Method and system for deterministic charging in a satellite communications system

• US 6,438,355 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1999
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optis Wireless Technology, LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Syed, Inayat, Reichelt, Martin, Zhu, Yaping
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/442,820
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 379/354, 455/427, 455/566, 455/403, 455/12.1, 455/567, 455/432, 455/434, 455/266, 455/553
• US Class Current: 455/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1856 for call routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18567 Arrangements for providing additional services to the basic mobile satellite telephony service
• 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 15/32 Charging, billing or metering arrangements for satellites or concentrators which connect one or more exchange lines with a group of local lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method and system enables optimal call routing in a satellite communications network when a satellite subscriber has, for example, call forwarding active. Many satellite networks re-register a satellite subscriber'"'"'s (e.g., the A-subscriber'"'"'s) subscription information to a satellite gateway that is most cost efficient when the satellite subscriber initiates an outgoing call. If the called party (e.g. the B-subscriber) is distant from the satellite subscriber'"'"'s home country, the distant gateway to which the re-registration occurs is likely to be far from the gateway of his or her native country, which is often to where call forwarding is directed. When an incoming call from a C-subscriber is detected for the A-subscriber, the call is handled normally until call forwarding is detected in the distant gateway. Once call forwarding is detected, a satellite gateway through which the call will be completed (e.g., routed or re-registered) is determined such that, for example, the resulting call charges will be deterministic and/or equal to a normal expected value.

Claims

1. A method in a satellite communications network for ensuring that a satellite subscriber is properly charged, comprising the steps of:

re-registering a satellite mobile terminal to a distant gateway away from a home gateway of said satellite mobile terminal as a result of an outgoing call from said satellite mobile terminal;

identifying an incoming call directed to said satellite mobile terminal from another terminal;

determining whether said satellite mobile terminal is busy;

responsive to a negative determination that said satellite mobile terminal is busy;

handling said incoming call normally; and

responsive to an affirmative determination that said satellite mobile terminal is busy;

determining whether said another terminal is of a satellite mobile terminal type; and

if so, implementing a procedure so as to complete said incoming call such that a subscriber associated with said satellite mobile terminal is not charged unexpectedly.

2. A satellite communications network that ensures that a satellite subscriber is properly charged when re-registration has occurred, comprising the steps of:

means for re-registering a satellite mobile terminal to a distant gateway away from a home gateway of said satellite mobile terminal responsive to an outgoing call from said satellite mobile terminal;

means for identifying an incoming call directed to said satellite mobile terminal from another terminal;

means for determining whether said satellite mobile terminal is busy;

means, responsive to a negative determination that said satellite mobile terminal is busy by said means for determining whether said satellite mobile terminal is busy, for handling said incoming call normally; and

means, responsive to an affirmative determination that said satellite mobile terminal is busy by said means for determining whether said satellite mobile terminal is busy, for determining whether said another terminal is of a satellite mobile terminal type, and if so, for activating means for implementing a procedure so as to complete said incoming call such that a subscriber associated with said satellite mobile terminal is not charged unexpectedly.

3. The satellite communications network according to claim 2, wherein said means for determining and for activating activates means for engaging optimal call routing with late call forwarding to route said incoming call to said home gateway of said satellite mobile terminal if it is determined that said another terminal is not of a satellite mobile terminal type.

4. The satellite communications network according to claim 2, wherein said means for implementing a procedure comprises means for routing said incoming call as if said incoming call originated from a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or a public land mobile network (PLMN).

5. The satellite communications network according to claim 2, wherein said means for implementing a procedure comprises means for routing said incoming call through an intelligent network (IN) node to calculate charges.

6. The satellite communications network according to claim 2, wherein said means for implementing a procedure comprises means for re-registering said another terminal to said home gateway of said satellite mobile terminal.