Configuration for charging in a telephone network and method for operating such a configuration

• US 6,442,257 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Gundlach, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Stella
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/594,909
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/112.01, 379/114.03, 379/114.05, 379/114.21, 379/114.22, 379/114.23, 379/114.26, 379/114.28, 379/127.03, 379/127.05, 379/128, 379/129, 379/207.02, 379/207.03, 379/114.01, 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408
• US Class Current: 379/114.01
• 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 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• 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 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A configuration for charging in a telephone network, wherein a first subscriber pays for at least a part of the charges for connections established to him by a second subscriber. An intelligent network is linked to the telephone network and a service control point or a service node of the intelligent network exhibits control means for allocating charges to the first subscriber for connections established by the second subscriber to the first subscriber.

Claims

1. A configuration for charging in a telephone network wherein a first subscriber pays for at least a part of the charges incurred for connections established by a second subscriber to the first subscriber, comprising:

a telephone network and an intelligent network linked thereto;

a charge concession database for storing identifiers selected from the group consisting of call numbers and call number ranges;

control means, configured within said intelligent network, for allocating charges for a connection established from a second subscriber to a first subscriber by comparing a call number of the second subscriber with the identifiers; and

an access device for performing an operation selected from the group consisting of inputting, modifying, and deleting at least one of the identifiers stored in said charge concession database.

2. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said intelligent network includes a service control point having said control means.

3. The configuration according to claim 2, wherein said control means utilizes a linking instruction that is implemented in an IN call number of the first subscriber for accessing said charge concession database via said service control point.

4. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said intelligent network includes a service node having said control means.

5. The configuration according to claim 4, wherein said control means utilizes a linking instruction that is implemented in an IN call number of the first subscriber for accessing said charge concession database via said service node.

6. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes a trigger point set in a service control point of the first subscriber for triggering access to said charge concession database.

7. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said access device includes a device selected from the group consisting of a mobile radio of the first subscriber and a fixed network terminal of the first subscriber, an associated service switching point of said intelligent network, and an authentication device.

8. The configuration according to claim 7, wherein said authentication device is an input device for a personal identification number.

9. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said access device includes an internet access device, a web server that can be connected to said internet access device, a service management point of said intelligent network, and an authentication device, said service management point capable of being connected to said web server.

10. The configuration according to claim 9, wherein said authentication device can input a password.

11. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said charge concession database includes a list selected from the group consisting of a positive list of authorized call numbers of selected second subscribers and a negative list of non-authorized call numbers of second subscribers.

12. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said intelligent network includes a service control point having said control means, said service control point associated with means for generating and conveying a message to the second subscriber, said message selected from the group consisting of a voice message and an SMS message.

13. A method for charging in a telephone network wherein a first subscriber pays for at least a part of the charges incurred for connections established by a second subscriber to the first subscriber, which comprises:

linking a telephone network to an intelligent network;

storing identifiers selected from the group consisting of call numbers and call number ranges within a charge concession database;

providing the intelligent network with control means to allocate charges for a connection established from a second subscriber to a first subscriber by comparing a call number of the second subscriber with the identifiers; and

using an access device to perform an operation selected from the group consisting of inputting, modifying, and deleting at least one of the identifiers stored in the charge concession database.

14. The method according to claim 13, which comprises providing the control means in a service control point.

15. The method according to claim 13, which comprises providing the control means in a service node.

16. The method according to claim 13, which comprises using a trigger point set in a service switching point of the first subscriber to trigger access to the charge concession database.

17. The method according to claim 13, which comprises implementing a linking instruction in an intelligent network call number of the first subscriber to organize access to the charge concession database.

18. The method according to claim 13, which comprises using an access device selected from the group consisting of a mobile radio and a fixed network terminal or telephone to perform the operation after an authentication via the access device and a service switching point of the first subscriber.

19. The method according to claim 13, which comprises performing the operation after an authentication via an internet access device of the first subscriber.

20. The method according to claim 13, which comprises, when a call from then second subscriber is accepted, outputting a message selected from the group consisting of a voice message and an SMS message to notify the second subscriber whether charge concession is authorized.