Methods and arrangements for use in mobile communication networks spanning multiple time-zones

• US 6,539,217 B1
• Filed: 10/04/1999
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Shakil, Nauman, Reichelt, Martin, Syed, Inayat
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEST, LEWIS G
• Application Number:
  US09/412,045
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/427, 455/432, 455/456, 455/405, 455/407, 455/408, 455/430
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18567 Arrangements for providing additional services to the basic mobile satellite telephony service
• 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

Abstract

Methods and arrangements are provided for use in a mobile communications network to determine an appropriate tariff for a mobile station accessing the capabilities of a mobile communications network having a coverage area that extends over a plurality of time-zone, borders, and/or other cost/service-sensitive regions. A time stamp is used, which includes an offset value associated with the location of the mobile station accessing the mobile communication services, to more precisely and efficiently determine an appropriate tariff to be charged, and/or service to be rendered to the subscriber associated with the mobile station. The methods and arrangements are particularly useful in mobile communication networks having satellite nodes.

Claims

1. A method for use in mobile telecommunication systems, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a reference time associated with a geographical coverage area of a mobile communication network;

determining an offset identifying a time value associated with a difference in time between a local time at a current location of a mobile station within the geographical coverage area of the mobile communication network and the reference time; and

determining a cost associated with a call connection to the mobile station based on a tariff associated with the local time using the offset.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the reference time is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference time is Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) time.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the offset is performed within the mobile station.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of determining the offset in the mobile station further includes determining a geographical location of the mobile station.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of determining the cost associated with the call connection further includes providing the offset to a post processing unit.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of providing the offset to a post processing unit further includes relaying the offset through at least one satellite.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of providing the offset to a post processing unit further includes sending the offset from a base station.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of providing the offset to a post processing unit further includes sending the offset from a mobile switching center.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said cost is associated with a pre-paid service.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the geographical coverage area is a mobile switching center service area.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the geographical coverage area is a satellite coverage area.

13. An arrangement for use in a mobile communication network, the arrangement comprising:

a mobile station configured to determine an offset identifying a time value associated with a difference in time between a local time at a current determined location of the mobile station within a geographical coverage area of the mobile communication network and a reference time associated with the geographical coverage area of the mobile communication network, and transmit the offset;

at least one satellite, configured to receive the offset from the mobile station and retransmit the offset; and

at least one ground node configured to receive the retransmitted offset from the satellite and determine a cost associated with a call connection to the mobile station based on a tariff associated with the local time using the offset.

14. The arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the reference time is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

15. The arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the reference time is Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) time.

16. The arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the mobile station determines the offset by determining a geographical location of the mobile station.

17. The arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the ground node includes at least one base station, at least one mobile switching center, and at least one post processing unit.

18. The arrangement according to claim 13, wherein said cost is associated with a pre-paid service.

19. The arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the geographical location of the mobile station is determined using Global Positioning System data.

20. A processing unit for use by a mobile communication network, comprising:

means for receiving an offset identifying a time value associated with a difference in time between a local time at a current location of a mobile station within a geographical coverage area of the mobile communication network and a reference time associated the geographical coverage area of the mobile communication network; and

means for determining a cost associated with a call connection to the mobile station based on a tariff associated with the local time using the offset.

21. The processing unit according to claim 20, further comprising:

means for generating a bill for the call connection, the bill having the determined cost therein.

22. A network node in wireless communication with a mobile station within a mobile communication network, comprising:

means for determining a reference time associated with a geographical coverage area of the mobile communication network;

means for receiving a location identifier identifying a current location of the mobile station within the geographical coverage area of the mobile communication network; and

means for determining an offset identifying a time value associated with a difference in time between a local time at a current location of a mobile station within a geographical coverage area of the mobile communication network and a reference time associated with the geographical coverage area of the mobile communication network, the offset being used to determine a cost associated with a call connection to the mobile station based on a tariff associated with the local time.

23. A telecommunication system, comprising:

a mobile station within a geographical coverage area of a mobile communication network for determining a location identifier identifying a current location of the mobile station;

a network node in wireless communication with the mobile station for receiving the location identifier from the mobile station, the network node being further configured to determine an offset identifying a time value associated with a difference in time between a local time at the current location of the mobile station and a reference time associated with the geographical coverage area of the mobile communication network using the location identifier; and

means for determining a cost associated with a call connection to the mobile station based on a tariff associated with the local time using the offset.

24. The telecommunications system according to claim 23, further comprising:

a base station system in wireless communication with the mobile station.

25. The telecommunications system according to claim 24, wherein the network node is the base station system.

26. The telecommunications system according to claim 24, further comprising:

mobile switching center in wireless communication with the mobile station via the base station system, the network node being the mobile switching center.

27. The telecommunications system according to claim 26, wherein the geographical coverage area is a service area of the mobile switching center.

28. The telecommunications system according to claim 23, wherein the geographical coverage area is a satellite coverage area.

29. An arrangement for use in a mobile communication network, comprising:

a mobile station within a geographical coverage area of the mobile communication network for displaying an estimated cost for a call connection to the mobile station;

means for determining an offset identifying a time value associated with a difference in time between a local time at a current location of the mobile station and a reference time associated with the geographical coverage area of the mobile communication network; and

a processing unit for determining an actual cost associated with the call connection to the mobile station based on a tariff associated with the local time using the offset, the actual cost being substantially equivalent to the estimated cost.