Customer billing in a communications network
OwnerTimothy Robertsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a packet communications network, e.g. a third generation wireless network, combined billing of a user is provided for the delivery of communications services to that user and for the on-line purchase of goods and services by the user via the communications network. A set of rules is provided and a respective billing tariff and account is determined from the rules and each packet address. Credit transfers are made between user accounts and the accounts of goods/services supplies held in a common database.
Claims20
A method of billing a communications network user for goods or services associated with the transport of packet traffic from that communications network into a packet communications network, each packet having an address, wherein the method comprises;
- providing a set of rules, and determining from said rules and each packet address, a respective billing tariff and account for that packet.
A method of on-line shopping in which the cost of goods or services purchased by a customer are debited to that customer's pre-paid or postpaid account with a network operator, and a corresponding credit is applied to an account held by the provider of those goods or services.
A method of providing combined billing of a communications packet network user for the delivery of communications services to that user and for the on-line purchase of goods and services by the user via the communications network, wherein the method comprises;
- providing a set of rules, and determining from said rules and each packet address, a respective billing tariff and account for that packet.
Apparatus for billing a communications network user for goods or services associated with the transport of packet traffic from that communications network into a packet communications network, the apparatus comprising:
- means for providing each packet with an address, a store having a set of rules, and a packet analyzer for determining from said rules and each packet address, a respective billing tariff and account for that packet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.