Method and system for location-dependent billing for services
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving from a mobile terminal by a central unit of a mobile communication network, a billing rate code, wherein the billing rate code is obtained by the mobile terminal from an external location tag accessed by the mobile terminal via a local communication connection;
determining by the central unit, a geographic location identification of the external location tag by evaluation of said billing rate code of the external location tag; and
selecting by the central unit, a billing rate for billing for a service available to the user based on the billing rate code of the external location tag, wherein the service comprises mobile wireless access to the mobile communication network.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for location-dependent billing for services that are available to mobile terminals. A mobile terminal may access a fixably installed external location tag, and may obtain from the external location tag a billing rate code, which may then be forwarded from the mobile terminal to a central unit of a mobile communication network, in which the mobile terminal is logged. The central unit may determine a geographic location identification of the external location tag—e.g., by evaluation of the billing rate code—and may select a billing rate for billing for service(s) available to the user, based on the billing rate code at the external location tag. The mobile terminal may access the external location tag via a local communication connection, which may be set up between the mobile terminal and external location tag, such as using a corresponding wireless interface therebetween.
48 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising:
-
receiving from a mobile terminal by a central unit of a mobile communication network, a billing rate code, wherein the billing rate code is obtained by the mobile terminal from an external location tag accessed by the mobile terminal via a local communication connection; determining by the central unit, a geographic location identification of the external location tag by evaluation of said billing rate code of the external location tag; and selecting by the central unit, a billing rate for billing for a service available to the user based on the billing rate code of the external location tag, wherein the service comprises mobile wireless access to the mobile communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A system, comprising:
a mobile terminal that is configured to; access an external location tag via a local communication connection; receive a billing rate code form the external location tag; forward the billing rate code from the mobile terminal to a central unit of a mobile communication network, in which the mobile terminal is logged; and receive from the central unit billing related information for a service available to the user in accordance with a billing rate assigned to the billing rate code, wherein the service comprises mobile wireless access to the mobile communication network. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
15. A central unit of a mobile communication network, the central unit is configured to:
-
receive from a mobile terminal a billing rate code obtained by the mobile terminal from the external location tag via a local communication connection; determine a geographic location identification of the external location tag based on the billing rate code; and select a billing rate for a service available to the user in accordance with a billing rate assigned to the billing rate code at a billing unit, wherein the service comprises mobile wireless access to the mobile communication network. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
Specification