Allocation of internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) charges

• US 20070270123A1
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Cai, Yigang, Hua, Shiyan
• Granted Patent: US 7,962,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing customized cost allocations for telecommunications session in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. A Home Subscriber Service stores data describing the policies and rules for allocating charges requested by a particular customer. The charge message sent to charge control system is the product of the charges for the telecommunications session and the policies and rules for allocating charges. Advantageously, this arrangement permits each customer to specify a preferred charge allocation arrangement.

Claims

1. A method of charging for a telecommunications session from a calling customer to a called customer comprising the steps of:

accessing a database to obtain calling customer telecommunications charges allocation rules; and

allocating charges for said telecommunications call in accordance with said rules.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said database is a home subscriber server attached to a network for transmitting messages of said telecommunications session.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein charges can be allocated to a bank account, a credit card account, a postpaid account, or a prepaid account.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said allocation rules comprise rules for ones of voice sessions, data sessions, video sessions, instant message sessions, locations, time periods, calling parties, and called parties.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said calling parties and called parties are identified by public user identifications.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said telecommunications charges allocation rules are a function of the geographic location of the caller.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said customer telecommunications charges allocation rules are a function of whether said customer is calling from a cellular station.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said customer telecommunications charges allocation rules are a function of whether said customer is calling over a WiFi connection.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said telecommunications charges allocation rules are a function of time of day or day of week.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said telecommunications charges allocation rules include multiple rules and a priority for each rule.

11. Apparatus for charging for a telecommunications session from a calling customer to a called customer comprising:

means for accessing a database to obtain calling customer telecommunications charges allocation rules; and

means for allocating charges for said telecommunications call in accordance with said rules.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said database is a home subscriber server attached to a network for transmitting messages of said telecommunications session.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for allocating charges comprise means for allocating charges to a bank account, a credit card account, a postpaid account, or a prepaid account.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said allocation rules comprise rules for ones of voice sessions, data sessions, video sessions, instant message sessions, locations, time periods, calling parties, and called parties.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said calling parties and called parties are identified by public user identifications.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said telecommunications charges allocation rules are a function of the geographic location of the caller.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said customer telecommunications charges allocation rules are a function of whether said customer is calling from a cellular station.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said customer telecommunications charges allocation rules are a function of whether said customer is calling over a WiFi connection.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said telecommunications charges allocation rules are a function of time of day or day of week.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said telecommunications charges allocation rules include multiple rules and a priority for each rule.