Method for the acceptance of calling charges for individual calls as well as telephone network and terminal unit

• US 6,430,279 B2
• Filed: 05/13/1999
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Stiefel, Rolf, Sawatzki, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Tieu, Binh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Quoc D.
• Application Number:
  US09/310,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20010043688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/112, 379/114, 379/115, 379/121, 379/126, 379/144, 379/112.01, 379/114.01, 379/114.05, 379/114.22, 379/114.23, 379/114.28, 379/115.01, 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408
• US Class Current: 379/144.01
• 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 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• 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: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

In a method to accept call charges by the calling subscriber (A) for individual calls over a telephone network (1), following an agreement on the allocation of the charges between two subscribers, the calling subscriber (A) sends a caller-specific signal as binding confirmation of this agreement, whereupon the calling subscriber (B) accepts the call. The caller-specific signal can be stored in the form of a digital code on a smart card (9).

Claims

1. A method for the acceptance of calling charges by the calling subscriber (A) for individual calls over a telephone network (1), said method comprising the steps of:

forming a charge allocation agreement between a calling subscriber (A) and a called subscriber (B), initiating a call from the calling subscriber (A) to the called subscriber (B),

sending a caller-specific signal by the calling subscriber (A) as a binding confirmation by the calling subscriber to pay the calling charges as part of the charge allocation agreement, and

accepting the call by the called subscriber (B),

wherein at least one of the calling subscriber and the called subscriber is directly connectable to a public cellular telephone network, and

wherein the caller-specific signal is sent after the charge allocation agreement is formed.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sending step comprises sending the caller-specific signal in the form of a digital code.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the caller-specific signal to be sent is stored in a terminal unit (2, 3) of the calling subscriber (A).

4. A method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the charge allocation is agreed upon before the call is made.

11. A method as claimed in one of claims 1-3, wherein the charge allocation is agreed upon during the call.

5. A telephone network (1) comprising terminal units (2, 3), for use by a calling subscriber and a called subscriber, and at least one central unit, which is constructed in a central network architecture, wherein said central unit agrees on the allocation of the calling charges between two terminal units (2, 3) and processes a caller-specific signal that is transmitted by one terminal unit (2, 3) of the calling subscriber and serves as a binding acknowledgment by the calling subscriber to pay the calling charges as part of the charge allocation agreement,

wherein at least one of said terminal units is directly connectable to a public cellular telephone network, and

wherein the caller-specific signal is transmitted after the charge allocation agreement is formed.

6. A telephone network as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connections between the central unit and the terminal units (2, 3) are permanent connections.

12. A telephone network as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connections between the central unit and the terminal units (2, 3) are wireless connections.

7. A smart card (9) for use in terminal units (2, 3) of a telephone network (1), said telephone network comprising terminal units (2, 3) and at least one central unit, and being constructed in a central network architecture, wherein said central unit agrees on the allocation of the calling charges between two terminal units (2, 3) and processes a caller-specific signal that is transmitted by one terminal unit (2, 3) of a calling subscriber and serves as a binding acknowledgment by the calling subscriber to pay the calling charges as part of the charge allocation agreement,

wherein the caller-specific signal to confirm the agreed upon allocation of charges is derived from data stored on said smart card,

wherein at least one of said terminal units is directly connectable to a public cellular telephone network, and

wherein the caller-specific signal is transmitted after the charge allocation agreement is formed.

13. A smart card (9) according to claim 7, wherein the caller-specific signal to confirm the agreed-upon allocation of charges is stored on said smart card (9) in the form of a digital code.

14. A smart card (9) according to claim 7, wherein the caller-specific signal to confirm the agreed-upon allocation of charges is generated on the basis of data stored on said smart card.

8. A terminal unit (2, 3) of a calling subscriber for use in a telephone network (1), said telephone network comprising terminal units (2, 3) and at least one central unit, and being constructed in a central network architecture, wherein said central unit includes means to agree on the allocation of the calling charges between two terminal units (2, 3) and means for processing a caller-specific signal that is transmitted by said terminal unit (2, 3) of the calling subscriber and serves as a binding acknowledgment by the calling subscriber to pay the calling charges as part of the charge allocation agreement, said terminal unit (2, 3) of the calling subscriber including a card reader for a smart card (9),

wherein said terminal unit (2, 3) of the calling subscriber, if an allocation of charges has been agreed upon for a call, sends to said central unit the caller-specific signal that is derived from data stored on said smart card,

wherein at least one of said terminal units is directly connectable to a public cellular telephone network, and

wherein said terminal unit sends the caller-specific signal after the charge allocation agreement is formed.

9. A terminal unit (2, 3) according to claim 8, wherein the caller-specific signal is stored on said smart card (9).

10. A terminal unit (2, 3) according to claim 8, wherein the caller-specific signal is generated on the basis of date stored on said smart card.