Apparatus and method for billing in a wireless communication system

#This invention relates generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly to billing calls in a wireless communication system.

#A telephone concept known as "One Number" service that allows a person to be reached at any time, anywhere, by a single number to provide personal mobility is becoming quite popular. One method of providing such a one number telephone service is to classify telephone calls as residential, business, or cellular.

#In conventional wireless networks, one number service is typically offered by either using specialized infrastructure equipment at a subscriber location or by requiring a subscriber to perform some form of manual intervention. The specialized infrastructure equipment approach usually provides a personal base station at the subscriber's home and a wireless private branch exchange at the office. However, the specialized infrastructure equipment adds extra cost and complexity to the system. In addition, to support such a service, this system requires changes to the air interface used by the wireless network, forcing subscribers to purchase new subscriber mobile units.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a wireless communication system.

#FIG. 2 is a message flow diagram illustrating an example of a preferred message flow between the components of the system of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a message flow diagram illustrating another example of a preferred message flow between the components of the system of FIG. 1.

#Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a wireless communication system 10 including enhanced location finding to perform location sensitive billing is illustrated. By performing location sensitive billing the system 10 provides new services, such as one number service. In the preferred embodiment, the system 10 includes location finding equipment (LFE) 12, a transcoder (XC) 14, a home location register (HLR) 16, an operations and maintenance center (OMCR) 18, a mobile switching center (MSC) 20, a base transceiver station (BTS) 22, and an operator workstation referred to as an XYTP/GIS 24. The HLR 16 includes various software components such as a location function controller (LFC) 26, a location cache (LC) 28, a location sensitive billing application (LSB) 30, and an HLR application 32. The LFE 12 is a conventional mobile unit location finding system such as the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,323.

#Although the LFE 12 is shown connected to the system 10, it is contemplated that the location finding function could alternatively be disposed in the mobile unit. In this case, the BTS 22 in communication with the mobile subscriber unit would request location data from the mobile subscriber unit. There are many mobile subscriber units including location finding systems that use multilateration or other location techniques that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

#The XC 14 is preferably a Motorola transcoder, and the BTS 22 is preferably a Motorola BTS. The Motorola transcoder and BTS are available as components within a Motorola SC9600 base station. The HLR 16 is preferably a Motorola HLR such as Motorola part# CGDST16SK20041. The OMCR 18 is preferably a Motorola Operations and Maintenance Center that is provided with a standard Motorola CBSC or GSM offering. The MSC 20 is preferably a Motorola MSC found in the Motorola EMX 2500.TM. cellular system.