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AssigneeAlcatel
InventorsUWE STAHL, WOLFGANG LAUTENSCHLAGER, HARALD ORLAMUNDER, GERD SIEGMUND
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The invention concerns a method of charging for the use of an internet service (SERV) by a subscriber of a communications network (KN), plus a service unit (SERV_IN) of this communications network and a service provider unit (SERVU) which furnishes the internet service (SERV). The subscriber accesses the internet service (SERV) by means of a terminal (TE) of the communications network. Establishing a communication connection between the terminal (TE) and the internet (INT) triggers the service unit (SERV_IN) of the communications network (KN). When the internet service (SERV) is accessed via this communication connection, an additional control connection (KOMM) is established between the internet service (SERV) and the service unit (SERV_IN). Fee charging data which identify the fees for the use of the internet service by the subscriber are transmitted to the service unit (SERV_IN) of the communications network (KN) via the control connection (KOMM), and the service unit (SERV_IN) of the communications network (KN) then controls the charging of the fees in the communications network (KN).
A method of charging a subscriber of a communications network (KN) for the use of an internet service (SERV), which he accesses by means of a terminal (TE) of the communications network, characterized in that a service unit (SERV_IN) of the communications network (KN) is triggered when a communication connection (COM) is established between the terminal (TE) and the internet (INT), that when the internet service (SERV) is accessed via this communication connection (COM), a control connection (KOMM) is additionally established between the internet service (SERV) and the service unit (SERV_IN) of the communications network, that fee charging data (CHARG), which identify the fees for the use of the internet service by the subscriber, are transmitted via the control connection (KOMM) to the service unit (SERV_IN) of the communications network, and that the service unit (SERV_IN) of the communications network controls the charging of the fees in the communications network (KN).
A service control unit (SCP) that is used to charge for the use of an internet service (SERV) by a subscriber of a communications network (KN), who accesses the internet service (SERV) via a communication connection (COM) of the communications network between the terminal (TE) and the internet (INT), characterized in that the service control unit (SCP) is equipped with a communication unit (GTW) for establishing a control connection (KOMM) between the internet service (SERV) and the service control unit (SCP), and with a service logic (SL) which is designed so that it can be triggered when the communication connection (COM) is established between the terminal (TE) and the internet (INT), that it receives fee charging data (CHARG), which identify the fees for use of the internet service (SERV) by a subscriber, via the control connection (KOMM), and that it controls the charging of the fees in the communications network (KN).
A service provider unit (SERVU) to furnish a chargeable internet service (SERV) for a subscriber of a communications network (KN) who accesses the internet service (SERV) by means of a terminal (TE) of the communications network (KN), characterized in that the service provider unit (SERVU) is equipped with a communication unit (KOMU) for communicating with a service unit (SERV_IN) of the communications network (KN), and with a fee charging unit (CH_CONTR) which is designed so that, when the internet service (SERV) is accessed via a communication connection (COM) in the communications network (KN) between the terminal (TE) and the internet (INT), it additionally establishes a control connection (KOMM) to the service unit (SERV_IN) of the communications network (KN), and controls the transmission of fee charging data (CHARG), which identify the fees for the use of the internet service (SERV) by the accessing subscriber, to the service unit (SERV_IN) of the communications network (KN) via the control connection (KOMM).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.