System and method for determining tariffs for real-time calls involving ported directory numbers

• US 20040203641A1
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Hazlewood, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,043,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• 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 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• 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 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42297 with number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/28 Number portability ; Network address portability

Abstract

A system and method for determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service such as a prepaid service (PPS) for a wireless telephone call. A Local Number Portability Point (LNPP) provides an interface between service scripts in a Service Control Point (SCP) or application server, and an LNP database. When an Initial Detection Point (IDP) message is received by the service scripts, a query is sent through the LNPP to the LNP database to determine whether the call is made to or from a ported telephone number. If so, a routing number is returned. The scripts determine whether the routing number points to the network operator'"'"'s own network or another, and notify a Service Data Point (SDP). If the routing number points to the operator'"'"'s own network, the SDP applies a first tariff to the call. If the routing number points to another network, the SDP applies a second tariff.

Claims

1. A method of determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service provided for a wireless telephone call, said method comprising the steps of:

determining during call setup whether the call is made to or from a ported telephone number;

upon determining that the call is made to or from a ported telephone number, determining whether the ported telephone number points to a particular network;

rating the call with a first tariff if the ported telephone number points to the particular network; and

rating the call with a second tariff if the ported telephone number does not point to the particular network.

2. The method of determining a tariff of claim 1 wherein the step of determining whether the call is made to or from a ported telephone number includes:

receiving by real-time service scripts, a call setup message containing a called party number, said call setup message being formatted in a first signaling protocol;

sending the called party number to a protocol converter;

converting in the protocol converter, the first signaling protocol to a second signaling protocol compatible with a Local Number Portability (LNP) database;

sending a query containing the called party number from the protocol converter to the LNP database; and

receiving a query result from the LNP database, said result containing a routing number if the called party number has been ported.

3. The method of determining a tariff of claim 2 wherein the step of determining whether the ported telephone number points to a particular network includes determining by the service scripts whether the routing number points to the particular network.

4. The method of determining a tariff of claim 3 wherein the step of rating the call with a first tariff includes:

modifying a message parameter to indicate that a routing number was returned, and the routing number points to the particular network;

sending the message parameter to a Service Data Point (SDP) to rate the call with the first tariff.

5. The method of determining a tariff of claim 4 wherein the step of rating the call with a second tariff includes:

modifying the message parameter to indicate that a routing number was returned, and the routing number does not point to the particular network; and

sending the message parameter to the SDP to rate the call with the second tariff.

6. A method of determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service provided for a wireless call made to or from a ported telephone number, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving by real-time service scripts, a call setup message containing a called party number, said call setup message being formatted in a first signaling protocol;

sending the called party number to a protocol converter;

converting in the protocol converter, the first signaling protocol to a second signaling protocol compatible with a Local Number Portability (LNP) database;

sending a query containing the called party number from the protocol converter to the LNP database;

receiving a query result from the LNP database, said result containing a routing number if the called party number has been ported;

determining by the service scripts whether the routing number points to a particular network; and

rating the call with a first tariff if the routing number points to the particular network.

7. A system in a radio telecommunications network for determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service provided for a wireless telephone call, said system comprising:

means for accessing a Local Number Portability (LNP) database during call setup to determine whether the call is made to or from a ported telephone number;

means for determining whether the ported telephone number points to a particular network, in response to a determination that the call is made to or from a ported telephone number; and

means for assigning a tariff to the call in response to a determination that the call is made to or from a ported telephone number, and in response to a determination that the ported telephone number points to a particular network.

8. The system for determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service of claim 7 wherein the means for accessing the LNP database during call setup includes a protocol converter that receives a retrieve-invoke message from service scripts that implement the real-time service, and converts the retrieve-invoke message to a query message compatible with the LNP database.

9. The system for determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service of claim 8 wherein the protocol converter also receives a query result from the LNP database, and converts the query result to a retrieve-result message compatible with the service scripts that implement the real-time service.

10. The system for determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service of claim 9 wherein the retrieve-invoke message includes a called party number, and the query result includes a routing number if the called party number has been ported.

11. The system for determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service of claim 10 wherein the protocol converter is located in a Service Control Point (SCP), and the service scripts are located in the SCP.

12. The system for determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service of claim 10 wherein the protocol converter is located in a Service Control Point (SCP), and the service scripts are service logic scripts located in an application server.

13. The system for determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service of claim 10 wherein the protocol converter is located in a Service Data Point (SDP), and the service scripts are located in a Service Control Point (SCP).

14. The system for determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service of claim 10 wherein the real-time service is a prepaid service (PPS), and the means for assigning a tariff to the call is a PPS Service Data Point (SDP) that receives an indication from the service scripts of whether the call is made to or from a ported telephone number, and whether the ported telephone number points to a particular network.

15. The system for determining a tariff for a real-time wireless service of claim 14 wherein the SDP assigns a second tariff if the ported telephone number does not point to the particular network.

16. A Service Control Point (SCP) in a telecommunications network comprising:

service scripts that implement a real-time service, said scripts including;

means for receiving a call setup message containing a called party number; and

means for sending rated events to a Service Data Point (SDP) for assigning a tariff to a call; and

an interface that receives the called party number from the service scripts and sends a query message containing the called party number to a Local Number Portability (LNP) database, said interface receiving a query result from the LNP database containing a routing number if the called party number is ported, and passing the routing number to the service scripts;

wherein the means for sending rated events to the SDP sends an indication to the SDP of whether the called party number is ported-in or ported-out of a particular network.

17. The SCP of claim 16 wherein the service scripts implement a prepaid service.

18. The SCP of claim 16 wherein the interface includes a protocol converter that converts signaling messages received from the service scripts to signaling messages compatible with the LNP database.

19. Service logic for implementing a real-time service in a telecommunications network, said service logic comprising:

means for receiving a call setup message containing a called party number;

means for sending the called party number to an interface with a Local Number Portability (LNP) database, and receiving a routing number from the interface if the LNP database reports that the called party number is ported, and

means for sending rated events to a Service Data Point (SDP) for assigning a tariff to a call, said means for sending rated events notifying the SDP whether the called party number is ported-in or ported-out of a particular network, or whether the called party number is an un-ported number that belongs to the particular network.

20. The service logic for implementing a real-time service of claim 19 wherein the logic implements a prepaid service.