Patent EA-002105-B1 (EA)
Title: Clearing method in a telecommunication system
Inventor: RITTER RUDOLF
IPC: H04M15/00
Filed: 1997-11-07
Abstract: 1. Billing method for billing the user for the usage of resources (A-F) in a SIM card (10) in a telecommunications network (2), which resources are not responsible for the traffic process, characterized in that the  user is billed for software resources and/or hardware resources of the SIM card, at least one counter in the SIM card is incremented when a said billed-for software resource and/or hardware resource is used in the SIM card and the amount to be billed is determined from the counter value, which amount corresponds to a service fee and/or license fee. 2. Billing method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one billed-for resource is a contactless interface (A-F). 3. Billing method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one billed-for resource is responsible for the use of the SIM card (10) in another system (11, 12, 13). 4. Billing method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of resources (A-F) can be billed for independently in the SIM card. 5. Billing method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one counter is incremented depending on the duration of the usage of the respective billed-for resource. 6. Billing method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one billed-for resource is protected by patent and that the billed amount corresponds to a license fee the use of this resource. 7. Billing method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one billed-for resource is offered by an external service provider (3) and that the billed amount corresponds to a service fee for the use of the offered service. 8. Billing method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that with the use of at least one single resource more than one counter (1002, 1002') is incremented, which counters correspond to different types of fees. 9. Billing method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the amount to be billed can be displayed on a mobile device (1) in which the SIM card is inserted. 10. Billing method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the amount to be billed is charged to a pre-paid account in the SIM card. 11. Billing method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a billing record with the amount to be billed is prepared and transmitted to a billing center (42) in said telecommunications network (2). 12. Billing method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the amount counted by the counter is compared to a pre-defined amount and that said billing record is only prepared when the amount counted by the counter exceeds the pre-defined amount. 13. Billing method according to one of the claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the billing record is transmitted via said telecommunications network by means of SMS messages. 14. Billing method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the amount to be billed is determined depending on a fee table (1000) stored in the card. 15. Billing method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said fee table (1000) can be changed, remotely controlled, by means of SMS messages from another location in said telecommunications network (2). 16. SIM card (10) for users of a telecommunications network (2) which can be inserted into a terminal device (1) in a removable manner and which comprises data processing means (100) enabling the storing of data, which data contains at least identification data of the user in the telecommunications network (2), characterized in that the SIM card (10) further contains at least one counter, which is incremented when a software resource and/or hardware resource, not responsible for the traffic process, of the SIM card is used, and an amount to be billed to the user is determined from the counter value, which amount corresponds to a service fee and/or license fee. 17. SIM card according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one billed-for hardware resource contains a contactless interface (A-F). 18. SIM card according to one of the claims 16 or 17, characterized in that at least one billed-for resource is responsible for the use of the SIM card (10) in another system (11, 12, 13). 19. SIM card according to one of the claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the usage of a plurality of resources (A-F) is counted and billed for independently in the SIM card. 20. SIM card according to one of the claims 16 to 19, characterized in that at least one counter is incremented depending on the duration of the usage of the respective billed-for resource. 21. SIM card according to one of the claims 16 to 20, characterized in that at least one billed-for resource is protected by patent and that the billed amount corresponds to a license fee for using this resource. 22. SIM card according to one of the claims 16 to 21, characterized in that at least one billed-for resource is offered by an external service provider (3) and that the billed amount corresponds to a service fee for using the offered service. 23. SIM card according to one of the claims 16 to 22, characterized in that with the use of at least one single resource, a plurality of counters (1002, 1002') are incremented, which counters correspond to different types of fees. 24. SIM card according to one of the claims 16 to 23, characterized in that it additionally comprises means to debit the billed amount from a pre-paid account in the SIM card (10). 25. SIM card according to one of the claims 16 to 24, characterized in that it further comprises means to prepare a billing record with the amount to be billed and to transmit the billing record to a billing center (42) in said telecommunications network (2). 26. SIM card according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it further comprises means to compare the amount counted by the counter with a pre-defined amount and to prepare said billing record as soon as the amount counted by the counter exceeds the pre-defined amount. 27. SIM card according to one of the claims 25 or 26, characterized in that the billing records are transmitted via said billing center in said telecommunications network by means of SMS messages. 28. SIM card according to one of the claims 16 to 27, characterized in that the billed amounts are dependent upon a fee table (1000) stored in the SIM card. 29. SIM card according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said fee table (1000) can be changed, remotely controlled, by means of SMS messages from another location in the telecommunications network. 30. SIM card according to one of the claims 25 to 29, characterized in that it comprises TTP encryption means, by means of which the billing records can be signed and encrypted.