Method of charging for the use of a telecommunications service, as well as a switching system, a service control point, and a network management facility

• US 5,943,320 A
• Filed: 12/12/1996
• Issued: 08/24/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale d'Electricite (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Falkner, Rudiger, Weik, Hartmut, Lautenschlager, Wolfgang, Stahl, Uwe, Krank, Lothar
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON JR, WILLIAM HALL
• Application Number:
  US08/763,530
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 370/259, 364/705.06, 379/91.02, 379/127, 379/135, 379/201, 379/91.01, 379/115, 379/111, 379/207, 379/114, 379/112, 379/116, 379/133, 379/134, 379/126, 379/124, 379/113, 395/200.53, 395/1, 705/34
• US Class Current: 370/259
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• 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 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0112 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• 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: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13515 authentication, authorisation - fraud prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0062 Provisions for network management

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for charging for the use of a telecommunication service, as well as to a switching system, a service control point and a network management facility. A service request is transmitted from a subscriber (A) via a telecommunication network (KN) of a network operator to a service-providing unit (SAPP1) of the service provider. A charge unit (BILL) of the network operator administers the charge collection for the use of the telecommunication service. The service-providing unit (SAPP1) provides the requested telecommunication service only after receipt of a confirmation message from a authorization unit (AUT) of the network operator. The charge message (M6) with data relating to a charge for using the telecommunication service is transferred from the service-providing unit (SAPP1) to the charge unit (BILL) and the charge unit (BILL) collects the charge after the confirmation message has been received.

Claims

1. A method of charging for the use of a telecommunications service of a service provider, comprising the steps of routing a service request from a subscriber (A) through a telecommunications network (KN) of a network operator to a service-providing unit (SAPP1) of the service provider, and collecting the charge for the use of a telecommunications service by means of a charge unit (BILL) of the network operator, characterized in that the service-providing unit (SAPP1) requests an authorization from an authorization unit (AUT), that the service-providing unit (SAPP1) does not provide the requested telecommunications service until it receives a confirmation message (M4) from the authorization unit (AUT) of the network operator, that a charge message (M6) with data on a charge for the use of the telecommunications service is transferred from the service-providing unit (SAPP1) to the charge unit (BILL), and that the charge unit (BILL) collects the charge if the confirmation message (M4) has been provided.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the charge message (M6) is transferred after provision of the service.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a further message (M3) with data on the charge for the use of the telecommunications service is transferred to the authorization unit (AUT) prior to the provision of the service, and that based on these data of the further message, the authorization unit (AUT) decides on the transmission of the confirmation message (M4).

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the authorization unit (AUT) determines a parameter assigned to the subscriber (A), and decides on the transmission of the confirmation message (M4) based on said parameter.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that a first parameter stands for subscribers (A) with a normal subscriber station.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that a second parameter stands for subscribers (B) with a subscriber station to which a charge limit has been assigned.

7. A method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that a third parameter stands for a subscriber (C) with a public terminal (T3), particularly a coin, chip-card, or club telephone.

8. A switching system (SS) for a telecommunications network (KN) of a network operator with a service switching unit (SSF) for routing a service request from a subscriber (A) to a service-providing unit (SAPP1) of a service provider, and with a charge unit (BILL) of the network operator for collecting charges for the use of a telecommunications service provided by the service-providing unit (SAPP1), characterized in that the switching system (SS) further comprises an authorization unit (AUT) which is designed to receive a request (M3) from the service providing service (SAPP1) so as to send to the service-providing unit (SAPP1) a confirmation message (M4) which causes the service-providing unit (SAPP1) to provide the telecommunications service, and that the charge unit (BILL) is designed to receive from the service-providing unit (SAPP1) a charge message (M6) with data on a charge for the use of the telecommunications service and to collect the charge if the confirmation message (M4) has been provided.

9. A service control point (SC) for telecommunications services, comprising an interface to a service switching facility (EX1) of a telecommunications network (KN), means for receiving a service request from a subscriber (A) via the service switching facility (EX1), and a service-providing unit (SAPP1) of a service provider for providing a telecommunications service in response the service request, characterized in that the service-providing unit (SAPP1) comprises means for sending a message (M3) to an authorization unit (AUT) and for receiving a confirmation message (M4) from the authorization unit (AUT) of the network operator, means for sending a charge message (M6) containing data on a charge for the use of a telecommunications service to a charge unit (BILL) of the network operator which serves to collect the charge if the confirmation message (M4) has been provided, and control means which are so designed that the requested telecommunications service is not provided until the confirmation message (M4) is received.

10. A service control point (SC) as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the authorization unit (AUT) is contained in the service control point (SC).

11. A network management facility (NMC) of a network operator for a telecommunications network (KN) including a service switching facility (EX1) for routing a service request from a subscriber to a service-providing unit (SAPP1) of a service provider, the network management facility (NMC) comprising a charge unit (BILL) of the network operator for charging for the use of a telecommunications service provided by the service-providing unit (SAPP1), characterized in that the network management facility (NMC) further comprises an authorization unit (AUT) designed to receive a message (M3) from the service-providing unit (SAPP1) and to send to the service-providing unit (SAPP1) a confirmation message (M4) which causes the service-providing unit (SAPP1) to provide the telecommunications service, and that the charge unit (BILL) is designed to receive from the service-providing unit (SAPP1) a charge message (M6) with data on a charge for the use of the telecommunications service and to collect this charge if the confirmation message (M4) has been provided.