DETERMINING CAPABILITY TO PROVIDE DYNAMIC LOCAL TIME UPDATES IN A PREPAID TERMINATING CALL

• US 20090061857A1
• Filed: 08/28/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kazmi, Mustafa Anwar
• Granted Patent: US 8,774,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A method and system for setting a charging rate for a terminating call to a prepaid mobile subscriber in a telecommunications network is provided. A query from a GMSC to a mobile subscriber'"'"'s HLR returns information from a VMSC where the mobile subscriber is registered, including local time information for the MSC where the mobile subscriber is registered. The local time information can be included in an Initial Detection Point at call setup so that a peak or off-peak rate for the call can be set. Additional messaging between the GMSC and the VMSC/VLR can determine the capability of the VMSC/VLR to provide updated local time information for the duration of the call.

Claims

1. A method for use at a mobile switching center for negotiating a parameter stored at a visiting location register, the method comprising:

requesting information of a capability of said visiting location register to dynamically provide a most recent time information associated with a mobile subscriber engaged in a terminating call, the most recent time information including at least one of a most recent local time and a most recent time zone associated with the mobile subscriber; and

receiving a responsive message indicative of said capability, said responsive message being one of a message indicative of presence of a capability to dynamically provide said most recent time information and a message indicative of an absence of a capability to dynamically provide said most recent time information.

2. The method for negotiating one or more parameters stored at a visiting location register according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a first message to said mobile subscriber'"'"'s home location register, said first message being indicative of said request for information of said capability of said visiting location register to provide the most recent location of said mobile subscriber.

3. The method for negotiating one or more parameters stored at a visiting location register according to claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a message from said mobile subscriber'"'"'s home location register, said message being indicative of said capability of said visiting location register to provide the most recent time information of said mobile subscriber.

4. The method for negotiating one or more parameters stored at a visiting location register according to claim 2, further comprising requesting information of a capability of said visiting location register to periodically provide the most recent local time information of the mobile subscriber during the entire duration of the call.

5. The method for negotiating one or more parameters stored at a visiting location register according to claim 1, wherein the mobile subscriber is a prepaid mobile subscriber in the telecommunications network.