Method for providing price information to subscribers of a digital mobile communication network

• US 7,206,570 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Voehringer, Gerrit
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer; Temica
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONTEE, JOY KIMBERLY
• Application Number:
  US10/472,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20040116136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/432.1, 455/433, 455/466, 455/457, 379/207.02, 379/114.29, 379/113, 379/114.01, 379/133, 370/354, 370/400
• US Class Current: 455/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/28 with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/67 Transmitting arrangements for sending billing related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• 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 2215/48 Sending information over a non-traffic network channel or another connection than the one actually used, e.g. signalling, D-channel, data and voice
• 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

The invention relates to a method for providing price information to subscribers of a digital mobile communication network. The aim of the invention is to inform the subscriber of the cost of a call he/she is about to make, in a simple manner. To this end, when the subscriber dials a call number, he/she obtains information on the rate to expect for a communication by means of short messaging service (SMS).

Claims

1. A method for providing price information to subscribers of a digital mobile communications network, in which the subscriber receives actual connection costs to be expected in response to dialing a call number and, on dialing a call number, the actual connection costs to be expected is displayed directly on a subscriber'"'"'s mobile radio terminal display using a high-priority short message service (SMS), characterized in that the price information is provided only when the actual price is not the same as the price to be expected on the basis of a dialed call number and the dialed call number is a mobile number portability (MNP) call number or a special call number.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the subscriber receives the actual connection costs while setting up the desired connection.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the subscriber receives the actual connection costs before setting up the desired connection.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the subscriber allows the connection to be set up by confirmation of the transmitted actual connection costs.

5. A system for providing price information to subscribers of a digital mobile communications network, in which the subscriber receives from a communications point actual connection costs to be expected in response to dialing a call number and, on dialing a call number, the actual connection costs to be expected is displayed directly on a subscriber'"'"'s mobile radio terminal display using a high-priority short message service (SMS), characterized in that the price information is provided only when the actual price is not the same as the price to be expected on the basis of a dialed call number and the dialed call number is a mobile number portability (MNP) call number or a special call number.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the subscriber receives the actual connection costs while setting up the desired connection.

7. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the subscriber receives the actual connection costs before setting up the desired connection.

8. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the subscriber allows the connection to be set up by confirmation of the transmitted actual connection costs.