Translation of fees for value added services in a communication network

• US 8,744,051 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2009
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Strommer, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US12/542,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20100111273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 37911405-11413, 379/114.15, 379/114.17, 379/114.2
• US Class Current: 379/114.05
• 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 15/85 characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/851 Determined tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• 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 2215/815 Notification when a specific condition, service or event is met
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 Available credit

Abstract

A method (300) for translating fees for a value added service in a communication network, and a charging gateway (116) that translates fees for a value added service in a communication network. A request (130, 134) for a communication device to access the value added service can be received and, in real time, translated to a first pseudo telephone number. In real time, a first telephone call (136) to the first pseudo telephone number can be simulated to generate a first call request (138) that inquires whether credit for the value added service is available. An acknowledgement (140) to the first call request can be received that indicates whether a sufficient amount of credit to access the value added services is available. Access or denial to the value added services can be based on whether the sufficient amount of credit is available.

Claims

1. A method of translating fees for a value added service in a communication network, comprising:

receiving a request for a communication device to access the value added service;

in real time, translating the request to access the value added service to a first pseudo telephone number;

in real time, simulating a first telephone call to the first pseudo telephone number to generate a first call request that inquires whether credit for the value added service is available;

receiving a response to the first call request that indicates whether a sufficient amount of credit to access the value added services is available;

when the response to the first call request indicates that the sufficient amount of credit is available, granting access to the requested value added service; and

when the response to the first call request indicates that the sufficient amount of credit is not available, denying access to the requested value added service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request for the communication device to access the value added service comprises receiving the request from the communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request for the communication device to access the value added service comprises receiving the request from a short messaging service center (SMSC) server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

communicating the first call request to an intelligent network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating a value added service request to a value added service provider.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

simulating a second telephone call to a second pseudo telephone number to generate a second call request that indicates to debit a fee for the value added service.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a usage of the value added service by the communication device; and

when the usage of the value added service approaches or reaches a point in which additional fees are required to continue use of the value added service, simulating a second telephone call to a second pseudo telephone number to generate a second call request to inquire whether credit for additional use of the value added service is available.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

simulating a second telephone call to a second pseudo telephone number to generate a second call request to credit an unused portion of a fee for the value added service.

9. A charging gateway, comprising:

a processor that;

receives a request for a communication device to access a value added service;

in real time, translates the request to access the value added service to a first pseudo telephone number;

in real time, simulates a first telephone call to the first pseudo telephone number to generate a first call request that inquires whether credit for the value added service is available;

receives a response to the first call request that indicates whether a sufficient amount of credit to access the value added services is available;

when the response to the first call request indicates that the sufficient amount of credit is available, grants access to the requested value added service; and

when the response to the first call request indicates that the sufficient amount of credit is not available, denies access to the requested value added service.

10. The charging gateway of claim 9, wherein the processor receives the request for the communication device to access the value added service from the communication device.

11. The charging gateway of claim 9, wherein the processor receives the request for the communication device to access the value added service from a short messaging service center (SMSC) server.

12. The charging gateway of claim 9, wherein the processor communicates the first call request to an intelligent network.

13. The charging gateway of claim 9, wherein the processor communicates a value added service request to a value added service provider.

14. The charging gateway of claim 9, wherein the processor simulates a second telephone call to a second pseudo telephone number to generate a second call request that indicates to debit a fee for the value added service.

15. The charging gateway of claim 9, wherein the processor monitors a usage of the value added service by the communication device and, when the usage of the value added service approaches or reaches a point in which additional fees are required to continue use of the value added service, simulates a second telephone call to a second pseudo telephone number to generate a second call request to inquire whether credit for additional use of the value added service is available.

16. The charging gateway of claim 9, wherein the processor simulates a second telephone call to a second pseudo telephone number to generate a second call request to credit an unused portion of a fee for the value added service.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for use in the execution of a computer of a method that translates fees for a value added service in a communication network, the method comprising:

translating the request to access the value added service to a first pseudo telephone number;

simulating a first telephone call to the first pseudo telephone number to generate a first call request that inquires whether credit for the value added service is available;

receiving a response to the first call request that indicates whether a sufficient amount of credit to access the value added services is available;

when the response to the first call request indicates that the sufficient amount of credit is available, granting access to the requested value added service; and

when the response to the first call request indicates that the sufficient amount of credit is not available, denying access to the requested value added service.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving the request for the communication device to access the value added service comprises:

receiving the request from the communication device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving the request for the communication device to access the value added service comprises:

receiving the request from a short messaging service center (SMSC) server.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises the first call request to an intelligent network.