Charge information method

Details Charge information method Charge information method

1999-09-07

2001-07-17

Kuntz, Curtis (Department: 2643)

Telephonic communications

With usage measurement

Call charge metering or monitoring

C379S115030, C379S121020, C379S143000, C379S229000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06263058

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method of providing charge information, and to a service control unit for providing charge information.
The invention starts from the method of providing charge information for the calling subscriber commonly used in present-day telecommunications networks, as is described, for example, in Chapter II.3.4, “Fernvermittlungssysteme”, of a book by G. Siegmund, “Grundlagen der Vermittlungstechnik”, R. v. Decker's Verlag, G. Schenk GmbH, Heidelberg, 1991, pages 92 to 94.
During a call initiated by the calling subscriber, metering pulses are sent from the terminal exchange associated with the subscriber over the subscriber line to the terminal of the subscriber in order to provide the latter with charge information. The metering pulses are transmitted in the bearer channel, and the number of pulses is a measure of the charge for the call. The metering pulses are generated by a metering-pulse generator of the subscriber terminal exchange, which is controlled by a translator located at the nodal switching center. This translator determines the route to be followed by the call and the metering zone associated with this route. The metering-pulse generator is controlled by the translator according to the metering zone determined.
This prior-art method does not work perfectly if the telecommunications network consists of two or more subnetworks of different network operators. If, during call establishment, for example, a network operator different from the access-network operator of the calling subscriber is selected, no metering pulses can be provided for this call since no charge signaling is standardized between network operators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to improve the provision of charge information in telecommunications networks.
This object is attained by a method of providing charge information to a subscriber of a telecommunications network formed by subnetworks associated with different network operators, wherein during the establishment of a call from said subscriber as a calling subscriber to a called subscriber, a service control unit is triggered, the service control unit selects from a plurality of network operators, to whose tariff model data it has access, one or more network operators who provide a service for the call, the service control unit calculates a tariff for the call based on the tariff model data of the selected network operator or the selected network operators and on data about the calling subscriber and the called subscriber, and the service control unit sends a signaling message including a tariff identification assigned to the tariff to the terminal exchange of the calling subscriber, which sends to the calling subscriber charge information in accordance with the tariff identification received from the service control unit.
The invention is further directed to a service control unit for use in this method.
The idea underlying the invention is to trigger, during call establishment, a service control unit which knows the tariff models of different network operators and, based on these operator-specific data, determines an operator-unspecific tariff identification for the call and signals this tariff identification to the terminal exchange of the calling subscriber. The terminal exchange then sends charge information to the subscriber in accordance with this tariff identification.
The advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the subscriber receives from his terminal exchange correct charge information even about calls for which charges are made by an outside network operator or by different network operators. At the same time, the existing charge information methods between subscriber and terminal exchange can be retained, so that existing terminals can be kept in use and the charge information will be presented to subscribers in the manner familiar to them.
Further advantages of the invention are that it can be incorporated into existing communications networks at low cost. No change of signaling standards is necessary. The solution is dynamically adaptable to new network-operator constellations without making any changes.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are apparent from the subclaims.
It is particularly advantageous to define a set of operator-unspecific tariffs that is used as a “tariff grid” in the service control unit and in the terminal exchanges. This reduces the signaling complexity and leads to a further considerable reduction of the cost of incorporating the invention into existing telecommunications networks. The grid need not permit precise mapping of a subscriber-specific tariff to a subscriber-unspecific tariff in any case. The resulting approximately correct charge information will generally be sufficient.
Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous if the network operators transmit their operator-specific tariff model data independently through a data network to the service control unit and if the service control unit generates a tariff model mapping matrix from these data. In this manner, very fast computation of the subscriber-unspecific tariff identification and a reduction of the computer capacity necessary therefor are achieved.


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patent: 5420914 (1995-05-01), Blumhardt
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patent: 5930343 (1999-07-01), Vasquez
patent: 6044259 (2000-03-01), Hentila et al.
patent: 6104792 (2000-08-01), Lautenschlager et al.
patent: WO 94/28683 (1994-12-01), None
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Chapter II.3.4, “Fernvermittlungssysteme”, G. Siegmund, Grundlagen der Vermittlungstechnik, 1991, pp. 92 to 94.

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