Method and system for nationwide mobile telecommunications billing

• US 5,873,030 A
• Filed: 06/28/1996
• Issued: 02/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Pimental, Thelma, Fought, Phillip Wayne, Mechling, Stephen W., Sims, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/673,418
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/410, 455/411, 455/507, 455/517, 705/34, 379/111-115, 379/133, 379/134, 379/145
• US Class Current: 455/408
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/50 for cross-charging network operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/53 using mediation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0172 Mediation, i.e. device or program to reformat CDRS from one or more switches in order to adapt to one or more billing programs formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/52 Interconnection, inter-exchange, reseller billing, billing agreements between different operators, e.g. billing identifier added on the CDR in order to cross charge the other operator, inter-operator accounting, reconciliation, bill directly resellers customers

Abstract

The method any system for nationwide mobile telecommunications billing provides improved efficiency in billing for mobile services. Local mobile networks are communicatively connected by signaling network to a national mobile service platform (MNSP). Traffic event information generated by local mobile networks is collected directly by the NMSP. Traffic event information generated by local landline networks and long distance networks is also collected by the NMSP. The NMSP processes all traffic events for all calls, generates all necessary billing information and returns resulting billing information to other networks only when necessary. In order to simplify NMSP processing, all billing information collected from other networks is formatted to form uniform master call detail records (MCDR). Each MCDR contains all the information necessary for the NMSP to perform its processing. Each MCDR is rated, then billing information is generated.

Claims

1. A mobile telecommunications network billing system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to and accessible by the processor, comprising at least one master call detail record, the master call detail record comprising;

information identifying a mobile station and a mobile subscriber;

information relating to a routing of a mobile call;

information relating to a service level of the mobile subscriber;

information relating to a timing of the mobile call; and

information relating to the reasons for termination of the mobile call.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the information relating to the routing of the mobile call comprises at least one of:

an indicator of a calling number;

an indicator of a called number, an indicator of a carrier identification code;

an indicator of a prefix digit;

an indicator of a translated number;

an indicator of a roaming number;

an indicator of a connected number;

an indicator of a recording entity;

an incoming trunk group;

an outgoing trunk group;

an indicator of a location; and

an indicator of a change of location.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the information relating to the service level of the mobile subscriber comprises at least one of:

an indicator of a basic service;

an indicator of a transparency indicator;

an indicator of a change of service;

an indicator of a supplementary service;

an indicator of an advice of change parameter;

an indicator of a change of advice of change parameter;

an indicator of a mobile service classmark; and

an indicator of a change of mobile service classmark.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the information relating to the timing of the mobile call comprises at least one of:

an indicator of a time at which an incoming traffic channel is seized;

an indicator of a time at which an outgoing traffic channel is seized;

an indicator of a time at which a call is answered; and

an indicator of a time at which a traffic channel is released.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the information relating to the routing of the mobile call comprises at least one of;

an indicator of a calling number;

an indicator of a called number;

an indicator of a carrier identification code;

an indicator of a prefix digit;

an indicator of a translated number;

an indicator of a roaming number;

an indicator of a connected number;

an indicator of a recording entity;

an incoming trunk group;

an outgoing trunk group;

an indicator of a location; and

an indicator of a change of location;

the information relating to the service level of the mobile subscriber comprises at least one of;

an indicator of a basic service;

an indicator of a transparency indicator;

an indicator of a change of service;

an indicator of a supplementary service;

an indicator of an advice of change parameter;

an indicator of a change of advice of change parameter;

an indicator of a mobile service classmark; and

an indicator of a change of mobile service classmark;

the information relating to the timing of the mobile call comprises at least one of;

an indicator of a time at which an incoming traffic channel is seized;

an indicator of a time at which an outgoing traffic channel is seized;

an indicator of a time at which a call is answered; and

an indicator of a time at which a traffic channel is released.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the master call detail record further comprises:

information relating to a handover of the mobile call;

information relating to a special service used during the mobile call; and

information relating to a mobile radio channel used during the mobile call.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the master call detail record further comprises:

information relating to a handover of the mobile call.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the master call detail record further comprises:

information relating to a special service used during the mobile call.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the master call detail record further comprises:

information relating to a mobile radio channel used during the mobile call.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the master call detail record further comprises:

information relating to a handover of the mobile call;

information relating to a special service used during the mobile call; and

information relating to a mobile radio channel used during the mobile call.

11. A mobile telecommunications network billing system comprising:

a plurality of local mobile telecommunications networks, each network generating a master call detail record;

a data network interconnecting each local mobile telecommunications network and intercommunicating master call detail records.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each local mobile telecommunications network comprises:

an information collection device collecting call traffic information;

an information formatter formatting the collected call traffic information into a master call detail record;

a routing device determining the telecommunications network to which the master call detail record is to be transmitted; and

a transmitter transmitting the master call detail record over the data network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the master call detail record comprises:

information identifying a mobile station and a mobile subscriber;

information relating to a routing of a mobile call;

information relating to a service level of the mobile subscriber;

information relating to a timing of the mobile call; and

information relating to the reasons for termination of the mobile call.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the master call detail record further comprises:

information relating to a handover of the mobile call;

information relating to a special service used during the mobile call; and

information relating to a mobile radio channel used during the mobile call.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the master call detail record comprises:

information identifying a mobile station and a mobile subscriber;

information relating to a routing of a mobile call;

information relating to a service level of the mobile subscriber;

information relating to a timing of the mobile call; and

information relating to the reasons for termination of the mobile call.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the master call detail record further comprises:

information relating to a handover of the mobile call;

information relating to a special service used during the mobile call; and

information relating to a mobile radio channel used during the mobile call.

17. A mobile telecommunications network billing system comprising:

a plurality of local mobile telecommunications networks, each network generating and transmitting a plurality of master call detail records;

a national mobile service platform communicatively connected with each local mobile telecommunications network, receiving the plurality of master call detail records.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein each local mobile telecommunications network comprises:

an information collection device collecting call traffic information;

an information formatter formatting the collected call traffic information into a master call detail record; and

a transmitter transmitting the master call detail record.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the national mobile service platform comprises:

a receiver receiving the master call detail record;

a rating device rating the master call detail record to generate unbilled rated usage; and

a billing device billing the unbilled rated usage to generate billed usage.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein:

each local mobile telecommunications network comprises;

an information collection device collecting call traffic information,

an information formatter formatting the collected call traffic information into a master call detail record, and

a transmitter transmitting the master call detail record; and

the national mobile service platform comprises;

a receiver receiving the master call detail record,

a rating device rating the master call detail record to generate unbilled rated usage, and

a billing device billing the unbilled rated usage to generate billed usage.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the master call detail record comprises:

information identifying a mobile station and a mobile subscriber;

information relating to a routing of a mobile call;

information relating to a service level of the mobile subscriber;

information relating to a timing of the mobile call; and

information relating to the reasons for termination of the mobile call.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the master call detail record further comprises:

information relating to a handover of the mobile call;

information relating to a special service used during the mobile call; and

information relating to a mobile radio channel used during the mobile call.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the master call detail record comprises:

information identifying a mobile station and a mobile subscriber;

information relating to a routing of a mobile call;

information relating to a service level of the mobile subscriber;

information relating to a timing of the mobile call; and

information relating to the reasons for termination of the mobile call.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the master call detail record further comprises:

information relating to a handover of the mobile call;

information relating to a special service used during the mobile call; and

information relating to a mobile radio channel used during the mobile call.

25. A method for generating and communicating telecommunications billing data in a telecommunications network comprising at least one local mobile network, comprising the steps of:

collecting call traffic information at the local mobile network;

formatting the collected call traffic information into a master call detail record;

determining the telecommunications network to which the master call detail record is to be transmitted; and

transmitting the master call detail record.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the master call detail record comprises:

information identifying a mobile station and a mobile subscriber;

information relating to a routing of a mobile call;

information relating to a service level of the mobile subscriber;

information relating to a timing of the mobile call; and

information relating to the reasons for termination of the mobile call.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the master call detail record further comprises:

information relating to a handover of the mobile call;

information relating to a special service used during the mobile call; and

information relating to a mobile radio channel used during the mobile call.

28. A method for generating and communicating telecommunications billing data in a telecommunications network comprising a national mobile service platform and at least one local mobile network, comprising the steps of:

collecting call traffic information at the local mobile network;

formatting the collected call traffic information into a master call detail record;

transmitting the master call detail record to the national mobile service platform;

receiving the transmitted master call detail record at the national mobile service platform;

rating the received master call detail record to generate unbilled rated usage; and

billing the unbilled rated usage to generate billed usage.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

before formatting the collected call information into a master call detail record, validating the collected call traffic events.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the validated call traffic information is destined for the national mobile service platform or for another network;

distributing the validated call traffic information to the another network, if another network is the determined destination; and

formatting the collected call traffic information into a master call detail record, if the national mobile service platform is the determined destination.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the master call detail record comprises:

information identifying a mobile station and a mobile subscriber;

information relating to a routing of a mobile call;

information relating to a service level of the mobile subscriber;

information relating to a timing of the mobile call; and

information relating to the reasons for termination of the mobile call.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the master call detail record further comprises:

information relating to a handover of the mobile call;

information relating to a special service used during the mobile call; and

information relating to a mobile radio channel used during the mobile call.