Differentiated Network Indication
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method in a cellular telecommunication network for indicating tariff-related information to an end user having the ability to access network areas with different charging tariffs. In one embodiment, a Charging Indication Data Base (CIDB) in the access network stores charging indications for different combinations of end users and cell identities, and a Rate Indication Data Base (RIDB) stores tariff information for the core network. When the end user accesses the cellular network through an identified cell, a radio network controller (RNC) retrieves a charging indication from the CIDB and sends it to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC). The MSC uses the charging indication to retrieve tariff-related information from the RIDB and sends it to the end user. The CIDB and RIDB may also be co-located in the core network.
51 Citations
36 Claims
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1-19. -19. (canceled)
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20. A method in a telecommunication system for indicating tariff-related information to an end user having access to network areas with different charging tariffs, said telecommunication system including a core network connected to an access network that handles different cell areas, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving in the access network, an access request from the end user via an identified cell area in which the end user is located; selecting a charging indication based on access information identified during the access; based on the selected charging indication, selecting in the core network, the tariff-related information to be sent to the end user; and sending the selected tariff-related information to the end user.
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28. An arrangement in a telecommunication system for indicating tariff-related information to an end user having access to network areas with different charging tariffs, said telecommunication system including a core network connected to an access network that handles different cell areas, said arrangement comprising:
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means for obtaining access information during a network access by the end user; means for selecting a charging indication based on the access information obtained during the access; means in the core network for selecting the tariff-related information based on the selected charging indication; and means for sending the selected tariff-related information to the end user. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A tariff-indicating system in a telecommunication system for indicating tariff-related information to an end user having access to network areas with different charging tariffs, said tariff-indicating system comprising:
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a core network; and an access network for providing the end user with access to the core network, said access network providing access from different cell areas, and comprising; means for obtaining access information during a network access by the end user; means for selecting a charging indication based on the access information obtained during the access; and means for sending the selected charging indication to the core network; wherein the core network comprises; means for selecting the tariff-related information based on the selected charging indication; and means for sending the selected tariff-related information to the end user.
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35. A tariff-indicating system in a telecommunication system for indicating tariff-related information to an end user having access to network areas with different charging tariffs, said tariff-indicating system comprising:
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a core network; and an access network for providing the end user with access to the core network, said access network providing access from different cell areas, and comprising; means for obtaining access information during a network access by the end user; means for sending the access information to the core network; wherein the core network comprises; means for selecting a charging indication based on the access information obtained from the access network; means for selecting the tariff-related information based on the selected charging indication; and means for sending the selected tariff-related information to the end user.
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36. A computer program loaded on an internal memory of a controller of a communications system, comprising software code portions for performing the following steps when the computer program is run on a processor of the controller:
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receiving in the access network, an access request from the end user via an identified cell area in which the end user is located; selecting a charging indication based on access information identified during the access; based on the selected charging indication, selecting in the core network, the tariff-related information to be sent to the end user; and sending the selected tariff-related information to the end user.
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Specification