Content-based billing service for wireless prepaid subscribers

• US 20030120499A1
• Filed: 12/26/2001
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: MacLean, Ian, Keeler, Donald, Reeder, Douglas J., Bianconi, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,644,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1467 involving prepayment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• 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 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method of allowing content-based billing to a prepaid subscriber or subscribers is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the invention, the content-based billing is achieved by forwarding volume limit threshold data normally used by the Serving GPRS support node to the Gateway GPRS support node, which according to the prior art, counted all data bits at the same rate. According to this embodiment, by forwarding the volume limit threshold data to the GGSN, a modified data count is accumulated since billable data is monitored and accumulates, whereas free data does not accumulate. This modified data count is then provided from the gateway GPRS support node to the Serving GPRS support node, which then transmits the accumulated data count to the SCP.

Claims

1. A method of providing content-based billing to a prepaid subscriber comprising the steps of:

initiating information exchange between a first Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN) and Server Control Point (SCP) regarding said prepaid subscriber;

providing volume limit threshold data to the first SGSN;

forwarding said volume limit threshold data to a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN)

accumulating a billable data count relating to a profile of a prepaid subscriber;

transmitting said accumulated data count to said first SGSN if said accumulated data count reaches said volume limit threshold; and

providing said accumulated data count to said SCP.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting said accumulated data count if an exchange of data between said BSC/RNC and SGSN is interrupted before said volume limit threshold is reached.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of transmitting a new volume limit threshold to said first SGSN and forwarding said new volume limit threshold to said GGSN.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing said first SGSN with information to release or terminate communications with said PDP.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said GGSN does not accumulate billable count for selected types of data in accordance with said subscriber profile.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of accumulating billable data count comprises the step of accumulating different types of data counts for different billable data rates.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein a first type of data is provided at no cost to the subscriber and does not accumulate a data count at said GGSN, a second type of data is accumulated at a first rate at said GGSN, a third type of data accumulates at a rate lower than said first rate at said GGSN, and a fourth type of data accumulates at a rate greater than said first rate at said GGSN.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing volume limit threshold data is provided from the SCP.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of forwarding said volume limit threshold data is forwarded from said first SGSN.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of exchanging data between a Base Station Controller (BSC), said first SGSN, and said GGSN.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of accumulating a billable data count comprises accumulating said billable data count by said GGSN.

12. The method of claim 4 wherein said information to release or terminate is provided from said SCP.

13. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the steps of contacting said first SGSN by a second SGSN indicating a mobility transfer;

transmitted said accumulated data count from said GGSN to said first SGSN;

providing said accumulated data count to said SCP;

terminating communications between said SCP and said first SGSN with respect to said prepaid subscriber;

establishing communications between said second SGSN and said SCP with respect to said prepaid subscriber;

providing volume limit threshold data from said SCP to said second SGSN;

forwarding said volume limited threshold data from said second SGSN to said GGSN;

accumulating a billable data count at said GGSN according to said prepaid subscriber profile;

transmitting said accumulated data count from said GGSN to said second SGSN; and

providing said accumulated data count to said SCP.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising transmitting said accumulated data count prior to attainment of said volume limit threshold.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of transmitting a new volume limit threshold from said SCP to said second SGSN and forwarding said new volume limit threshold from said second SGSN to said GGSN.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of providing said second SGSN with information to release or terminate communications with said PDP.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said GGSN does not accumulate billable count for selected types of data in accordance with said subscriber profile.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein communication between said second SGSN and said SCP is established prior to termination of communication between said first SGSN and SCP.

19. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of exchanging information between said first SGSN and said second SGSN.

20. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of exchanging data between a second BSC, said second SGSN and said GGSN.