Method and system for multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing

• US 8,027,334 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Redknee Inc.
• Original Assignee: Redknee Inc.
• Inventors: Chan, Jacky, Lakhani, Shailesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh; Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): HALIYUR, VENKATESH N
• Application Number:
  US12/205,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20080318603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 370218-503, 709205-248, 455406-408, 455/414.1, 455503-509
• US Class Current: 370/352
• 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 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/53 using mediation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/57 for integrated multimedia messaging subsystem [IMS]
• 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 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 17/10 Account details or usage
• 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 2215/0172 Mediation, i.e. device or program to reformat CDRS from one or more switches in order to adapt to one or more billing programs formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2073 Multipoint, e.g. messaging, broadcast or group SMS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/208 IMS, i.e. Integrated Multimedia messaging Subsystem
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• 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: H04Q 3/0025 : Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

The advances disclosed herewith delimit an improved method and system for smoothly rating and billing Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). Implemented as part of a computer program product, the solution seeking the protection of Letters Patent, represents a comprehensive real-time solution for rating incoming and outgoing MMS messages which, with a view towards simplicity and efficacy of purpose, enables wireless/mobile subscribers to maintain a single account for both voice and messaging (MMS) services.

Claims

1. A method for real-time multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing comprising:

receiving a request from a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) in a multimedia messaging service rating and billing device via a Real Time Payment Protocol (RTPP) interface to rate an MMS message associated with a user account in a service control point;

determining a rate for the MMS message in dependence on pre-determined rating rules at said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device;

communicating the determined rate from said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device to an open charging middleware platform which mediates with said user account of said service control point in order to perform a balance deduct function;

receiving a communication from the open charging middleware platform in said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device indicating a success or failure in charging the determined rate to the user account; and

communicating a response from said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device to the multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) via said Real Time Payment Protocol (RTPP) indicating, in dependence on the communication received from the open charging middleware platform, the success or failure in charging the user account.

2. The method of claim 1, including receiving the response at the multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) and, in the event that the response indicates a success in charging the user account, sending the MMS Message from the multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) to a recipient.

3. The method of claim 1, including receiving the response at the multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) and, in the event that the response indicates a failure in charging the user account, sending a failure notification from the multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) to the sender of the MMS message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the rating rules specify rates based on at least one of the following:

size of the MMS Message;

day of the week on which the MMS Message is sent;

time of day during which the MMS Message is sent;

a rate plan of a sender of the MMS Message; and

a rate plan of a target recipient of the MMS Message.

5. The method of claim 1 including, prior to communicating the determined rate to the open charging middleware platform, accessing a subscriber database to determine if a determined rate should be communicated to the open charging middleware platform, and if not, then forgoing communicating a determined rate to the open charging middleware platform.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the determination of whether a determined rate should be communicated to the open charging middleware platform is based on information in the subscriber database about at least one of a sender and a target recipient of the MMS Message.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein when a determination is made to not communicate the determined rate to the open charging middleware platform, the response communicated to the multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) indicates a success in charging the user account.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a rate for the MMS Message includes accessing a subscriber database for information about at least one of a sender and a target recipient of the MMS Message.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the request received from a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) is a debit request.

10. A system for real-time multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device comprising:

a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC);

a multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device connected to said multimedia messaging service center (MMSC);

said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device configured to interface with said multimedia messaging service center (MMSC);

said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device further configured to receive requests from the multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) to rate a user an MMS message associated with a user account;

an open charging middleware platform connected to said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device;

said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device further configured for interfacing with said open charging middleware platform;

a service control point associated with said user account and connected to said open charging middleware platform;

said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device configured to determine a rate for the MMS message in dependence on pre-determined rating rules and to communicate the determined rate to the open charging middleware platform;

said multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device further configured to receive a communication from the open charging middleware platform indicating a success or failure in charging the user account the determined rate and to communicate a response to the multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) indicating, in dependence on the communication received from the open charging middleware platform, the success or failure in charging the user account.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the rating rules specify rates based on at least one of the following:

size of the MMS Message;

day of the week on which the MMS Message is sent;

time of day during which the MMS Message is sent;

a rate plan of a sender of the MMS Message; and

a rate plan of the target recipient of the MMS Message.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the multimedia messaging service (MMS) rating and billing device is configured to access a subscriber database retrieve information on either the sender or target recipient of the MMS Message.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the information retrieved from the subscriber database includes rating information about at least one of a sender and a target recipient of the MMS Message or whether the open charging middleware platform is required to be notified of a debit request.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions capable of being executed by a computer for performing the method comprising:

receiving a request from a multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) in a multimedia messaging service rating and billing device via a Real Time Payment Protocol (RTPP) interface to rate an MMS message associated with a user account in a service control point;

determining a rate for the MMS message in dependence on pre-determined rating rules at said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device;

communicating the determined rate from said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device to an open charging middleware platform which mediates with said user account of said service control point in order to perform a balance deduct function;

receiving a communication from the open charging middleware platform in said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device indicating a success or failure in charging the determined rate to the user account; and

communicating a response from said multimedia messaging service rating and billing device to the multimedia messaging service center (MMSC) via said Real Time Payment Protocol (RTPP) indicating, in dependence on the communication received from the open charging middleware platform, the success or failure in charging the user account.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein the rating rules specify rates based on at least one of the following:

size of the MMS Message;

day of the week on which the MMS Message is sent;

time of day during which the MMS Message is sent;

a rate plan of a sender of the MMS Message; and

a rate plan of a target recipient of the MMS Message.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein the instructions for, prior to communicating the determined rate to the open charging middleware platform, accessing a subscriber database to determine if a determined rate should be communicated to the open charging middleware platform, and if not, then forgoing communicating a determined rate to the open charging middleware platform.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the determination of whether a determined rate should be communicated to the open charging middleware platform is based on information in the subscriber database about at least one of a sender and a target recipient of the MMS Message.