Method and system for billing over a wireless application protocol gateway

• US 20020029197A1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Published: 03/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kari Kailamaki, Matti Suomalainen, Sanjay Khurana
• Original Assignee: Kari Kailamaki, Matti Suomalainen, Sanjay Khurana
• Inventors: Kailamaki, Kari, Suomalainen, Matti, Khurana, Sanjay
• Application Number:
  US09/860,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20020029197A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/53 using mediation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7652 shared by users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0172 Mediation, i.e. device or program to reformat CDRS from one or more switches in order to adapt to one or more billing programs formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7245 Shared by users, e.g. group accounts or one account for different users

Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for implementing the billing features of a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Gateway. The system provides for billing on multiple plans that can vary the method of billing, the time of payment, the entity responsible for payment, and the price of various services offered. In addition, the system allows for billing of individuals or groups of individuals on a uniform billing plan. The Gateway collects billing data in an information database from which data can be transferred to a separate billing system in a standard format. Because the billing data output from the information database is in the same format as all common telephone billing systems, billing for services used through the Gateway is very convenient. The billing system also provides for identification of individual users based upon a bearer address (e.g. MSISDN, telephone number, or IP address) for authorization and billing purposes. Billing can be implemented solely by the WAP Gateway billing system or in conjunction with other entities, such as an Internet service provider.

Claims