System and method for determining charges for usage of a network connection

• US 6,338,046 B1
• Filed: 10/06/1997
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Saari, Jarmo Ilkka, Kilkki, Matti Kalevi, Taskinen, Timo Ilmari
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel Todd
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAYES, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US08/944,390
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 705/34, 705/400, 379/114, 379/115, 379/117, 379/124, 379/13, 379/120, 395/200.3, 395/200.31, 395/200.32, 395/200.47, 395/200.54, 370/238, 370/252, 370/253, 370/389, 709/253, 709/254
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1428 Invoice generation, e.g. customization, lay-out, database processing, algorithms for calculating the bill or formatting invoices as WWW pages invoicing in general G06Q30/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1439 time-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for determining charges for use of network service connections. The network includes nodes which facilitate the transfer of information between source and destination locations. When a connection is established with a node, a billing cell is transmitted to the node over the connection which contains billing and connection information. Data cells are transmitted over the same connection subsequent to the billing cell. A terminate billing cell or conventional means may be used to drop the connection when the connection is no longer needed. The node computes the cost of using the connection based on the billing and connection information copied from the billing cell, and may also consider the connection time and the amount of data transferred over the connection. Upon establishing a subsequent connection with another node, the previous node transmits the billing cell to the new node which copies the billing cell content and, after receiving the data cells over the new connection, performs similar connection usage computations. This process is repeated by each of the nodes involved in the transfer of information between the source and destination. The nodes transmit their respective charging information to a network billing system which generates a final bill that is forwarded to the user. The billing cell may be transmitted from the destination back to the source to verify proper operation of the billing procedure. Fixed rate and variable rate billing schemes may be implemented and augmented as needed by each network operator.

Claims

1. A method of charging for usage of a network, comprising;

establishing a connection along the network over which data is to be transferred;

transmitting a billing message over the connection prior to transferring the data, wherein the billing message comprises connection information indicating a level of service for the connection;

copying content of the billing message at a first node defined along the connection; and

computing a cost for usage of the connection using the content of the billing message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein computing the cost for the connection usage comprises computing the cost at the first node.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the computed cost to a common billing system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein computing the cost for the connection usage comprises computing the cost at a common billing system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the billing message along a connection established between the first node and a second node of the network;

copying content of the billing message at the second node; and

computing a cost for usage of the connection between the first and second nodes using the content of the billing message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein computing the cost for usage of the connection between the first and second nodes comprises computing the cost at the second node.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising communicating the computed cost for usage of the connection between the first and second nodes to a common billing system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein computing the cost for usage of the connection between the first and second nodes comprises computing the cost at the common billing system.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a connection time during which the connection is established, wherein computing the cost for usage of the connection further comprises computing the cost using the content of the billing message and the connection time.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the billing message flier comprises transmitting the billing message from a source unit to a destination unit, and back to the source unit, the billing message returning to the source unit indicating nominal operation of the charging method.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the network supports a Nominal Bit Rate (NBR) service.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the network provides for operation that substantially conforms to a Simple Integrated Media Access (SIMA) service model.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the billing message further comprises transmitting the billing message over a connection other than the connection over which the data is to be transferred.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a terminate billing message over the connection, and

terminating the connection in response to the terminate billing message being received at the first node.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the content of the billing message comprises information indicating whether the cost for usage of the connection is computed on a fixed rate basis or a basis other than a fixed rate basis.

16. A system for charging for usage of a network, comprising:

a source unit having access to the network, the source unit transmitting a billing cell along a connection established between the source unit and a node of the network prior to transferring the data, wherein the billing cell comprises connection information indicating a level of service for the connection;

a memory provided at the node; and

a processor provided at the node that copies content of the billing cell received from the source unit into the memory, and computes a cost for usage of the connection using the content of the billing cell.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein:

the content of the billing cell comprises information describing the connection established between the source unit and the node; and

the processor uses the connection information to compute the cost for usage of the connection.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the billing cell comprises a header defining identification information; and

the processor distinguishes the billing cell from cells received from the source unit other than the billing cell using the header identification information.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor transmits the computed cost for usage of the connection to a common billing system.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor transmits the billing cell received from the source unit to another node of the network or a destination unit having access to the network.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the processor comprises a timer that accounts for a connection time during which the connection between the source unit and the node is established; and

the processor uses the connection information and the connection time to compute the cost for usage of the connection.

22. A method of charging for usage of a network, comprising;

establishing a first connection between a first network access unit and first node of the network;

transmitting a billing message over the first connection prior to sending data over the first connection;

calculating, at the first node, a cost for usage of the first connection using the billing message;

transmitting the billing message over a second connection established between the first node and either a second node of the network or a second network access unit;

calculating, at the second node, a cost for usage of the second connection using the billing message; and

acquiring, at a common billing system, the cost for usage of the first and second connections respectively from the first node and either the second node or the second network access unit.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting the billing message from the second network access unit back to the first network access unit, the billing message returning to the first network access unit indicating nominal operation of the charging method.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the network supports a Nominal Bit Rate (NBR) service.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the network provides for operation that substantially conforms to a Simple Integrated Media Access (SIMA) service model.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

transmitting a terminate billing message to the first node over the first connection; and

terminating the first connection in response to the terminate billing message being received at the first node.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

transmitting the terminate billing message from the first node to the second node over the second connection; and

terminating the second connection in response to the terminate billing message being received at the second node.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the content of the billing message comprises information indicating whether the cost for usage of the first and second connections is computed on a fixed rate basis or a basis other than a fixed rate basis.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining a first connection time during which the first connection is established; and

determining a second connection time during which the second connection is established;

wherein calculating the cost for usage of the first and second connections comprises using the billing message and the first and second connection times, respectively.