Method and device for subdividing data service charges in a network

• US 20060052083A1
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KT Corporation
• Original Assignee: KT Corporation
• Inventors: Kim, Sung-Chul, Choi, Woo-Hyung, Oh, Mi-Na, Jin, Sung-Il
• Granted Patent: US 7,583,953 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: 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2046 Hybrid network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A device and a method of subdividing data service charge in mobile communication network is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a billing initiation request signal from a wireless data service device (either an interworking function (IWF) unit or a packet data serving node (PDSN)), producing a usage-amount data for the subscriber based on at least one of the type and amount of data being transmitted through the wireless data service device on the mobile communication network. The method also includes, responsive to a billing end request signal, received from the wireless data service device, transferring a billing request signal, requesting to bill the subscriber for the usage-amount data, to an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) unit. In one embodiment, the above method can apply to a graduated billing for the each service group in the mobile communication network.

Claims

1. A method of billing a prepaid subscriber for a wireless data service usagein a mobile communication network, said method comprising:

receiving a billing initiation request signal from a wireless data service device, wherein the wireless data service device is one of the following;

an interworking function (IWF) unit and a packet data serving node (PDSN);

responsive to the received billing initiation request signal, producing a usage-amount data for the subscriber based on at least one of the type and amount of data being transmitted through the wireless data service device; and

responsive to a billing end request signal received from the wireless data service device, transferring a billing request signal, indicative of a request to bill the subscriber for the usage-amount data to an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) unit.

2. The method as stated in claim 1, further comprising:

(a) transferring the usage-amount data to a data service control point (DSCP);

(b) receiving a balance remaining data, indicating a remaining balance for the prepaid subscriber, from the DSCP;

(c) periodically repeating (a) and (b) until receiving either the billing end request signal or a balance exhaustion data, indicating that no balance for the prepaid subscriber remains, from the DSCP; and

(d) in response to the balance exhaustion data, transferring a service restriction request signal to the wireless data service device which subsequently restricts the subscriber to use the wireless data service.

3. The method as stated in claim 2, wherein if the wireless data service device is the IWF unit, said method further comprises:

transferring a subscriber information request signal to the DSCP; and

receiving a subscriber detail information from the DSCP.

4. The method as stated in claim 1, wherein the data is a data traffic that is duplicated and transferred to a dedicated accounting device by a data traffic transferring device, being in data communication with the wireless data service device and an IP network

5. A method of billing a prepaid subscriber for a wireless data service usagein a mobile communication network, said method comprising:

receiving, at a packet data serving node (PDSN), a call originating signal from a subscriber terminal;

transferring, based on the call originating signal, an authentication request signal for the subscriber to an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) unit;

establishing a call connection with the subscriber terminal, upon authentication by the AAA unit, and transferring a billing initiation request signal to a dedicated accounting device;

in response to the billing initiation request signal, producing, at the dedicated accounting device, a usage-amount data for the subscriber based on at least one of the type and amount of data being transmitted through the PDSN;

receiving, at the PDSN, a call end request signal from the subscriber terminal;

transferring a billing end request signal to the dedicated accounting device based on the call end request signal;

in response to the billing end request signal, transferring a billing request signal, indicative of a request to bill the subscriber for the usage-amount data, to the AAA unit; and

in response to the billing request signal, transferring a billing file to a billing management device.

6. The method as stated in claim 5, further comprising:

(a) transferring a subscriber information request signal from the AAA unit to a data service control point (DSCP) and receiving a subscriber detail data as a response from the DSCP;

(b) transferring the usage-amount data from the dedicated accounting device to the DSCP;

(c) receiving a balance remaining data, indicating a remaining balance for the prepaid subscriber, from the DSCP;

(d) repeating (b) and (c) until receiving either the billing end request signal or a balance exhaustion data, indicating that no balance for the prepaid subscriber remains, from the DSCP; and

(e) in response to the balance exhaustion data, transferring a service restriction request signal to the PDSN which subsequently restricts the subscriber to use the wireless data service.

7. A method of billing a prepaid subscriber for a wireless data service usagein a mobile communication network, said method comprising:

receiving, at an interworking function (IWF) unit, a call originating signal from a subscriber terminal;

establishing, based on the call originating signal, a call connection with the subscriber terminal and transferring a billing initiation request signal to a dedicated accounting device;

in response to the billing initiation request signal, producing, at the dedicated accounting device, a usage-amount data for the subscriber based on at least one of the type and amount of data being transmitted through the IWF unit;

receiving, at the IWF unit, a call end request signal from the subscriber terminal;

in response to the call end request signal, transferring a billing end request signal to the dedicated accounting device;

in response to the billing end request signal, transferring a billing request signal, indicative of a request to bill the subscriber, for the usage-amount data, to an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) unit; and

transferring, based on the billing request signal, a billing file to a billing management device.

8. The billing method as stated in claim 7, further comprising:

(a) transferring a subscriber information request from the dedicated accounting device to the DSCP and receiving a subscriber detail data as a response from the DSCP;

(b) transferring the usage-amount data from the dedicated accounting device to the DSCP;

(c) receiving a balance remaining data, indicating a remaining balance for the prepaid subscriber, from the DSCP;

(d) periodically repeating (b) and (c) until receiving either the billing end request signal or a balance exhaustion data, indicating that no balance for the prepaid subscriber remains, from the DSCP; and

(e) transferring, based on the balance exhaustion data, a service restriction request signal to the IWF unit which subsequently restricts the subscriber to use the wireless data service.

9. A dedicated accounting device for billing a prepaid subscriber for a wireless data service usagein a mobile communication network, comprising:

an Internet protocol accounting filter (IPAF) configured to produce a usage-amount data for the prepaid subscriber based on at least one of the type and amount of data transmitted to or from a terminal of the prepaid subscriber on the mobile communication network; and

an Internet protocol accounting manager (IPAM), in data communication with said IPAF, a packet data serving node (PDSN), an interworking function (IWF) unit, a data service control point (DSCP), and an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) unit, the IPAM being configured to i) manage said IPAF to produce the usage-amount data, ii) transfer the usage-amount data to said DSCP, iii) receive either a balance remaining data, indicating a remaining balance for the prepaid subscriber, or a balance exhaustion message, indicating that no balance for the prepaid subscriber remains, and iv) transfer the balance remaining data to said AAA unit, in response to a billing end request signal, received from one of said PDSN and said IWF unit, or the balance exhaustion message, received from said DSCP.

10. The dedicated accounting device as stated in claim 9, further comprising:

a first data traffic transferring device configured to duplicate a data traffic between said PDSN or said IWF unit and an application server and transfer said duplicated data traffic to said. IPAF; and

a second data traffic transferring device configured to duplicate a data traffic between said PDSN or said IWF unit and an application server and transfer said duplicated data traffic to a data traffic analysis system (DTAS).

11. The dedicated accounting device as stated in claim 9, wherein said IPAF periodically transfers the usage-amount data to said IPAM,

wherein said IPAM transfers the periodically-transferred usage-amount data to the DSCP and receives the balance remaining data,

wherein said IPAM sums at least one balance remaining data and transfers the summed amount to the AAA unit in response to the billing end request signal or the balance exhaustion message.

12. A computer-readable medium including a program containing computer-executable instructions for performing the method for billing a prepaid subscriber for a wireless data service usagein a mobile communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a billing initiation request signal from a wireless data service device, wherein the wireless data service device is either an interworking function (IWF) unit or a packet data serving node (PDSN);

responsive to the received billing initiation request signal, producing a usage-amount data for the subscriber based on at least one of the type and amount of data being transmitted through the wireless data service device; and

responsive to a billing end request signal, received from the wireless data service device, transferring a billing request signal, indicative of a request to bill the subscriber for the usage-amount data, to an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) unit.

13. A method of billing a subscriber for a wireless data service usage in a mobile communication network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a communication node, a call originating signal from a subscriber terminal;

establishing, based on the call originating signal, a call connection with the subscriber terminal;

providing a wireless data service to the subscriber terminal, wherein the subscriber has prepaid for at least a portion of the wireless data service; and

while the wireless data service is being provided, generating a usage-amount data for the subscriber based on at least one of the type and amount of data, being transmitted through the communication node.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

reducing the prepaid amount for the wireless data service based on the usage-amount data.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether or not to discontinue providing the wireless data service to the subscriber terminal based on the usage-amount data and the prepaid amount.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

repeatedly checking a remaining balance of a prepaid amount for the subscriber while the wireless data service is being provided; and

automatically discontinuing providing the subscriber with the wireless data service if it is determined that no balance remains.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the communication node includes an interworking function (IWF) unit or a packet data serving node (PDSN).

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

repeatedly checking a remaining balance of a prepaid amount for the subscriber while the wireless data service is being provided;

determining whether the balance is exhausted; and

transferring a balance exhaustion message to one of the IWF unit and the PDSN, wherein the IWF unit and the PDSN are in data communication with the subscriber terminal and are configured to discontinue providing the subscriber with the wireless data service until an additional amount is prepaid.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a billing initiation request signal from one of the IWF unit and the PDSN, wherein the IWF unit and the PDSN are in data communication with the subscriber terminal,

wherein the generating is performed, responsive to the received billing initiation request signal.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a billing end request signal from one of the IWF unit and the PDSN; and

ending billing, based on the received billing end request signal, for the wireless data service.

21. A system for billing a subscriber for a wireless data service usage in a mobile communication network, the system comprising:

means for receiving, at a communication node, a call originating signal from a subscriber terminal;

means for establishing, based on the call originating signal, a call connection with the subscriber terminal;

means for providing a wireless data service to the subscriber terminal, wherein the subscriber has prepaid for at least a portion of the wireless data service; and

while the wireless data service is being provided, means for generating a usage-amount data for the subscriber based on at least one of the type and amount of data, being transmitted through the communication node.