Method for the real-time billing of telecommunication links when a subscriber is located outside his home network

• US 6,917,798 B1
• Filed: 08/18/1999
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Hake, Jens, Thelen, Jörg
• Primary Examiner(s): D AGOSTA, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/763,075
• Time in Patent Office: 2,155 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/410, 455/416, 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/433, 379/114.01, 379/114.03, 379/114.14, 379/114.2, 379/114.28, 379/115.02, 379/115.03
• 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 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method of real-time billing of telecommunications links when a subscriber is located outside his or her own network. The method is characterized in that the establishment of the telecommunications links and the control of the real-time billing are carried out through the home network so that the home network remains in control of the cost-generating links.

Claims

1. A process for the real-time charge-setting of telecommunication connections between a calling subscriber located outside of his home network in the zone of a foreign mobile phone radio network, and a called subscriber, comprising:

upon the arising of a desire on the part of the calling subscriber for a connection, sending an information telegram over the mobile phone networks as a Short Message (SMS) by the calling subscriber to a special network element located in the home network, the telegram containing at least the desired target number of the called subscriber and the identity of the calling subscriber,

the special network element checking the data contained in the received telegram and then building-up telecommunication connections to the called and calling subscribers, the building-up of the connections between the calling subscriber and the called subscriber and the real-time charge-setting taking place through the home network, the special network element, after checking the current charge credit allocated to the data, building up the connections to the called and calling subscribers;

wherein outgoing connections with the subscriber located outside of his home network are blocked, the charge coverage of the connections takes place through an IN on-line charge-setting, and the special network element is implemented in the form of a call-back server with connection to intelligent network functions.