Centralized communications network charging methods and apparatus
First Claim
1. A service control point, comprising:
- a service request input configured to receive service data associated with communication service requests associated with pre-paid communication services and post-paid communication services;
service logic configured to receive the service data and assess charges to subscriber accounts associated with the communication service requests; and
a memory configured to store event records associated with the pre-paid communication services and post-paid communication services.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Centralized billing is provided by processing requests for pre-paid and post-paid services at a service control point that is configured to prepare one or more associated event records. Event records associated with provided services can be stored at the service control point or in a remote database, or the service control point can direct the event records to a central billing system that is configured to bill subscribers directly or to transmit event records to one or more payment systems via a financial gateway. Service control point service logic is configured to permit negative account balances for post-paid subscribers, while account balances remain positive for pre-paid subscribers. Credit limits can be associated with post-paid subscribers, and service authorization can be based on such credit limits.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A service control point, comprising:
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a service request input configured to receive service data associated with communication service requests associated with pre-paid communication services and post-paid communication services; service logic configured to receive the service data and assess charges to subscriber accounts associated with the communication service requests; and a memory configured to store event records associated with the pre-paid communication services and post-paid communication services. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A mediation system for distributing communication event records, the mediation system comprising:
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an input configured to receive event records associated with communication service requests, wherein the event records are associated with communication service requests associated with at least two service providers; and a processor configured to determine if an event record is associated with pre-paid service or post-paid service, the processor configured to deliver event records associated with post-paid service to at least one billing system, the processor configured to not deliver event records associated with pre-paid service to any billing system. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of producing event records associated with requests for communication services by a subscriber, comprising:
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collecting communication service request data associated with the requests for communication services at a centralized record production point, wherein the requests are associated with pre-paid services and post-paid services; producing event records at a service control node, the event records associated with the communication service requests, wherein the event records are configured to indicate whether a communication service request is associated with pre-paid service or post-paid service; and storing the event records produced to a memory in the service control node. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A billing method for communication services, comprising:
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collecting event data associated with communication service requests associated with a pre-paid and post-paid services at a central collection node; producing event records at a service control node based on the request data; storing the event records produced to a memory in the service control node; and delivering event records associated with post-paid services to a billing system. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of configuring communication services billings, comprising:
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collecting event records associated with the communication services provided by a plurality of service providers to pre-paid subscribers and post-paid subscribers at a service control node; storing the event records collected in a memory in the service control node; and transmitting selected event records to at least one billing system. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A service control point, comprising:
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an input configured to receive a service authorization request associated with a request for services by a subscriber; service logic configured to determine a subscriber account type and produce a service authorization based on the subscriber type, wherein the service logic is configured to authorize a requested service if the subscriber type is pre-paid and a subscriber account balance is positive, wherein the service logic is configured to authorize a requested service if the subscriber type is post-paid and a subscriber credit limit has not been exceeded; and a memory to store event records associated with the service authorization request communication services. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification