Method and System for Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) Rating and Billing
First Claim
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1. A method for real-time multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing comprising:
- receiving a request from a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) in a multimedia messaging service rating and billing device via a Real Time Payment Protocol (RTPP) interface to rate an MMS message associated with a user account in a service control point;
determining a rate for the MMS message in dependence on pre-determined rating rules at said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device;
accessing a subscriber database for information about at least one of a sender and a target recipient of the MMS Message;
communicating the determined rate from said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device to an open charging middleware platform which mediates with said user account of said service control point in order to perform a balance deduct function;
receiving a communication from the open charging middleware platform in said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device indicating a success or failure in charging the determined rate to the user account;
communicating a response from said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device to the multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) via said Real Time Payment Protocol (RTPP) indicating, in dependence on the communication received from the open charging middleware platform, the success or failure in charging the user account; and
prior to communicating the determined rate to the open charging middleware platform, accessing a subscriber database to determine if a determined rate should be communicated to the open charging middleware platform, and if not, then forgoing communicating a determined rate to the open charging middleware platform.
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Abstract
The advances disclosed herewith delimit an improved method and system for smoothly rating and billing Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). Implemented as part of a computer program product, the solution seeking the protection of Letters Patent, represents a comprehensive real-time solution for rating incoming and outgoing MMS messages which, with a view towards simplicity and efficacy of purpose, enables wireless/mobile subscribers to maintain a single account for both voice and messaging (MMS) services.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for real-time multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing comprising:
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receiving a request from a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) in a multimedia messaging service rating and billing device via a Real Time Payment Protocol (RTPP) interface to rate an MMS message associated with a user account in a service control point; determining a rate for the MMS message in dependence on pre-determined rating rules at said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device; accessing a subscriber database for information about at least one of a sender and a target recipient of the MMS Message; communicating the determined rate from said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device to an open charging middleware platform which mediates with said user account of said service control point in order to perform a balance deduct function; receiving a communication from the open charging middleware platform in said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device indicating a success or failure in charging the determined rate to the user account; communicating a response from said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device to the multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) via said Real Time Payment Protocol (RTPP) indicating, in dependence on the communication received from the open charging middleware platform, the success or failure in charging the user account; and prior to communicating the determined rate to the open charging middleware platform, accessing a subscriber database to determine if a determined rate should be communicated to the open charging middleware platform, and if not, then forgoing communicating a determined rate to the open charging middleware platform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for real-time multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device comprising:
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a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC); a multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device connected to said multimedia messaging service center (MMSC), said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device configured to interface with said multimedia messaging service center (MMSC), said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device further configured to receive requests from the multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) to rate a user an MMS message associated with a user account, said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device being configured to access a subscriber database to retrieve information on either a sender or target recipient of the MMS Message; an open charging middleware platform connected to said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device, said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device further configured for interfacing with said open charging middleware platform; and a service control point associated with said user account and connected to said open charging middleware platform, said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device configured to determine a rate for the MMS message in dependence on pre-determined rating rules and to communicate the determined rate to the open charging middleware platform, said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device further configured to receive a communication from the open charging middleware platform indicating a success or failure in charging the user account the determined rate and to communicate a response to the multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) indicating, in dependence on the communication received from the open charging middleware platform, the success or failure in charging the user account; wherein the rating rules specify rates based on at least one of the following;
size of the MMS Message;
day of the week on which the MMS Message is sent;
time of day during which the MMS Message is sent;
a rate plan of the sender of the MMS Message; and
a rate plan of the target recipient of the MMS Message. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions capable of being executed by a computer for performing the method comprising:
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receiving a request from a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) in a multimedia messaging service rating and billing device via a Real Time Payment Protocol (RTPP) interface to rate an MMS message associated with a user account in a service control point; determining a rate for the MMS message in dependence on pre-determined rating rules at said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device, the rating rules specifying rates based on at least one of the following;
size of the MMS Message;
day of the week on which the MMS Message is sent;
time of day during which the MMS Message is sent;
a rate plan of a sender of the MMS Message; and
a rate plan of a target recipient of the MMS Message;communicating the determined rate from said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device to an open charging middleware platform which mediates with said user account of said service control point in order to perform a balance deduct function; receiving a communication from the open charging middleware platform in said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device indicating a success or failure in charging the determined rate to the user account; communicating a response from said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device to the multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) via said Real Time Payment Protocol (RTPP) indicating, in dependence on the communication received from the open charging middleware platform, the success or failure in charging the user account; and prior to communicating the determined rate to the open charging middleware platform, accessing a subscriber database to determine if a determined rate should be communicated to the open charging middleware platform, and if not, then forgoing communicating a determined rate to the open charging middleware platform. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification