Transaction based packet switched data service on a wireless network

• US 20020178118A1
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bytemobile Network Services Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bytemobile Network Services Corporation
• Inventors: Hamilton, Thomas E., Cavenett, Simon
• Application Number:
  US10/066,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20020178118A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/145 trading network capacity or selecting route based on tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/84 Types of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/844 Message, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/846 optical, e.g. icon

Abstract

A method of providing transaction-based packet switched data services on a wireless network is presented. A method of managing a wireless network includes receiving a user request for a packet switched data service, determining a provider for the service according to stored policies, and determining a billing arrangement for the service according to the stored policies.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

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

determining a provider for the service according to stored policies; and

determining a billing arrangement for the service according to the stored policies.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the stored polices include how the user is to be billed and a basis for the billing.

3. The method of claim 2 in which the stored polices include policy decisions that are entrusted to the provider.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the stored polices include pre-arrangements between an operator of the network and the provider.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to a user'"'"'s time of connection.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to a user'"'"'s location.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to a time of day.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to a user class.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to a service class.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to network conditions.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the user is authorized to use the service.

12. The method of claim 11 in which determining comprises:

checking a user account for payment history.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

billing the user upon completion of a user session; and

reconciling billing between a network operator and the provider.

14. The method of claim 13 in which the user session includes multiple transaction sessions.

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

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

17. The method of claim 16 in which the GSM network is General Packet Radio System (GPRS) enabled.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

28. The method of claim 27 in which the stored polices include how the user is to be billed and a basis for the billing.

29. The method of claim 28 in which the stored polices include policy decisions that are entrusted to the provider.

30. The method of claim 27 in which the stored polices include pre-arrangements between an operator of the network and the provider.

31. The method of claim 27 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to a user'"'"'s time of connection.

32. The method of claim 27 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to a user'"'"'s location.

33. The method of claim 27 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to a time of day.

34. The method of claim 27 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to a user class.

35. The method of claim 27 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to a service class.

36. The method of claim 27 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to network conditions.

37. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

determining whether the user is authorized to use the service.

38. The method of claim 37 in which determining comprises:

checking a user account for payment history.

39. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

billing the user upon completion of a user session; and

reconciling billing between a network operator and the provider.

40. The method of claim 39 in which the user session includes multiple transaction sessions.

27. A method of managing a General Packet Radio System (GPRS) enabled Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) network comprising:

receiving a user request for a packet switched data service;

determining a provider for the service according to stored policies; and

determining a billing arrangement for the service according to the stored policies.

41. 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;

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

processing the single composite CDR stream in a billing system.

42. The method of claim 41 in which collecting further comprises:

collecting CDRs from a GPRS support node.

43. The method of claim 41 in which processing the CDRs further comprises:

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

44. The method of claim 41 in which the single composite CDR stream represents a user session.

45. The method of claim 44 in which the user session includes a plurality of individual purchase sessions.

46. The method of claim 41 in which processing the single composite CDR stream comprises:

checking for records duplication;

correlating information; and

validating.

48. The method of claim 47 in which the request is from a user.

49. The method of claim 48 in which selecting further comprises:

authenticating access for the user to the service provider.

50. The method of claim 49 in which selecting further comprises:

determining whether the request is for the selected service provider.

51. The method of claim 50 in which selecting further comprises:

determining authorization for the user to the selected service.

52. The method of claim 48 metering comprises:

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

53. The method of claim 47 in which an appropriate party is a network provider.

54. The method of claim 47 in which an appropriate party is the user.

55. The method of claim 47 in which an appropriate party is the selected service provider.

56. The method of claim 47 in which the appropriate parties are the user, a network provider and the selected service provider.

47. A method of providing a sponsored packet switch 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;

generating billing information from the metering; and

allocating the billing information to appropriate parties.