Transmission of call detail records in a telecommunications system

• US 7,546,113 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2001
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Hovi, Mika Vaino Oskari, Ahlback, Hans Christian, Hakala, Harri Tapani
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen; Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Justin Y
• Application Number:
  US09/797,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20010024950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,022 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/432.1, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/432.3
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1446 inter-operator billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/31 Distributed metering or calculation of charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/67 Transmitting arrangements for sending billing related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 Connection to several service providers
• 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 2215/7442 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/96 Distributed calculation of charges, e.g. in different nodes like for mobiles between HLR and VLR, or between the terminal and the billing function
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method of routing Call Detail Records (CDRs) for a subscriber from a foreign network to a home network while the subscriber is roaming in the foreign network. The method comprises transferring from the home network to the foreign network during registration of the subscriber with an exchange of the foreign network, an address of a billing system of the home network in a signalling network to which said exchange and said billing system are coupled. Said address is associated with CDRs generated by said exchange in respect of the subscriber, and the CDRs transferred from said exchange to said billing system over said signalling network on the basis of the associated address.

Claims

1. A method of routing Call Detail Records (CDRs) for a subscriber to a billing center associated with the subscriber, wherein the subscriber is associated with a home network and is operating in a foreign network, and the billing center is associated with the subscriber in the subscriber'"'"'s home network, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving in a serving Mobile Switching Center (S-MSC) in the foreign network, a registration message from a mobile terminal associated with the subscriber;

sending a location updating message from the S-MSC to the subscriber'"'"'s Home Location Register (HLR) in the home network of the subscriber;

receiving in the S-MSC, a Mobile Application Part (MAP) data message from the HLR with subscriber profile information for the subscriber, said subscriber profile information including an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the billing center associated with the subscriber in the subscribers home network, wherein the billing center IP address is included in one of the MAP messages InsertSubscriberData, DeleteSubscriberData, and SendroutingInforesult;

storing the subscriber profile information in a Visitor Location Register (VLR) in the foreign network;

receiving thereafter, a call origination message from the mobile terminal;

in response to the call origination message, retrieving from the VLR, the IP address of the billing center associated with the subscriber;

establishing a connection between the mobile terminal and a called subscriber;

generating CDRs at regular intervals while the connection is established, said generating step including placing into a header of each CDR, the IP address of the billing center associated with the subscriber; and

immediately sending, through the S-MSC, each CDR via an IP network to the billing center associated with the subscriber.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said home and foreign networks are GSM networks.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said home and foreign networks are GPRS networks or UMTS networks.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising utilizing the CDRs by the billing center to perform near real time billing for the subscriber operating in the foreign network.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising utilizing the CDRs to control service availability to the subscriber.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising utilizing the CDRs by the billing center to perform fraud control for the subscriber operating in the foreign network.