Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Usage measurement
Patent
1997-06-23
2000-02-08
Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Usage measurement
455456, H04Q 722
Patent
active
060236183
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to charging criteria used in a mobile telephone network for determining a price for a call between two subscribers.
2. Description of Related Art
In a fixed telephone network, a calling subscriber is aware of the charging criteria for the call already upon dialing the number of a subscriber B, as charging depends on whether it is a question of a local call, a long-distance call or an international call. In PBX exchanges (Private Branch Exchange) connected to a fixed telephone network, or in PABX networks internal calls are free of charge. In cordless PBX's, part of the subscriber lines are replaced with a radio connection. In cordless PBX's, there are both fixed and cordless extensions. Cordless PBX's thus allow the users of cordless telephones mobility, which depends on the coverage area of cordless base stations. A coverage area typically covers the indoor premises of an office building.
In mobile telephone networks, which enable a high degree of mobility, the charging criteria used in a fixed network cannot be used as such owing to the structure and the mode of operation of the network. In the following, the structure and the operation of a mobile telephone network will be illustrated by means of a prior art GSM mobile telephone network shown in FIG. 1. Communication between a mobile station MS located within a cell, and the network takes place over the radio path via a base transceiver station (BTS). Base transceiver stations are connected to a base station controller (BSC), whose tasks include e.g. management of radio channels, as well as changeover procedures. One base station controller BSC thus controls a number of base stations BTS. The location of a mobile station is known with the accuracy of a so-called location area (LA) composed of a few cells. A mobile station may move within the location area without a need to update the location information related to it. A plurality of base station controllers are connected to one mobile switching centre MSC, which performs the main switching functions of the mobile telephone network. The area of the cells controlled by the mobile switching center is termed as an MSC area, and all the calls originating or terminating within this area are switched via this MSC. Furthermore, the MSC connects the mobile telephone network to external networks.
The mobile telephone network also contains data bases of different kinds. In a Home Location Register (HLR), subscriber data is permanently stored regardless of the current location of the subscriber. The HLR contains the MSISDN number of the subscriber, the International Mobile Subscriber Identity code IMSI to be used inside the network, the subscriber service data, and routing information on a Visitor Location Register VLR. The Visitor Location Register VLR is integrated to all present MSC's, and it is used for recording the subscriber data obtained from the HLR for the duration of the visit of the subscriber to the area of the VLR. The VLR contains the subscriber's IMSI, MSISDN, subscriber service data, and the location area identification LAI that has been used by the subscriber for updating the location information. The location of the subscriber is thus known with the accuracy of a location area.
In the following, call establishment in a mobile telephone network will be disclosed for understanding the charging criteria: When a subscriber switches on his mobile station MS e.g. in cell A (FIG. 1), it signals an updating request to a base station, which request is directed to a mobile switching centre MSC1, and further to a visitor location register VLR. The request searches an IMSI from a home location register HLR. Thereafter, once it has been made sure in the signalling between the VLR and the mobile station that the IMSI is correct, the VLR sends an update request to the HLR, which will send the subscriber data to the VLR. Now the location of the subscriber is updated, i.e. the HLR knows the address of the VLR, and the VLR knows in whic
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Janhonen Risto
Ojala Erkki
Tuohino Markku
Eisenzopf Reinhard J.
Nguyen Duc
Nokia Telecommunications Oy
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