Method and apparatus for billing telecommunications services
AssigneeAT&T Mobility II LLC
InventorCherif Keramane
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for billing wireless telecommunications services based upon density parameters includes determining a cell resolution for a subscriber during a billing period, associating the cell resolution with the subscriber, translating the cell resolution into a set of cells that approximate to of a density map, determining a rating structure for the set, calculating a rating for service rendered to the subscriber based upon the set and the rating structure, and generating a bill reflecting the rating. An apparatus for implementing the above method is also taught.
Claims18
A method for billing wireless telecommunications services, the method comprising:
- at a service broker of an apparatus:
- receiving a cell resolution for a subscriber, the cell resolution being determined for a billing period by a geographic broker;
- translating the cell resolution into a set of cells that aggregate at least approximately to cells defined in a density map;
- and
- sending a request to an adaptive rating criteria engine of the apparatus, the request being for determining a rating structure for said set of cells;
- at the adaptive rating criteria engine:
- receiving the request and, in response, determining the rating structure for the set of cells;
- and
- sending the rating structure to the service broker of the apparatus;
- at the service broker of the apparatus:
- receiving the rating structure and, in response, sending the rating structure and the set of cells to a rating sub-system of a billing system that is in communication with the apparatus;
- and
- at the rating sub-system of the billing system:
- calculating a rating for service rendered to the subscriber based upon the set of cells and the rating structure;
- and
- generating a bill reflecting the rating;
- wherein the rating structure is an equation comprising a base rating and at least one density parameter used to determine the rating, the density parameter being derived from the density map.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:
- receiving a cell resolution for a subscriber, the cell resolution being determined for a billing period by a geographic broker;
- translating the cell resolution into a set of cells that aggregate at least approximately to cells defined in a density map;
- determining a rating structure for said set of cells;
- sending the set of cells and the rating structure to a rating sub-system of a billing system that is in communication with the apparatus so that the billing system can calculate a rating for service rendered to the subscriber based upon the set of cells and the rating structure, and generate a bill reflecting the rating;
- wherein the rating structure is an equation comprising a base rating and at least one density parameter used to determine the rating, the density parameter being derived from the density map.
An apparatus for determining rating structures for a subscriber in a wireless telecommunications network, the apparatus comprising:
- a service broker;
- and
- an adaptive rating criteria engine;
- the service broker being configured to:
- receive a cell resolution for a subscriber, the cell resolution being determined for a billing period by a geographic broker;
- translate the cell resolution into a set of cells that aggregate at least approximately to cells defined in a density map;
- and
- send a request to the adaptive rating criteria engine, the request being for determining a rating structure for the set of cells;
- the adaptive rating criteria engine being configured to:
- receive the request and, in response, determine the rating structure for the set of cells;
- and
- send the rating structure to the service broker;
- the service broker being further configured to:
- receive the rating structure and, in response, send the rating structure and the set of cells to a rating sub-system of a billing system that is in communication with the apparatus so that the billing system can calculate a rating for service rendered to the subscriber based upon the set of cells and the rating structure, and generate a bill reflecting the rating;
- wherein the rating structure is an equation comprising a base rating and at least one density parameter used to determine the rating, the density parameter being derived from the density map.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.