Data transmissions in a communication system

• US 20030194997A1
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Huomo, Miikka
• Granted Patent: US 7,392,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• 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 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/14 Billing aspects relating to the actual charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method in a communication system comprising at least one access network controller entity for controlling a plurality of service areas and a core network controller entity. The access network controller entity reports to the core network controller entity movement of a user equipment from a first service area to a second service area. The report contains indication that the user equipment has moved to be served within the second service area. The report contains also information regarding the volume of data that was not communicated between the user equipment and communication means of the first service area while the user equipment was served within the first service area.

Claims

1. A method in a communication system comprising at least one access network controller entity for controlling a plurality of service areas and a core network controller entity, wherein the access network controller entity reports to the core network controller entity movement of a user equipment from a first service area to a second service area, said report containing indication that the user equipment has moved to be served within the second service area and also information regarding the volume of data that was not communicated between the user equipment and communication means of the first service area while the user equipment was served within the first service area.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information in the report regarding the volume of data that was not communicated between the user equipment and the communication means is forwarded from the core network entity to a charging function of the communication system.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a different charging scheme is used for data transmission to and/or from the user equipment within the first service area to that of the second service area, the charging of the data transmissions being adjusted based on said report.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information about the volume of unsent data is used in optimisation of data communication resources.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information about the volume of unsent data is used in monitoring of used data communication resources.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access network controller entity determines the volume of said unsent data and generates the report including said indication of change in the service area and information regarding the volume of data that was not communicated between the user equipment and the communication means of the first service area.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the report contains information regarding one service area only.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the report comprises a location report.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access network controller entity comprises a radio network controller (RNC).

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the core network controller entity comprises a serving General Packet Radio Service support node (SGSN).

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a request per a packet data protocol context from the core network controller entity results to a report containing indication that the user equipment has changed the service area and information regarding the volume of data that was not communicated to the user equipment while the user equipment was served within the old service area each time the service area is changed during the packet data protocol context.

12. A communication system adapted for provision of data communication services for a user equipment, the communication system comprising:

an access network controller entity for controlling a plurality of service areas; and

a core network controller entity, wherein the access network controller entity reports to the core network controller entity movement of the user equipment from a first service area to a second service area, said report containing indication that the user equipment has moved to be served within the second service area and also information regarding the volume of data that was not communicated to the user equipment while the user equipment was served within the first service area.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said information regarding the volume of unsent data is provided for a charging function of the communication system.