Method and distributed rating system for determining rating data in a charging system

• US 20060148446A1
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Karlsson, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US10/502,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20060148446A1
• 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 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• 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 15/31 Distributed metering or calculation of charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• 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 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/96 Distributed calculation of charges, e.g. in different nodes like for mobiles between HLR and VLR, or between the terminal and the billing function
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method and distributed rating system for determining rating data for services and subscribers in a communications network, wherein data associated with a service or subscriber is accessed (101), a rating request, including the accessed data is sent (103) to a distributed rating means (16, 19, 21) for distributed rating. Rating data are accessed and determined for the service or subscriber based on distributed data (19) proctected against access from central rating means (14, 17, 20) and on received service data for transmission to the central rating means (14, 17, 20). Resulting rating data are received in the central rating means (14, 17, 20) and a rating value is determined for charging a subscriber based on the received rating data.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method for determining rating data for services in a communications network, comprising the steps of:

accessing data associated with a service or a subscriber;

sending a rating request, including said accessed data, to a distributed rating means for distributed rating based on distributed rating data related to said service or subscriber;

receiving resulting rating data from said distributed rating means; and

determining a rating value for charging said subscriber based on said received rating data.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said distributed rating means is operated by a service provider, content provider, or value added service provider.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein said rating request is sent from central rating means operated by a network operator.

24. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of determining pre-rating data before the step of sending said rating request.

25. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of determining final-rating data before the step of charging said account.

26. The method according to claim 21, wherein said rating value is determined based on said pre-rating data, distributed rating data from said distributed rating means, and final-rating data.

27. A method for determining rating data for services in a communications network, comprising the steps of:

receiving data associated with a service or subscriber from central rating means; and

accessing and determining rating data for said service or subscriber based on distributed rating data related to said service or subscriber and on said received data for transmission to said central rating means.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said distributed rating data is accessed and determined by distributed rating means.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein said distributed rating means is operated by a service provider, content provider, or value added service provider.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein said central rating means is operated by a network operator.

31. A distributed rating system for determining rating data for pre-paid services in a communications network, comprising:

central rating means including a computer apparatus adapted to;

access service data associated with a service or subscriber;

send a rating request, including said accessed data, to a distributed rating means for distributed rating based on distributed rating data related to said service or subscriber;

receive resulting rating data from said distributed rating means; and

determine a rating value for charging a pre-paid account of said subscriber based on said received rating data.

32. The distributed rating system according to claim 31, wherein said system is a mobile communications system.

33. The distributed rating system according to claim 31, wherein said system is an IN/CAMEL system.

34. The distributed rating system according to claim 31, wherein said service is a prepaid service.

35. The distributed rating system according to claim 31, wherein said service is an electronic commerce/payment service.

36. The distributed rating system according to claim 31, wherein said resulting rating data is cost per time unit or data volume, per event, per content, a set of tariff data including cost, duration/volume, time/volume interval, or a specific scaling factor.

37. A distributed rating system for determining rating data for pre-paid services in a communications network, comprising:

distributed rating means including a computer apparatus adapted to;

receive data associated with a service or subscriber from central rating means; and

access and determining rating data for said service or subscriber based on distributed rating data related to said service or subscriber and on said received service data for transmission to said central rating means.