Mobile internet access

• US 6,804,505 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2000
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Nilsson, Patrik, Mattila, Leena, Martlew, Paul, Hoisko, Esa, Lundström, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Application Number:
  US09/566,173
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/432.1, 379/114.28
• US Class Current: 455/406
• 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 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/59 based on real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• 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 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 : Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 : Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method of determining a total call tariff in respect of a call from a Mobile Station currently registered with a foreign network. A total call tariff request is sent from a charging function of the foreign network to a rating node of the mobile telephone subscriber'"'"'s home network, the message including a call tariff portion of the foreign network. At the rating node, the total call tariff is determined by applying a multiplying factor to the foreign network'"'"'s tariff portion. The determined total call tariff is then sent to the charging function of the foreign network.

Claims

1. A method of determining a total call tariff in respect of a call from a Mobile Station currently registered with a foreign network, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to initiate a call connection from said mobile station towards a particular called party number;

sending a total call tariff request from a charging function of the foreign network to a rating node of the mobile telephone subscriber'"'"'s home network, said message including a foreign call tariff portion of the foreign network associated with establishing said call connection and wherein said called party number is further provided to said home network;

at the rating node, determining said total call tariff on the basis of the foreign call tariff portion and a home call tariff portion of the home network;

receiving the determined total call tariff at the charging function of the foreign network; and

applying the received total call tariff on said initiated call connection for said mobile station by said foreign network.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sending of subsequent call tariff requests is triggered by receipt at the foreign network of external charging information.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the determined call tariff is available at the charging function of the foreign network when an Answer Message (ANM) is received at the foreign network.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the charging function of the foreign network is a Service Switching Function (SSF).

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the SSF is at least one of implemented in and in communication with the Mobile Switching Center (MSC) serving the Mobile Station (MS).

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the rating node of the home network is a Charging Control Node.

7. A method according to claim 1, the method being implemented using the CAMEL mechanism.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said home call tariff of the home network relates to at least one of subscribed services, subscribed dialed services, and charging services.

9. A method according to claim 1 and comprising sending a credit limit from the rating node to the charging function, wherein, when the charge accumulated by the Mobile Station reaches said limit, the rating node must seek a further authorization from the rating node.

10. Apparatus for determining a total call tariff in respect of a call from a mobile telephone subscriber registered with a foreign network, said mobile telephone subscriber associated with a home network, the apparatus comprising

means for receiving a request to initiate a call connection between said mobile telephone subscriber and a particular directory number;

means for sending a total call tariff request from a charging function of the foreign network to a rating node of the mobile telephone subscriber'"'"'s home network, the message including a foreign call tariff portion of the foreign network associated with establishing said call connection and wherein said particular directory number is also provided to said home network,

means for determining at a rating node of the home network the total call tariff on the basis of the received foreign call tariff portion and a home call tariff of the home network,

means for receiving said total call tariff by the charging function of the foreign network;

means for applying the received total call tariff on said initiated call connection by said foreign network.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the means for sending of subsequent call tariff requests is triggered by receipt at the foreign network of external charging information.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the charging function of the foreign network is a Service Switching Function (SSF).

13. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the rating node of the home network is a Charging Control Node.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said home call tariff of the home network relates to at least one of subscribed services, subscribed dialed services, and charging services.