the terminal management database.

[0098] Note that address information may change over time, so the acquisition unit 442 may inquire of the management device 3 or an external device whether the address information associated with the terminal identification information stored in the terminal management database is correct, and acquire the correct address information if the address information is incorrect.

[0099] In this case, when storing terminal identification information and address information in the terminal management database in association with each other, the storage control unit 449 stores the information in association with a registration date and time, which is the date and time when the information is stored, and acquisition source information indicating the source of the information (the management device 3 or an external device).The acquisition unit 442 then identifies the terminal identification information and the acquisition source information associated with the registration date and time that is a predetermined period before the current date and time, and transmits the terminal identification information to the identified acquisition source information, thereby acquiring the address information associated with the terminal identification information from the acquisition source indicated by the acquisition source information.

[0100] If the address information associated with the identified terminal identification information in the terminal management database differs from the address information acquired from the acquisition source, the storage control unit 449 updates the address information associated with the terminal identification information in the terminal management database to the acquired address information. In this way, the information processing device 4 can keep the contents of the terminal management database correct.

[0101] [Effects of the second embodiment] As described above, when the information processing device 4 according to the second embodiment receives a communication request from the connection source terminal 1, it refers to the storage unit 43, acquires address information associated with the connection destination terminal identification information included in the received communication request, and transmits the acquired address information of the connection destination terminal 2 to the connection source terminal 1, or connects to the connection destination terminal 2 using the address information and relays communication between the connection source terminal 1 and the connection destination terminal 2. In this way, the information processing device 4 according to the second embodiment can enable communication between terminals using address information assigned to user terminals, just like the information processing device 4 according to the first embodiment.

[0102] Furthermore, this invention will make it possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and promote innovation and resilience."

[0103] The present invention has been described above using embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by functionally or physically distributing or integrating any unit. Furthermore, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combination also have the effects of the original embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] 1. Source device 2. Destination device 3 Management device 4. Information processing equipment 41 First Communications Department 42 Second Communications Department 43 Storage section 44 Control Unit 441 Reception Department 442 Acquisition Department 443 Judgment section 444 Transmitter 445 Notification Department 446 Relay Section 447 Calculation Unit 448 Billing Department 449 Memory Control Unit S Information Processing System

Claims

1. a storage unit for storing information processing service data in which information for identifying a user terminal of an information processing service for communication between a plurality of terminals and service availability information indicating whether the user terminal of the information processing service is a terminal capable of communicating via a network provided in a communication service that is a service different from the information processing service are associated; a receiving unit that receives, from a source terminal that is a user terminal of the information processing service, a communication request that includes source terminal identification information for identifying the source terminal and destination terminal identification information for identifying a destination terminal designated by the source terminal as a connection destination, and that is a request for communicating with the destination terminal; a transmitter for transmitting to the source terminal, when the service availability information stored in the storage unit in association with the source terminal identification information included in the communication request indicates that the terminal is capable of communicating via the network, address information assigned to the user terminal of the communication service for communication via the network, the address information being managed by a telecommunications carrier providing the communication service in association with the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request; a relay unit that relays communication between the connection source terminal and the connection destination terminal based on the address information that the communication carrier manages in association with the connection destination terminal identification information that is included in the communication request, when the service availability information that is stored in the storage unit in association with the connection source terminal identification information that is included in the communication request indicates that the terminal is not capable of communicating via the network; An information processing device having the above.

2. the communication request further includes information indicating a type of communication to be performed with the destination terminal; The information processing device further includes an acquisition unit that acquires, from the telecommunications carrier, information indicating a grade of communication quality in the communication service that is set for the destination terminal so that the destination terminal can communicate via the network, the relay unit further relays the communication between the source terminal and the destination terminal based on the relationship between the communication type and the grade corresponding to the destination terminal. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. the information processing service is a service for transmitting and receiving at least one of audio and video between the plurality of terminals; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

4. the destination terminal identification information is at least one of a telephone number assigned to the destination terminal and a serial number of the destination terminal; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The storage unit further stores communication service data in which information for identifying a user terminal of the communication service is associated with the address information assigned to the user terminal of the communication service for communication via the network, the transmitting unit transmits to the source terminal the address information stored in the storage unit in association with the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request; the relay unit accesses the destination terminal via the network based on the address information stored in the storage unit in association with the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

6. the information processing device further includes a notification unit that, when the transmission unit has transmitted the address information, notifies the destination terminal that the address information has been transmitted. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

7. The information processing device includes: a calculation unit that acquires communication history information indicating a communication volume involved in communication between the connection source terminal and the connection destination terminal, and calculates a fee for use of the information processing service between the connection source terminal and the connection destination terminal based on the communication volume indicated by the acquired communication history information; a billing unit that bills at least one of the source terminal and the destination terminal for the fee calculated by the calculation unit; having The information processing device according to claim 1 .

8. a predetermined application for using the information processing service is installed on the source terminal; the calculation unit acquires the communication history information indicating the amount of communication involved in the communication between the connection source terminal and the connection destination terminal, the amount of communication being measured by the predetermined application; The information processing device according to claim 7 .

9. The predetermined application is installed on the destination terminal, the source terminal and the destination terminal that are capable of communicating via the network communicate using the address information via the predetermined application, the calculation unit calculates fees for the use of the information processing service for each of the connection source terminal and the connection destination terminal based on the amount of data transmitted from the connection source terminal to the connection destination terminal and the amount of data received by the connection source terminal from the connection destination terminal, which are indicated in the acquired communication history information; The information processing device according to claim 8 .

10. The predetermined application is installed on the destination terminal, the source terminal and the destination terminal that are capable of communicating via the network communicate using the address information via the predetermined application, the calculation unit calculates a fee for use of the information processing service for each of the connection source terminal and the connection destination terminal based on the communication time between the connection source terminal and the connection destination terminal indicated by the acquired communication history information. The information processing device according to claim 8 .

11. the calculation unit calculates a fee for the use of the information processing service by the source terminal based on the number of times the reception unit has received the communication request from the source terminal; The billing unit bills the source terminal for the fee calculated by the calculation unit for the use of the information processing service by the source terminal. The information processing device according to claim 7 .

12. A computer having a storage unit for storing information processing service data in which information for identifying a user terminal of an information processing service for communication between a plurality of terminals and service availability information indicating whether the user terminal of the information processing service is a terminal that can communicate via a network provided in a communication service that is a service different from the information processing service are associated with each other. receiving a communication request from a source terminal, which is a user terminal of the information processing service, the communication request including source terminal identification information for identifying the source terminal and destination terminal identification information for identifying a destination terminal designated by the source terminal as a connection destination, the communication request being a request for communicating with the destination terminal; When the service availability information stored in the storage unit in association with the connection source terminal identification information included in the communication request indicates that the terminal is capable of communicating via the network, transmitting to the connection source terminal address information assigned to the user terminal of the communication service for communication via the network, the address information being managed by a communication carrier providing the communication service in association with the connection destination terminal identification information included in the communication request; relaying communication between the connection source terminal and the connection destination terminal based on the address information managed by the telecommunications carrier in association with the connection destination terminal identification information included in the communication request, when the service availability information stored in the storage unit in association with the connection source terminal identification information included in the communication request indicates that the terminal is not capable of communicating via the network; An information processing method comprising:

13. a computer having a storage unit for storing information processing service data in which information for identifying a user terminal of an information processing service for communication between a plurality of terminals and service availability information indicating whether the user terminal of the information processing service is a terminal that can communicate via a network provided in a communication service that is a service different from the information processing service, a receiving unit that receives, from a source terminal that is a user terminal of the information processing service, a communication request that includes source terminal identification information for identifying the source terminal and destination terminal identification information for identifying a destination terminal designated by the source terminal as a connection destination, and that is a request for communicating with the destination terminal; a transmitter for transmitting to the source terminal, when the service availability information stored in the storage unit in association with the source terminal identification information included in the communication request indicates that the terminal is capable of communicating via the network, address information assigned to the user terminal of the communication service for communication via the network, the address information being managed by a telecommunications carrier providing the communication service in association with the destination terminal identification information included in the communication request; and a relay unit that relays communication between the connection source terminal and the connection destination terminal based on the address information that the communication carrier manages in association with the connection destination terminal identification information included in the communication request, when the service availability information stored in the storage unit in association with the connection source terminal identification information included in the communication request indicates that the terminal is not capable of communicating via the network; A program to function as a

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