System and method for billing IP-based wireless telecommunications in a converged network

• US 8,145,190 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2006
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Linkola, Janne P., Caldwell, Christopher E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US12/089,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20090215429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,994 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370/401, 455406-410, 455/436, 455/423, 379/111
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1482 involving use of telephony infrastructure for billing for the transport of data, e.g. call detail record [CDR] or intelligent network infrastructure
• 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2046 Hybrid network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A system and method for collaborating with a billing system is provided for use in a converged telecommunication network that includes a cellular telephone network and an IP-based network. During an IP-based call registration process, a mobile device communicates with a network controller over the IP-based network. The network controller accesses a database with the information provided by the mobile device and subsequently overloads values for an existing field in a call detail record (CDR). Upon completion of the call over the IP-based network, the network controller communicates the overloaded version of the CDR to an MSC which generates the final CDR that is used for billing. Any appropriate field of the CDR can be selected for overloading, such as for example an existing CGI record field from the CDR.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating Call Detail Record (CDR) billing in a converged cellular system and an IP-based wireless system, the method comprising:

receiving a registration request over the IP-based wireless system from a handset that is capable of using the cellular system and the IP-based wireless system and is identified by a wireless identifier;

selecting an IP-based wireless cell identity with a gateway node referenced by the wireless identifier after the registration request is received;

overloading at least one existing field from a cellular call detail record with the IP-based wireless cell identity such that the overloaded cellular call detail record field corresponds to an IP-based wireless call;

identifying a call request from the handset over the IP-based wireless system; and

communicating the overloaded cellular call detail record to a switch for the identified call request,

wherein the overloaded cellular call detail record reflects, at least in part, a handover from the IP-based wireless system to the cellular system or from the cellular system to the IP-based wireless system.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising communicating successful registration to the handset.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein selecting the IP-based wireless cell identity includes:

providing a radio cell identity from the handset to an IP-based wireless system database; and

receiving the IP-based wireless cell identity from the IP-based wireless system database.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating the IP-based wireless system call for the handset in response to the IP-based wireless system call request; and

communicating the overloaded cellular call detail record that includes the IP-based wireless cell identity from the switch to a billing system upon completion of the IP-based wireless system call.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the IP-based wireless cell identity includes at least one of:

a modified Mobile Country Code (MCC) field, a modified Mobile Network Code (MNC) field, a modified Location Area Code (LAC) field, and a modified Cell ID field.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the MCC field is populated with a value indicating the IP-based wireless system call request is made over the IP-based wireless system.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the LAC and Cell ID fields are populated with a value pair that identifies the IP-based wireless system call request as being for one of:

an in-country call, an out-of-country call, a call made near a tower belonging to the cellular system, and a call made near a tower belonging to another cellular system.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising assigning the gateway node based on a public IP address associated with the IPbased wireless system.

9. A gateway node having computer-readable instructions for facilitating Call Detail Record (CDR) billing in a converged cellular system and an IP-based wireless system, the instructions comprising:

receiving a registration request associated with a handset over an IP-based wireless system, wherein the registration request includes identification information comprising at least one of;

a wireless identity, a radio cell identity, an SSID, and a MAC address;

accessing an IP-based wireless system database with the identification information;

receiving an IP-based wireless cell identity from the IP-based wireless system database;

overloading at least one existing field from a cellular call detail record with the IP-based wireless cell identity such that the overloaded cellular call detail record field corresponds to an IP-based wireless system call,

wherein the overloaded cellular call detail record reflects, at least in part, a billing event;

identifying a call request from the handset over the IP-based wireless system; and

communicating the overloaded cellular call detail record to a switch for the identified call request.

10. The gateway node of claim 9, wherein the instructions further include:

receiving a public IP address associated with the IP-based wireless system from a security node prior to receiving the request for registration; and

communicating successful registration to the handset.

11. The gateway node of claim 9, wherein the IP-based wireless cell identity includes at least one of:

a modified Mobile Country Code (MCC) field, a modified Mobile Network Code (MNC) field, a Location Area Code (LAC) field, and a Cell ID field.

12. The gateway node of claim 11, wherein

the MCC field is populated with a value indicating the IP-based wireless system call is made via the IP-based wireless system;

and

the LAC and Cell ID fields are populated with a value pair that identifies the IP-based wireless system call as being one of;

an in-country call, an out-of-country call, a call made near a tower belonging to the cellular system, and a call made near a tower belonging to another cellular system.

13. A system for facilitating Call Detail Record (CDR) billing in a converged cellular system and an IP-based wireless system, the system comprising:

a gateway node that is configured to;

receive a registration request from a handset using an IP-based wireless system, wherein the request includes identification information comprising at least one of a wireless identity, a radio cell identity, an SSID, and a MAC address;

access an IP-based wireless system database with the identification information;

receive an IP-based wireless cell identity from the IP-based wireless system database;

overwrite at least one existing field from a cellular call detail record with the IP-based wireless cell identity such that the overwritten cellular call detail record field corresponds to an IP-based wireless system call,

wherein overwritten cellular call detail record reflects, at least in part, a billing event; and

identify a call request from the handset over the IP-based wireless system; and

a switch that is configured to;

receive the overwritten cellular call detail record from the gateway node for the identified call request;

facilitate an IP-based wireless system call from the handset in response to the call request; and

communicate the IP-based wireless cell identity to a billing system upon completion of the IP-based wireless system call.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the IP-based wireless system database is configured to determine the IP-based wireless cell identity based on the received identification information, wherein the IP-based wireless system database includes at least one of:

a subscriber database, a service type database, a zones database, and an access points database.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising a security node that is configured to:

authenticate the handset by a security gateway prior to registration;

communicate a public IP address associated with the access network to the gateway node as part of the authentication; and

assigne the gateway node based on the public IP address.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the gateway node is further configured to overwrite the existing call detail record fields such that an MCC field is overwrite with a value indicating the IP-based wireless system call is made via the access network.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the gateway node is further configured to overwrite the existing call detail record fields such that LAC and Cell ID fields are populated with a value pair that identifies the IP-based wireless system call as being one of:

an out-of-country call, a call made near a tower belonging to the cellular system, and a call made near a tower belonging to another cellular system.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the switch is further configured to communicate a start time and an end time associated with the IP-based wireless system call to the billing system upon completion of the IP-based wireless system call.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising a radio cell identity database configured to store information associated with the handset when it uses a cellular system component of the converged systems.

20. A computer-implemented method for facilitating Call Detail Record (CDR) billing in an Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) network, the method comprising:

receiving a registration request from a UMA capable handset that is identified by an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) ID, wherein the UMA capable handset is using an access network;

selecting a Cell Global Identification (CGI_BILLING) ID with a UMA Network Controller (UNC) referenced by the IMSI ID Mier the registration request is received;

overloading at least one existing CGI field with the CGI_BILLING ID such that the overloaded CGI field corresponds to a UMA call;

identifying a call request from the UMA capable handset over the access network; and

communicating the overloaded CGI field to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) for the identified call request.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising communicating successful registration to the UMA capable handset.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein selecting the CGI_BILLING ID includes:

providing a CGI_REAL ID from the UMA capable handset to a UMA database; and

receiving the CGI_BILLING ID from the UMA database.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising:

facilitating the UMA call for the UMA capable handset in response to the UMA call request; and

communicating a CDR that includes the CGI_BILLING ID from the MSC to a billing system upon completion of the UMA call.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the CGI_BILLING ID includes at least one of:

a modified Mobile Country Code (MCC) field, a modified Mobile Network Code (MNC) field, a Location Area Code (LAC) field, and a Cell ID field.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, wherein the MCC field is populated with a value indicating the UMA call request is made over the access network.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, wherein the LAC and Cell ID fields are populated with a value pair that identifies the UMA call request as being for one of:

an in-country call, an out-of-country call, a call made near a tower belonging to the UMA network, and a call made near a tower belonging to another cellular network.

27. An Unlicensed Mobile Access Network Controller (UNC) having computer-readable instructions for facilitating Call Detail Record (CDR) billing in an Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) network, the instructions comprising:

receiving a registration request associated with a UMA capable handset over an access network, wherein the registration request includes identification information comprising at least one of;

an IMSI ID, a CGI_REAL ID, an SSID, and a MAC address;

accessing a UMA database with the identification information;

receiving a CGI_BILLING ID from the UMA database;

overloading at least one existing CGI field with the CGI_BILLING ID such that the overloaded CGI field corresponds to a UMA call;

identifying a call request from the UMA capable handset over the access network; and

communicating the overloaded CGI field to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) for the identified call request.

28. The UNC of claim 27, wherein the instructions further include:

receiving a public IP address associated with the access network from a Security Gateway prior to receiving the request for registration; and

communicating successful registration to the UMA capable handset.

29. The UNC of claim 27, wherein the CGI_BILLING ID includes at least one of:

a modified Mobile Country Code (MCC) field, a modified Mobile Network Code (MNC) field, a Location Area Code (LAC) field, and a Cell ID field.

30. The UNC of claim 29, wherein the MCC field is populated with a value indicating the UMA call is made via the access network, and the LAC and Cell ID fields are populated with a value pair that identifies the UMA call as being one of:

an in-country call, an out-of-country call, a call made near a tower belonging to the UMA network, and a call made near a tower belonging to another cellular network.

31. A system for facilitating Call Detail Record (CDR) billing in an Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) network, the system comprising:

a UNC that is configured to;

receive a registration request from a UMA capable handset using an access network, wherein the request includes identification information comprising at least one of;

an IMSI ID, a CGI_REAL ID, an SSID, and a MAC address;

access a UMA database with the identification information;

receive a CGI_BILLING ID from the UMA database;

overload at least one existing CGI field with the CGI_BILLING ID such that the overloaded CGI field corresponds to a UMA call; and

identify a call request from the UMA capable handset over the access network; and

an MSC that is configured to;

receive the overloaded CGI field from the UNC for the identified call request;

facilitate a UMA call from the UMA capable handset in response to the call request; and

communicate the CGI_BILLING ID to a billing system upon completion of the UMA call.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the UMA database is configured to determine the CGI_BILLING ID based on the received identification information, wherein the UMA database includes at least one of:

a subscriber database, a service type database, a zones database, and an access points database.

33. The system of claim 31, further comprising a Security Gateway that is configured to:

authenticate the UMA capable handset by a Security Gateway prior to registration;

communicate a public IP address associated with the access network to the UNC as part of the authentication; and

assign the UNC based on the public IP address.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the UNC is further configured to overload the existing CGI fields such that an MCC field is populated with a value indicating the UMA call is made via the access network;

an MNC field is populated with a value corresponding to a rating plan; and

LAC and Cell ID fields are populated with a value pair that identifies the UMA call as being one of;

an out-ofcountry call, a call made near a tower belonging to the UMA network, and a call made near a tower belonging to another cellular network.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the MSC is further configured to communicate a start time and an end time associated with the UMA call to the billing system upon completion of the UMA call.

36. The system of claim 31, further comprising a CGI database configured to store information associated with the UMA capable handset when it uses a cellular network component of the UMA network.