System, method and computer program product for charging for competitive IP-over-wireless service

• US 7,092,398 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2001
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amdocs Development Limited (Amdocs Ltd.), Amdocs Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Amdocs Ltd.
• Inventors: Schweitzer, Limor
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAN, CLEMENCE S
• Application Number:
  US09/879,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20010055291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,891 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/235, 370/252, 370/253, 370/328, 370/329, 370/338, 370/349, 37911401-11409, 379/88.17, 455/405, 455/406, 455/410, 455/445, 455/450, 455/452.1, 455/452.2
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 : Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/52 : for operator independent billing system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/53 : using mediation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 : for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 : Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 : Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• 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 2215/0172 : Mediation, i.e. device or program to reformat CDRS from one or more switches in order to adapt to one or more billing programs formats
• 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 2215/2033 : WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 : Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 : Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 : Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are provided for charging for Internet Protocol (IP) usage utilizing a wireless network. Initially, call description record information is received from a wireless network in real-time. Such call description record information is associated with customer communication over the wireless network. Further collected in real-time is IP content usage information associated with the transmission of content using an IP during the customer communication in real-time. The customer is then charged for the customer communication utilizing the call description record information and the IP content usage information.

Claims

1. A method for charging for Internet Protocol usage utilizing a wireless network, comprising:

(a) receiving call description record information from a wireless network in real-time, wherein the call description record information is associated with customer communication over the wireless network;

(b) collecting Internet Protocol content usage information associated with the transmission of content using an IP during the customer communication in real-time; and

(c) charging the customer for the customer communication utilizing the call description record information and the Internet Protocol content usage information;

wherein the customer is charged for the customer communication by mapping the Internet Protocol content usage information to the call description record information to generate mapped information that is filtered, enhanced, and aggregated prior to being delivered to a billing module;

wherein the mapping includes collecting source and destination Internet Protocol addresses, application information, an amount of sent and received data, and start timestamps;

wherein the mapping includes storing a table that is used to associate dynamic IP flow with wireless identity information;

wherein the mapping provides competitive content-based tariff models.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the call description record information is received from a general packet radio service system.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein fraud and quality of service is monitored in real-time utilizing the call description record information and the Internet Protocol content usage information.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the customer is charged for the customer communication based on volume data.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the customer is charged for the customer communication based on time data of the call description record information.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein an Internet Protocol (IP) address is assigned to mobile communication units which are capable of communicating using the wireless network.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein aspects associated with the customer communication over the wireless network are varied based on the IP address.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the aspects are selected from the group consisting of quality of service, access, and prioritization.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the Internet Protocol usage information is mapped to the call description record information to generate a modified call description record.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the Internet Protocol content usage information and the call description record information are mapped to a lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) database and aggregated with an aggregator, resulting in contract records.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein information collected through NetFlow and remote traffic monitoring (RMON) web processes is further enhanced by a gobal system for mobile communication (GPRS) associator.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the mapping further includes synchronization between distributed associators.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the content usage information includes a source, destination, user name, duration, time, date, type of server and volume of data transferred.

14. A computer program product stored in a computer readable medium for charging for Internet Protocol usage utilizing a wireless network, comprising:

(a) computer code for receiving call description record information from a wireless network in real-time, wherein the call description record information is associated with customer communication over the wireless network;

(b) computer code for collecting Internet Protocol content usage information associated with the transmission of content using an IP during the customer communication in real-time; and

(c) computer code for charging the customer for the customer communication utilizing the call description record information and the Internet Protocol content usage information;

wherein the customer is charged for the customer communication by mapping the Internet Protocol content usage information to the call description record information to generate mapped information that is filtered, enhanced, and aggregated prior to being delivered to a billing module;

wherein the mapping includes collecting source and destination Internet Protocol addresses, application information, an amount of sent and received data, and start timestamps;

wherein the mapping includes storing a table that is used to associate dynamic IP flow with wireless identity information;

wherein the mapping provides competitive content-based tariff models.

15. The computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein the call description record information is received from a general packet radio service system.

16. The computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein fraud and quality of service is monitored in real-time utilizing the call description record information and the Internet Protocol content usage information.

17. The computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein the customer is charged for the customer communication based on volume data.

18. The computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein the customer is charged for the customer communication based on time data of the call description record information.

19. The computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein an Internet Protocol (IP) address is assigned to mobile communication units which are capable of communicating using the wireless network.

20. The computer program product as recited in claim 19, wherein aspects associated with the customer communication over the wireless network are varied based on the IP address.

21. The computer program product as recited in claim 20, wherein the aspects are selected from the group consisting of quality of service, access, and prioritization.

22. A system for charging for Internet Protocol usage utilizing a wireless network, comprising:

(a) logic for receiving call description record information from a wireless network in real-time, wherein the call description record information is associated with customer communication over the wireless network;

(b) logic for collecting Internet Protocol content usage information associated with the transmission of content using an IP during the customer communication in real-time; and

(c) logic for charging the customer for the customer communication utilizing the call description record information and the Internet Protocol content usage information;

wherein the customer is charged for the customer communication by mapping the Internet Protocol content usage information to the call description record information to generate mapped information that is filtered, enhanced, and aggregated prior to being delivered to a billing module;

wherein the mapping includes collecting source and destination Internet Protocol addresses, application information, an amount of sent and received data, and start timestamps;

wherein the mapping includes storing a table that is used to associate dynamic IP flow with wireless identity information;

wherein the mapping provides competitive content-based tariff models.

23. A method for altering service over a wireless network based on an Internet Protocol (IP) address, comprising:

(a) receiving a call from a mobile communication unit utilizing a wireless network, wherein the mobile communication unit has an IP address associated therewith;

(b) identifying the IP address associated with the mobile communication unit; and

(c) altering service over the wireless network based on the IP address;

wherein a customer is charged for customer communication by mapping Internet Protocol content usage information to call description record information to generate mapped information that is filtered, enhanced, and aggregated prior to being delivered to a billing module;

wherein the service is altered by altering an access provided to the mobile communication unit during the call;

wherein the service is altered by altering a prioritization of the call;

wherein the mapping includes collecting source and destination Internet Protocol addresses, application information, an amount of sent and received data, and start timestamps;

wherein the mapping includes storing a table that is used to associate dynamic IP flow with wireless identity information;

wherein the mapping provides competitive content-based tariff models.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the service is altered by altering a quality of service of the call.

25. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the access is altered by selectively precluding access to a particular network based on whether the IP address resides within a predetermined address group.

26. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the prioritization includes prioritization of packet flows based on an IP address source and destination so that a mobile communication unit assigned a higher priority receives faster service by being serviced before mobile communication units with a lower priority.

27. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the IP address associated with the mobile communication unit is assigned to the mobile communication unit in response to a connection made with a particular network such that the assigned IP address ensures a predetermined quality of service.

28. A computer program product stored in a computer readable medium for altering service over a wireless network based on an Internet Protocol (IP) address, comprising:

(a) computer code for receiving a call from a mobile communication unit utilizing a wireless network, wherein the mobile communication unit has an IP address associated therewith;

(b) computer code for identifying the IP address associated with the mobile communication unit; and

(c) computer code for altering service over the wireless network based on the IP address;

wherein a customer is charged for customer communication by mapping Internet Protocol content usage information to call description record information to generate mapped information that is filtered, enhanced, and aggregated prior to being delivered to a billing module;

wherein the mapping includes collecting source and destination Internet Protocol addresses, application information, an amount of sent and received data, and start timestamps;

wherein the mapping includes storing a table that is used to associate dynamic IP flow with wireless identity information;

wherein the mapping provides competitive content-based tariff models.

29. The computer program product as recited in claim 28, wherein the service is altered by altering a quality of service of the call.

30. A system for altering service over a wireless network based on an Internet Protocol (IP) address, comprising:

(a) logic for receiving a call from a mobile communication unit utilizing a wireless network, wherein the mobile communication unit has an IP address associated therewith;

(b) logic for identifying the IP address associated with the mobile communication unit; and

(c) logic for altering service over the wireless network based on the IP address;

wherein a customer is charged for customer communication by mapping Internet Protocol content usage information to call description record information to generate mapped information that is filtered, enhanced, and aggregated prior to being delivered to a billing module;

wherein the mapping includes collecting source and destination Internet Protocol addresses, application information, an amount of sent and received data, and start timestamps;

wherein the mapping includes storing a table that is used to associate dynamic IP flow with wireless identity information;

wherein the mapping provides competitive content-based tariff models.

31. A system comprising:

(a) means for receiving a call from a mobile communication unit of a customer utilizing a wireless network, wherein the mobile communication unit has an IP address associated therewith;

(b) means for receiving call description record information from the wireless network in real-time, wherein the call description record information is associated with customer communication over the wireless network utilizing the mobile communication unit;

(c) mean for collecting Internet Protocol content usage information associated with the transmission of content using an IP during the customer communication in real-time;

(d) means for altering service over the wireless network based on the IP address; and

(e) means for charging the customer for the customer communication utilizing the call description record information and the Internet Protocol content usage information;

wherein the customer is charged for the customer communication by mapping the Internet Protocol content usage information to the call description record information to generate mapped information that is filtered, enhanced, and aggregated prior to being delivered to a billing module;

wherein the service is altered by altering an access provided to the mobile communication unit during the call;

wherein the service is altered by altering a prioritization of the call;

wherein the mapping includes collecting source and destination Internet Protocol addresses, application information, an amount of sent and received data, and start timestamps;

wherein the mapping includes storing a table that is used to associate dynamic IP flow with wireless identity information;

wherein the mapping provides competitive content-based tariff models.