US 6,553,217 B1 · Mobile communication system for call charging and corresponding mobile station

Abstract

One or more preferred call numbers are defined and managed for mobile subscribers. A destination number dialed with the call is compared to the preferred call numbers for the mobile subscriber. When the destination call number is identical to a preferred call number, the call charges are determined by a charging device in the mobile network in a different manner than the usual charge. The storing of the preferred call numbers can occur at the mobile station side in a mobile station or at the network side. Based on the subscriber-specific stipulation of preferred call numbers, mobile subscribers have the ability to select and define specific call destinations which are charged differently than other calls, for instance according to a more favorable fee schedule. This increases the flexibility of the mobile subscribers and network operators with respect to the scheduling of calling rates.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A mobile communication system for charging calls that can be sent and received by mobile stations of mobile subscribers in a mobile radio network with a cellular network structure based on radio cells having a mobile station side and a network side, comprising:

radio equipment configured for sending and receiving at least one of signaling and payload information to and from the mobile stations;
switching equipment configured for switching at least one of signaling and payload connections between the network side and the mobile stations;
storage equipment for storing subscriber data of the mobile subscriber;
and
a charging device for recording call-related data records and calculating the respective call charge dependent on the data records;
wherein one or more preferred call numbers are respectively defined and managed for each of the mobile subscribers;
and
an item of control information is allocated to a destination call number that is dialed with a call in order to denote that the destination call number is a preferred call number, the destination call number is compared to the one or more preferred call numbers defined for the mobile subscriber, and when the destination call number is identical to a preferred call number, call charges are determined by the charging device in a prescribed manner different from normal call charges.

5 more elements

A mobile station for sending and receiving calls of mobile subscribers in a mobile radio network having a cellular structure that is based on radio cells, the radio network comprised of radio equipment for sending and receiving at least one of signaling and payload information to and from the mobile station, switching equipment configured for switching at least one of signaling and payload connections between the network side and the mobile stations, storage equipment for storing subscriber data of the mobile subscriber;

and a charging device for recording call-related data records and calculating the respective call charge dependent on the data records, the mobile station comprising:
a control and management unit configured for respectively defining and managing one or more preferred call numbers for each of the mobile subscribers;
a comparison unit configured for comparing a destination call number that is dialed with a particular call to the preferred call numbers, the destination call number having an item of control information allocated thereto to denote that the destination call number is a preferred call number;
and
a receiving/transmitting unit that is configured to signal the item of control information marking the presence of a preferred call number to the mobile radio network together with the destination call number when the destination call number is identical to preferred call number;
wherein call charges within the mobile radio network are calculated by the charging device in a prescribed manner different from normal call charges.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mobile communication system for call charging and corresponding mobile station

Life of this patent

Mobile communication system for call charging and corresponding mobile station

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23