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US 6,307,924 B1Granted
Method of charging for services, network node, and gateway node
AssigneeAlcatel
InventorMarc Rosenberg
Life of this patent
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AssigneeAlcatel
InventorMarc Rosenberg
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to a method of charging for services in a communications system consisting of two or more communications networks (KN1, KN2, KN3) of different network operators, and to network nodes (N3 to N5) and gateway nodes (GN1 to GN4) for such a communications network. For a connection whose establishment was initiated by a subscriber (A) of a first communications network (KN1) of the communications system, one or more services are provided by network nodes (N3 to N5) of a second communications network (KN2; KN3). Each of the network nodes (N3 to N5) of the second communications network (KN2) which provide services for the connection determines a charge (Waaa to Wccc) assigned to the service. Charges (Waaa to Wccc) to be made in the first communications network (KN1) are signaled by network nodes (N3 to N5) of the second communications network to a first gateway node (GN2) of the second communications network which is assigned to the connection in the direction of the first communications network (KN1). The first gateway node (GN2) signals the charges signaled to it (Weee) onward to the first communications network (KN1).
A method of charging for services in a communications system (IS) consisting of two or more communications networks (KN1 to KN4) of different network operators (OP1 to OP4), wherein for a connection whose establishment was initiated by a subscriber (A) of a first communications network (KN1) of the communications system, one or more services are provided by network nodes (N3 to N5;
A network node (N3) for connection to a second communications network (KN2) in a communications system (KS) consisting of two or more communications networks (KN1 to KN4) of different network operators (OP1 to OP4) characterized in that the network node (N3) comprises a first control unit (CAL) which is so designed that, if the network node provides a service for a connection whose establishment was initiated by a subscriber (A) of a first communications network (KN1) of the communications system (KS), it determines a charge (W) assigned to the service provided, and that the network node (N3) further comprises a second control unit (SIG1) which is designed to signal charges (W) to a gateway node (GN2) of the second communications network (KN2) which is assigned to the connection in the direction of the first communications network (KN1) and which signals (Weee) the charges signaled to it onward to the first communications network (KN1).
A gateway node (GN2) for connection to a second communications network (KN2) in a communications system (KS) consisting of two or more communications networks (KN1 to KN4) of different network operators (OP1 to OP4), characterized in that the gateway node (GN2) comprises a first control unit (REC) which is designed to receive from network nodes (N3, N4, N5, GN3) of the second communications network (KN2) charge data (Waaa to Wddd) relating to the provision of services for a connection whose establishment was initiated by a subscriber (A) of a first communications network (KN1) of the communications system (KS), and that the gateway node (GN2) further comprises a second control unit (SIG2) which is designed to signal (Weee) the charge data (Waaa to Wddd) received from the gateway nodes onward to the first communications network (KN1).
A gateway node (GN1) for connection to a second communications network (KN1) in a communications system (KS) consisting of two or more communications networks (KN1 to KN4) of different network operators (OP1 to OP4), characterized in that the gateway node (GN1) comprises a first control unit (REC′) which is designed to receive charge data (Weee) relating to the provision of services for a connection initiated by a subscriber (A) of the first communications network (KN1) from a gateway node (KN2) of a subsequent, third communications network (KN2), the two gateway nodes (GN1, GN2) providing a gateway (GATE1) to a first communications network (KN1) of the communications system (KS), and that the gateway node (GN1) further comprises a second control unit (SIG3) which is designed to signal the received charge data (Weee) to an access node (AN) of the subscriber (A) if the second communications network (KN1) is the first communications network (KN1), and otherwise to signal the received charge data to a connectionwise preceding gateway node of the second communications network which, together with a gateway node of a fourth communications network of the communications system, provides a gateway to the first communications network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.