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

A transfer device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory comprising instructions executable by the processor, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• relay connection-oriented communication between a communication terminal and a correspondent communication device over a first connection and a second connection, said first connection being between said transfer device and said correspondent communication device, and said second connection being between said transfer device and said communication terminal;
• and
• detect a discontinuation of said second connection, wherein said discontinuation of said second connection occurred before a response from said correspondent communication device reached said communication terminal, the response including content requested by the communication terminal;
• maintain said first connection at least between said transfer device and a billing management device in response to a failure to receive billing information from said billing management device for said connection-oriented communication upon detection of said discontinuation of said second connection, said billing management device being a relay node of said first connection between said transfer device and said correspondent communication device;
• and
• disconnect said first connection in response to receipt of said billing information from said billing management device over said first connection after said discontinuation of said second connection.

A computer readable recording medium which stores a program for causing a transfer device to execute:

• a process of relaying connection-oriented communication performed between a communication terminal and a correspondent communication device over a first connection and a second connection, said first connection being between said transfer device and said correspondent communication device, and said second connection being between said transfer device and said communication terminal;
• a process of detecting a discontinuation of said second connection, said discontinuation of said second connection occurring before a response requested by said communication terminal reaches said communication terminal;
• a process of maintaining said first connection at said transfer device at least between said transfer device and a billing management device in response to a failure to receive billing information for said connection-oriented communication from said billing management device upon detection of said discontinuation of said second connection, said billing management device being a relay node of said first connection between said transfer device and said correspondent communication device;
• and
• a process of disconnecting said first connection in response to receipt of the billing information at said transfer device from said billing management device over said first connection after said discontinuation of said second connection.

A communication control method for controlling communication between a communication terminal and a correspondent communication device, the communication control method comprising:

• establishing a first connection between a transfer device and a billing management device;
• establishing a second connection between the transfer device and the communication terminal;
• relaying, through each of the transfer device, the first connection and the second connection, connection-oriented communication performed between the communication terminal and the correspondent communication device;
• maintaining the first connection, upon detecting a discontinuation of the second connection without receipt of billing information for the connection-oriented communication from the billing management device over the first connection, the discontinuation of the second connection occurring before a response including content from said correspondent communication device reaches said communication terminal;
• and
• disconnecting the first connection in response to receipt of the billing information from the billing management device over the first connection at the transfer device after said discontinuation of said second connection.

A transfer device for controlling communication between a communication terminal and a correspondent communication device, the transfer device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory comprising instructions executable by the processor, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• establish a first connection between the transfer device and the correspondent communication device, the first connection being over a billing management device between the transfer device and the correspondent communication device;
• establish a second connection between the transfer device and the communication terminal;
• relay, through the transfer device, the first connection, and the second connection, connection-oriented communication performed between the communication terminal and the correspondent communication device;
• maintain the first connection when the transfer device detects a discontinuation of the second connection absent receipt of billing information for the connection-oriented communication from the billing management device, wherein said discontinuation of said second connection occurred before at least a portion of the connection-oriented communication from said correspondent communication device reached said communication terminal;
• and
• disconnect the first connection in response to receipt of the billing information from said billing management device over the first connection after said discontinuation of said second connection.