Method, a telecommunication system and a network node for sponsoring a communication service

• US 8,625,758 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• 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: Cai, Yigang, Li, Xiangyang
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US13/381,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20120106722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,652 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.1, 379/114.12, 379/114.21, 379/114.23
• US Class Current: 379/114.21
• 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, the method comprising:

receiving a request for communication services;

accessing, dynamically, a rule for charging a sponsor of said communication services at least a portion of total charges for the requested communication services based on a plurality of parameter values including at least one respective value of at least one respective parameter other than an identity of an originator of the request for communication services, an intended recipient of a communication of the requested communication services and an identity of the sponsor;

providing said communication service, to a user of said communication service, directly; and

generating a charging record for charging the sponsor according to the rule.

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

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said rule depends on the originator of the request or the intended recipient of said communication.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein an advertisement is added to said communication service.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said rule is determined depending on information about said advertisement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said sponsor is reimbursed at least partially, by a user of said communication service, by determining a third cost.

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

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one respective parameter comprises at least one of a user location, a type of service, a direction of service, time information, a payment type and rule priority information.

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

a telecommunications network for making said communication service available directly, to a user of said communication service, and

a balance management server for dynamically determining a rule for charging a sponsor of said communication service at least a portion of total charges for the requested communication services based on a plurality of parameter values including at least one respective value of at least one respective parameter other than an identity of an originator of the request for communication services, an intended recipient of a communication of the requested communication services and an identity of the sponsor.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a charging server for charging a first cost for the usage of said communication service at least partially to said sponsor, by determining a second cost, the second cost depending on said rule and said first cost.

10. A device for sponsoring a communication service, comprising:

a balance management server for dynamically determining a rule for charging a sponsor of said communication service at least a portion of total charges for the requested communication services based on a plurality of parameter values including at least one respective value of at least one respective parameter other than an identity of an originator of a request for communication services, an intended recipient of a communication of the requested communication services and an identity of the sponsor.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising a charging server for charging a first cost for the usage of said communication service at least partially to said sponsor, by determining a second cost, the second cost depending on said rule and said first cost.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein said balance management server is configured to determine an originator of the request or an intended recipient of said communication, and wherein said balance management server is configured to determine said rule depending on said originator of the request or said intended recipient of said communication.

13. The device of claim 10 further comprising a sponsorship database for storing said rule.

14. The device of claim 10, further comprising an advertisement server for adding an advertisement to said communication service.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said balance management server is configured to determine said rule depending on information about said advertisement.

16. The device of claim 10, further comprising a fourth processor for reimbursing said sponsor, in particular by a user of said communication service by determining a third cost.

17. The device according to claim 10, wherein said balance management server is configured to determine information about a location of a user of said communication service, and wherein said balance management server is configured to determine said rule depending on said location of said user.

18. A non-transient computer readable medium comprising:

instructions for a computer which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to;

make a communication service available directly, to a user of said communication service, and

to dynamically determine a rule for charging a sponsor of said communication service at least a portion of total charges for the communication service based on a plurality of parameter values including at least one respective value of at least one respective parameter other than an identity of an originator of a request for the communication service, an intended recipient of a communication of the requested communication service and an identity of the sponsor.

19. A computer program product for sponsoring a communication service, comprising:

a non-transient computer readable medium having instructions which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to make a communication service available directly, to a user of said communication service, and to dynamically determine a rule, for charging a sponsor of said communication service at least a portion of total charges for the communication service based on a plurality of parameter values including at least one respective value of at least one respective parameter other than an identity of an originator of a request for the communication service, an intended recipient of a communication of the requested communication service and an identity of the sponsor.