US 2003/0120499 A1 · Content-based billing service for wireless prepaid subscribers

Abstract

A method of allowing content-based billing to a prepaid subscriber or subscribers is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the invention, the content-based billing is achieved by forwarding volume limit threshold data normally used by the Serving GPRS support node to the Gateway GPRS support node, which according to the prior art, counted all data bits at the same rate. According to this embodiment, by forwarding the volume limit threshold data to the GGSN, a modified data count is accumulated since billable data is monitored and accumulates, whereas free data does not accumulate. This modified data count is then provided from the gateway GPRS support node to the Serving GPRS support node, which then transmits the accumulated data count to the SCP.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of providing content-based billing to a prepaid subscriber comprising the steps of:

initiating information exchange between a first Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN) and Server Control Point (SCP) regarding said prepaid subscriber;
providing volume limit threshold data to the first SGSN;
forwarding said volume limit threshold data to a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN)
accumulating a billable data count relating to a profile of a prepaid subscriber;
transmitting said accumulated data count to said first SGSN if said accumulated data count reaches said volume limit threshold;
and
providing said accumulated data count to said SCP.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/027,777Filed 26 Dec 2001

Published

26 Jun 2003

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification20 codes

H04W 4/24
Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor: accounting or billing
G06Q 20/102
Specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems: bill distribution or payments
G06Q 30/04
Commerce: billing or invoicing
H04L 12/14
Details: charging, metering or billing arrangements specially adapted for data communications, e.g. authentication, authorisation and accounting…

Content-based billing service for wireless prepaid subscribers

Life of this patent

Content-based billing service for wireless prepaid subscribers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20