Charging criteria for a call in a cellular mobile network

• US 6,345,181 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1998
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Tuohino, Markku, Turkulainen, Veli, Janhonen, Risto
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): West, Lewis G.
• Application Number:
  US09/194,830
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/461, 455/560, 455/405, 455/408, 455/432, 455/433, 455/436, 455/443
• 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 15/28 with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• 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 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

If the location cell of a calling subscriber or a called subscriber belongs to a set of special cells at the beginning of a call, a cheaper tariff is applied. According to the invention, the charging criterion is updated in the beginning and during the call. If a subscriber roams from the area of a public network cell to the set of special cells, the cell information propagates to the MSC of the called subscriber. The MSC and/or service control point compares this cell information with the set of special cells and determines that the new cell of the called subscriber belongs to the special cells, due to which the tariff can be changed. Information on the called subscriber'"'"'s changed cell type is transmitted to the mobile switching centre of the calling subscriber.

Claims

1. A method of improving charging criteria for a call between a calling subscriber and a called subscriber in a cellular mobile network, in which a mobile switching center comprises a service switching point of an intelligent network, the service switching point providing a subscriber with an access to services of a service control point, wherein at least one cell of the mobile network constitutes a set of special cells entitled to a more advantageous tariff;

the method comprising the steps of;

providing the service control point with a charging criterion service applying a special charging criterion defined for the set of special cells;

monitoring, during the call, in respect of both the calling and the called subscriber, whether either subscriber'"'"'s cell belongs to the set of special cells entitled to the more advantageous tariff; and

the service control point applying the special charging criterion defined for the set of special cells, if the cell of at least one subscriber belongs to the set of special cells.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring step is performed in connection with a handover to another cell.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein information on the special cells is stored at the service control point.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile switching centre serving at least one subscriber and/or a related visitor location register receives, at a location area update procedure, information on that at least one subscriber has special cells within said location area.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the mobile switching centre serving and/or the related visitor location register receives said information from the service control point.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein information on the called subscriber'"'"'s cell change is transmitted from the mobile switching centre serving the called subscriber to the mobile switching centre serving the calling subscriber.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein information on the called subscriber'"'"'s location cell change is transmitted from the intelligent network service switching point serving the called subscriber to the service control point serving the calling subscriber.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein information on the called subscriber'"'"'s location cell change is transmitted from the intelligent network service control point serving the called subscriber to the service control point serving the calling subscriber.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein that the service control point of the intelligent network is asked for information on the called subscriber'"'"'s location cell only if the called subscriber is a subscriber to which are allocated special cells.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising defining a default value cell for at least one private branch exchange in an exchange network, and applying the special charging criterion if a subscriber of the exchange network is located within the area of the default value cell.

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising using a time hysteresis to determine that the change in cell information is permanent before beginning or ceasing to apply the special charging criterion.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting information to the calling subscriber'"'"'s mobile station if the call begins or ceases to be entitled to the more advantageous tariff.

13. A mobile communication system comprising:

at least two cells, at least one of the cells constituting a set of special cells;

a mobile switching centre and a related service switching point of an intelligent network;

a service control point of an intelligent network, the service control point comprising a charging criterion service applying a special charging criterion defined for the set of special cells; and

means for monitoring, during the call, in respect of both the calling and the called subscriber whether the subscriber'"'"'s cell belongs to the set of special cells entitled to the more advantageous tariff;

wherein the service control point is adapted to apply the special charging criterion defined for the set of special cells if the cell of at least one subscriber belongs to the set of special cells.