DE102006028088A1 - Call set up attempt fee charging method for e.g. fixed network, involves receiving answer on notification to implement solvency test, where answer displays attempt status, and accomplishing fee charging of attempt after status evaluation - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves sending a notification to an online fee charging system (OCS) for implementing a solvency test of a subscriber (A) after receiving a call set up request from the subscriber. Another notification is acoustically sent to another subscriber (B), and an answer is received on the latter notification, where the answer displays a status of the call set up attempt. Fee charging of the call set up attempt is accomplished after the evaluation of the status. An independent claim is also included for a device for charging fee for call set up attempt in a telecommunications network.

Description

Field of the invention

The The invention relates to a method for billing in a telecommunications network, which may be, for example, a mobile network or a landline. In such a network, there are switching devices which among other things the making of connections in this network between individual participants (A-participant, B-participant). Dependent of the type of telecommunications network called these network elements For example, MSC (Mobile Switching Center) in the mobile network or SSP (Service switching point), if the network has an "intelligent network", which for example, in a billing with prepaid accounts becomes.

For the fee is a corresponding billingsystem used in the network. In this become common the user data collected, rated (also called rating), summarized and then sent in a bill to the network customer.

It meanwhile there are many different types of billing: for example the settlement of a fixed amount per month (a so-called "flat rate") or the time required or the transferred one Data volume. Furthermore, there are various mechanisms for calculation the fee height, via "free" numbers (at which the called party bears the costs, up to "premium rate" services, which in addition to the connection costs still require a fee for the service.

task The invention is to provide a further possibility, with the a network operator the billing of calling can make more flexible.

Presentation of the invention

These Task is solved by a method according to claim 1 and a device according to claim 8 solved.

It there is a requirement that in a circuit-switched network (Mobile or landline) one way is already offered for the call setup phase in which the B-subscriber is signaled, the one Connection request is present (usually an optical or acoustic signal "ringing" or alone or in combination a haptic signal "vibration alarm".

A Online Billing So it should start at the moment when the B-subscriber rings (or he receives a corresponding signaling that currently has a reputation for him), the "ringing" should be the A-participant itself can be charged as an event. The first fee unit becomes due when the bell phase is reached. The duration of the ringing phase, So the period up to the answer of the B-participant, depends on the embodiment of the invention is not included in the calculation. Likewise, the period is up to trigger the connection request due to response timeout not in the Calculation received.

The Method for billing a call setup attempt in a telecommunications network includes the following Steps: after receiving a call setup request from a A participant becomes one first notification sent to a charging system on the network, to carry out a liquidity test of the first participant. There will be a second notification to the sent B-subscriber (not necessarily in this temporal sequence), which there to a signaling, in particular acoustically or optically or haptically, or a combination thereof, for the B-subscriber leads. Thereafter, a response to the second notification is received and the answer indicates, optionally with additional parameters, why no call could be established. After evaluation of the answer is a billing the call setup attempt performed.

advantageous Embodiments and further developments are specified in the subclaims.

Among other things, there are the following advantages over the known billing:
Network operators have a more flexible charging method that can be optimally adapted to the actual user behavior of their customers. Here are some examples of pre-paid users using a prepaid account, and the procedure provided can also be helpful in avoiding unwanted advertising in the form of calls or fax transmissions as they become more and more popular.

In order to Network operators also have another option, their average Sales per customer (economically referred to as ARPU: "Average Revenue per User ") to increase.

The The mechanisms described are essentially the same in today's telecommunications networks Can be used with currently used standards, without an introduction of advanced standards, such as CAMEL Version 4 in the mobile network.

The Same goes for solutions for a Landline that has not yet introduced CS2-based INAP.

Also the usual CAP / INAP signaling flows have to not modified, d. H. an introduction of functionality is on the network element charging system (OCS) limited. The only exception here is a potential extension of the event information for "Abandon", see Description below. There are thus no or little additional costs for the other involved network nodes (MSC, SSP).

Brief description of the drawings

in the Following, the invention will be explained with reference to embodiments. there demonstrate

1 shows a schematic network structure with the relevant network elements,

2 a flow chart for an A subscriber initiated call setup with billing messages;

3a a call setup attempt with three answer alternatives

3b a call setup attempt with two further alternative procedures,

3c a call setup attempt with cancellation by the A-subscriber.

1 shows the components affected in the telecommunications network. Subscribers A, B are connected to the network via an exchange MSC, which may also be designed as a network element of the intelligent network, SSP. The processing of the charging requirements is done via a charging system OCS (Online Charging System).

2 shows the current charging mechanism using the network elements 1 , By way of example, an origin-controlled call (originating trigger) triggered by the A subscriber A is displayed. However, the illustration should not be limiting for the further remarks. The signaling to the charging system OCS takes place via a protocol, usually an SS7 protocol such as CAP (CAMEL Application Part) or INAP (Intelligent Network Application Part) from the switching center MSC, Mobile Switching Center or the equivalent IN network element SSP (Service Switching Point). instead of. The messages defined in the INAP for the embodiments are not limiting.

The A-subscriber is known as a participant in the billing system. Call Setup Message In a first step, the A-subscriber A starts a call setup attempt to the B-subscriber B, this message is received by the switching center MSC. Initial Service Request Before this attempts to establish the connection to the B-subscriber, a message is first sent to the billing system, in the message the parameters (Service Key, MSISDN) are transmitted. reservation The billing system now determines if Participant A is sufficiently liquid, Screening, Rating, Balance & Profile Handling, and, if necessary, reserves a sufficient amount of available credit for the call. Grant Access A positive test result is returned to the exchange MSC from the charging system, so that the further call setup can be performed. Call Setup Request The call setup request is then transmitted by the central office to the B-subscriber (ISUP IAM - Initial Address Message). The exchange now has to wait for a response from the B-subscriber (Busy, no Answer, Disconnect). Alerting (ISUP ACM - Address Complete Message): a reply of the B-subscriber is sent to the exchange, the subscriber is reachable. Answer (ISUP ANSWER) the B-subscriber answers the call setup request (Hook Off). Quota depletion From this point on, a budget check will be carried out for this call in the network. Threshold reached Once a predetermined limit has been reached, a message is generated to the billing system to inform it that, in order to continue the call, the originally established credit is no longer sufficient and an additional amount must be requested. This happens in the charging system by the message Update Reservation Here further balance and profile handling takes place. Grant Quota The additionally granted quota is transmitted to the switching network nodes and thus enables a continuation of the connection. The last three steps can be repeated as often as you like. Disconnect request A participant (in the present case the A-subscriber, but also the B-subscriber or network initiation is possible) now terminates the connection. Stop The exchange then informs the billing system of the end of the budget control period. Additional parameters can be transmitted, for example the current time, the duration of the connection etc. debit The billing system now calculates the final billing (rating, balancing & profile handling). Call release At the same time, the termination of the connection is reported to the second subscriber (in the present example, the B subscriber).

In In the present example, only one compound is billed, the between A-Participant and B-Participant, namely the period between "Answer" and "Stop".

Description of the preferred embodiments

• – Route Select Failure
• – Busy (besetzt)
• – NoAnswer (keine Antwort)
• – Abandon (Anrufer legt vorzeitig auf).

A solution of the specified task is done by a special expression of the service logic in the charging system OCS, which can be specified based on the procedure described above as follows:
The service logic in the charging system must evaluate (arm) certain events:

• - Route Select Failure
• - Busy (busy)
• - NoAnswer (no answer)
• - Abandon (caller hangs up prematurely).

The 3a . 3b . 3c First show the same procedure as in 2 to establish a connection. It will then be shown various reaction possibilities of the called B-subscriber.

case a: the B-subscriber does not respond: Event Detection Point "NoAnswer" can be used as an indication be taken to the period or the action of "ringing" at the B-subscriber to the A-participant.

case b: the B-subscriber has already established another connection and is "occupied": Event Detection Point "busy" or "RouteSelectFailure". In these cases is no billing for a To start ringing. Here you can also check if the participant subscribed to the call waiting service or if the B-subscriber is unavailable for other reasons (NotReachable).

case c: the B-participant deliberately rejects the connection request (reject), The service can report this issue via the event reported as "Busy" or "RouteSelectFailure" and the additional reported ISUP "Cause Parameter ". The following values are set in this case: Cause Value = "call rejected # 21" or "user busy # 17 "and the field location = "user".

case d: the B-subscriber is not available and an announcement is recorded. Normally, the A-subscriber puts on before the announcement to end has been played, Event Detection Point "Abandon." When the A-subscriber announces the announcement sounds to the end, then the connection is triggered with the reason "normal unspecified # 31" and the billing system OCS reported via "RouteSelectFailure".

case e: the call can not reach the B-subscriber due to network-internal problems be directed. Also in this case, the A-subscriber should not additional fees for one Ringing phase in Be charged, "RouteSelectFailure".

case f: the A-subscriber ends the call setup before the B-subscriber answers can (Event Detection Point "O-Abandon" with appropriate Status parameter), the billing system can be informed. A billing then finds dependence from the status parameter. For this purpose, an operation "EventReportBSCM" with a supplemented parameter "Status B-subscriber " become.

case f ': Alternatively you can the demolition case (Abandon) as follows and without parameter extension be treated: in the charging system OCS will respond to the initial request from the central office SSP (Operation IDP) started a timer. Will the event "Abandon" within a certain period of time (for example, within a period of time from 5 to 10 seconds) it is assumed that the call is still not necessarily in the ringing phase. The participant is therefore no fee for the Billing billed. Is the receipt of the event but after that period, then is due to the assumed fast Signaling in the base network of an already established ringtone go out and debit the account of the participant accordingly.

The Cases one Call forwarding (Call Forwarding Unconditional CFU, busy), in particular in connection with the use of an answering machine (voice mailbox) will also be considered. In this case, the ISUP signaling will "connect" the voice mail system and forwarding this information through the Event Detection Point "Answer" will always charge a fee initiated becomes.

If A connection after call setup request is made may be optional a bell toll unit as a basic fee for the conversation be involved.

Another solution to the problem will be the introduction of CAMEL Version 4 (Customized Applications for Mobile Network Enhanced Logic). Mechanisms (event detection points) are available for ringing (alerting):
MTC, terminating call: DP27 call-accepted
MOC, originating call: DP19 oTermSeized.

In order to is a signaling to a billing system - online Charging System OCS possible, which indicates the time of the alarm. This is the charging system able to charge this event.

For fixed networks are analogous statements regarding the introduction CS2 Core INAP based protocols.

A

A subscriber

B

B subscriber

3GPP

3rd Generation Partnership Project

CAMEL

Customized Applicatin for Mobile Network Enhanced Logic

CAP

CAMEL Application Part

CFU

Call Forwarding Unconditional

EDP

event Detection point

IN

Intelligent Network

INAP

IN Application Part

ISUP

ISDN User Part

MAP

mobile Application Part

MSC

mobile Switching Center, mobile switching center

MOC

mobile Originating Call

MTC

mobile Terminating Call

OCS

On-line Charging system

SCP

service Control point

SSP

service Switching point

Claims (9)

A method for charging a call setup attempt in a telecommunication network, wherein after receiving a call setup request (Call Setup Msg) from a first subscriber (A) a first notification is sent to a charging system (OCS) in the network for performing a liquidity check of the first subscriber (Reservation) a second notification (Call Setup Req) is sent to the called second subscriber (B), which leads there to a signaling, in particular acoustically, for the subscriber, and a response (Answer) to receive the second notification is characterized in that the answer indicates a status of the call setup attempt and, after evaluation of the status, billing of the call setup attempt is carried out. Method according to claim 1, characterized that the answer (noAnswer) signals as the status of the call setup attempt, that the second subscriber (B) the call setup request within not answered for a defined period of time. Method according to claim 1, characterized, that the answer (busy) is signaled as the status of the call setup attempt, that the second subscriber (B) does not answer the call setup request, since he has already established a call and no signaling is performed can, and the call setup attempt is not charged. Method according to claim 1, characterized that the response (reject) signals as the status of the call setup attempt, the second subscriber (B) rejects the call setup request. Method according to claim 1, characterized that the answer (notReachable) as the status of the call setup attempt signals that the second participant (B) is currently unreachable is and a diversion of the call setup attempt to an announcement device takes place (Announcement). Method according to claim 1, characterized the first subscriber (A) cancels the call setup request (Abandon) before signaling at the second participant (B) carried out could be. Method according to claim 6, characterized that the period is measured between sending the second Notification (Call Setup Req) to the second participant (B) and the time the call setup request was aborted (Abandon) and a billing the call setup attempt performed if the period exceeds a predefined limit. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the signaling for the B-subscriber as an event separately becomes. Device (OCS) for billing a call setup attempt in a telecommunication network according to the method of of the claims 1 to 8.