Patent Publication Number: US-2023156119-A1

Title: Telephone communication system, telephone communication method, setting server and setting program

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a call system, a call method, a setup server, and a setup program. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Along with recent popularization of smartphones and the like, forms of calls have been becoming diversified. For example, a user can talk on a videophone while viewing a face of a person on the other end of the line and can view another video while having an audio chat with the person on the other end of the line. 
     For example, in 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), a mechanism for continuously streaming CAT (Customized Alerting Tone) media, such as video media or audio media, using a CAT, before a start of a call and during startup of the call is under consideration, and the specifications of the mechanism are becoming finalized (see Non-Patent Literature 1). A mechanism for continuously streaming video media or audio media after an end of a call using a CAT is also under consideration. 
     CAT media is provided by an AS/MRF (Application Server/Multimedia Resource Function) of a calling IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network to which a calling terminal belongs or a called IMS network to which a called terminal belongs. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Non-Patent Literature 
     
         
         Non-Patent Literature 1: 3GPP “Video enhancement of IMS CAT/CRS/announcement services,” 3GPP TSG-CT WG1 Meeting #121 Reno (Nev.), USA, 11-15 Nov. 2019, C1-199059 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The idea of causing viewing of advertisement-related CAT media on a calling terminal without affecting a call between the calling terminal and a called terminal and giving a discount on the call or the like for the calling terminal is conceivable. However, there is no specific method for implementing the idea. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for streaming an advertisement using CAT media and providing feedback to a calling terminal. 
     Means for Solving the Problem 
     A call system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a setup server provided on a communication network which controls communication between a calling terminal and a called terminal and a charging server which charges the calling terminal, the setup server includes a setup unit which sets advertisement-related CAT media in a signal addressed to the calling terminal during a call between the calling terminal and the called terminal, and a measurement unit which measures a start time and an end time of the setting of the CAT media in the signal addressed to the calling terminal, the calling terminal includes a play unit which plays the CAT media, and the charging server includes a charge unit which charges the calling terminal on the basis of the measured times. 
     A call method according to one aspect of the present invention is used in a call system including a setup server provided on a communication network which controls communication between a calling terminal and a called terminal and a charging server which charges the calling terminal and includes setting, by the setup server, advertisement-related CAT media in a signal addressed to the calling terminal during a call between the calling terminal and the called terminal, playing, by the calling terminal, the CAT media, measuring, by the setup server, a start time and an end time of the setting of the CAT media in the signal addressed to the calling terminal, and charging, by the charging server, the calling terminal on the basis of the measured times. 
     A setup server according to one aspect of the present invention includes a setup unit which sets advertisement-related CAT media in a signal addressed to a calling terminal during a call between the calling terminal and a called terminal, and a measurement unit which measures a start time and an end time of the setting of the CAT media in the signal addressed to the calling terminal. 
     One aspect of the present invention is a setup program for causing a computer to function as the above-described setup servers. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for streaming an advertisement using CAT media and providing feedback to a calling terminal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram for explaining a system configuration of a call system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram for explaining functions of a setup server according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a flowchart for explaining a setup process by a setup unit of the setup server according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a sequence chart for explaining a process during call connection in the call system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a sequence chart for explaining a process during a call in the call system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a sequence chart for explaining a process after a call in the call system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram for explaining a system configuration of a call system according to a modification. 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram for explaining a hardware configuration of a computer used for the setup server. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Same portions in the drawings are denoted by same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted. 
     (Communication System) 
     A call system  5  according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG.  1   . The call system  5  includes a setup server  1 , a calling terminal  2 , a called terminal  3 , a charging server  4 , a calling-side IMS network  100 , and a called-side IMS network  200 . 
     The setup server  1  sets advertisement-related CAT media in a signal addressed to the calling terminal  2 . More specifically, the setup server  1  causes a MRF function to set the advertisement-related CAT media. 
     The setup server  1  also measures a start time and an end time of setting of CAT media. More specifically, the setup server  1  causes an AS/MRF function unit  102  or a P-CSCF/MGW function unit  101  to measure a start time and an end time of passage of a signal with the CAT media set therein. The setup server  1  calculates a time period during which an advertisement is viewed from the start time and the end time and transmits the calculated time period to the charging server  4 . The setup server  1  is provided on a communication network which controls communication between the calling terminal  2  and the called terminal  3 . 
     In the embodiment of the present invention, the setup server  1  is provided on the calling-side IMS network  100 . The setup server  1  sets CAT media in a signal addressed to the calling terminal  2  and measures a start time and an end time of the setting of the CAT media, in collaboration with the P-CSCF/MGW function unit  101  and the AS/MRF function unit  102  of the calling-side IMS network  100 . 
     The calling terminal  2  and the called terminal  3  are terminals capable of calling and playing CAT media in accordance with the standards of 3GPP. The calling terminal  2  and the called terminal  3  are so-called smartphones. 
     The calling terminal  2  has a call unit which makes a call to the called terminal  3  and a play unit which plays CAT media provided from the calling-side IMS network  100 . 
     The charging server  4  charges the calling terminal  2  for a call originated by the calling terminal  2 . The charging server  4  includes a charge unit which charges a user of the calling terminal  2  on the basis of an advertisement viewing time period in the calling terminal  2  which is measured by the setup server  1 . The charging server  4 , for example, provides feedback, such as a discount on a fee for a call based on the advertisement viewing time period, to the calling terminal  2 . 
     The calling terminal  2  is charged a fee for a call such that a discount on the fee for the call increases when an advertisement is viewed for a long time period in the calling terminal  2 . For example, an amount charged to a calling terminal which plays an advertisement only during call connection is smaller than an amount charged to a calling terminal which plays an advertisement from during connection of a call to an end of the call. 
     The calling-side IMS network  100  is a communication network which accommodates the calling terminal  2 . The called-side IMS network  200  is a communication network which accommodates the called terminal  3 . The calling-side IMS network  100  and the called-side IMS network  200  are each a network which provides multimedia using IP (Internet Protocol). In the embodiment of the present invention, the calling-side IMS network  100  and the called-side IMS network  200 , in particular, provide a call between the calling terminal  2  and the called terminal  3  and provide advertisement-related CAT media to the calling terminal  2 . 
     The calling-side IMS network  100  provides the P-CSCF/MGW (Proxy Call Session Control Function/Media GateWay) function unit  101  and the AS/MRF function unit  102 . A P-CSCF function is a SIP proxy and receives contact from the calling terminal  2 . A MGW function has a user plane of a circuit switched network, i.e., a function of interfacing with sound or the like which is user data and performs conversion between RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) and PCM (Pulse Code Modulation). An AS function hosts and executes a service provided by the call system  5 . A MRF function provides a function, such as media playing. 
     The called-side IMS network  200  similarly provides a P-CSCF/MGW function unit  201  and an AS/MRF function unit  202 . A P-CSCF function, a MGW function, an AS function, and a MRF function are the same as the functions of the calling-side IMS network. 
     Functions other than the P-CSCF/MGW functions and the AS/MRF functions are omitted from each of the calling-side IMS network  100  and the called-side IMS network  200  shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     Note that the functions of each of the calling-side IMS network  100  and the called-side IMS network  200  are implemented by one or more computers. In the embodiment of the present invention, the setup server  1  is described as being composed of hardware different from the AS/MRF function unit  102 . However, functions of the setup server  1  may be implemented in the AS/MRF function unit  102  or may be implemented in the P-CSCF/MGW function unit  101 . 
     (Setup Server) 
     The setup server  1  will be described with reference to  FIG.  2   . The setup server  1  is a general computer including a storage device  10 , a processing device  20 , and a communication control device  30 . The general computer executes a setup program which implements a predetermined function, thereby implementing the functions shown in  FIG.  2   . 
     The storage device  10  stores the setup program and also stores advertisement media data  11  and measurement data  12 . 
     The advertisement media data  11  is advertising video data which is provided to the calling terminal  2 . The advertisement media data  11  may be a collection of pieces of advertisement media. The advertisement media data  11  is provided as CAT media or CAT early media to the calling terminal  2 . Alternatively, the advertisement media data  11  may be characters in text form. 
     The advertisement media data  11  may include both types with and without sound. For example, video data with sound is provided to the calling terminal  2  at a time having no effect on a call between the calling terminal  2  and the called terminal  3 , such as during call connection or after the call. During a call between the calling terminal  2  and the called terminal  3 , soundless video data is provided to the calling terminal  2  so as not to interfere with the call. 
     The phrase “during call connection” here refers to a state during a call from when the calling terminal  2  originates a call to when the call is accepted in the called terminal  3 . The phrase “after a call” refers to a state where a call is disconnected by the called terminal  3  but is not disconnected by the calling terminal  2 . The phrase “during a call” refers to a state where the called terminal  3  has received a call after origination by the calling terminal  2 , and the call is going on between the calling terminal  2  and the called terminal  3 . 
     The measurement data  12  identifies a time period during which advertising CAT media is provided to the calling terminal  2 . For example, the measurement data  12  may be associated with a start time and an end time of provision of advertising CAT media to the calling terminal  2  or may be associated with a provision time period identified by the start time and the end time. The measurement data  12  may double as log data. 
     The processing device  20  includes a setup unit  21 , a measurement unit  22 , and a transmission unit  23 . 
     The setup unit  21  sets advertisement-related CAT media in a signal addressed to the calling terminal  2  during a call between the calling terminal  2  and the called terminal  3 . The setup unit  21  also sets advertisement-related CAT early media in a signal addressed to the calling terminal  2  during connection of a call from the calling terminal  2  to the called terminal  3 . 
     As to a call between the calling terminal  2  and the called terminal  3 , in a state where the called terminal  3  has disconnected the call but the calling terminal  2  has not disconnected the call, the setup unit  21  sets CAT media in a signal addressed to the calling terminal  2 . Specifically, when the setup unit  21  senses that the called terminal  3  has disconnected the call and that the calling terminal  2  has not disconnected the call, the setup unit  21  causes the AS/MRF function unit  102  to transmit a re-INVITE message to the calling terminal  2 . After reception of a 2000K message in response to the re-INVITE message transmitted to the calling terminal  2  by the AS/MRF function unit  102 , the setup unit  21  sets advertisement-related CAT media in a signal addressed to the calling terminal  2 . 
     Note that the setup unit  21  performs control so as to provide advertisement-related CAT media under conditions permitted in advance by the calling terminal  2 , such as during call connection, during a call, and after a call. For example, if the calling terminal  2  permits provision of advertisement-related CAT media during a call and does not permit provision of advertisement-related CAT media during call connection or after a call, the setup unit  21  provides advertisement-related CAT media to the calling terminal  2  during a call and does not provide CAT media during call connection or after a call. 
     A setup process by the setup unit  21  will be described with reference to  FIG.  3   . First, in step S 1 , the process branches to a different point depending to a state of the calling terminal  2 . 
     If the calling terminal  2  is in a state during call connection, the setup unit  21  sets advertisement-related CAT early media in a signal addressed to the calling terminal  2  in step S 2  and ends the process. The CAT early media is preferably composed only of a video so as not to interfere with a ringing tone. 
     If the calling terminal  2  is in a state during a call, the setup unit  21  sets advertisement-related CAT media in a signal addressed to the calling terminal  2  in step S 3  and ends the process. The CAT media is preferably composed only of a video so as not to interfere with the call. Even if the call uses video in the case of, e.g., a videophone call, a play unit for advertisement-related CAT media may be provided outside a frame of a video display unit for a videophone call or a semitransparent CAT media play unit may be provided at the video display unit for a videophone call. 
     In step S 4 , if the called terminal  3  has disconnected the call, and the calling terminal  2  has not disconnected the call, the setup unit  21  advances to step S 5 . In the other cases, the setup unit  21  ends the process. 
     If the called terminal  3  has disconnected the call, and the calling terminal  2  has not disconnected the call, the setup unit  21  transmits, to the AS/MRF function unit  102 , a command to transmit a re-INVITE message to the calling terminal  2 . The setup unit  21  waits to receive a 200OK message in response to the re-INVITE message transmitted to the calling terminal  2 . When the setup unit  21  receives a 200OK message in step S 5 , the setup unit  21  advances to step S 6 . In step S 6 , the setup unit  21  sets advertisement-related CAT media in a signal addressed to the calling terminal  2  and ends the process. The CAT media may be composed only of a video or may include a sound as long as the sound does not interfere with a disconnection tone in the called terminal  3 . 
     During a call, the measurement unit  22  measures a start time and an end time of setting of CAT media in a signal addressed to the calling terminal  2  and records the measured times in the measurement data  12 . During call connection, the measurement unit  22  measures a start time and an end time of setting of CAT early media in a signal addressed to the calling terminal  2  and records the measured times in the measurement data  12 . Even if a call is disconnected by the called terminal  3 , the measurement unit  22  measures a start time and an end time of setting of CAT media in a signal addressed to the calling terminal  2  and records the measured times in the measurement data  12 . 
     The measurement unit  22 , for example, senses a signal or a process transmitted or received by the P-CSCF/MGW function unit  101  or the AS/MRF function unit  102  and measures a time of setting of CAT media or a time of deletion of the CAT media. 
     When an instruction to stop playing CAT media or CAT early media is input in the calling terminal  2 , the measurement unit  22  measures an end time. In the calling terminal  2 , the play unit where CAT media or CAT early media is played is provided, and a button for stopping media playing is provided on the play unit. When the button is pressed in the calling terminal  2 , the calling-side IMS network  100  is notified of the fact that the button is pressed, and the setup server  1  knows that an instruction to stop media playing is input in the calling terminal  2 . At that time, the setup server  1  measures an end time. 
     The transmission unit  23  transmits the measurement data  12  to the charging server  4 . For example, a protocol, such as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) or HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), is used. The transmission unit  23  transmits the measurement data  12  to the charging server  4  at a time when feedback about viewing of an advertisement in the calling terminal  2  can be provided to the calling terminal  2 . 
     Processing sequences will be described with reference to  FIGS.  4  to  6   . 
       FIG.  4    shows a processing sequence during call connection. 
     First, in step S 101 , the calling terminal  2  transmits an INVITE message in which an audio component and a video component of the calling terminal  2  are set by SDP (Session Description Protocol) to the calling-side IMS network  100 . The message is transmitted to the called terminal  3  via the P-CSCF/MGW function unit  101  and the AS/MRF function unit  102  of the calling-side IMS network and the P-CSCF/MGW function unit  201  of the called-side IMS network  200  in steps S 102  to S 104 . 
     In step S 105 , the called terminal  3  transmits a 180 message without an SDP answer to the P-CSCF/MGW function unit  201  of the called-side IMS network  200 . In step S 106 , the message is transmitted to the AS/MRF function unit  102  of the calling-side IMS network  100 . 
     The AS/MRF function unit  102  transmits a 183 message in which an audio component and a video component of a CAT are set in an SDP answer to the P-CSCF/MGW function unit  101  in step S 107 . In step S 108 , the message is transmitted from the P-CSCF/MGW function unit  101  to the calling terminal  2 . 
     For the above-described reason, in step S 109 , video and audio CAT early media is transmitted from the AS/MRF function unit  102  of the calling-side IMS network  100  to the calling terminal  2 . The CAT early media is advertisement-related media set by the setup server  1 . After that, in steps S 110  and S 111 , a 200OK message in which an audio component of the called terminal  3  is set in an SDP answer is transmitted from the called terminal  3  to the AS/MRF function unit  102  of the calling-side IMS network  100  via the P-CSCF/MGW function unit  201  of the called-side IMS network  200 . 
       FIG.  5    shows a processing sequence during a call. 
     In step S 201 , the AS/MRF function unit  102  of the calling-side IMS network  100  transmits, to the P-CSCF/MGW function unit  101 , an UPDATE message in which a video component of a CAT is set in an SDP answer received from the called terminal  3 . In step S 202 , the message is transmitted from the P-CSCF/MGW function unit  101  to the calling terminal  2 . 
     In steps S 203  and S 204 , a 200OK message in which an audio component of the called terminal  3  and the video component of the CAT are set in an SDP answer is transmitted from the calling terminal  2  to the AS/MRF function unit  102  of the calling-side IMS network  100  via the P-CSCF/MGW function unit  101  of the calling-side IMS network  100 . In steps S 205  and S 206 , a 200OK message is transmitted from the AS/MRF function unit  102  of the calling-side IMS network  100  to the calling terminal  2  via the P-CSCF/MGW function unit  101 . 
     For the above-described reason, in step S 205 , video CAT media is transmitted from the AS/MRF function unit  102  of the calling-side IMS network  100  to the calling terminal  2 . The CAT media is advertisement-related media set by the setup server  1 . In step S 208 , audio called terminal media is transmitted from the called terminal  3  to the calling terminal  2 . 
     Control may be performed such that an advertisement transmitted as the CAT early media shown in  FIG.  4    is continuous with an advertisement transmitted as the CAT media shown in  FIG.  5   . 
       FIG.  6    shows a processing sequence after a call. A process of the calling-side IMS network  100  after a BYE message is transmitted from the called terminal  3  will be described. 
     When a BYE message is transmitted from the called-side IMS network  200 , the AS/MRF function unit  102  of the calling-side IMS network  100  transmits a re-INVITE message in which media provided by the MRF function is set in an SDP offer to the calling terminal  2  via the P-CSCF/MGW function unit  101 . The media provided by the MRF function is advertisement-related CAT media set by the setup server  1 . 
     In steps S 303  and S 304 , the calling terminal  2  transmits a 200OK message to the AS/MRF function unit  102  via the P-CSCF/MGW function unit  101 . In steps S 305  and S 306 , CAT video media is transmitted from the AS/MRF function unit  102  to the calling terminal  2 , and CAT audio media is transmitted. 
     The above-described call system  5  according to the embodiment of the present invention is capable of displaying an advertisement on a terminal at the time of calling while viewing a screen of the terminal and measuring a display time period of the advertisement. This allows a telecommunications carrier to obtain an opportunity to provide an advertisement and a user of a terminal to obtain an opportunity to reduce a fee by viewing the advertisement. 
     (Modification) 
     The embodiment of the present invention has described a case where the calling-side IMS network  100  sets CAT media and charges the calling terminal  2 . A modification will describe a call system  5   a  in which the called-side IMS network  200  sets CAT media and charges the calling terminal  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , in the modification, the setup server  1  is provided on the called-side IMS network  200 . The setup server  1  sets CAT media in a signal addressed to the calling terminal  2  and measures a start time and an end time of the setting of the CAT media, in collaboration with the P-CSCF/MGW function unit  201  and the AS/MRF function unit  202  of the called-side IMS network  200 . The setup server  1  transmits information on the times of the setting of the CAT media to a notification server  6  which is provided on the calling-side IMS network  100 . The notification server  6  notifies the charging server  4  of the times notification of which is given from the setup server. Note that the setup server  1  provided on the called-side IMS network  200  may directly notify the charging server  4 . 
     In the modification, the setup server  1  is capable of setting advertisement-related CAT media in a signal addressed to the calling terminal  2  and measuring times of the setting of the CAT media, as in the embodiment of the present invention. In a case where an instruction to stop playing the CAT media is input in the calling terminal  2 , when the setup server  1  senses the instruction, the setup server  1  measures an end time of the setting of the CAT media. 
     Processing by the setup server  1  in the modification is the same as that in the embodiment. Sequential processes according to the modification may be obtained by reading the AS/MRF function unit  102  of the calling-side IMS network  100  in  FIGS.  4  to  6    as the AS/MRF function unit  202  of the called-side IMS network  200 . 
     The call system  5  according to the modification is capable of displaying an advertisement on a terminal at the time of calling while viewing a screen of the terminal and measuring a display time period of the advertisement, as in the embodiment. This allows a telecommunications carrier to obtain an opportunity to provide an advertisement and a user of a terminal to obtain an opportunity to reduce a fee by viewing the advertisement. 
     As the setup server  1  described above according to the present embodiment, for example, a general-purpose computer system including a CPU (Central Processing Unit or processor)  901 , a memory  902 , a storage  903  (an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive)), a communication device  904 , an input device  905 , and an output device  906  is used. The CPU  901  is the processing device  20 . The memory  902  and the storage  903  are the storage device  10 . In the computer system, the CPU  901  executes a predetermined program loaded into the memory  902 , thereby implementing the functions of the setup server  1 . 
     Note that the setup server  1  may be implemented by one computer or may be implemented by a plurality of computers. Alternatively, the setup server  1  may be a virtual machine implemented on a computer. 
     The program of the setup server  1  can be stored in a computer-readable recording medium, such as an HDD, an SSD, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, a CD (Compact Disc), or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or can be distributed over a network. 
     Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope thereof. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               1  Setup server 
               2  Calling terminal 
               3  Called terminal 
               4  Charging server 
               5  Call system 
               6  Notification server 
               10  Storage device 
               11  Advertisement media data 
               12  Measurement data 
               20  Processing device 
               21  Setup unit 
               22  Measurement unit 
               23  Transmission unit 
               100  Calling-side IMS network 
               101 ,  201  P-CSCF/MGW function unit 
               102 ,  202  AS/MRF function unit 
               200  Called-side IMS network 
               901  CPU 
               902  Memory 
               903  Storage 
               904  Communication device 
               905  Input device 
               906  Output device