US 8,009,816 B2 · Arranging subscriber billing in telecommunication system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a system implementing the method for arranging subscriber billing in a multi-provider environment wherein a subscriber desiring a service uses both a first network (A) and a second network (T). In order to bill the subscriber, either a tariff of the second network (T) is transmitted to the first network (A), a tariff of the first network is combined with the tariff of the second network and the subscriber is billed according to the combined tariff, or a billing identifier is generated in the first network (A) to be transmitted to the second network (T), the billing identifier is attached to billing information in both networks and the pieces of the billing information that comprise the same billing identifier are combined in order to bill the subscriber. The invention thus enables a subscriber in a multi-provider environment to be billed using a single bill.

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Claims24

Dependent claims

A method, comprising:

receiving in a first network a connection establishment request for a connection, the connection being through a network node of the first network to a second network such that the network node routes communications to the second network;
generating, in response to at least the received connection establishment request, a connection-specific billing identifier for the connection in the first network in association with activating a packet data protocol context or in association with session initiation protocol messaging;
adding the billing identifier to the received connection establishment request;
causing, after adding the billing identifier, the received connection establishment request comprising the billing identifier to be forwarded to network nodes of the second network that collect billing information for the connection;
attaching, in each node that collects billing information, the connection-specific billing identifier to the billing information collected for the connection;
and
combining the pieces of the billing information collected by different nodes that comprise the same connection-specific billing identifier,
wherein a user terminal desiring a service uses both the first network and the second network in the telecommunication system, both networks comprising at least one node configured to collect billing information.

5 more elements

A system, comprising:

a first network and a second network configured to provide a subscriber with a service, each of the first network and the second network comprising at least one node to collect billing information,
wherein the system is configured to:
generate a connection-specific billing identifier for a connection in association with activating a packet data protocol context or in association with session initiation protocol messaging, wherein the connection-specific billing identifier is generated in the first network and in response to at least a connection establishment request received from a user terminal for a connection, wherein the connection is through a network node of the first network to the second network such that the network node routes communications to the second network,
add the billing identifier to the received connection establishment request,
cause the connection-specific billing identifier to be transmitted by causing forwarding of the received connection establishment request comprising the billing identifier to one of the at least one node of the second network that collects billing information, and
combine the pieces of billing information for the connection that comprise the same connection-specific billing identifier;
wherein the at least one node of the first network and second network that collects billing information are configured to attach the connection-specific billing identifier to the billing information for the connection.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description7,061 words

Summary1,053 words

#The invention relates to billing a subscriber in a telecommunication system, and particularly to billing a subscriber in a multi-provider environment in a mobile communication system. The mobile communication system generally refers to any telecommunication system which enables wireless communication when users move in the service area of the system. A typical mobile communication system is a public land mobile network PLMN.

#Telecommunication systems are increasingly changing over to a multi-provider environment wherein access is provided by an access operator, telephony by a telephony operator and actual services by one or more service providers. This is the case particularly in systems called third generation mobile communication systems, such as a universal mobile communications system UMTS. In the UMTS, for example, the actual mobile communication network can operate as an access network providing the user with wireless access to external networks, such as Internet protocol IP networks and the services thereof, such as IP telephony IPT. One access network usually provides access to several external networks, which can be of a similar type. There can be several telephony operators, for example, which provide the IPT service. When the access operator is not the telephony operator, both operators typically collect their billing information in their own networks and bill the subscriber separately. A service provider itself does not maintain the network but purchases a necessary network service from the network operator, which collects billing information on behalf of the service provider as if it were the network operator's own billing information. The network operator also bills the subscriber on behalf of the service provider. In other words, if the service provider purchases the network service from the access operator, the access operator is responsible for collecting the billing information on the service and for billing according to an agreed tariff. The telephony operator operates in a similar manner if the service provider should purchase the network service from the telephony operator.

#A service of the mobile communication systems becoming increasingly popular is a prepaid subscription. The prepaid subscription involves no billing in arrears but the account of the prepaid subscription is charged in real time during calls. The prepaid subscription can usually be used for chargeable calls until the credits in the subscription's account run out, in other words until the prepaid amount has been exhausted. Usually, the subscriber to the subscription, or someone else, can deposit more money in the subscription's account.

Brief description of the drawings4 figures

#The invention is now described in closer detail in connection with the preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

#FIG. 1 shows elements of a UMTS system relevant to the invention,

#FIG. 2 is a signaling diagram showing a first preferred embodiment of the invention,

Detailed description5,930 words

#The present invention can be applied to any telecommunication system wherein information necessary for billing a subscriber exists in at least two different networks. Such systems include systems called third generation mobile communication systems, such as the universal mobile telecommunications system UMTS and IS-41, and mobile communication systems similar to the GSM system, such as a GSM 1800 and systems based on the aforementioned systems, such as GSM 2+ systems. The invention can also be applied to fixed systems wherein two separate operators can operate. The invention will be described in the following using a 3GPP AII-IP system, i.e. an UMTS system based on IP technology and specified in a 3rd generation partnership project 3GPP, as an exemplary system, without restricting the invention thereto. The specifications of mobile communication systems, and those of the third generation mobile communication systems in particular, are advancing rapidly; consequently, the invention may require additional changes. All words and expressions should therefore be interpreted broadly since they are only intended to illustrate, not to restrict, the invention. The essential point for the invention is the function, not the network node in which the function is located.

#FIG. 1 shows a simplified network architecture, describing only some of the elements of a system architecture. The network nodes illustrated in FIG. 1 are logical units, the implementation of which may differ from the described one. It is obvious to one skilled in the art that the system may also comprise other functions and structures which need not be described in closer detail here. In FIG. 1, the broken lines between network nodes denote signaling connections while the unbroken lines denote signaling and data transmission links.

#In a 3GPP AII-IP system 1, an access layer A and a telephony layer T will be separated, and both can have operators of their own. The system 1 comprises at least one of the both layers. Within the scope of the present invention, an access layer corresponds to an access network of an access operator and a telephony layer corresponds to a telephone network of a telephony operator. Usually, when not roaming, a subscriber always uses the same access operator while he or she may select the telephony operator to be used. As far as the invention is concerned, the structure of the access layer and the telephony layer is irrelevant. The 3GPP AII-IP system is based on a GPRS service of the pan-European global system for mobile communications GSM system and an intelligent network service implementation according to a customised applications for mobile network enhanced logic CAMEL architecture. The GPRS and the CAMEL are GSM 2+ phase services.

Facts

Application

10/296,477Filed 23 May 2001

Priority

FI 2000125825 May 2000

Published

US 2003/0165222 A14 Sep 2003

Granted

30 Aug 2011

Term ended

20 Jun 2022

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 393 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification9 codes

H04W 4/24
Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor: accounting or billing
H04M 15/00
Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication
H04M 15/49
Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless…:…
H04M 17/00
Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems

Timeline

25 May 2000Priority claimedFI 20001258
23 May 2001Application filedUS 10/296,477
8 Apr 2003Assigned to Nokia Corporationassignment of assignor's interest
4 Sep 2003PublishedUS 2003/0165222 A1
30 Aug 2011GrantedUS 8,009,816 B2
11 May 2015Assigned to Nokia Technologies Oyassignment of assignor's interest
20 Jun 2022Term endedEstimated, includes 393 days of adjustment

Arranging subscriber billing in telecommunication system

Life of this patent

Arranging subscriber billing in telecommunication system

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims24

Description7,061 words

Drawings

Classification9 codes

Life of this patent

Description7,061 words