Wireless Terminal, Information Processing Method, and Program

Abstract

When the wireless terminal communicates, the communication quality of the wireless terminal's communication is improved. 【Solution means】The wireless terminal 1 is a wireless terminal that communicates using a communication network, and determines whether a predetermined condition for receiving the application of a communication preferential service, which is a service for preferentially treating the communication of the communication network, including that a settlement application is being executed, is satisfied. A determination unit 151, and when it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied, a request unit 152 that requests the information processing device 2 that controls the application of the communication preferential service to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, and after requesting the application of the communication preferential service, a transmission / reception unit 153 that transmits and receives data related to the settlement application by the communication.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless terminal, an information processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, when a user uses a store or the like, communication is performed between the wireless terminal used by the user and the device on the facility side such as the store. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that when a user purchases a product in a store and executes a payment application on a wireless terminal, the wireless terminal communicates with a payment device for performing code payment and displays a code for performing payment.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When the wireless terminal and the device on the store side communicate, if the communication network is congested, the communication quality of the wireless terminal's communication deteriorates, and the problem occurs that the processing cannot proceed smoothly.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to improve the communication quality of the communication of the wireless terminal when the wireless terminal performs communication.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention is a wireless terminal that communicates using a communication network. This wireless terminal includes a determination unit that determines whether a predetermined condition for applying a communication preference service, which is a service for preferentially handling communication over the communication network, including that a payment application is being executed, is satisfied; a request unit that, when it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied, requests a control device that controls the application of the communication preference service to apply the communication preference service to the communication of the wireless terminal; and a transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives data related to the payment application by the communication after requesting the application of the communication preference service.

[0007] The request unit may request the control device to end the application of the communication preference service to the communication of the wireless terminal in response to completion of payment using the payment application.

[0008] When the screen of the payment application is displayed on the wireless terminal, the request unit may request the control device to continue applying the communication preference service to the communication at predetermined time intervals.

[0009] The predetermined condition may include an instruction for the payment application to display a code for payment on the display unit of the wireless terminal, or that the wireless terminal has received an instruction for reading the payment code from the payment application. The predetermined condition may include that the wireless terminal is performing 5G (5th Generation) communication.

[0010] The request unit may transmit a request for applying the communication preference service including user identification information for identifying a user of the wireless terminal and service identification information for identifying a service provided by the payment application.

[0011] The communication preferential service may be a slice network obtained by virtually dividing the communication network, and may include the application of a slice network in which communication is prioritized. The communication preferential service may include control for prioritizing the communication of the wireless terminal compared to best-effort communication. The communication preferential service may be a service for preferentially handling communication related to the payment application among the communications of the communication network.

[0012] A second aspect of the present invention is an information processing method. This information processing method includes steps of determining whether a predetermined condition for receiving the application of a communication preferential service, which is a service for preferentially handling the communication of the communication network, is satisfied, the communication preferential service being a service executed by a computer that communicates using the communication network and including the execution of a payment application in the computer; when it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied, requesting the control device that controls the application of the communication preferential service to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the computer; and after requesting the application of the communication preferential service, transmitting and receiving data related to the payment application by the communication.

[0013] A third aspect of the present invention is a program. This program causes a computer that communicates using the communication network to function as a determination unit that determines whether a predetermined condition for receiving the application of a communication preferential service, which is a service for preferentially handling the communication of the communication network and includes the execution of a payment application in the computer, is satisfied; a request unit that, when it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied, requests the control device that controls the application of the communication preferential service to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the computer; and a transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives data related to the payment application by the communication after requesting the application of the communication preferential service.

[0014] The program may be the application program for settlement, and the determination unit may determine whether the predetermined conditions including that the program itself is being executed are satisfied.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, when a wireless terminal performs communication, there is an effect that the communication quality of the communication of the wireless terminal can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] [Outline of Communication System S] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the communication system S. The communication system S includes a wireless terminal 1 and an information processing apparatus 2, and is a system for applying a communication preferential service for preferentially treating the communication of the wireless terminal 1.

[0018] The wireless terminal 1 is, for example, a wireless communicable terminal such as a smartphone used by a user. The information processing apparatus 2 is a computer for providing a communication preferential service for preferentially treating the communication of the wireless terminal 1, and functions as a control device for controlling the application of the communication preferential service.

[0019] 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 preference to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 located in these areas compared to the communication of the wireless terminals used by users who do not use the service among the users who use the communication network provided by the predetermined communication carrier. The communication preferential service is applied, for example, to the wireless terminal 1 performing 5G communication.

[0020] The 5G SA area is, for example, an area where wireless communication is performed by communication equipment dedicated to 5G communication 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.

[0021] The communication preferential service is a slice network obtained by virtually dividing a communication network, and includes the application of a slice network in which communication is prioritized, control to prioritize the communication of the wireless terminal 1 compared to best-effort communication, and delay guarantee for allocating wireless resources to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 so as to guarantee delay, jitter, etc. within a certain period. For example, when the wireless terminal 1 is located in a 5G SA area, throughput control in which a first slice network obtained by virtually dividing the communication network and ensuring a predetermined communication quality is applied as the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, or priority control in which a second slice network in which communication is performed preferentially compared to best-effort communication applied to the wireless terminals of users who do not use the communication preferential service is applied is applied to the communication of the wireless terminal 1. Also, when the wireless terminal 1 is located in a 5G NSA area, communication control that prioritizes the communication of the wireless terminal 1 using the communication preferential service compared to best-effort communication is applied as the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1.

[0022] Here, the communication network includes not only a wireless communication network but also a wired core network. When applying communication preferential services to a wireless terminal in a 5G SA area, the communication preferential services do not include throughput control. Similar to the 5G NSA area, communication control that prioritizes the communication of the wireless terminal 1 using the communication preferential services compared to the communication of the wireless terminals of users not using the communication preferential services may be applied.

[0023] The information processing device 2 can apply communication preferential services to the communication of the wireless terminal by controlling the allocation of resource blocks allocated to the communication of the wireless terminal that uses the communication network provided in the 5G SA area or the communication network provided in the 5G NSA area.

[0024] In the present embodiment, when a predetermined condition for receiving the application of the communication preferential service, which is a service for preferentially treating the communication of the communication network including that a payment application program is being executed in the wireless terminal 1 used by the user, is satisfied, the communication preferential service is applied to the communication of the wireless terminal 1.

[0025] The payment application is, for example, an application for performing payment by code payment, but is not limited thereto, and may be an application for performing payment using short-range wireless communication. In the following description, the payment application is also referred to as a payment app. The operator providing the payment app has partnered with a predetermined communication operator to realize the application of the communication preferential service to the wireless terminal 1 when the wireless terminal 1 is executing the payment app.

[0026] For example, when the payment application is executed on the wireless terminal 1 (at (1) in FIG. 1), it determines whether a predetermined condition for receiving the communication preferential service is satisfied (at (2) in FIG. 1). When the wireless terminal 1 determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, it transmits an application request for requesting the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 to the information processing apparatus 2 (at (3) in FIG. 1).

[0027] Based on the application request received from the wireless terminal 1, the information processing apparatus 2 executes an application process which is a process for applying the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 (at (4) in FIG. 1). After requesting the application of the communication preferential service, the wireless terminal 1 transmits and receives data related to the payment application (at (5) in FIG. 1). By doing so, when the payment application is executed on the wireless terminal 1 and communication related to payment is performed, the communication quality of the communication of the wireless terminal 1 can be improved.

[0028] In addition, based on the application status of the communication preferential service for the communication of the wireless terminal 1, the information processing apparatus 2 calculates a charge amount to be billed to the operator providing the payment application (at (6) in FIG. 1). At the request of the operator providing the payment application, since the communication preferential service is applied when the payment application is executed, the information processing apparatus 2 can bill the appropriate person for the charge related to the application of the communication preferential service by calculating the charge amount to be billed to the operator providing the payment application.

[0029] [Functional Configuration of Wireless Terminal 1] Subsequently, the functional configuration of the wireless terminal 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the wireless terminal 1. The wireless terminal 1 includes an input unit 11, a display unit 12, a communication unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a control unit 15.

[0030] The input unit 11 is, for example, a button or a touch panel provided to overlap the display unit 12, and receives an 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.

[0031] The communication unit 13 is a communication interface for transmitting 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 data, and has a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The storage unit 14 stores the program executed by the control unit 15. The storage unit 14 stores a settlement 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.

[0032] 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 the program stored in the storage unit 14.

[0033] The determination unit 151 determines whether a predetermined condition for the communication of the wireless terminal 1 to receive the application of the communication preferential service, including that the settlement application is being executed, is satisfied. Specifically, when it is determined that the settlement application is being executed, the control unit 15 functions as the determination unit 151 and determines whether a predetermined condition including that the settlement application itself is being executed is satisfied.

[0034] In addition to the settlement application itself being executed, the predetermined condition may include an instruction to cause the display unit 12 of the wireless terminal 1 to display a settlement code, which is a code for the settlement application to perform settlement, or an instruction to receive the reading of the settlement code by the input unit 11 of the wireless terminal 1. By doing so, the wireless terminal 1 can make a request for the application of the communication preferential service at the timing when the instruction to display or read the settlement code is given and the transmission and reception of data related to the settlement application are performed.

[0035] Further, the predetermined conditions may include that the wireless terminal 1 is performing 5G communication. By doing so, the wireless terminal 1 can request the application of the communication preferential service on the condition that it is performing 5G communication and its communication can receive the application of the communication preferential service.

[0036] Further, the predetermined conditions may include that the throughput of the wireless terminal 1 is less than the target throughput which is the target throughput for the communication of the wireless terminal. In this case, the determination unit 151 measures the throughput of the communication using the communication network of the wireless terminal 1, or obtains the measurement result of the throughput of the 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 the communication preferential service when the measured throughput does not reach the target and the communication quality is not satisfactory.

[0037] Further, the predetermined conditions may include that the wireless terminal 1 is located in a predetermined area such as an area where wireless communication is congested. In this case, the determination unit 151 identifies the position of the wireless terminal 1 and determines whether the position is included in a predetermined area determined in advance. Note that the terminal position information indicating the position 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 position of the wireless terminal 1 is included in the predetermined area. By doing so, the communication preferential service can be applied only when the wireless terminal 1 exists in a predetermined area where wireless communication is congested and stable wireless communication cannot be performed.

[0038] When the determination unit 151 determines that a predetermined condition is satisfied, the request unit 152 requests the information processing device 2 that controls the application of the communication preferential service to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1. For example, the request unit 152 transmits an application request for the communication preferential service including the user ID (Identification) as user identification information for identifying the user of the wireless terminal 1 and the service ID as service identification information for identifying the settlement service provided by the settlement application to the information processing device 2, thereby requesting the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1. The user ID is, for example, an ID that uniquely determines a line-based contract such as an IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity).

[0039] When the information processing device 2 receives the application request, it applies the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1. After the request unit 152 requests the application of the communication preferential service, the transmission / reception unit 153 transmits and receives data related to the settlement application through communication using the communication network. For example, the transmission / reception unit 153 transmits and receives data related to the settlement application after the first hour has elapsed since the request unit 152 requests the application of the communication preferential service. The first hour is, for example, a time longer than the time required from the transmission of the application request for the communication preferential service until the communication preferential service is applied.

[0040] Note that although the transmission / reception unit 153 is configured to transmit and receive data related to the settlement application after the first hour has elapsed, this is not the only case. The transmission / reception unit 153 may receive information indicating that the communication preferential service has been applied from the information processing device 2 in response to the application request for the communication preferential service. Then, the transmission / reception unit 153 may transmit and receive data related to the settlement application in response to receiving the information indicating that the communication preferential service has been applied.

[0041] Further, when the screen of the payment application is displayed on the display unit 12 of the wireless terminal 1, that is, when the screen of the payment application is in the foreground on the display unit 12, the request unit 152 requests the information processing apparatus 2 to continue applying the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 every second hour (predetermined time). For example, the request unit 152 determines whether or not the second hour has elapsed since the transmission time of the last application request or continuation request. When the request unit 152 determines that the second hour has elapsed since the transmission time of the last application request or continuation request, the request unit 152 requests the information processing apparatus 2 to continue applying the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 by transmitting a continuation request of the communication preferential service including the user ID of the user of the wireless terminal 1 every second hour.

[0042] Further, when the screen of the payment application is not displayed on the display unit 12 of the wireless terminal 1, that is, when the screen of the payment application is in the background on the display unit 12, the request unit 152 controls the information processing apparatus 2 not to request the continuation of the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1.

[0043] The second hour is a time shorter than the application period, which is the time from when the application of the communication preferential service is started until the information processing apparatus 2 automatically terminates the application of the communication preferential service. By doing so, even when it takes time for the user of the wireless terminal 1 to complete the payment due to difficulties in operating the payment application, the wireless terminal 1 can maintain the application of the communication preferential service to its communication.

[0044] Further, in response to the completion of the payment using the payment application, the request unit 152 requests the information processing apparatus 2 to terminate the application of the communication preferential service for the communication of the wireless terminal 1. Specifically, in response to the completion of the payment using the payment application, the request unit 152 transmits a request to terminate the application of the communication preferential service including the user ID of the user of the wireless terminal 1 and the service ID of the payment application to the information processing apparatus 2, thereby requesting the termination of the application of the communication preferential service for the communication of the wireless terminal 1. By doing so, even though the provider of the payment application pays the fee related to the application of the communication preferential service due to the continuous application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, it is possible to suppress the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of other applications. Further, since the wireless terminal 1 operates in this way, the communication preferential service is applied only at the time of payment, and it becomes easier to secure communication resources, so that the communication resources can be effectively utilized.

[0045] [Functional Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus 2] Subsequently, the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 2. The information processing apparatus 2 includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23.

[0046] The communication unit 21 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from external devices such as the wireless terminal 1 and a communication device that manages a communication network. The storage unit 22 is a storage medium that stores various types of data, and includes a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, and the like. The storage unit 22 stores programs executed by the control unit 23. The storage unit 22 stores programs that cause the control unit 23 to function as a reception unit 231, an application processing unit 232, a calculation unit 233, and a billing unit 234.

[0047] The control unit 23 is, for example, a CPU. The control unit 23 functions as a reception unit 231, an application processing unit 232, a calculation unit 233, and a billing unit 234 by executing programs stored in the storage unit 22.

[0048] The receiving unit 231 receives an application request for a communication preferential service for the communication of the wireless terminal 1, which is transmitted from the wireless terminal 1 that satisfies a predetermined condition for receiving the application of the communication preferential service including that the payment application is being executed. Specifically, the receiving unit 231 receives an application request for a communication preferential service including the user ID of the user of the wireless terminal 1 and the service ID of the service provided by the payment application.

[0049] The application processing unit 232 executes an application process, which is a 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. When the service ID included in the application request received by the receiving unit 231 is a predetermined ID that is predetermined, 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 contract information related to the use of the user's communication network based on the user ID, and when it is determined based on the contract information that the user of the wireless terminal 1 has concluded a contract related to the use of 5G communication with the communication carrier, the application processing unit 232 determines that the wireless terminal 1 can use 5G communication. When the application processing unit 232 determines that the wireless terminal 1 can use 5G communication, the application processing unit 232 executes an application process, which is a process for applying a communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1.

[0050] Here, the predetermined ID is an ID indicating the service to which the communication preferential service is applied, and in the present embodiment, it is an ID indicating 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 a predetermined ID as an application process. Then, when the application processing unit 232 determines that the service ID is a predetermined ID, the application processing unit 232 applies a communication preferential service to the communication of the user ID included in the application request to a communication control device (not shown) that controls the communication of the communication network used by the wireless terminal 1 for communication, thereby applying a communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1. When the application processing unit 232 applies a communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, the application processing unit 232 sets the time when the application request is received as the application start time.

[0051] Further, the application processing unit 232 sets the scheduled application end time, which is the time to end the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 corresponding to the user ID, to the time when the second hour has elapsed since the time when the application request was received, that is, the time when the second hour has elapsed since the application start time. Then, the application processing unit 232 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. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the application management information. As shown in FIG. 4, it can be confirmed that the user ID, the application start time, and the scheduled application end time are associated with each other.

[0052] Further, the reception unit 231 receives a continuation request for the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, which is transmitted from the wireless terminal 1 after the communication preferential service is applied to the communication of the wireless terminal 1. When the reception unit 231 receives the continuation request, the application processing unit 232 updates the scheduled application end time for the communication of the wireless terminal 1 corresponding to the user ID included in the continuation request. For example, the application processing unit 232 updates the scheduled application end time associated with the user ID included in the continuation request in the application management information stored in the storage unit 22 to the time when the second hour has elapsed since the time when the continuation request was received. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 2 can maintain the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1.

[0053] Further, the reception unit 231 receives an application end request, which is a request to end the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, transmitted from the wireless terminal 1. The reception unit 231 receives an application end request transmitted from the wireless terminal 1 in response to the completion of settlement by the settlement application executed in the wireless terminal 1.

[0054] When the application processing unit 232 does not receive a continuation request within the second hour after applying the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, does not receive a continuation request within the second hour after receiving the last continuation request from the wireless terminal 1, or the receiving unit 231 receives an application termination request, the application processing unit 232 executes an application termination process, which is a process for terminating the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1. Here, depending on the congestion status of the wireless communication, the continuation request transmitted from the wireless terminal 1 may arrive late. In response to this, the application processing unit 232 determines a delay time in advance, and when it does not receive a continuation request within the time obtained by adding the delay time to the second hour after applying the communication preferential service, or does not receive a continuation request within the time obtained by adding the delay time to the second hour after receiving the last continuation request from the wireless terminal 1, the application processing unit 232 may execute the application termination process. Also, the application processing unit 232 may set the application termination scheduled time as the time when the time obtained by adding the delay time to the second hour has elapsed since the time when the application request was received.

[0055] 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 application termination scheduled time that exceeds the current time. Also, when the receiving unit 231 receives an application termination process, the application processing unit 232 identifies the user ID included in the received application termination process.

[0056] For example, as an application termination process, the application processing unit 232 refers to the application management information and identifies the communication network used by the wireless terminal 1 for communication based on the identified user ID. Then, as an application termination process, the application processing unit 232 instructs the communication control device that controls the communication of 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.

[0057] When the information processing apparatus 2 does not receive a continuation request, it terminates the application of the communication preferential service, so that when the payment application is terminated midway on the wireless terminal 1, the communication preferential service is not continuously applied, and the communication preferential treatment is limited to the payment service as much as possible. As a result, the information processing apparatus 2 can prevent excessive billing to the claimant regarding the application of the communication preferential service.

[0058] When the application processing unit 232 terminates the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, it associates the user ID of the wireless terminal 1, the application start time, and the application end time which is the time when the application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 is terminated, and stores them in the storage unit 22 as application history information. Further, the application processing unit 232 deletes the user ID of the wireless terminal 1 and the information associated with the user ID in the application management information. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the application history information. As shown in FIG. 5, it can be confirmed that the user ID, the application start time, and the application end time are associated.

[0059] The calculation unit 233 calculates the charging amount related to the application of the communication preferential service to be billed to the operator providing the payment application based on the application status of the communication preferential service for the communication of the wireless terminal 1.

[0060] For example, the calculation unit 233 calculates the charging amount based on the time when the communication preferential service is 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 when the communication preferential service is applied to the communication of each wireless terminal 1 of a plurality of users in a unit period (for example, one month). Then, the calculation unit 233 calculates the charging amount based on the aggregated time. For example, the calculation unit 233 calculates the charging amount so that the longer the aggregated time is, the higher the charging amount becomes. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 2 can calculate an appropriate charging amount based on the time when the communication preferential service is applied.

[0061] Note that although the calculation unit 233 calculates the charge amount based on the time when the communication preferential service is applied to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, it is not limited to this. The calculation unit 233 may 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.

[0062] In this case, for example, the application processing unit 232 acquires traffic volume information indicating the traffic volume of the communication while the communication preferential service is applied to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 from a 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 volumes of the communications of the wireless terminals 1 of the respective 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.

[0063] Also, 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 specifies the number of continuation requests received by the reception unit 231 from the wireless terminal 1 while the communication preferential service is applied to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, and stores the application history information including the number in the storage unit 22. The calculation unit 233 refers to the application history information stored in the storage unit 22, and specifies the number of application requests received from the wireless terminals 1 of the respective multiple users in a unit period. For example, the calculation unit 233 refers to the application history information and specifies the number of pieces of the application history information in a unit period as the number of application requests. Also, the calculation unit 233 refers to the application history information and aggregates the number of continuation requests received from the wireless terminals 1 of the respective multiple users.

[0064] Then, the calculation unit 233 calculates the charging amount based on the number of identified application requests and the total number of aggregated continuous requests. For example, the calculation unit 233 calculates the charging amount such that the higher the total number of application requests and continuous requests, the higher the charging amount.

[0065] The billing unit 234 bills the operator providing the payment application for the charging amount calculated by the calculation unit 233. For example, the billing unit 234 bills the charging amount by transmitting billing information indicating the calculated charging amount to the address of the operator providing the predetermined payment application.

[0066] [Operation Flow] Subsequently, the process flow related to the application of the communication preferential service in the wireless terminal 1 and the information processing apparatus 2 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the process flow related to the application of the communication preferential service in the wireless terminal 1. This flowchart starts when the payment application is executed in the wireless terminal 1.

[0067] First, the determination unit 151 determines whether the communication of the wireless terminal 1 satisfies a predetermined condition for receiving the application of the communication preferential service (S1). When the determination unit 151 determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied (YES in S1), the process proceeds to S2. When it determines that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, S1 is executed again.

[0068] Subsequently, the request unit 152 transmits an application request for the communication preferential service including the user ID of the user of the wireless terminal 1 and the service ID of the payment application to the information processing apparatus 2 (S2).

[0069] Subsequently, after the first hour has elapsed since the request unit 152 requested the application of the communication preferential service, the transmission / reception unit 153 starts a settlement process including the transmission and reception of data related to the payment application by communication using the communication network (S3).

[0070] Subsequently, the request unit 152 determines whether or not 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.

[0071] Subsequently, the request unit 152 determines whether or not the settlement application is displayed on the display unit 12, that is, whether or not the settlement application is foreground displayed on the display unit 12 (S5). Here, the request unit 152 may determine whether or not the settlement application is displayed on the display unit 12 for two hours. If the request unit 152 determines that the settlement application is displayed on the display unit 12 (YES in S5), it proceeds to S6 and transmits a continuation request to the information processing apparatus 2. If the request unit 152 determines that the settlement application is not displayed on the display unit 12 (NO in S5), it proceeds to S7.

[0072] In S7, the request unit 152 determines whether or not the settlement process has been completed. If the request unit 152 determines that the settlement process has been completed (YES in S7), it proceeds to S8 and transmits an application end request to the information processing apparatus 2. If the request unit 152 determines that the settlement process has not been completed (NO in S7), it proceeds to S4.

[0073] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing related to the application of the communication preferential service in the information processing apparatus 2. This flowchart starts when the reception unit 231 receives an application request for the communication preferential service from the wireless terminal 1.

[0074] The application processing unit 232 determines whether or not 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 proceeds to S12. If the application processing unit 232 determines that the service ID is not a predetermined ID (NO in S11), it ends the processing according to this flowchart.

[0075] The application processing unit 232 determines, for example, based on the user ID, whether the wireless terminal 1 can use 5G communication (S12). When the application processing unit 232 determines that the wireless terminal 1 can use 5G communication (YES in S12), it transfers the process to S13. When it determines that the wireless terminal 1 cannot use 5G communication (NO in S12), it ends the process according to this flowchart. In S13, the application processing unit 232 gives an instruction to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the user ID included in the application request to the communication control device that controls the communication of the communication network used by the wireless terminal 1.

[0076] Subsequently, the application processing unit 232 associates the user ID included in the application request, the application start time, and the scheduled application end time, and stores them in the storage unit 22 as application management information (S14).

[0077] Subsequently, the application processing unit 232 determines whether a continuation request has been received (S15). When the application processing unit 232 determines that a continuation request has been received (YES in S15), it transfers the process to S16 and updates the scheduled application end time associated with the user ID included in the received continuation request in the application management information. When the application processing unit 232 determines that a continuation request has not been received (NO in S15), it transfers the process to S17.

[0078] The application processing unit 232 determines whether to end the application of the communication preferential service (S17). Specifically, when the application processing unit 232 determines that an application end request has been received from the wireless terminal 1 or the current time has exceeded the scheduled application end time stored in the application management information (YES in S17), it transfers the process to S18. When the application processing unit 232 determines that an application end request has not been received from the wireless terminal 1 and the current time has not exceeded the scheduled application end time stored in the application management information (NO in S17), it transfers the process to S15.

[0079] The application processing unit 232 refers to the application management information and gives an instruction to the communication control device that controls the communication of 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, the application start time of the communication preferential service, and the application end time, and stores them in the storage unit 22 as application history information (S19).

[0080] [Modification Example] 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 thereto. The wireless terminal 1 may be, for example, a store terminal provided in a store, in which a settlement application is installed and wireless communication related to settlement is performed. That is, when the control unit of the store terminal used by the store side determines that a predetermined condition for receiving the application of the communication preferential service, including that the settlement application is being executed, is satisfied, it requests the information processing device 2 that controls the application of the communication preferential service to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the store terminal, and after requesting the application of the communication preferential service, data related to the settlement application may be transmitted and received by the communication.

[0081] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the settlement application functions as the determination unit 151 and the request unit 152, but it is not limited thereto. An application program installed in the wireless terminal 1 different from the settlement application may function as the determination unit 151 and the request unit.

[0082] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the application processing unit 232 executes the application process of applying the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 based on the user ID, but it is not limited thereto. The application processing unit 232 may execute an application process for applying the communication preferential service to the communication related to the settlement service provided by the settlement application of the wireless terminal 1 based on the service ID included in the application request received by the reception unit 231 and the user ID.

[0083] For example, the application processing unit 232 instructs a communication control device that controls communication of a communication network corresponding to the user ID included in the application request to apply a communication preferential service to the communication corresponding to the service ID included in the application request among the communications of the user ID included in the application request, thereby applying the communication preferential service to the communication corresponding to the service ID. Further, the application processing unit 232 receives, from the communication control device, application information for applying the communication preferential service to the communication corresponding to the service ID, and transmits the application information to the wireless terminal 1. For example, when the communication preferential service is the application of a slice network for communication, it is information related to URSP (User Equipment Route Selection Policy). Also, when the communication preferential service is a priority control in which communication is performed preferentially compared to best-effort communication, the application information is information indicating the bearer for which the priority control is performed.

[0084] When the transmission / reception unit 153 of the wireless terminal 1 transmits and receives data related to the settlement application, it transmits and receives the data based on the application information received from the information processing device 2. By doing so, the information processing device 2 can apply the communication preferential service limited to the communication related to the settlement application.

[0085] Also, in the above-described embodiment, when the settlement application for code settlement is being executed, the communication preferential service is applied, but it is not limited to this. For example, when an application related to the use of a facility for the wireless terminal 1 to enter a live venue, stadium, entertainment facility, etc., or to obtain a priority pass for preferentially using the facility after entering the facility is being executed, the wireless terminal 1 may transmit an application request for the communication preferential service to the information processing device 2 in order to receive the application of the communication preferential service. Further, for example, when a settlement application for performing voting and payment for various competitions such as horse racing and motorcycle racing is being executed on the wireless terminal 1, the wireless terminal 1 may transmit an application request for the communication preferential service to the information processing device 2 in order to receive the application of the communication preferential service.

[0086] [Effects of the Wireless Terminal 1 and the Information Processing Apparatus 2] As described above, when the wireless terminal 1 according to the present embodiment determines that a predetermined condition for receiving the application of a communication preferential service, which is a service for preferentially handling communication in a communication network including the execution of a settlement application, is satisfied, it requests the information processing apparatus 2 that controls the application of the communication preferential service to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1, and after requesting the application of the communication preferential service, performs transmission and reception of data related to the settlement application by communication in the communication network. By doing so, the wireless terminal 1 can improve the communication quality when performing communication related to the settlement application.

[0087] In addition, the information processing apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment executes processing for applying the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal 1 based on the application request for the communication preferential service received from the wireless terminal 1, and calculates the charging amount to be billed to the operator providing the settlement application based on the application status of the communication preferential service for the communication of the wireless terminal 1. By doing so, the information processing apparatus 2 can appropriately bill the person related to the application of the communication preferential service.

[0088] Note that the present invention can contribute to Goal 9, "Build the infrastructure for industry and innovation," of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) led by the United Nations.

[0089] As described above, the present invention has been described 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. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by functionally or physically dispersing and integrating it in any unit. Also, new embodiments resulting from any combination of a plurality of embodiments are included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combination have the effects of the original embodiments combined.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0090] 1 Wireless terminal 11 Input unit 12 Display unit 13 Communication unit 14 Memory unit 15 Control unit 151 Judgment unit 152 Request unit 153 Transmission / reception unit 2 Information processing apparatus 21 Communication unit 22 Memory unit 23 Control unit 231 Reception unit 232 Application processing unit 233 Calculation unit 234 Claim unit

Claims

1. A wireless terminal that communicates using a communication network, a determination unit that, in response to execution of a payment application on the wireless terminal, determines whether a predetermined condition for receiving a communication preferential treatment service, which is a service for giving preferential treatment to communication on the communication network, including the fact that the payment application is being executed, is satisfied; and a request unit that, when it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied, transmits an application request to a control device that controls application of the communication preferential service, the application request including service identification information for identifying a service provided by the payment application, to the control device, thereby requesting the control device to apply the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal; a transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives data related to the payment of the payment application through the communication after requesting application of the communication preferential service; A wireless terminal having the above configuration.

2. the request unit, in response to completion of payment using the payment application, requests the control device to terminate application of the communication preferential service to the communication of the wireless terminal. The wireless terminal of claim 1.

3. the request unit, when a screen of the payment application is displayed on a display unit of the wireless terminal, requests the control device to continue application of the communication preferential treatment service to the communication at predetermined time intervals, and when the screen is not displayed on the display unit and the screen is displayed in the background on the display unit, controls not to request continuation of application of the communication preferential treatment service. The wireless terminal of claim 1.

4. The predetermined condition includes an instruction for the payment application to display a code for payment on a display unit of the wireless terminal, or an instruction for the payment application to read the code for payment received by the wireless terminal. The wireless terminal of claim 1.

5. The predetermined condition includes that the wireless terminal is performing 5G (5th Generation) communication. The wireless terminal of claim 1.

6. The predetermined condition includes that the wireless terminal is located in a predetermined area that is determined in advance as an area where wireless communication is congested, the determination unit specifies a location of the wireless terminal, and determines whether or not the wireless terminal is included in the predetermined area based on the specified location. The wireless terminal of claim 1.

7. the request unit transmits the application request for the communication preferential service, the application request including user identification information for identifying a user of the wireless terminal and service identification information for identifying a service provided by the payment application. The wireless terminal of claim 1.

8. The communication preferential service is a slice network obtained by virtually dividing the communication network, and includes application of a slice network in which communication is prioritized. The wireless terminal of claim 1.

9. the preferential communication service includes control for prioritizing communication of the wireless terminal over best-effort communication; The wireless terminal of claim 1.

10. The communication preferential treatment service is a service for giving preferential treatment to communications related to the payment application among communications on the communication network. The wireless terminal of claim 1.

11. A computer that communicates using a communication network executes the a step of determining whether a predetermined condition for receiving a preferential communication service, which is a service for giving preferential treatment to communications on the communication network, including the execution of the payment application in response to the execution of the payment application on the computer, is satisfied; a step of requesting a control device that controls application of the preferential communication service to the communication of the computer by transmitting an application request including service identification information for identifying a service provided by the payment application to the control device when it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied; a step of transmitting and receiving data related to payment of the payment application through the communication after requesting application of the communication preferential treatment service; An information processing method comprising the steps of:

12. A computer that communicates using a communication network is called a determination unit that, in response to execution of a payment application on the computer, determines whether a predetermined condition for receiving a communication preferential treatment service, which is a service for giving preferential treatment to communications on the communication network, including the fact that the payment application is being executed, is satisfied; a request unit that, when it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied, transmits to a control device that controls application of the preferential communication service a request for application, the request including service identification information for identifying a service provided by the payment application, to request the control device to apply the preferential communication service to the communication of the computer; and a transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives data related to the payment of the payment application through the communication after requesting application of the communication preferential service; A program that functions as a

13. the program is an application program for payment, The determination unit determines whether the predetermined condition, including the fact that the determination unit itself is being executed, is satisfied. The program according to claim 12.

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