Charge meter system and method of compiling utilization fees

• US 20040259526A1
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rigge, Lawrence A., Goris, Norman, Scheit, Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 6,985,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1414 in real-time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1421 Indication of expected costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A charge meter system and method of compiling utilization fees associated with a data transmission in a packet switched communications network. In one embodiment, the charge meter system includes a counter that counts a number of data packets associated with the data transmission and a charge rate subsystem that obtains a charge rate associated with the data transmission. The charge meter system also includes a calculation subsystem that calculates utilization fees based on the number of data packets and the charge rate of the data transmission. The charge meter system further includes an indication subsystem that provides the utilization fees to a user via user equipment participating in the data transmission.

Claims

1. A charge meter system adapted to calculate utilization fees associated with a data transmission in a packet switched communications network, comprising:

a counter configured to count a number of data packets associated with said data transmission;

a charge rate subsystem configured to obtain a charge rate associated with said data transmission; and

a calculation subsystem configured to calculate utilization fees based on said number of data packets and said charge rate of said data transmission.

2. The charge meter system as recited in claim 1 further comprising an indication subsystem configured to provide said utilization fees to a user via user equipment participating in said data transmission.

3. The charge meter system as recited in claim 1 wherein said counter is configured to count said number of data packets prior to said data transmission.

4. The charge meter system as recited in claim 1 wherein said charge rate subsystem is configured to automatically download said charge rate from said packet switched communications network.

5. The charge meter system as recited in claim 1 wherein said charge meter system is adapted to calculate utilization fees associated with a plurality of data transmissions in said packet switched communications network and said calculation subsystem is configured to calculate said utilization fees based on at least two of said data transmissions.

6. The charge meter system as recited in claim 1 wherein said packet switched communications network includes a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) communications network.

7. The charge meter system as recited in claim 1 wherein said charge meter system is embodied at least in part in one of:

a switching node associated with said packet switched communications network,

a base station associated with said packet switched communications network, and

user equipment associated with said packet switched communications network.

8. A method of compiling utilization fees associated with a data transmission in a packet switched communications network, comprising:

counting a number of data packets associated with said data transmission;

obtaining a charge rate for said data packets of said data transmission; and

calculating utilization fees based on said number of data packets and said charge rate.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising providing said utilization fees to a user via user equipment participating in said data transmission.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said counting of said number of data packets is performed prior to said data transmission.

11. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said charge rate is automatically downloaded from said packet switched communications network.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said method compiles utilization fees associated with a plurality of data transmissions in said packet switched communications network and said utilization fees are calculated based on at least two of said data transmissions.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said packet switched communications network includes a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) communications network.

14. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said method is performed at least in part in one of:

a switching node associated with said packet switched communications network,

a base station associated with said packet switched communications network, and

user equipment associated with said packet switched communications network.

15. User equipment associated with a data transmission in a packet switched communications network, comprising:

a transmit/receiver unit configured to transmit data packets associated with said data transmission; and

a charge meter system, including;

a counter configured to count a number of data packets associated with said data transmission,

a charge rate subsystem configured to obtain at least one charge rate associated with said data transmission, and

a calculation subsystem configured to calculate utilization fees based on said number of data packets and said charge rate.

16. The user equipment as recited in claim 15 wherein said charge meter system further comprises an indication subsystem configured to provide said utilization fees to a user of said user equipment.

17. The user equipment as recited in claim 15 wherein said counter is configured to count said number of data packets prior to said data transmission.

18. The user equipment as recited in claim 15 wherein said charge rate subsystem is configured to receive said charge rate via one of a keypad, touch screen and speech activated input device incorporated into said user equipment.

19. The user equipment as recited in claim 15 wherein said charge meter system is adapted to calculate utilization fees associated with a plurality of data transmissions in said packet switched communications network and said calculation subsystem is configured to calculate said utilization fees based on at least two of said data transmissions.

20. The user equipment as recited in claim 15 wherein said user equipment is a mobile station associated with said packet switched communications network.