Communication control method in connection-oriented communication, related transfer device, and billing management device

Abstract

A gateway server 40 , in the case that discontinuation of TCP Connection A between a portable phone 10 and gateway server 40 is detected when gateway server 40 is relaying HTTP communication between portable phone 10 and a content server 70 , maintains TCP Connection B 1 between a billing management server 50 and gateway server 40 until gateway server 40 receives from billing management server 50 billing information for HTTP communication relayed up to the time of the discontinuation of TCP Connection A.

1 . A transfer device comprising:
 relaying means for relaying connection-oriented communication performed between a communication terminal and a correspondent communication device;   time keeping means for counting time from when said transfer device transmits to said communication device a request message for said communication device, said request message having received from said communication terminal, until said transfer device receives a response message transmitted from said communication device in response to said request message; and   connection control means for controlling a connection, when said connection-oriented communication is being relayed by said relaying means, so as to maintain a connection between said transfer device and said communication device until said transfer device receives billing information for said connection-oriented communication from a billing management device, said billing management device functioning as a relay node of a connection between said transfer device and said communication device, or until the time counted by said time keeping means exceeds a prescribed time, the maintaining of said connection being performed in a case that said counted time has not exceeded said prescribed time and that said transfer device has not received said billing information.   
     
     
         2 . A transfer device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said billing information is transmitted to said transfer device when said billing management device transmits to said transfer device a response message responsive to a request message transmitted from said communication terminal.