Process, exchange, charge computer, charge billing computer and program modules for the processing of charge data for telecommunications services

• US 6,754,320 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2001
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Althainz, Bettina, Geisbusch, Ferdinand, Muller, Irina, Daase, Detlef
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Application Number:
  US09/757,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20010040947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 379/126, 379/127.01, 379/120, 379/121, 379/119, 379/13, 379/114.03, 379/121.01, 379/121.04, 379/121.05, 379/121.06, 379/115.01, 379/115.02, 379/115.03, 379/124, 379/133, 379/134, 379/114.28, 379/114.29, 379/220.01, 379/221.01, 379/221.02, 379/221.06, 379/221.03, 379/221.04, 455/405, 455/406
• US Class Current: 379/121.01
• 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 15/53 using mediation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0172 Mediation, i.e. device or program to reformat CDRS from one or more switches in order to adapt to one or more billing programs formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13104 Central control, computer control
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13167 Redundant apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13342 Arrangement of switches in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1338 Inter-exchange connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/002 Details

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process, an exchange (SW1), a charge computer (BS1), a charge billing computer (BC) and a program module in each case for an exchange (SW1), for a charge computer (BS1) and for a charge billing computer (BC) for the processing of charge data.

A first exchange (SW1) sends first charge source data for telecommunications services to a charge computer (BS1) which converts the first charge source data into first charge billing data detectable by a charge billing computer (BC). The charge computer (BS1) sends the first charge billing data to the charge billing computer (BC). For this purpose it is proposed that at least one second exchange (SW2) sends second charge source data for telecommunications services to the charge computer (BS1), that the charge computer (BS1) converts the second charge source data into second charge billing data detectable by the charge billing computer (BC) and that the charge computer (BS1) sends the second charge billing data to the charge billing computer (BC).

Claims

1. A process for processing charge data for telecommunications services wherein

a first exchange sends first charge source data for telecommunications services to a (first) charge computer,

the (first) charge computer converts the first charge source data into first charge billing data detectable by a charge billing computer,

the (first) charge computer sends the first charge billing data to the charge billing computer, wherein

at least one second exchange sends second charge source data for telecommunications services to the (first) charge computer,

the (first) charge computer converts the second charge source data into second charge billing data detectable by the charge billing computer and

the (first) charge computer sends the second charge billing data to the charge billing computer, wherein in the event of a disturbance, the first charge computer sends the first exchange alarm messages which the first exchange forwards to a network control device.

2. An exchange (SW1) for processing charge data for telecommunications services, with transmitting means (TRSW1) for transmitting charge source data for telecommunications services to a first charge computer (BS1) by which the charge source data are converted into charge billing data detectable by a charge billing computer (BC) and sent to the charge billing computer (BC),

characterised in that

the exchange (SW1) comprises recognition means (CPUSW1,MEMSW1) which are designed such that by comparison with at least one predetermined criterion the exchange (SW1) can recognise that the exchange is to send the charge source data for telecommunications services at least in part to a second charge computer (BS2), and that the transmitting means (TRSW1) are designed such that as function of the at least one predetermined criterion, the exchange can send the charge source data for telecommunications services at least in part to the second charge computer (BS2) by which the charge source data are converted into charge billing data detectable by the charge billing computer (BC) and sent to the charge billing computer (BC).

4. The exchange of claim 2, wherein said first charge computer converts said charge source data into charge billing data by at least removing data from said charge source data.

3. A program module for an exchange (SW1) for processing charge data for telecommunications services, wherein the program module contains program code which can be executed by a processor (CPUSW1) of the exchange (SW1), and wherein the exchange (SW1) comprises transmitting means (TRSW1) for transmitting charge source data for telecommunications services to a first charge computer (BS1) by which the charge source data are converted into charge billing data detectable by a charge billing computer (BC) and sent to the charge billing computer (BC),

characterised in that

the program module comprises at least one recognition function which is designed such that on the basis of statements of the recognition function, by comparison with at least one predetermined criterion the exchange (SW1) can recognise that the exchange (SW1) is to send the charge source data for telecommunications services at least in part to a second charge computer (BS2), and that the program module comprises at least one transmitting function which is designed such that on the basis of statements of the transmitting function, in dependence upon the at least one predetermined criterion the exchange can send the charge source data for telecommunications services at least in part to the second charge computer (BS2), by which the charge source data are converted into charge billing data detectable by the charge billing computer (BC) and sent to the charge billing computer (BC).