Load based charging within a mobile telecommunications network
AssigneeEricsson Inc.
InventorsVladimir Alperovich, Ranjit Bhatia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A channel resource utilization level associated with a particular cell area is continuously evaluated against a predefined threshold value. The imposed threshold value indicates the minimum level of channel resource utilization desired by the serving mobile telecommunications network. In response to a determination from the evaluation that a particular cell area is being under-utilized, a message indicating that a reduced air-time rate is being offered is broadcast to all mobile stations currently traveling within the affected cell area.
Claims23
A method for providing a variable charging rate towards mobile stations traveling within a mobile telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of:
- in the network:
- monitoring a traffic load associated with a particular geographic area;
- determining whether said monitored traffic load is less than a predetermined threshold level associated with said geographic area;
- and
- broadcasting to each mobile station within the geographic areas an indication that a reduced charging rate is available for calls;
- and
- in each mobile station:
- determining whether a mobile subscriber associated with the mobile station has a subscription to a flexible-charging feature;
- and
- in response to an affirmative determination, informing the associated mobile subscriber that a lower charging rate in accordance with said flexible-charging feature will be applied for subsequent call connections.
A system for optimizing the utilization of channel resources within a plurality of cell areas associated with a mobile telecommunications network, comprising:
- in the network:
- means for evaluating a channel utilization level within each of said cell areas;
- means for determining from evaluated utilization levels which one of said plurality of cell areas is currently being underutilized;
- and
- in the mobile station:
- means for determining from stored feature information whether each associated mobile subscriber has a subscription to a flexible-charging feature;
- and
- means for informing each mobile subscriber having a subscription to the flexible-charging feature and traveling within said underutilized cell area that a reduced charging rate is being applied.
A system for optimizing the utilization of channel resources within a plurality of cell areas associated within a mobile telecommunications network, said mobile telecommunications network serving a plurality of mobile stations, comprising:
- a plurality of base transceiver stations (BTSs), each serving a particular one of said plurality of cell areas;
- a plurality of channels associated with each of said plurality of BTSs;
- and
- a mobile switching center (MSC) connected to said plurality of BTSs, said MSC further comprising:
- an application module for ascertaining which one of said plurality of BTSs are under-utilizing said associated channels;
- and
- means for broadcasting an indication to mobile stations traveling within a cell area associated with said under-utilized BTS;
- and
- a mobile station receiving said indication, operable to check whether a mobile subscriber subscribes to a flexible-charging feature and if so then applying a reduced rate for calls in accordance with said flexible-charging feature.
A mobile telephone, comprising:
- means for receiving said indication at said mobile telephone that a reduced charging rate is available for subsequent calls;
- means for storing information indicating that a mobile subscriber has a subscription with a flexible-charging subscription feature wherein said flexible-charging subscriber feature for allowing a mobile subscriber the option of receiving an indication that a reduced charging rate is available for subsequent calls and allowing access to said reduced charging rate;
- means for determining whether a mobile subscriber has subscribed to said flexible-charging subscriber feature;
- and
- in response to an affirmative determination and receipt of said indication at said mobile telephone, means for providing said indication to the mobile subscriber that reduced charging rates are in effect.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.