Method and device for calculating charges in telecommunications networks

• US 6,618,583 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2000
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E-Plus Mobilfunk GMBH & Co. KG (Telefonica SA)
• Original Assignee: E-Plus Mobilfunk GMBH & Co. KG (Telefonica SA)
• Inventors: Ergezinger, Siegfried
• Primary Examiner(s): VUONG, QUOCHIEN B
• Application Number:
  US09/600,228
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/409, 455/456.1, 379/114.01, 379/114.15, 379/114.2, 379/114.28, 379/121.01, 379/130
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• 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

A mobile radio networks (2) linked with fixed networks (1a, 1b) in each case at least one charge detection station (7) is switched in, over which the charges in the linked networks (1, 2) are detected, and that each subscriber end apparatus (8, 9 and 10, 11, respectively) communicates with an exchange center (5, 6) over a telecommunication connection (12, 13 and 14, respectively) and that for each connection from a subscriber register, which is emplaced for example in the mobile radio network (2), specific data of the subscriber end apparatus (8, 9 and 10, 11, respectively) are asked, which are included in the charge calculation, in which a connection from the fixed network (1) or the mobile radio network (2) which is not covered by a credit is prevented by the means that the transfer of the data to the charge detection station (7) and the demanding of the subscriber data from the data bank occurs already at the requesting of a connection, and that in the case of a lack of credit the build-up of the requested connection is omitted or a connection is established to the Customer Service Center, in which a fixed-network or mobile radio network call number allocated to the subscriber is entered as reference number in a data set.

Claims

1. Method for calculating charges in telecommunication networks, comprising:

calculating together telephone charges that accrue in a network concatenated from at least one fixed network (1) and from at least one mobile radio network (2) in a telecommunication connection between at least two telecommunication end apparatuses (8, 10), debiting the charges from at least one prepaid and rechargeable charge account in one or in several of the network, (1, 2) connected with one another, connecting the respective fixed networks (1) and the mobile radio networks (2) with one another over in each case at least one, preferably over several network connection points (POI), and that the connection of the subscriber end apparatuses (8, 9 and 10, 11, respectively) in each of the networks (1, 2) is carried out in each of the networks (1, 2) linked with one another over in each case at least one exchange center (5, 6), engaging at least one of the mobile radio networks (2) and the fixed networks (1a, 1b) with at least one charge detection station (7), over which the charges in the linked networks (1, 2) are detected, and each subscriber end apparatus (8, 9 and 10, 11, respectively) communicating with one of the exchange center units (5, 6) over a telecommunication connection (12, 13 or 14) and that for each connection, from a subscriber register which is included in the mobile radio network (2), determining specific data of the subscriber end apparatus (8, 9 and 10, 11, respectively) which are included in the charge calculation in which, from the fixed network (1) or from the mobile radio network (2) which is not covered, preventing a credit by means that the transmission of the data to the charge detection station (7), and that the requesting of the subscriber data from the data bank occurs already when he asks for a connection, and the should credit be lacking, at least one of omitting the building-up of the requested connection and establishing a connection to the CSC (Customer Service Center), in which case a fixed-network or mobile radio call number is registered as reference number in a data set; and

wherein the call number allocation as well as allocation profiles are administered in a network-overlapping by the customer via self-administration, in which, for the purpose of self-administration, there is set by the customer, for every customer, a data set which links one another one or more mobile radio call numbers with one or more fixed network call numbers, in which the call numbers are stored in lists and altered, activated and deactivated by the customer himself from the fixed network (1) or from the mobile-radio network (2) in each case from his own or from a foreign telecommunication arrangement.

2. Method according to claim 1, further including allocating at least one of the mobile-radio and fixed network numbers to different allocation profiles conditioned in at least one of time and geographically by a mobility of the subscriber.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a user of an end apparatus (8, 9, 10, 11, A, B, C) selects the connection network operator (VNB) over a permanent presetting (Pre-Selection) freely and flexibly (Call by Call), in which each telecommunication end apparatus (8, 9, 10, 11, A, B, C) that wants to build up a connection for a connection in another subscriber network carries this out with the aid of a connection network operator identification number.

4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that several call numbers from the mobile-network and from the fixed network (2 and 1, respectively) use a common, rechargeable credit account for prepaid telecommunication connections.

5. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the administration of the data takes place over at least one of a cost-free mobile radio number and over a corresponding service number from the fixed network, while the authentication of the customer occurs over at least one of a CLI and a personal secret number (PIN).

6. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that for the charging of the mobile-radio network the following process steps are carried out:

a. for the charging of the mobile radio-fixed network account the customer selects from his end apparatus (cellular phone) a separate cost-free service number;

thereby a connection is established to the corresponding system;

b. the customer selects per menu the point “

charging via credit card”

;

c. the system informs the customer that he will carry out a charging up a certain amount, DM 100.00 or also other amounts, so that the announcement can be flexibly formed;

d. if through the actual charging exceeds of the maximal credit limit of the MFK to be charged, then the charge, if need be, is rejected;

e. the identification of the caller occurs over MSISDN, and the customer must give his secret number;

f. the customer makes the following inputs;

credit card number

expiration date of the credit card

g. the system checks the allocation MSISDN and the credit card number;

h. if the checking is successful, the system switches into an authorization inquiry to the blocking data file (batch process);

the blocking data file is brought up to date every day;

i. if the customer is not listed in the blocking data file, the charge detection station receives a clearance for the charging;

j. the system transfers the amount to the account of the rechargeable MFK of the customer;

k. as soon as the last input digit has been correctly input, the charging holds as conclusively initiated by the customer;

the customer receives at the end of the conversation or later a report as to whether the charging was successful or not, for example;

1) your charging was successful;

your credit amounts to xy DM;

or

2) your charging was not successful;

your credit amounts to xy DM;

or another announcement;

if the customer does not hang up, he hears the announcement after the conversation;

if he hangs up earlier or no longer has coverage, he hears the announcement in his next outgoing telephone call.

7. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that for the security check by the system the following process steps are carried out:

a) charging only from the cellular phone (identification of the telephone number MSISDN);

b) input of the secret number;

c) checking of the allocation MSISDN and credit card number;

d) authorization online over the blocking data file.

8. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an automatic selection of the connection is carried out at the time of the conversation build-up for the customer, and for the networks involved in this connection for the purpose of achieving the most favorable constellation, in such manner that the preselection numbers of the possible VNB are downloaded into the end apparatus of the customer and stored, wherein according to an algorithm, in the input of the preselection the most favorable VNB is correspondingly sought for this connection and the connection to this is forwarded with the desired target address to the desired target subscriber network.

9. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that for the charging of the fixed network the following process steps are carried out:

a. for the charging of the mobile radio-fixed network account (MFK) the customer selects from his end apparatus (fixed network telephone) a separate, charge-free service number;

thereby a connection is established to the corresponding system;

b. the customer selects per menu the point “

Charging via credit card”

;

c. the system informs the customer that he will carry out his charging up a certain amount so that the announcement can be flexibly formed;

d. if through the actual charging there occurs an exceeding of the maximal credit limit of the MFK to be charged, then if need be, the charging is rejected;

e. the identification of the caller occurs over MSISDN, and the customer must give his secret number;

f. the customer makes the following inputs;

credit card number

expiration date of the credit card

g. the system checks the allocation MSISDN and the credit card number;

h. if the checking is successful, the system switiches into an authorization inquiry with the blocking data file (batch process);

the blocking data file is brought up to date every day;

i. if the customer is not listed in the blocking data file, the charge detection station receives a clearance for the charging;

j. the system transfers the amount to the account of the rechargeable MFK of the customer;

as soon as the last input digit has been correctly input, the charge holds as conclusively initiated by the customer;

the customer receives at the end of the conversation or later a report as to whether the charging was successful or not;

1) your charging was successful;

your credit amounts to xy DM;

or p2

     2) your charging was not successful;

your credit amounts to xy DM;

or

another announcement;

if the customer does not hang up, he hears the announcement after the conversation;

if he hangs up earlier or no longer has coverage, he hears the announcement in his next outgoing telephone call.

10. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one mobile-radio and one fixed network (2, 1), essentially contain at least two telephone communication end apparatuses (8, 9) which are allocated to the telecommunication networks (1, 2), with at least one exchange center (5) in the fixed network-mobile radio integration, at least one, preferably several network connection points (POI) between fixed network (1) and mobile radio network (2), at least one charge detection station (7) in one of the networks (1, 2) coupled with one another, in which for the particular customer an account rechargeable by said customer is administered, in which each subscriber end apparatus (8, 9, 10, 11) communicates with an exchange center (5, 6) over a telecommunication connection (12,13, 14).

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the fixed network (1) and the mobile radio network (2) include two or more local networks (1a, 1b), in Which both the fixed networks (1) and also the mobile radio networks (2) are coupled with one another in each case by several network connection points (POI) and in at least the mobile radio network (2) there is arranged a charge detection station (7) which is connected to an exchange station (6a).

12. Method according to claim 10 wherein the mobile radio network (2) and the fixed network (1) which are linked with one another, contain essentially NIM, MSC, HLR, VMSC, SMCSC, a service platform, including a Service Mode, AdC with GcWA, CSC, BSC, BTS, credit card system (Credit Card System) and at least one cellular phone which is provided without or with rechargeable or reusable telephone card.