Cross-charging in a mobile telecommunication network

• US 20020183040A1
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Jaatinen, Mikael Jyrki, Lundstrom, Johan
• Application Number:
  US10/136,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20020183040A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/07 Split billing, i.e. both A-party and B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/59 based on real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/67 Transmitting arrangements for sending billing related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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 2215/48 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 2215/64 Split billing, sharing the cost of calls, e.g. between calling and called parties

Abstract

A method of reallocating charges relating to one or more connections from a first subscriber 1 of a mobile telecommunications network 1 to a second subscriber 2 of that or a different mobile telecommunications network. The method comprises temporarily linking the accounts of the two subscribers maintained in the or each associated Cost Control Node 9,16, receiving at the Cost control Node 9,16 associated with the first subscriber, real time charging messages according to the CAMEL protocol, and allocating the charging messages to the account of the second subscriber including, if necessary, transferring the charging messages to the Cost control Node 17 associated with the second subscriber.

Claims

1. A method of reallocating charges relating to one or more connections from a first subscriber of a mobile telecommunications network to a second subscriber of that or a different mobile telecommunications network, the method comprising:

temporarily linking the accounts of the two subscribers maintained in the or each associated Cost Control Node;

receiving at the Cost Control Node associated with the first subscriber, real time charging messages according to a charge control protocol; and

allocating the charging messages to the account of the second subscriber including, if necessary, transferring the charging messages to the Cost Control Node associated with the second subscriber.

2. A method according to claim 1 and comprising linking the accounts of the subscribers following the sending of a request from the first subscriber to the second subscriber, and the acceptance of the request by the second subscriber.

3. A method according to claim 1 and comprising linking the accounts of the two subscribers for a fixed period of time, a fixed number of calls, up to a maximum cost limit, or for only certain call destinations.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of temporarily linking the accounts of the two subscribers is carried out on a per connection basis.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said charge control protocol is CAP.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the or each mobile network is a GSM or UMTS network, and USSD signalling messages are used to handle requests for the reallocation of charges, and the response to such requests.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein SMS messages are used to handle requests for the reallocation of charges, and the response to such requests.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said network is a SIP based network, and said charge control protocol is DIAMETER.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein a request for the reallocation of charges is sent by the first subscriber to his allocated Cost Control Node and, if the second subscriber is associated with the same Cost Control Node, that Cost Control Node sends the request to the second subscriber.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second subscriber is associated with a different Cost Control Node, and the reverse charge request is sent to the second subscriber via that second Cost Control Node.

11. A Cost Control Node for use in a mobile telecommunications network and comprising means for maintaining subscriber accounts, the Node being arranged to receive real time charging information in respect of subscriber'"'"'s whose accounts the Node holds, the Node further having means for linking the accounts of two or more subscribers, or for linking the account of one subscriber to an account of another subscriber whose account is held by another Cost Control Node, in order to reallocate received real time charging messages.