Information processing device and information processing method

Abstract

Charges related to the application of preferential communication services will be made to the appropriate parties. [Solution] The information processing device 2 is a wireless terminal 1 that communicates using a communication network and has a receiving unit 231 that receives a request to apply a communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, which is a service that gives preferential treatment to communication on the communication network, including when an application related to the use of a facility is being executed. The receiving unit 231 executes a process to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 based on the application request received by the receiving unit 231. The calculation unit 233 calculates the amount of charges related to the application of the communication preferential service, which is the amount of charges to be billed to the business operator that provides the application related to the use of the facility, based on the status of the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a communication network, a communication preferential service that gives preferential treatment to the communication of a wireless terminal used by a user has been provided. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus that applies a slice network to a user's wireless terminal in response to the user's application for using a slice network as a communication preferential service.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In addition to the user applying for a communication preferential service, the service provider side or the facility side, such as the store used by the user or the application used by the user, may apply a communication preferential service to the communication of the user's wireless terminal. In this case, the communication preferential service is applied to the communication of the user's wireless terminal in a situation unintended by the user. In this case, if the user is made to bear the fee related to the application of the communication preferential service, there arises a problem that the user is billed in a situation unintended by the user. Therefore, it is required to charge the appropriate person for the application of the communication preferential service.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to suppress charging the appropriate person for the application of the communication preferential service.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention is an information processing device. This information processing device is a wireless terminal that communicates using a communication network and has a receiving unit that receives a request to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal, transmitted from the wireless terminal which satisfies predetermined conditions for being eligible for a communication preferential service, which is a service that gives preferential treatment to communication on the communication network, including the execution of an application related to the use of a facility; an application processing unit that executes processing to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal based on the application request received by the receiving unit; and a calculation unit that calculates a charge amount to be billed to a business operator that provides an application related to the use of the facility, based on the status of application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal, the charge amount related to the application of the communication preferential service.

[0007] The calculation unit may calculate the charge amount based on the time the preferential communication service is applied to the communication of the wireless terminal. The calculation unit may calculate the charge amount based on the traffic volume of the communication while the preferential communication service is applied to the communication of the wireless terminal.

[0008] The receiving unit may receive a request from the wireless terminal to continue applying the communication preferential service to the wireless terminal's communication after applying the communication preferential service to the wireless terminal's communication, which is transmitted at predetermined intervals when the screen of the application relating to the use of the facility is displayed on the display unit of the wireless terminal, and is not transmitted when the screen is not displayed on the display unit or when the screen is displayed in the background on the display unit. The application processing unit may perform a process to terminate the application of the communication preferential service to the wireless terminal's communication if it does not receive the request to continue applying the communication preferential service to the wireless terminal's communication within a predetermined time after applying the communication preferential service to the wireless terminal's communication, or if it does not receive the request to continue applying the request within a predetermined time after the last request to continue receiving the request from the wireless terminal.

[0009] The calculation unit may calculate the charge amount based on the number of times the continuation request has been received from the wireless terminal. The calculation unit may calculate the charge amount based on the number of application requests received from the wireless terminal.

[0010]

[0011]

[0012] The receiving unit may receive a request to apply the preferential communication service, which includes user identification information for identifying the user of the wireless terminal and service identification information for identifying the services provided by the application related to the use of the facility. The application processing unit may, if the service identification information included in the application request received by the receiving unit is predetermined identification information, perform processing to apply the preferential communication service to the communication of the wireless terminal based on the user identification information.

[0013] The application processing unit may, based on the service identification information included in the application request received by the receiving unit, perform processing to apply the communication preferential service to the communication relating to the service provided by the application related to the use of the facility of the wireless terminal.

[0014] The aforementioned communication priority service may include a slice network obtained by virtually dividing the communication network, and may also include the application of a slice network where communication is prioritized. The aforementioned communication priority service may include control that prioritizes the communication of the wireless terminal over best-effort communication.

[0015] A second aspect of the present invention is an information processing method. This information processing method includes a step of receiving, from a wireless terminal that satisfies a predetermined condition for receiving an application of a communication preferential service that is a service for preferentially handling communication of a communication network used for communication by a computer and in which an application related to use of a facility is being executed, a request for applying the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal; a step of executing processing for applying the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal based on the received application request; and a step of calculating a charging amount to be billed to an operator that provides the application related to use of the facility based on an application status of the communication preferential service for the communication of the wireless terminal, the charging amount being related to the application of the communication preferential service.

Effects of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, there is an effect that charging related to the application of the communication preferential service can be performed on an appropriate person.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] It is a diagram for explaining an overview of a communication system. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a wireless terminal. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing a functional configuration of an information processing apparatus. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing an example of application management information. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing an example of application history information. [Figure 6] It is a flowchart showing a flow of processing related to application of a communication preferential service in a wireless terminal. [Figure 7] It is a flowchart showing a flow of processing related to application of a communication preferential service in an information processing apparatus.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] [Overview of Communication System S] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the overview of communication system S. Communication system S includes a wireless terminal 1 and an information processing device 2, and is a system for applying a communication preferential service that gives preferential treatment to the communication of wireless terminal 1.

[0019] Wireless terminal 1 is, for example, a wireless communication-capable terminal such as a smartphone used by a user. Information processing device 2 is a computer for providing a communication preferential service that gives preferential treatment to the communication of wireless terminal 1, and functions as a control device for controlling the application of the communication preferential service.

[0020] The communication preferential service is provided by a predetermined communication carrier to the wireless terminal 1 of a user who uses the communication network provided by the carrier in a 5G (5th Generation) SA (Stand Alone) area or a 5G NSA (Non-Stand Alone) area maintained by the carrier. The communication preferential service is a service that gives preferential treatment to the communication of wireless terminal 1 located in these areas compared to the communication of wireless terminals used by users who do not use the service among users who use the communication network provided by the predetermined communication carrier. The communication preferential service is applied, for example, to wireless terminal 1 performing 5G communication.

[0021] The 5G SA area is, for example, an area where wireless communication is performed by communication equipment dedicated to 5G and 5G base stations. The 5G NSA area is, for example, an area where wireless communication is performed by communication equipment dedicated to 4G (4th Generation) communication, 4G base stations, and 5G base stations.

[0022] The communication preference service includes a slice network which virtually divides the communication network, the application of a slice network where communication is prioritized, control that prioritizes the communication of wireless terminal 1 over best-effort communication, and delay guarantee that allocates wireless resources to the communication of wireless terminal 1 to guarantee delays and jitter within a certain period of time. For example, if wireless terminal 1 is located in a 5G SA area, the communication of wireless terminal 1 is subject to either throughput control, which applies a first slice network which virtually divides the communication network and guarantees a predetermined communication quality, or priority control, which applies a second slice network which is given priority over best-effort communication applied to wireless terminals of users who are not using the communication preference service. Furthermore, if wireless terminal 1 is located in a 5G NSA area, the communication of wireless terminal 1 is subject to communication control, which prioritizes the communication of wireless terminal 1 using the communication preference service over best-effort communication, as a communication preference service.

[0023] Here, the communication network includes not only wireless communication networks but also wired core networks. Furthermore, when applying a communication priority service to a wireless terminal in a 5G SA area, the communication priority service may not include throughput control. Similar to the 5G NSA area, communication control may be applied that prioritizes the communication of wireless terminal 1 using the communication priority service over the communication of wireless terminals of users not using the communication priority service.

[0024] The information processing device 2 can apply preferential communication services to the communications of wireless terminals by controlling the allocation of resource blocks allocated to communications of wireless terminals using the communication network provided in the 5G SA area or the communication network provided in the 5G NSA area.

[0025] In this embodiment, the communication preferential service is applied to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 when certain conditions for receiving the communication preferential service, which is a service that prioritizes communication on a communication network, are met, including the fact that a payment application program is running on the wireless terminal 1 used by the user.

[0026] The payment application is, for example, an application for making payments using code-based payment, but it is not limited to this; it may also be an application for making payments using short-range wireless communication. In the following explanation, the payment application will also be referred to as the payment app. The business operator providing the payment app has partnered with a designated telecommunications carrier to enable the application of preferential communication services to the wireless terminal 1 when the wireless terminal 1 is running the payment app.

[0027] For example, when the payment application is executed on wireless terminal 1 (Figure 1 (1)), it determines whether the predetermined conditions for receiving preferential communication services have been met (Figure 1 (2)). If wireless terminal 1 determines that the predetermined conditions have been met, it sends an application request to the information processing device 2 to request the application of preferential communication services to the communication of wireless terminal 1 (Figure 1 (3)).

[0028] The information processing device 2 performs an application process (indicated as (4) in Figure 1) to apply a communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, based on the application request received from the wireless terminal 1. After requesting the application of the communication preferential service, the wireless terminal 1 sends and receives data related to the payment application (indicated as (5) in Figure 1). In this way, the communication quality of the wireless terminal 1's communication can be improved when the payment application is executed and communication related to payment is performed.

[0029] Furthermore, the information processing device 2 calculates the amount to be charged to the payment application provider based on the application status of the communication preferential service for the communication of the wireless terminal 1 (Figure 1, (6)). Since the communication preferential service is applied when the payment application is executed at the request of the payment application provider, the information processing device 2 can charge the appropriate party for the application of the communication preferential service by calculating the amount to be charged to the payment application provider.

[0030] [Functional configuration of wireless terminal 1] Next, the functional configuration of the wireless terminal 1 will be described. Figure 2 shows the functional configuration of the wireless terminal 1. The wireless terminal 1 has an input unit 11, a display unit 12, a communication unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a control unit 15.

[0031] The input unit 11 is, for example, a touch panel superimposed on a button or display unit 12, and accepts operation input from the user of the wireless terminal 1. The display unit 12 is a liquid crystal display and displays various screens under the control of the control unit 15.

[0032] The communication unit 13 is a communication interface for sending and receiving data with the information processing device 2, the base station of the wireless communication network, etc. The storage unit 14 is a storage medium for storing various types of data and includes ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The storage unit 14 stores the program executed by the control unit 15. The storage unit 14 stores the payment application program that causes the control unit 15 to function as a determination unit 151, a request unit 152, and a transmission / reception unit 153.

[0033] The control unit 15 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 15 functions as a determination unit 151, a request unit 152, and a transmission / reception unit 153 by executing a program stored in the memory unit 14.

[0034] The determination unit 151 determines whether predetermined conditions for the communication of the wireless terminal 1 to be eligible for the preferential communication service have been met, including the fact that the payment application is being executed. Specifically, the control unit 15 functions as the determination unit 151 when the payment application is executed, and determines whether predetermined conditions, including the fact that the payment application itself is being executed, have been met.

[0035] The specified conditions may include, in addition to the payment application itself being executed, the input unit 11 of the wireless terminal 1 receiving an instruction to display the payment code, which is the code used by the payment application for payment, on the display unit 12 of the wireless terminal 1, or an instruction to read the payment code. In this way, the wireless terminal 1 can request the application of preferential communication services at the timing when an instruction to display or read the payment code is given and data related to the payment application is transmitted and received.

[0036] Furthermore, the specified conditions may include the fact that the wireless terminal 1 is performing 5G communication. In this way, the wireless terminal 1 can request the application of preferential communication services on the condition that it is performing 5G communication and that its communication is eligible for preferential communication services.

[0037] Furthermore, the predetermined conditions may include the fact that the throughput of the wireless terminal 1 is less than the target throughput, which is the target throughput for the wireless terminal's communication. In this case, the determination unit 151 measures the throughput of the wireless terminal 1's communication using the communication network, or obtains the measurement result of the throughput of communication using the communication network, and determines whether the measured throughput is less than the target throughput. In this way, the wireless terminal 1 can request the application of a communication preferential service if the measured throughput does not reach the target and the communication quality is undesirable.

[0038] Furthermore, the predetermined conditions may include the wireless terminal 1 being located in a predetermined area, such as an area where wireless communication is congested. In this case, the determination unit 151 identifies the location of the wireless terminal 1 and determines whether or not that location is included in a predetermined area. Alternatively, terminal location information indicating the location of the wireless terminal 1 may be transmitted, and the information processing device 2 may apply the communication preferential service on the condition that the location of the wireless terminal 1 is included in the predetermined area. In this way, the communication preferential service can be applied only when the wireless terminal 1 is located in a predetermined area where wireless communication is congested and stable wireless communication cannot be performed.

[0039] When the determination unit 151 determines that predetermined conditions have been met, the request unit 152 requests the information processing device 2, which controls the application of the preferential communication service, to apply the preferential communication service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1. For example, the request unit 152 requests the application of the preferential communication service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 by sending a request for the application of the preferential communication service to the information processing device 2, which includes a user ID (Identification) as user identification information for identifying the user of the wireless terminal 1 and a service ID as service identification information for identifying the payment service provided by the payment application. The user ID is, for example, an ID that uniquely defines a contract on a line-by-line basis, such as an IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity).

[0040] When the information processing device 2 receives an application request, it applies the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1. The transmitting / receiving unit 153 transmits and receives data related to the payment application via communication using the communication network after the requesting unit 152 has requested the application of the communication preferential service. For example, the transmitting / receiving unit 153 transmits and receives data related to the payment application after 1 hour has elapsed since the requesting unit 152 requested the application of the communication preferential service. This 1 hour is, for example, longer than the time required from the time the request for the application of the communication preferential service is sent until the communication preferential service is applied.

[0041] The transmitting / receiving unit 153 is configured to transmit and receive data related to the payment application after the first time has elapsed, but is not limited to this. The transmitting / receiving unit 153 may receive information from the information processing device 2 indicating that the preferential communication service has been applied in response to a request for the application of the preferential communication service. The transmitting / receiving unit 153 may then transmit and receive data related to the payment application in response to receiving the information indicating that the preferential communication service has been applied.

[0042] Furthermore, when the payment application screen is displayed on the display unit 12 of the wireless terminal 1, that is, when the payment application screen is displayed in the foreground on the display unit 12, the request unit 152 requests the information processing device 2 to continue applying the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 every two hours (predetermined time). For example, the request unit 152 determines whether two hours have elapsed since the transmission time of the last application request or continuation request. If the request unit 152 determines that two hours have elapsed since the transmission time of the last application request or continuation request, it requests the information processing device 2 to continue applying the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 by sending a communication preferential service continuation request, including the user ID of the user of the wireless terminal 1, to the information processing device 2 every two hours.

[0043] Furthermore, the request unit 152 controls the information processing device 2 not to request the continuation of the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 if the payment application screen is not displayed on the display unit 12 of the wireless terminal 1, that is, if the payment application screen is displayed in the background on the display unit 12.

[0044] The second time is shorter than the application period, which is the time from when the preferential communication service is applied until the information processing device 2 automatically terminates the application of the preferential communication service. In this way, even if it takes time for the user to complete the payment, such as when the user has trouble operating the payment application, the wireless terminal 1 can maintain the application of the preferential communication service to its communication.

[0045] Furthermore, the request unit 152 requests the information processing device 2 to terminate the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, in response to the completion of payment using the payment application. Specifically, the request unit 152 requests the termination of the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 by sending a request to the information processing device 2 that includes the user ID of the user of the wireless terminal 1 and the service ID of the payment application, in response to the completion of payment using the payment application. In this way, even though the provider of the payment application pays the fee for the application of the communication preferential service, it is possible to prevent the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of other applications, even though the service continues to be applied to the communication of the wireless terminal 1. In addition, because the wireless terminal 1 operates in this manner, the communication preferential service is applied only at the time of payment, making it easier to secure communication resources, and thus enabling effective use of communication resources.

[0046] [Functional configuration of the information processing device 2] Next, the functional configuration of the information processing device 2 will be described. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the information processing device 2. The information processing device 2 includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23.

[0047] The communication unit 21 is a communication interface for sending and receiving data with external devices such as the wireless terminal 1 and communication equipment that manages the communication network. The storage unit 22 is a storage medium for storing various types of data, and includes ROM, RAM, and hard disks. The storage unit 22 stores programs to be executed by the control unit 23. The storage unit 22 also stores programs that cause the control unit 23 to function as a receiving unit 231, an application processing unit 232, a calculation unit 233, and a billing unit 234.

[0048] The control unit 23 is, for example, a CPU. The control unit 23 functions as a receiving unit 231, an application processing unit 232, a calculation unit 233, and a billing unit 234 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 22.

[0049] The receiving unit 231 receives a request for the application of a communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, which is transmitted from the wireless terminal 1 that meets predetermined conditions for receiving the communication preferential service, including the fact that a payment application is running. Specifically, the receiving unit 231 receives a request for the application of a communication preferential service that includes the user ID of the user of the wireless terminal 1 and the service ID of the service provided by the payment application.

[0050] The application processing unit 232 executes an application process, which is the process for applying a communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, based on the application request received by the receiving unit 231. If the service ID included in the application request received by the receiving unit 231 is a predetermined ID, the application processing unit 232 determines whether the wireless terminal 1 can use 5G communication based on the user ID included in the application request. For example, the application processing unit 232 identifies the contract information related to the user's use of the communication network based on the user ID, and if it determines that the user of the wireless terminal 1 has concluded a contract with a telecommunications carrier for the use of 5G communication based on that contract information, it determines that the wireless terminal 1 can use 5G communication. If the application processing unit 232 determines that the wireless terminal 1 can use 5G communication, it executes an application process, which is the process for applying a communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1.

[0051] Here, the predetermined ID is an ID that indicates the service to which the communication preferential service is applied, and in this embodiment, it is an ID that indicates the payment service provided by the payment application. Specifically, first, when the receiving unit 231 receives an application request, the application processing unit 232 determines whether the service ID included in the application request is the predetermined ID. Then, if the application processing unit 232 determines that the service ID is the predetermined ID, it instructs the communication control device (not shown), which controls the communication of the communication network used by the wireless terminal 1 for communication, to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the user ID included in the application request, thereby applying the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1. When the application processing unit 232 applies the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, it sets the time the application request was received as the application start time.

[0052] Furthermore, the application processing unit 232 sets the scheduled application end time, which is the time when the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 corresponding to the user ID ends, to two hours after the time the application request was received, that is, two hours after the application start time. The application processing unit 232 then associates the user ID, the application start time, and the scheduled application end time and stores them in the storage unit 22 as application management information. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of application management information. As shown in Figure 4, it can be confirmed that the user ID, the application start time, and the scheduled application end time are associated.

[0053] Furthermore, the receiving unit 231 receives a request from the wireless terminal 1 to continue applying the communication preferential service to the wireless terminal 1's communication after the service has been applied to the wireless terminal 1's communication. When the receiving unit 231 receives the request to continue, the application processing unit 232 updates the scheduled end time for the application of the communication preferential service to the wireless terminal 1's communication corresponding to the user ID included in the request to continue. For example, the application processing unit 232 updates the application management information stored in the storage unit 22 to the scheduled end time associated with the user ID included in the request to a time two hours after the time the request to continue was received. In this way, the information processing device 2 can maintain the application of the communication preferential service to the wireless terminal 1's communication.

[0054] Furthermore, the receiving unit 231 receives an application termination request transmitted from the wireless terminal 1, which is a request to terminate the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1. The receiving unit 231 also receives an application termination request transmitted from the wireless terminal 1 in response to the completion of payment by the payment application running on the wireless terminal 1.

[0055] The application processing unit 232 executes an application termination process, which is a process to terminate the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of wireless terminal 1, if it does not receive a continuation request within two hours after applying the communication preferential service to the communication of wireless terminal 1, if it does not receive a continuation request within two hours after the last continuation request was received from wireless terminal 1, or if the receiving unit 231 receives an application termination request. Here, depending on the congestion of wireless communication, the continuation request transmitted from wireless terminal 1 may arrive with a delay. To address this, the application processing unit 232 may predetermine a delay time and execute the application termination process if it does not receive a continuation request within two hours plus the delay time after applying the communication preferential service, or if it does not receive a continuation request within two hours plus the delay time after the last continuation request was received from wireless terminal 1. Alternatively, the application processing unit 232 may set the scheduled application termination time as the time after the time obtained by adding the delay time to two hours from the time the application request was received.

[0056] Specifically, the application processing unit 232 refers to the application management information stored in the storage unit 22 every third hour, which is shorter than the second hour, and identifies the user ID associated with the scheduled application end time that exceeds the current time. Also, when the receiving unit 231 receives an application end process, the application processing unit 232 identifies the user ID included in the received application end process.

[0057] For example, as part of the application termination process, the application processing unit 232 refers to the application management information and identifies the communication network that the wireless terminal 1 is using for communication based on the identified user ID. Then, as part of the application termination process, the application processing unit 232 instructs the communication control device that controls communication on the identified communication network to terminate the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 corresponding to the identified user ID, thereby terminating the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1.

[0058] If the information processing device 2 does not receive a request to continue, it will terminate the application of the preferential communication service. This prevents the preferential communication service from continuing to be applied if the payment application is terminated midway through on the wireless terminal 1, and ensures that the preferential communication service is applied as much as possible to payment services. As a result, the information processing device 2 can prevent excessive charges from being made to the billing party for the preferential communication service.

[0059] When the application processing unit 232 finishes applying the communication priority service to the communication of wireless terminal 1, it associates the user ID of wireless terminal 1, the application start time, and the application end time (the time when the application of the communication priority service to wireless terminal 1 ended) with the user ID of wireless terminal 1 and stores them in the storage unit 22 as application history information. The application processing unit 232 also deletes the user ID of wireless terminal 1 and the information associated with that user ID from the application management information. Figure 5 shows an example of application history information. As shown in Figure 5, it can be confirmed that the user ID, the application start time, and the application end time are associated with each other.

[0060] The calculation unit 233 calculates the amount of charges related to the application of communication preferential services to the payment application provider, based on the application status of communication preferential services to the communication of the wireless terminal 1.

[0061] For example, the calculation unit 233 calculates the charge amount based on the time that the communication preferential service was applied to the communication of the wireless terminal 1. Specifically, the calculation unit 233 refers to the application history information stored in the storage unit 22 and aggregates the time that the communication preferential service was applied to the communication of each wireless terminal 1 for multiple users within a unit period (for example, one month). Then, the calculation unit 233 calculates the charge amount based on the aggregated time. For example, the calculation unit 233 calculates the charge amount such that the longer the aggregated time, the higher the charge amount. In this way, the information processing device 2 can calculate an appropriate charge amount based on the time that the communication preferential service was applied.

[0062] The calculation unit 233 calculates the charge amount based on the time that the communication preferential service was applied to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, but is not limited to this. The calculation unit 233 may also calculate the charge amount based on the traffic volume of the communication while the communication preferential service is applied to the communication of the wireless terminal 1.

[0063] In this case, the application processing unit 232 obtains, for example, traffic volume information indicating the amount of traffic for a communication while the preferential communication service is applied to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 from the communication control device that controls the communication of the communication network, and stores the application history information, including the traffic volume information, in the storage unit 22. The calculation unit 233 refers to the application history information stored in the storage unit 22 and aggregates the traffic volume of the communication of each wireless terminal 1 for multiple users in a unit period. Then, the calculation unit 233 calculates the charge amount based on the aggregated traffic volume. For example, the calculation unit 233 calculates the charge amount such that the higher the aggregated traffic volume, the higher the charge amount.

[0064] Furthermore, the calculation unit 233 may calculate the charge amount based on at least one of the number of application requests received from the wireless terminal 1 and the number of continuation requests received from the wireless terminal 1. In this case, the application processing unit 232 identifies the number of continuation requests received by the receiving unit 231 from the wireless terminal 1 while the preferential communication service is applied to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, and stores the application history information including that number in the storage unit 22. The calculation unit 233 refers to the application history information stored in the storage unit 22 and identifies the number of application requests received from each of the multiple users' wireless terminals 1 in a unit period. For example, the calculation unit 233 refers to the application history information and identifies the number of application history information entries in a unit period as the number of application requests. The calculation unit 233 also refers to the application history information and aggregates the number of continuation requests received from each of the multiple users' wireless terminals 1.

[0065] The calculation unit 233 then calculates the charge amount based on the number of specified application requests and the total number of renewal requests. For example, the calculation unit 233 calculates the charge amount such that the higher the total number of application requests and renewal requests, the higher the charge amount.

[0066] The billing unit 234 bills the payment application provider for the amount calculated by the calculation unit 233. For example, the billing unit 234 bills the payment application provider by sending billing information indicating the calculated amount to a predetermined address of the payment application provider.

[0067] [Operation Flow] Next, we will explain the processing flow related to the application of communication preferential services in wireless terminal 1 and information processing device 2. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the processing flow related to the application of communication preferential services in wireless terminal 1. This flowchart starts when the payment application is executed in wireless terminal 1.

[0068] First, the determination unit 151 determines whether the predetermined conditions for the communication of the wireless terminal 1 to be eligible for the preferential communication service have been met (S1). If the determination unit 151 determines that the predetermined conditions have been met (YES in S1), it proceeds to S2. If it determines that the predetermined conditions have not been met, it re-executes S1.

[0069] Next, the request unit 152 sends a request to the information processing device 2 for the application of a communication preferential service, which includes the user ID of the user of the wireless terminal 1 and the service ID of the payment application (S2).

[0070] Next, the transmitting / receiving unit 153 starts the payment process, including sending and receiving data related to the payment application, via communication using the communication network, one hour after the requesting unit 152 has requested the application of the communication preferential service (S3).

[0071] Next, the request unit 152 determines whether two hours have elapsed since the transmission of the application request or the last continuation request (S4). If the request unit 152 determines that two hours have elapsed (YES in S4), it proceeds to S5. If the request unit 152 determines that two hours have not elapsed (NO in S4), it proceeds to S7.

[0072] Next, the request unit 152 determines whether the payment application is displayed on the display unit 12, that is, whether the payment application is displayed in the foreground on the display unit 12 (S5). Here, the request unit 152 may also determine whether the payment application is displayed on the display unit 12 for a second period of time. If the request unit 152 determines that the payment application is displayed on the display unit 12 (YES in S5), it moves the process to S6 and sends a continuation request to the information processing device 2. If the request unit 152 determines that the payment application is not displayed on the display unit 12 (NO in S5), it moves the process to S7.

[0073] In S7, the request unit 152 determines whether the settlement process has been completed. If the request unit 152 determines that the settlement process has been completed (YES in S7), it moves the process to S8 and sends an application termination request to the information processing device 2. If the request unit 152 determines that the settlement process has not been completed (NO in S7), it moves the process to S4.

[0074] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the processing flow related to the application of communication preferential services in the information processing device 2. This flowchart starts when the receiving unit 231 receives a request for the application of communication preferential services from the wireless terminal 1.

[0075] The application processing unit 232 determines whether the service ID included in the application request is a predetermined ID (S11). If the application processing unit 232 determines that the service ID is a predetermined ID (YES in S11), it moves to S12. If it determines that the service ID is not a predetermined ID (NO in S11), it terminates the processing related to this flowchart.

[0076] The application processing unit 232 determines, for example, whether the wireless terminal 1 can use 5G communication based on the user ID (S12). If the application processing unit 232 determines that the wireless terminal 1 can use 5G communication (YES in S12), it moves the process to S13. If it determines that the wireless terminal 1 cannot use 5G communication (NO in S12), it terminates the process related to this flowchart. In S13, the application processing unit 232 instructs the communication control device, which controls communication on the communication network used by the wireless terminal 1, to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the user ID included in the application request.

[0077] Next, the application processing unit 232 associates the user ID included in the application request with the application start time and the scheduled application end time, and stores them in the storage unit 22 as application management information (S14).

[0078] Next, the application processing unit 232 determines whether or not a continuation request has been received (S15). If the application processing unit 232 determines that a continuation request has been received (YES in S15), it moves to S16 and updates the application completion time associated with the user ID included in the received continuation request in the application management information. If the application processing unit 232 determines that a continuation request has not been received (NO in S15), it moves to S17.

[0079] The application processing unit 232 determines whether or not to terminate the application of the communication preferential service (S17). Specifically, if the application processing unit 232 has received a request to terminate the application from the wireless terminal 1, or if it determines that the current time has exceeded the scheduled termination time stored in the application management information (YES in S17), it proceeds to S18. If the application processing unit 232 has not received a request to terminate the application from the wireless terminal 1, and it determines that the current time has not exceeded the scheduled termination time stored in the application management information (NO in S17), it proceeds to S15.

[0080] The application processing unit 232 refers to the application management information and instructs the communication control device, which controls communication on the communication network corresponding to the user ID, to terminate the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 corresponding to the user ID (S18). The application processing unit 232 associates the user ID of the wireless terminal 1 with the start time and end time of the application of the communication preferential service and stores them in the storage unit 22 as application history information (S19).

[0081] [Differentiation] In the above-described embodiment, the wireless terminal 1 is assumed to be a terminal such as a smartphone used by the user, but it is not limited to this. The wireless terminal 1 may be, for example, a store terminal installed in a store, with a payment application installed, and which performs wireless communication related to payment. That is, when the control unit of the store terminal used by the store determines that the predetermined conditions for receiving preferential communication services, including the execution of a payment application, have been met, it may request the information processing device 2, which controls the application of preferential communication services, to apply preferential communication services to the communication of the store terminal, and after requesting the application of said preferential communication services, it may send and receive data related to the payment application via said communication.

[0082] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the payment application functioned as the determination unit 151 and the request unit 152, but this is not limited to this. An application program installed on the wireless terminal 1, different from the payment application, may function as the determination unit 151 and the request unit.

[0083] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the application processing unit 232 performed an application process to apply a communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 based on the user ID, but it is not limited to this. The application processing unit 232 may also perform an application process to apply a communication preferential service to the communication related to the payment service provided by the payment application of the wireless terminal 1, based on the service ID included in the application request received by the receiving unit 231 and the user ID.

[0084] For example, the application processing unit 232 applies the communication priority service to the communication corresponding to the service ID included in the application request by instructing the communication control device, which controls communication on the communication network corresponding to the user ID included in the application request, to apply the communication priority service to the communication corresponding to the service ID included in the application request. The application processing unit 232 also receives application information from the communication control device for applying the communication priority service to the communication corresponding to the service ID, and transmits this application information to the wireless terminal 1. For example, if the communication priority service is the application of a slice network to the communication, the information is related to URSP (User Equipment Route Selection Policy). If the communication priority service is priority control, which gives priority to communication compared to best-effort communication, the application information is information indicating the bearer on which priority control is performed.

[0085] When the wireless terminal 1 transmits or receives data related to the payment application, the transmitting / receiving unit 153 transmits or receives data based on the applicable information received from the information processing device 2. In this way, the information processing device 2 can apply preferential communication services specifically to communications related to the payment application.

[0086] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the preferential communication service is applied when a payment application for code payment is running, but it is not limited to this. The wireless terminal 1 may send a request for the application of the preferential communication service to the information processing device 2 in order to receive the preferential communication service when an application related to the use of a facility is running, such as for entering a live music venue, stadium, entertainment facility, etc., or for obtaining a priority pass to use the facility preferentially after entering the facility. In addition, the wireless terminal 1 may send a request for the application of the preferential communication service to the information processing device 2 in order to receive the preferential communication service when a payment application for betting and making payments for various sports such as horse racing and bicycle racing is running.

[0087] [Effects of Wireless Terminal 1 and Information Processing Device 2] As described above, when the wireless terminal 1 according to this embodiment determines that predetermined conditions for receiving a communication priority service, which is a service that prioritizes communication on the communication network, have been met, including the execution of a payment application, it requests the information processing device 2, which controls the application of the communication priority service, to apply the communication priority service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1. After requesting the application of the communication priority service, it transmits and receives data related to the payment application via communication on the communication network. In this way, the wireless terminal 1 can improve the communication quality when performing communication related to the payment application.

[0088] Furthermore, the information processing device 2 according to this embodiment executes a process to apply the preferential communication service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 based on a request for application of the preferential communication service received from the wireless terminal 1, and calculates the amount to be charged to the payment application provider based on the status of application of the preferential communication service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1. In this way, the information processing device 2 can charge the appropriate party for the application of the preferential communication service.

[0089] Furthermore, this invention will make it possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation."

[0090] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, 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 its gist. For example, all or part of the apparatus can be configured by functionally or physically distributing and integrating in 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 combinations are combined with the effects of the original embodiments. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0091] 1 Wireless terminal 11 Input section 12 Display section 13 Communications Department 14 Storage section 15 Control Unit 151 Judgment section 152 Request part 153 Transmitter / Receiver 2. Information Processing Device 21 Communications Department 22 Memory section 23 Control Unit 231 Receiving Unit 232 Applicable Processing Unit 233 Calculation Section 234 Billing Department

Claims

1. A wireless terminal that communicates using a communication network, and a receiving unit that receives a request to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal, transmitted from the wireless terminal that meets predetermined conditions for receiving the communication preferential service, which is a service that gives preferential treatment to communications on the communication network, including the execution of an application related to the use of a facility, An application processing unit that performs processing to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal based on the application request received by the receiving unit, A calculation unit that calculates the amount of charges to be billed to a business operator providing an application related to the use of the facility, based on the application status of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal, An information processing device having

2. The calculation unit calculates the charge amount based on the time the preferential communication service is applied to the communication of the wireless terminal. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The calculation unit calculates the charge amount based on the traffic volume of the communication while the preferential communication service is applied to the communication of the wireless terminal. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

4. The receiving unit receives a request from the wireless terminal to continue applying the communication preferential service to the wireless terminal's communication after the wireless terminal has applied the communication preferential service to the wireless terminal, which is transmitted at predetermined intervals when the screen of the application related to the use of the facility is displayed on the display unit of the wireless terminal, and is not transmitted when the screen is not displayed on the display unit or when the screen is displayed in the background on the display unit. If the application processing unit does not receive a continuation request within a predetermined time after applying the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal, or if it does not receive a continuation request within a predetermined time after the last continuation request was received from the wireless terminal, it executes a process to terminate the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

5. The calculation unit calculates the charge amount based on the number of times the continuation request has been received from the wireless terminal. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4.

6. The calculation unit calculates the charge amount based on the number of application requests received from the wireless terminal. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

7. The receiving unit receives a request for application of the preferential communication service, which includes user identification information for identifying the user of the wireless terminal and service identification information for identifying the service provided by the application related to the use of the facility. The application processing unit, when the service identification information included in the application request received by the receiving unit is predetermined identification information, executes a process to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal based on the user identification information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

8. The application processing unit performs processing to apply the communication preferential service to the communication relating to the service provided by the application for the use of the facility of the wireless terminal, based on the service identification information included in the application request received by the receiving unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7.

9. The aforementioned communication priority service includes a slice network obtained by virtually dividing the communication network, and includes the application of a slice network where communication is prioritized. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

10. The aforementioned communication priority service includes control that prioritizes the communication of the wireless terminal over best-effort communication. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

11. A computer executes The steps include receiving a request to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of a wireless terminal, which is a wireless terminal that communicates using a communication network and which meets predetermined conditions for receiving the communication preferential service, which is a service that gives preferential treatment to communications on the communication network, including the fact that an application related to the use of a facility is running on the wireless terminal, The steps include: performing a process to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal based on the received application request; A step of calculating the amount of charges to be billed to the business operator providing the application for the use of the facility, based on the application status of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal, the amount of charges related to the application of the communication preferential service, An information processing method having

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