Method for transmitting tariff data to a subscriber unit

Details Method for transmitting tariff data to a subscriber unit Method for transmitting tariff data to a subscriber unit

1996-07-22

1998-12-08

Isen, Forester W.

Telephonic communications

With usage measurement

Call charge metering or monitoring

379144, 455406, 455407, 455409, H04M 1500

Patent

active

058481389

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for transmitting tariff data via radio-frequency signals to a chargeable subscriber unit communicating with a telecommunication network. The invention also relates to a radio system providing a wireless local loop, the system comprising at least one base station, a subscriber network element and subscriber units, the subscriber network element comprising means for transmitting telecommunication signals between the telecommunication system and the subscriber units.
The invention relates to transmitting tariff data via radio signals to a chargeable subscriber unit, such as a pay phone, connected to a telecommunication network. The invention relates in particular to a WLL system, i.e. a radio system providing a wireless local loop, in which system the subscriber units are connected with a radio connection via base stations to a public switched telephone network (PSTN). Any conventional type of telephone set can be connected to the WLL system by means of a special terminal equipment, the radio path being thus invisible for the user.
2. Description of the Related Art
A subscriber unit refers to the equipment the subscriber has for transmitting and receiving telecommunication signals, i.e. in the case of a WLL system, the subscriber unit comprises a WLL terminal equipment consisting of a radio part and a teleadapter (to which the user interface, e.g. a telephone, is connected), and a user interface, such as a telephone, a telefax terminal, a computer/modem combination or the like, connected to the terminal equipment. In this connection, a chargeable subscriber unit refers to a subscriber unit which charges the user a fee immediately during the use, and, in most cases, at least partly in advance. This kind of chargeable subscriber unit is, for example, one which comprises a user interface, such as a pay phone or a telefax terminal, operated by coins, credit cards or other similar means of payment.
When chargeable subscriber units are used, the system has to be able to charge the user of the subscriber unit during the use. An arrangement used with the chargeable telephone sets of, for example, the NMT-450 system is previously known. In this arrangement a tariff frame is transmitted via a radio path to the pay phone when the connection is established, and the phone charges the user of the phone on the basis of this tariff frame independently during the entire call. One drawback of this known arrangement is, however, that tariff changes possibly occurring during the call cannot be taken into consideration. It is common that the operator determines, for example, a special evening tariff, which may differ considerably from the day-time tariff. However, the known arrangement described above cannot take into consideration the possible change of the tariff during the call, wherefore the user of the pay phone may have to pay considerably more (or less) for the call than that which the operator actually considers to be the correct price for the call. In other words, the price of the call calculated by the telephone exchange may differ considerably from the amount of money the pay phone charges the user.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problem and to provide a method for transmitting tariff data to a chargeable subscriber unit in such a way that the user of the unit could be charged as fairly as possible. These aims are achieved with the method according to the invention, which is characterized in that a tariff frame corresponding to a lump sum is transmitted to the subscriber unit, charge-metering signals received from the telecommunication network are counted, and when the monetary value corresponding to the number of the counted charge-metering signals exceeds a predetermined threshold value, a new tariff frame corresponding to a lump sum is transmitted to the subscriber unit.
The invention is based on the idea that the use of a chargeable subscriber unit can be charged

REFERENCES:
patent: 4640986 (1987-02-01), Yotsutani et al.
patent: 5046085 (1991-09-01), Godsey et al.
patent: 5109401 (1992-04-01), Hattori et al.
patent: 5233642 (1993-08-01), Renton

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