Operator Selecting Apparatus And Method For Selecting A Home Operator For Each Communication Device In A Group

An operator selecting apparatus for selecting, for each communication device in a group, a home operator out of a plurality of candidate operators, wherein each candidate operator has a billing system regarding a service as a home operator and wherein the billing system of at least one of the candidate operators is configured to provide a discount in accordance with an increase of communication devices in the group for which the candidate operator is selected, the operator selecting apparatus comprising:

• a receiving unit that receives group information that defines the group and class information of said each communication device in the group, the class information specifying whether the communication device is a quality-oriented communication device that prioritizes quality of service over cost or a cost-oriented communication device that prioritizes cost over quality of service;
• a billing system obtaining unit that obtains information representing the billing system of said each candidate operator;
• a quality information obtaining unit that obtains quality information that specifies quality of service provided to said each communication device by said each candidate operator;
• a first selecting unit that selects, for each quality-oriented communication device in the group, a candidate operator out of the plurality of the candidate operators that is determined based on the quality information to provide the best quality of service to the communication device;
• and
• a second selecting unit that selects, for each cost-oriented communication device in the group, based on the billing system and a number of quality-oriented communication devices assigned to said each candidate operator as a result of the selection by the first selecting unit, a candidate operator out of the plurality of the candidate operators such that a total cost for all the communication devices in the group becomes lowest.