METHOD, A TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND A NETWORK NODE FOR SPONSORING A COMMUNICATION SERVICE

• US 20120106722A1
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Li, Xiangyang, Cai, Yigang
• Granted Patent: US 8,625,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1471 splitting of costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for sponsoring a communication service, wherein said communication service is made available directly, in particular to a user of said communication service, and wherein a rule, in particular applicable for charging a sponsor of said communication service, is determined dynamically.

Claims

1. A method for sponsoring a communication service, wherein said communication service is made available directly, in particular to a user of said communication service, and wherein a rule, in particular applicable for charging a sponsor of said communication service, is determined dynamically.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a first cost for the usage of said communication service is charged at least partially to said sponsor, in particular by determining a second cost, in particular depending on said rule and said first cost.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said rule depends on an originator or a recipient of said communication service.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein an advertisement is added to said communication service.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said rule is determined depending on information about said advertisement.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said sponsor is reimbursed at least partially, in particular by a user of said communication service, in particular by determining a third cost.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said rule depends on information about the location of a user of said communication service.

8. A system for sponsoring a communication service, comprising:

A communication means for making said communication service available directly, in particular to a user of said communication service,

A first processing means for dynamically determining a rule, in particular applicable for charging a sponsor of said communication service.

9. A system according to claim 8, further comprising a second processing means for charging a first cost for the usage of said communication service at least partially to said sponsor, in particular by determining a second cost, in particular depending on said rule and said first cost.

10-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A device for sponsoring a communication service, comprising a first processing means for dynamically determining a rule, in particular applicable for charging a sponsor of said communication service.

18. A device according to claim 17, further comprising a second processing means for charging a first cost for the usage of said communication service at least partially to said sponsor, in particular by determining a second cost, in particular depending on said rule and said first cost.

19. A device according to claim 17, wherein said first processing means is adapted to determine an originator or a recipient of said communication service, and wherein said first processing means is adapted to determine said rule depending on said originator or said recipient of said communication service.

20. A device according to claim 17 further comprising a first storage means for storing said rule (R).

21. A device according to claim 17, further comprising third processing means for adding an advertisement to said communication service.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein said first processing means is adapted to determine said rule depending on information about said advertisement.

23. A device according to claim 17, further comprising a fourth processing means for reimbursing said sponsor, in particular by a user of said communication service, in particular by determining a third cost (C1).

24. A device according to claim 17, further comprising a second storage means for storing said second cost, and a third storage means for storing said third cost.

25. A device according to claim 17, wherein said first processing means is adapted to determine information about a location of a user of said communication service, and wherein said first processing means is adapted to determine said rule depending on said location of said user.

26. A computer program for sponsoring a communication service, wherein said computer program, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to make a communication service available directly, in particular to a user of said communication service, and wherein said computer readable program, when executed on a computer causes the computer to determine a rule, in particular applicable for charging a sponsor of said communication service, dynamically.

27. A computer program product for sponsoring a communication service, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program, wherein said computer readable program, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to make a communication service available directly, in particular to a user of said communication service, and wherein said computer readable program, when executed on a computer causes the computer to determine a rule, in particular applicable for charging a sponsor of said communication service, dynamically.