Charge allocation in a multi-user network

• US 6,240,402 B1
• Filed: 03/11/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Inventors: Lynch-Aird, Nicolas James
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US09/029,900
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/114, 705/1, 705/30, 705/34, 705/52, 705/53, 705/59, 705/400, 705/418
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1471 splitting of costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• 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 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/64 Split billing, sharing the cost of calls, e.g. between calling and called parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set

Abstract

A communication network includes a communication monitoring point arranged to monitor user identifiers in source/destination identifier fields to determine a charging scheme.

Claims

1. A communication network comprising:

at least two user access points,

a communication medium through which communications between user access points pass, and

a communication monitoring point in the medium,

wherein each user may be allocated a plurality of user identifiers associated with respective predetermined charging schemes,

the network being arranged to accept communications including user identifiers in each of a destination identifier field and a source identifier field, and

wherein the communication monitoring point is arranged to monitor user identifiers in a communication to determine the charging scheme.

2. A communication network as in claim 1 including:

a data storage area for storage of user information, allocated user identifier, and associated charging scheme.

3. A communication network as in claim 1 arranged to operate in conformance with the ISO communications protocol, and in which communications are passed at ISO layer 3.

4. A communication network as in claim 1 including a charge allocation system comprising:

a communication monitoring point and a charge allocation sub-system,

the network being arranged to accept communications including one of a plurality of user identifiers associated with respective predetermined charging schemes in each of a source identifier field and a destination identifier field, and

the charge allocation sub-system storing user information, associated user identifiers, and respective corresponding charging schemes,

wherein the communication monitoring point is arranged to monitor identifiers in at least one of the destination and source identifier fields of a communication and to transfer the identifier information to the charge allocating sub-system to determine the charging scheme.

5. A communication network as in claim 1 wherein the communications network comprises a plurality of said communication networks.

6. A communications network as in claim 1 wherein the communications network comprises a plurality of said communication networks.

7. A network as in claim 6 wherein user identifiers are network specific.

8. The network as in claim 6 wherein the identifiers comprise originator and recipient identifiers, and charges are directed towards the network associated with the originator identifier.

9. The network as in claim 7 wherein:

the identifiers comprise originator and recipient identifiers, and charges are directed towards the network associated with the recipient identifier.

10. A communication network as in claim 1 wherein the identifiers comprise originator identifiers or recipient identifiers, respective charging schemes being associated with each recipient identifier.

11. A communication network as in claim 10 including a data storage area wherein, against each originator identifier, are stored allowed recipient identifiers for communications designating that originator identifier.

12. A communication network as in claim 10 including:

a data storage area for storage of user information, allocated user identifier, and associated charging scheme.

13. A communication network as in claim 10 arranged to operate in conformance with the ISO communications protocol, and in which communications are passed at ISO layer 3.

14. A communication network as in claim 10 wherein:

where a communication includes two originator identifiers or two recipient identifiers, the charging scheme comprises all charges to user associated with identifier in source identifier field.

15. A communication network as in claim 14 including a data storage area wherein, against each originator identifier, are stored allowed recipient identifiers for communications designating that originator identifier.

16. A communication network as in claim 10 wherein:

where a communication includes an originator identifier and a recipient identifier, the associated charging schemes comprise at least one of (a);

all charges to user associated with originator identifier, (b) all charges to user associated with recipient identifier, (c) all charges to user associated with originator identifier at a premium rate, (d) a proportion of the revenue proceeding to user associated with recipient identifier;

(e) charges shared between user associated with originator identifier and user associated with recipient identifier;

(f) predetermined standard rate charges to user associated with originator identifier, additional charges to user associated with recipient identifier; and

(g) all charges to predetermined third party.

17. A communication network as in claim 16 including a data storage area wherein, against each originator identifier, are stored allowed recipient identifiers for communications designating that originator identifier.

18. A communication network as in claim 16 including:

a data storage area for storage of user information, allocated user identifier, and associated charging scheme.

19. A communication network as in claim 16 arranged to operate in conformance with the ISO communications protocol, and in which communications are passed at ISO layer 3.

20. A method of allocating charges in a communication network for a plurality of users, said method comprising:

assigning a plurality of user identifiers to each of plural users each user identifier being associated with a respective predetermined charging scheme,

including destination identifier and source identifier fields in network communications in which fields the user identifiers are held, and

monitoring the user identifiers at a communication monitoring point to establish an appropriate charging scheme.