Cost control in a SIP based network
OwnerTimo Aijalainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of controlling costs associated with a Voice Over IP connection by including in a call connection set-up message sent over an IP network a maximum charge parameter and, when the connection is required to break out of the IP network into a telecommunication network, comparing the maximum charge parameter contained in the set-up message with a charge parameter associated with the break out part of the connection, and making a decision on completing the break out part of the connection based on the result of the comparison.
Claims19
A method of controlling costs associated with a Voice Over IP connection, the method comprising:
- including in a call connection set-up message sent over an IP network a maximum charge parameter;
- when the connection is required to break out of the IP network into a telecommunication network, comparing the maximum charge parameter contained in the set-up message with a charge parameter associated with the break out part of the connection;
- and
- making a decision on completing the break out part of the connection based on the result of the comparison.
A Media Gateway Controller (MGC) for controlling a Media Gateway (MG), the MGC and the MG operating respectively at the call control and bearer control levels of a communications system and being coupled between an IP network and a telecommunication network, the MGC comprising:
- means for receiving a VOIP connection set-up message from said IP network;
- means for comparing a maximum charge parameter contained in the set-up message with a charge parameter associated with a break out of the connection into the telecommunication network;
- and
- means for breaking out the connection based upon a result of the comparison.
A method of controlling the cost of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) call, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a call set-up message from an IP network, said call set-up message containing a maximum charge tariff for a part of the call carried on a telecommunication network;
- determining a charge tariff associated with the part of the call carried on the telecommunication network;
- comparing the charge tariff to the maximum charge tariff;
- and
- establishing a circuit switched connection to the called party if the charge tariff is less than or equal to the maximum charge tariff.
A system for controlling a cost associated with a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) connection, said system comprising:
- a calling party network configured to send a call connection set-up message over an Internet Protocol (IP) network;
- and
- a media gateway controller configured to receive the call connection set-up message sent over the IP network, determine a charge parameter of a part of a call over a telecommunications network, compare a maximum charge parameter included in the call connection set-up message to the determined charge parameter, and make a decision on completing the call based on the comparison.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.