Packet switched data service on a wireless network

• US 20020177431A1
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bytemobile Network Services Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bytemobile Network Services Corporation
• Inventors: Cavenett, Simon, Hamilton, Thomas E.
• Application Number:
  US10/061,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20020177431A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• 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 15/66 Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8011 using class of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/206 CDMA, i.e. Code Division Multiple Access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method of providing packet switched data services on a wireless network is presented. The method of providing a sponsored packet switched data service in a wireless network including receiving a request for a sponsored packet switched data service from a user, determining a sponsor for the requested service in accordance with stored policies, determining a session billing in accordance with the stored policies, establishing a session between the user and the sponsor, and billing the sponsor on completion of the session.

Claims

1. A method of providing a sponsored packet switched data service comprising:

receiving a request in a wireless network for a sponsored packet switched data service from a user;

determining a sponsor for the requested service in accordance with stored policies;

determining a session billing in accordance with the stored policies;

establishing a session between the user and the sponsor; and

billing the sponsor on completion of the session.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the stored policies includes pre-arrangements between a network provider and sponsors of packet switched data services.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the stored polices include factors.

4. The method of claim 3 in which the factors include a user identity, a user location, a time of day, a user class, a service provider class, network conditions, pre-agreement rules and/or governmental regulations.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the sponsor is a packet switched data service provider.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the sponsor is an operator of the network.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the sponsor is a third party packet switched data service.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the wireless network is a second generation wireless network.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the wireless network is a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) network.

10. The method of claim 9 in which the GSM network is General Packet Radio System (GPRS) enabled.

11. The method of claim 1 in which the wireless network is a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network.

12. The method of claim 1 in which the wireless network is a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network.

13. The method of claim 1 in which the wireless network is a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network.

14. The method of claim 1 in which the wireless network is a TETRA network.

15. The method of claim 1 in which the wireless network is a Tetrapol network.

16. The method of claim 1 in which the wireless network is a DECT network.

17. The method of claim 1 in which the wireless network is an AMPS network.

18. The method of claim 1 in which the wireless network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

19. The method of claim 1 in which the wireless network is a third generation wireless network.

20. A method of providing a sponsored packet switched data service in a General Packet Radio System (GPRS) enabled Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) network comprising:

receiving a request for a sponsored packet switched data service from a user;

determining a sponsor for the requested service in accordance with stored policies;

determining a session billing in accordance with the stored policies;

establishing a session between the user and the sponsor; and

billing the sponsor on completion of the session.

21. The method of claim 20 in which the stored policies includes pre-arrangements between a network provider and sponsors of packet switched data services.

22. The method of claim 20 in which the stored polices include factors.

23. The method of claim 22 in which the factors include a user identity, a user location, a time of day, a user class, a service provider class, network conditions, pre-agreement rules and/or governmental regulations.

24. The method of claim 20 in which the sponsor is a packet switched data service provider.

25. The method of claim 20 in which the sponsor is an operator of the network.

26. The method of claim 20 in which the sponsor is a third party packet switched data service.

28. The method of claim 27 in which collecting further comprises:

collecting CDRs from a GPRS support node.

29. The method of claim 27 in which processing further comprises:

augmenting the CDRs for packet switched data in a billing mediation node.

30. The method of claim 27 in which the single composite CDR stream represents a user session.

27. A method comprising:

in a General Packet Radio System (GPRS) enabled Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network, collecting call data records (CDRs) from a Serving GPRS support node in the network;

sending the CDRs to a charging gateway in the network; and

processing the CDRs for packet switched data into a single composite CDR stream in the charging gateway.

31. A method of providing a sponsored packet switched data service comprising:

in a GPRS enabled GSM network, receiving a request for a packet switched data service;

selecting a service provider for the packet switched data service;

connecting a session to the selected service provider;

metering the session; and

generating billing information from the metering.

32. The method of claim 31 in which the request is from a user.

33. The method of claim 32 in which selecting further comprises:

authenticating access for the user to the service provider.

34. The method of claim 33 in which selecting further comprises:

determining whether the request is for the selected service provider.

35. The method of claim 34 in which selecting further comprises:

determining authorization for the user to the selected service.

36. The method of claim 32 metering comprises:

monitoring the session between the user and the selected service provider.