DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING CHARGING IN A MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20150156027A1
• Filed: 02/13/2015
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: CHO, Song Yean, CHOI, Sung Ho, PARK, Joon Ho, LEE, Ji Cheol, KIM, Kill Yeon, KWEON, Ki Suk
• Granted Patent: US 10,560,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1435 volume-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/146 using digital cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1475 the splitting involving a third party
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/07 Split billing, i.e. both A-party and B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/52 for operator independent billing system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/59 based on real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method, packet data network gateway (PGW), and server in a mobile communication system. and device for controlling charging in a mobile communication system. The method by a PGW in a mobile communication system includes identifying data usage information associated with a specific service for a terminal, determining whether the data usage information satisfies a predetermined condition, and transmitting a notification message including the data usage information if the data usage information satisfies the predetermined condition, to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) entity. The data usage information is used to display a message in the terminal.

Claims

1. A method by a packet data network gateway (PGW) in a mobile communication system, the method comprising:

identifying data usage information associated with a specific service for a terminal;

determining whether the data usage information satisfies a predetermined condition; and

transmitting a notification message including the data usage information if the data usage information satisfies the predetermined condition, to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) entity,

wherein the data usage information is used to display a message in the terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific service corresponds to a sponsor identification (ID).

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

charging a service provider for the specific service based on the sponsor ID.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data usage information is transmitted to the terminal from the PCRF entity via a server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data usage information includes at least one of usage amount of sponsored data, remaining amount of sponsored data, usage time of sponsored data, and remaining time of sponsored data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is associated with the data usage information reaching a threshold.

7. A method by a server in a mobile communication system, the method comprising:

receiving a notification message including data usage information associated with a specific service for a terminal, from a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) entity; and

transmitting an alert message including the data usage information to the terminal,

wherein the data usage information is used to display a message in the terminal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the specific service corresponds to a sponsor identification (ID).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the sponsor ID is used for a packet data network gateway (PGW) to charge the service provider for the specific service.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the data usage information is transmitted to the PCRF from a packet data network gateway (PGW) if the data usage information satisfies a predetermined condition.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the predetermined condition is associated with the data usage information reaching a threshold.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the data usage information includes at least one of usage amount of sponsored data, remaining amount of sponsored data, usage time of sponsored data, and remaining time of sponsored data.

13. A packet data network gateway (PGW) in a mobile communication system, the PGW comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a signal; and

a controller configured to control to identify data usage information associated with a specific service for a terminal, to determine whether the data usage information satisfies a predetermined condition, and to transmit a notification message including the data usage information if the data usage information satisfies the predetermined condition, to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) entity,

wherein the data usage information is used to display a message in the terminal.

14. The PGW of claim 13, wherein the specific service corresponds to a sponsor identification (ID).

15. The PGW of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to control to charge a service provider for the specific service based on the sponsor ID.

16. The PGW of claim 13, wherein the data usage information is transmitted to the terminal from the PCRF entity via a server.

17. The PGW of claim 13, wherein the data usage information includes at least one of usage amount of sponsored data, remaining amount of sponsored data, usage time of sponsored data, and remaining time of sponsored data.

18. The PGW of claim 13, wherein the predetermined condition is associated with the data usage information reaching a threshold.

19. A server in a mobile communication system, the server comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a signal; and

a controller configured to control to receive a notification message including data usage information associated with a specific service for a terminal, from a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) entity, and to transmit an alert message including the data usage information to the terminal,

wherein the data usage information is used to display a message in the terminal.

20. The server of claim 19, wherein the specific service corresponds to a sponsor identification (ID).

21. The server d of claim 20, wherein the sponsor ID is used for a packet data network gateway (PGW) to charge the service provider for the specific service.

22. The server of claim 19, wherein the data usage information is transmitted to the PCRF from a packet data network gateway (PGW) if the data usage information satisfies a predetermined condition.

23. The server of claim 22, wherein the predetermined condition is associated with the data usage information reaching a threshold.

24. The server of claim 19, wherein the data usage information includes at least one of usage amount of sponsored data, remaining amount of sponsored data, usage time of sponsored data, and remaining time of sponsored data.