Method and system for dynamically updating rate center information

• US 6,253,072 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1998
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Verdonk, Timothy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/212,648
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 455/406, 455/433, 455/432, 379/111, 379/112, 379/113, 379/114, 379/115, 379/126
• US Class Current: 455/406
• 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 15/67 Transmitting arrangements for sending billing related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0112 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/48 Sending information over a non-traffic network channel or another connection than the one actually used, e.g. signalling, D-channel, data and voice
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for dynamically updating billing information for a mobile subscriber unit when a long distance call is delivered to the mobile subscriber unit. First, a request to terminate a call at a mobile subscriber unit is detected. Next, in response to detecting the request to terminate a call at the mobile subscriber unit, a rate center that is currently serving the mobile subscriber unit is automatically identified. Finally, the identification of the serving rate center is automatically delivered to a billing database, such that the billing database is dynamically updated and is utilized to promptly report accurate billing information to a subscriber.

Claims

1. A method in a communications system for dynamically updating billing information for a mobile subscriber unit when a long distance call is delivered to said mobile subscriber unit, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a request to terminate a call at a mobile subscriber unit;

automatically identifying a rate center that is currently serving said mobile subscriber unit in response to said step of detecting a request to terminate a call at a mobile subscriber unit; and

automatically delivering identification of said rate center to a billing database, such that said billing database is dynamically updated and is utilized to promptly report accurate billing information to a subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said communications system includes a serving switch, said serving switch providing services and coordination between external networks and said mobile subscriber unit, and wherein said step of automatically identifying a rate center that is currently serving said mobile subscriber unit in response to said step of detecting a request to terminate a call at a mobile subscriber unit is performed utilizing said serving switch.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of automatically delivering identification of said rate center to a billing database is performed utilizing said serving switch.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said communications system includes a home location register, and wherein said step of automatically delivering identification of said rate center to a billing database is comprised of the steps of:

delivering said rate center information as an additional element in a routing request response from said serving switch to said home location register; and

delivering said rate center information as an additional element in a location request response from said home location register to said billing database.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said communications system includes a home rate center that is associated with said mobile subscriber unit, and wherein said home rate center is utilized as said billing database during said step of automatically delivering identification of said rate center to a billing database.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

utilizing said billing database to provide billing services for said mobile subscriber unit.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said communications system utilizes ANSI-41 signaling protocol and wherein said step of automatically delivering identification of said rate center to a billing database is performed utilizing said ANSI-41 signaling protocol.

8. A system for dynamically updating billing information for a mobile subscriber unit when a long distance call is delivered to said mobile subscriber unit, said system comprising:

means for detecting a request to terminate a call at a mobile subscriber unit;

means for automatically identifying a rate center that is currently serving said mobile subscriber unit in response to said detecting a request to terminate a call at a mobile subscriber unit; and

means for automatically delivering identification of said rate center to a billing database, such that said billing database is dynamically updated and is utilized to promptly report accurate billing information to a subscriber.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said means for automatically identifying a rate center that is currently serving said mobile subscriber unit in response to said detecting a request to terminate a call at a mobile subscriber unit, is a serving switch, said serving switch providing services and coordination between external networks and said mobile subscriber unit.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said serving switch is utilized as said means for automatically delivering identification of said rate center to a billing database.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said communications system includes a home location register, and wherein said means for automatically delivering identification of said rate center to a billing database is comprised of:

means for delivering said rate center information as an additional element in a routing request response from said serving switch to said home location register; and

means for delivering said rate center information as an additional element in a location request response from said home location register to said billing database.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said home location register is utilized to maintain subscriber information for said mobile subscriber unit.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising a home rate center that is associated with said mobile subscriber unit, and wherein said home rate center is utilized as said billing database.

14. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

means for utilizing said billing database to provide billing services for said mobile subscriber unit.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein said communications system utilizes ANSI-41 signaling protocol and wherein said means for automatically delivering identification of said rate center to a billing database is said ANSI-41 signaling protocol.

16. A computer program product stored in signal bearing media for dynamically updating billing information for a mobile subscriber unit when a long distance call is delivered to said mobile subscriber unit, said computer program product comprising:

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for detecting a request to terminate a call at a mobile subscriber unit;

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for automatically identifying a rate center that is serving said mobile subscriber unit in response to said step of detecting a request to terminate a call at a mobile subscriber unit; and

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for automatically delivering identification of said rate center to a billing database, such that said billing database is dynamically updated and is utilized to promptly report accurate billing information to a subscriber.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein said instruction means stored in signal bearing media for automatically identifying a rate center that is serving said mobile subscriber unit in response to said step of detecting a request to terminate a call at a mobile subscriber unit, is a serving switch, said serving switch providing services and coordination between external networks and said mobile subscriber unit.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein said serving switch is utilized as said instruction means stored in signal bearing media for automatically delivering identification of said rate center to a billing database.

19. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein said communications system utilizes ANSI-41 signaling protocol and wherein said instruction means stored in signal bearing media for automatically delivering identification of said rate center to a billing database utilizes ANSI-41 signaling protocol.

20. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein said communications system includes a home location register, and wherein said instruction means stored in signal bearing media for automatically delivering identification of said rate center to a billing database is comprised of:

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for delivering said rate center information as an additional element in a routing request response from said serving switch to said home location register; and

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for delivering said rate center information as an additional element in a location request response from said home location register to said billing database.