IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,863,037
Granted Patent B2
US 10,863,037 · App. 16/733,369 · Granted Dec 8, 2020

Charging apparatus, method, system, and non-transitory medium

Inventors: Shintaro Nakano (Tokyo, JP); Satoru Ishii (Tokyo, JP); Hideo Hasegawa (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
H04M15/61H04M15/00H04M15/66H04M15/72H04M15/77H04M15/771H04M15/772H04M15/852H04W4/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,863,037
App. No.
16/733,369
Granted
Dec 8, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

User identification information for identifying a user of a first terminal connecting to a communication network of a virtual communication operator via a communication network of a first communication operator is specified, and, based on the user identification information, charging for communication of the first terminal and charging for a service that the virtual communication operator is enabled to provide to the user identified by the user identification information are managed.

Claims (35)

1. A charging management apparatus comprising:

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to:

specify first user identification information comprising first charging information for connecting to a communication network via a first network operator;

specify second user identification information comprising second charging information for connecting to the communication network via a second network operator; and

based on the specified first user identification information and the specified second user identification information, unify the first charging information and the second charging information to an account for a service of a virtual network operator.

2. The charging management apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the service is provided by the virtual network operator, via a data center operated by the virtual network operator.

3. The charging management apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

charge for the service to the account.

4. The charging management apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

receive a charging method including at least one of prepayment or payment by a credit card, in correspondence with the first user identification information or the second user identification information.

5. The charging management apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first user identification information is for telecom carrier service provided by at least one of the first network operator or the second network operator; and

wherein the second user identification information is for a cloud service.

6. The charging management apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

transmit to the account a notification when a prepaid balance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value or runs out.

7. A charging management method comprising:

specifying first user identification information comprising first charging information for connecting to a communication network via a first network operator;

specifying second user identification information comprising second charging information for connecting to the communication network via a second network operator; and

based on the specified first user identification information and the specified second user identification information, unifying the first charging information and the second charging information to an account for a service of a virtual network operator.

8. The charging management method according to claim 7 ,

wherein the service is provided by the virtual network operator, via a data center operated by the virtual network operator.

9. The charging management method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

charging for the service to the account.

10. The charging management method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving a charging method including at least one of prepayment or payment by a credit card, in correspondence with the first user identification information or the second user identification information.

11. The charging management method according to claim 7 ,

wherein the first user identification information is for telecom carrier service provided by at least one of the first network operator or the second network operator; and

wherein the second user identification information is for a cloud service.

12. The charging management method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

transmitting to the account a notification when a prepaid balance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value or runs out.

Priority Claims (1)
JP 2015-056370 · Mar 19, 2015 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15559116
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