MXPA00001664A - Mobile terminal based tariff acquisition system for wireless services - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of acquiring potential tariff charges assessed by wireless service providers to a mobile subscriber prior to registration is disclosed herein. The method includes transmitting a request for tariff information by the mobile terminal over a control channel to a candidate service provider. The candidate service provider determines an applicable tariff charge based on various factors such as roaming status, compulsory fees etc. The ensuing tariff charge is then transmitted back to the mobile terminal via the control channel. Subsequent tariff inquiries are made to other potential candidate service providers accessible by the mobile terminal. Once tariff information from all candidate service providers has been received, the mobile terminal may initiate registration e.g. with the cheapest service provider. The tariff information is able to be obtained prior to registering with a service provider, thus costs associated with registration are eliminated.

Description

"SYSTEM OF ACQUISITION OF TARIFF BASED ON THE MOBILE TERMINAL FOR WIRELESS SERVICES" FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to rates charged by wireless service providers, and relates more specifically to a method of acquiring potential rate information prior to registration in the mobile terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The tremendous growth in demand for wireless services has fostered an environment where multiple service providers can co-exist to provide similar coverage and services in a given geographical area. This is particularly the trend in the United States where as many as two, three or more wireless operators can compete in a certain metropolitan commercial area (MTA). In this type of competitive environment, mobile subscribers have the possibility of looking for the lowest cost operator among the competing service providers. There is currently a comparable situation among long distance carriers in the United States' where customers, while receiving essentially the same level of service, can compare prices for a typical long distance call as a factor in selecting a carrier. carrier over another. Similarly, wireless operators will have an incentive to compete for mobile subscribers and to announce their price and services in an effort to attract customers. There have been a number of proposals filed in the past that specify systems that allow subscribers to obtain tariff information loaded by different service providers. Figure 1 illustrates a technique of the previous branch wherein the information of the tariff can be obtained by an individual subscriber in order to select the most economical service provider. For example, a mobile terminal 10 is placed in an area where it has potential access to these service providers, each of which provides essentially similar service and coverage. The three providers may be operating in accordance with the same standard, therefore requiring only a single normal telephone, or they may be operating in accordance with different wireless standards. A multi-standard mobile terminal is required to give access to these systems operating in different standards. In order to have access to the tariff information, the mobile terminal 10 advances to register in order to have access to the service provider that is within its capacity, such as an A provider, for example. Once access has been established, mobile terminal 10 sends a request to provider A for rate information. In addition, the request asks about the tariff information in competitors such as suppliers B and C. Upon receiving the request, the provider A depends on the request through the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 12 to an attached centralized server 14. The network providers are in communication with the server 14 through the PTSN in such a way that the server 14 is able to maintain the current rate information on all participating systems through frequent updates. The requested rate information is then sent again through provider A to mobile terminal 10 for analysis. The mobile terminal then has the option to establish a connection with any of the other service providers B or C, based on the price, priority or some other predetermined parameter.

- A major disadvantage with the aforementioned approach is that the implementation is complicated and requires considerable changes in the current network systems for implementation. As an example, significant changes in the software and control messages must be incorporated to accommodate the central fee server, thus making backward compatibility with existing networks difficult. further, the approach requires the subscriber to undergo a registration process in order to have access to a service provider thereby accumulating the costs associated with the registration for fee research. In addition, the approach potentially requires that the subscriber terminate his current service and re-register with another provider if it is determined that this is preferable. Other considerations may include cost and reliability. For example, the server 14 can be maintained by a third party thereby increasing the cost. Likewise, the tariff information stored in the server can only obtain indirect access through the mobile terminal 10, therefore the utility for the subscriber depends completely on the timely updates and reliability of the server. In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for allowing access to the tariff information without requiring the subscriber to first register with a service provider. A further object is to provide a relatively less complicated, cost-efficient system that is more backward compatible in existing systems and standards.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, and in accordance with one embodiment thereof, the invention discloses a method for acquiring the potential tariff charges calculated by wireless service providers to mobile subscribers before registration. The method includes transmitting a request for tariff information together with the subscriber identification information through a control channel from a mobile terminal to a candidate service provider. An acknowledgment message may be sent by the service provider to the mobile terminal to indicate that the rate request was received. The candidate service provider then determines a applicable rate charge based on categorical factors such as the current status of vagrancy, type of service requested, etc. The next tariff charge is transmitted back to the mobile terminal through the control channel. Similar rate requests are made in sequence to other potential candidate service providers that are accessible through the mobile terminal in that geographic area. Once the tariff information of all the candidate service providers has been received, the mobile terminal can initiate registration at the lowest cost service provider, in accordance with the prevailing operating standard. The present invention discloses a method for acquiring tariff information that can be calculated potentially for the subscriber. Rate information is obtained before the mobile terminal registers with a provider, thus eliminating the costs associated with the registration for fee requests. In addition, the concept of the invention can be implemented with relatively small modifications to existing wireless systems, thereby significantly increasing backward compatibility. These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed descriptions and studying the various figures of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention, together with other additional objects and advantages thereof, is better understood by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a technique from the previous branch to acquire tariff information from a centralized server; and Figure 2 illustrates a feeder system based on a mobile terminal operating in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES In a basic cellular telecommunication system, a mobile switching center (MSC) is linked to a plurality of base stations by a series of digital transmission links. The base stations are geographically dispersed to form a coverage area for the system. Each base station (BS) is designed to cover a specified area, known as a ^ cell, in which "bidirectional radio communication between a mobile terminal and the BS and the associated cell can be performed. The tariff acquisition based on the mobile terminal operating in accordance with the present invention will be shown in the following: Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary rate acquisition system operating in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. show the associated base stations The mobile terminal (MT) 16 may be operating in a given geographical area 18 which may be a visit area by which the subscriber is routed to or - the subscriber's domestic service area. Geographical 18 may contain multiple service providers each providing essentially similar coverage area where services are provided. Individual eaters can operate in accordance with a variety of wireless standards. In the preferred mode, the MT 16 is capable of multiple band operation and multiple rule for increased possibility to give access to the candidate networks. In telecommunication systems operating in accordance with the Advanced Digital Mobile Phone System (D-AMPS), for example, calls initiated from an MT experience a procedure referred to as "registration" in order to give access to the service. Registration is a process by which the MSC uses in order to keep track of active MTs in their area "of - service. In the case of a routed MT connected in a visit service area, the visited MSC determines the identity of the subscriber of the information transmitted during the fee request. This identification of the subscriber can be determined from a mobile identification number (MIN) transmitted through a radio control channel. The control channel provides the necessary communication and signaling between the MT and the MSC when the MT is not in conversation such as during radiolocation and access procedures. The MSC then determines if the request terminal is a visiting MT and therefore can initiate the appropriate registration procedure. In an exemplary implementation of the present invention, before initiating the procedures for registration, the MT 16 initiates a fee inquiry request to all candidate service providers in all the bands and standards it may support. This is achieved through the control channel designated by each operator. The inquiry can be initiated by the subscriber by dialing a code or by simply pushing an associated key in the mobile terminal, for example. A new control message 19 containing a "Rate Request" indicator is sent via MT 16 to each of the candidate suppliers A, B and C, designated respectively by the reference numbers 20, 22 - and 24 in their respective control channels. The candidate operator's MSC determines that this is a rate inquiry and can again send an optional "Rate Request Acknowledgment" message to notify the mobile terminal that the request was accepted. The MSC then calculates the potential tariff charges for the subscriber. The subscriber is roaming at the time of the request for inquiry, the candidate MSC can determine this from the mobile identification number (MIN) that is transmitted through the control channel. The MSC can determine that the MT is not a domestic subscriber typically by comparing the MIN with those stored in a predefined database. Those skilled in the art will appear that various procedures or protocols for subscriber identification can occur in systems operating in accordance with different standards. Therefore, the invention can be adapted to work within the procedures of the prevailing standard in order to uniquely identify a subscriber, eg, the identity of the international mobile subscriber (IMSI) used in the Global System for Mobile Communication Systems ( GSM). Once the current status of the subscriber has been determined, the appropriate charges can be calculated. Tariff charges can be segmented and applied to a subscriber depending on any number of criteria such - as if the subscriber is a national / international vagabond or if any of the additional quotas should be applied in accordance with the negotiated agreements, for example. In addition, rates may be subject to change in response to dynamic factors such as increased traffic load at any given time, for example. This flexibility in tariff calculations allows operators considerable versatility to devise prices and sales plans to generate income. "~" After the calculation of tariff charges, the candidate operator responds with the appropriate rate information sent through a new message "Rate Information" via the control channel to MT 16. Since the tariff charges may be vary between individual providers, fare inquiries are made to the other candidate providers in sequence in a similar manner. The data of the tariff is stored in a memory in the MT 16 where the data can be presented in the mobile terminal for the user. Registration procedures can be initiated automatically with the lowest cost provider or some other priority factor set by the user. In addition, the selection of the provider can be carried out manually by the user's entry in the MT.

The present invention proposes a method for mobile terminals to acquire tariff information without first having to register with a provider The method is especially suitable for vagrant subscribers where the knowledge of the tariff information may be limited. described, this system is suitable for use with several existing wireless systems and standards with relatively small modifications to existing signal control messages, significantly increasing backwards compatibility. Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, the description is illustrative of the invention and should not be construed as limiting the invention. - In particular, the concept can be implemented to be used with several wireless systems that work in accordance, for example, with the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), or the Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) ) in addition to analog systems that work in accordance with the Mobile Phone System Advanced (AMPS), the Total Access Communication System (TACS), Nordic Mobile Telecommunications (NMT), and terrestrial systems based on satellite. In addition, the terminals for use with the present invention which are - capable of multiple band and / or multiple rule operation will have access to a larger number of service providers than single-band or single-rule terminals. Therefore, various modifications and applications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (13)

- CLAIMS:

1. A method for acquiring tariff charges calculated by a plurality of wireless service providers by a mobile terminal prior to registration, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a request for tariff information via the mobile terminal to the plurality of service providers, the request includes the subscriber identification information; determining a tariff charge applicable to the mobile terminal based on a current state of a subscriber identified by the subscriber identification information by each of the plurality of service providers; transmit the applicable tariff charge for each of the plurality of service providers to the mobile terminal; and selectively registering the mobile terminal with one of the plurality of service providers based on the applicable rate charge.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transmission request step includes sending the rate request message through a control channel.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the identification information of the subscriber is the mobile identification number (MIN) of the mobile terminal.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining includes ensuring the existence of a vagrancy agreement with the home service provider of the mobile terminal.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second transmission step includes sending the applicable tariff charge through a control channel to the mobile terminal.

6. A method for obtaining wireless telecommunication service with a service provider from at least two candidate service providers that are accessible by a mobile terminal, the method comprising the steps of: - transmitting a request for tariff information from a mobile terminal to a first service provider, the request includes subscriber identification information; determining a first tariff charge for the mobile terminal by the first service provider based on a current state of a subscriber associated with the subscriber identification information; - transmit the first tariff charge from the first service provider to the mobile terminal; transmitting a request for fee information from the mobile terminal to a second service provider, the request includes subscriber identification information; determining a second tariff charge for the mobile terminal by the second service provider based on a current state of a subscriber associated with the subscriber identification information; transmit the second tariff charge_ from the second service provider to the mobile terminal; evaluate the first fee charge and the second fee charge; select one of the service providers based on the fare charges transmitted; and register with the selected service provider.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the transmission steps occur through an appropriate control channel.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the determination step includes securing the terms of a vagrancy agreement with a home service provider of the mobile terminal. -

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein the step of selecting includes selecting the service provider associated with the lowest tariff charge.

10. A method according to claim 6, wherein the registering step is carried out automatically by the mobile terminal.

11. A method according to claim 6, wherein the registering step is carried out manually by the subscriber after the charges are presented to the mobile terminal.

12. A method according to claim 6, wherein the step of registering _agress in accordance with the registration procedures defined in the current operating standard.

13. A fee acquisition system for receiving the tariff information by a mobile terminal of at least one wireless service provider comprising: a mobile terminal transmitting a request for tariff information including the subscriber identification information to the provider of service; a rate calculation function for determining a tariff charge for the mobile terminal based on the current status of a subscriber associated with the subscriber identification information; and a control channel for transmitting the request for tariff information from the mobile terminal to the service provider and wherein the tariff charge is transmitted from the service provider to the mobile terminal, where after receipt of the tariff charge, the mobile terminal initiates a registration procedure with a preferred service provider.