Communication process in a telecommunications network

• US 6,029,066 A
• Filed: 03/27/1997
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Charbonnier, Alain, Blondeau, Olivier, Despres, Fran.cedilla.ois
• Primary Examiner(s): TROST IV, WILLIAM GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US08/809,470
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/422, 455/406-408, 455/414, 455/418, 455/446, 455/456, 455/465, 455/524, 455/550, 455/558, 455/561, 455/419
• US Class Current: 455/419
• 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 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/74 Rating aspects, e.g. rating parameters or tariff determination apects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A communication process in a telecommunications network between a processing member and at least one terminal (11) remote therefrom allows a subscriber equipped with a multi-user terminal or an identification module to choose at least one access area (21) to the network in which he benefits from special conditions.

Claims

1. Communication process in a telecommunications network between a base station (22) and at least one terminal (11) remote therefrom, in which a subscriber (20) to said network is equipped with a terminal (11) or an identification module when said terminal is a multi-user terminal, to choose at least one access area (21) to the network where he benefits from special conditions, characterized in that said process comprises the following stages:

during the design of the network remote loading of the coordinates of the base station (22) by a centralized member (CEDP),

from the access area to the network chosen by the subscriber, remote loading into the terminal (11) or identification module, cartographic coordinates permitting the association with the subscriber of said access area to the network where he will benefit from special conditions,

during an access to the network, determination by the base station (22) whether special conditions apply to said access, by comparing its own cartographic coordinates with those stored and transmitted by the terminal.

2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the telecommunications network is a radio-accessible network having access base stations (22), a base station being associated with a terminal at the time of a call.

3. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the different access areas (23) are listed on a map, the map allocating to each access base station (22) or each multi-user terminal elementary coordinates permitting distance calculations within the network and/or personalized characteristics.

4. Process according to claim 2, characterized in that each access base station to the network locally discriminates, by subscriber to said network and on the basis of characteristic informations or cartographic data, the local calls made or received by said subscriber, from non-local calls in order to apply access conditions or differentiated pricing.

5. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the telecommunications network is a network of multi-user terminals, each having a physical access to a network subscriber identification module.

6. Process according to claim 5, characterized in that each multi-user terminal locally discriminates, by subscriber to said network and on the basis of characteristic informations, the local calls made or received by said subscriber, from non-local calls in order to apply access conditions or differentiated pricing.

7. Process according to claim 5, characterized in that each multi-user terminal discriminates, by subscriber to said network and on the basis of cartographic data, the local calls made or received by said subscriber, from non-local calls in order to apply access conditions or differentiated pricing.

8. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the terminals are mobile terminals.

9. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the identification module is a memory or chip card.

10. Process according to claim 2, characterized in that the different access areas (23) are listed on a map, the map allocating to each access base station (22) or each multi-user terminal elementary coordinates permitting distance calculations within the network and/or personalized characteristics.

11. Process according to claim 4, characterized in that the terminals are mobile terminals.

12. Process according to claim 7, characterized in that the identification module is a memory or chip card.