Patent EA-000502-B1 (EA)
Title: Method of measuring a bandwidth-on-demand type communications link for determining a charge incurred for the communications link
Inventor: SAYER FRANCOIS
IPC: H04M15/12
Filed: 1996-10-04
Abstract: 1. A method for determining a charge incurred for use of the communications link to carry a user communication in a communications system having a bandwidth-on-demand type communications link, comprising the steps of: estimating a total amount of communications link bandwidth used over the course of the user communication; and multiplying the estimated total amount of bandwidth used by a charging rate to identify the charge incurred for the user communication. 2. The method as in Claim 1 wherein the step of estimating the total amount of bandwidth used comprises the steps of: measuring a maximum amount of bandwidth used on the communications link for the user communication during each of a plurality of time intervals measured over the course of the user communication; and summing the measured maximum amounts of bandwidth to determine the estimated total amount of bandwidth used by the user communication. 3. The method as in Claim 2 wherein the step of measuring comprises the steps of: making instantaneous measurements of the bandwidth used during each time interval; and selecting a largest one of the measurements as the maximum amount of bandwidth used during the time interval. 4. The method as in Claim 1 wherein the bandwidth-on-demand type communications link operates in accordance with a code division multiple access (CDMA) communications interface. 5. The method as in Claim 1 wherein the step of estimating comprises the step of metering the use of communications link bandwidth by the user communication. 6. A method for determining a charge incurred for use of the air interface to carry a subscriber communication in a cellular telephone system having a bandwidth-on-demand type air interface comprising the steps of: estimating a total amount of air interface bandwidth used over the course of the subscriber communication; and multiplying the estimated total amount of bandwidth used by a charging rate to identify the charge incurred for the subscriber communication. 7. The method as in Claim 6 wherein the step of measuring the total amount of bandwidth used comprises the steps of: measuring a maximum amount of bandwidth used on the air interface for the subscriber communication during each of a plurality of time intervals measured over the course of the subscriber communication; and summing the measured maximum amounts of bandwidth to determine the estimated total amount of bandwidth used by the subscriber communication. 8. The method as in Claim 7 wherein the step of measuring comprises the steps of: making instantaneous measurements of the bandwidth used during each time interval; and selecting a largest one of the measurements as the maximum amount of bandwidth used during the time interval. 9. The method as in Claim 6 wherein the bandwidth-on-demand type air interface operates in accordance with a code division multiple access (CDMA) communications air interface. 10. The method as in Claim 6 wherein the step of estimating comprises the step of metering the use of air interface bandwidth by the subscriber communication. 11. A communications system, comprising: a first communications node; a second communications node; a bandwidth-on-demand communications link interconnecting the first and second communications nodes to simultaneously carry a plurality of user communications between the first and second communications nodes; and means for determining a charge incurred for use of the communications link by each of the user communications, the charge incurred being calculated based on a measurement of a total amount of bandwidth used by each user communication. 12. The system of Claim 11 wherein the means for determining comprises: means for making instantaneous measurements of bandwidth used over the course of each user communication; means for summing the bandwidth measurements to determine an estimate of the total amount of bandwidth ' used for each user communication; and means for multiplying each of the determined total amounts of bandwidth used by a charging rate to determine the charges incurred for use of the communications link by each user communication. 13. The system of Claim 11 wherein the bandwidth-on-demand communications link operates in accordance with a code division multiple access (CDMA) communications interface. 14. The system of Claim 11 wherein the means for determining comprises: a bandwidth use meter for measuring the total amount of bandwidth used for each user communication; and means for multiplying the metered total amount of bandwidth for each user communication by a charging rate. 15. A cellular telephone system, comprising: a base station; a plurality of subscriber mobile stations; a bandwidth-on-demand air interface interconnecting the plurality of subscriber mobile stations with the base station to simultaneously carry a plurality of subscriber communications between the mobile stations and the base station; and means for determining a charge incurred for use of the air interface by each of the subscriber communications, the charge incurred being calculated based on an estimation of a total amount of bandwidth used by each subscriber communication. 16. The system of Claim 15 wherein the means for determining comprises: means for making instantaneous measurements of bandwidth used over the course of each subscriber communication; means for summing the periodic bandwidth measurements to determine an estimate of the total amount of bandwidth used for each subscriber communication; and means for multiplying each of the determined total amounts of bandwidth used by a charging rate to determine the charges incurred for use of the communications link by each subscriber communication. 17. The system of Claim 15 wherein the bandwidth-on-demand air interface operates in accordance with a code division multiple access (CDMA) communications air interface. 18. The system of Claim 15 wherein the means for determining comprises: a bandwidth meter for measuring the total amount of bandwidth used for each subscriber communication; and means for multiplying the metered amount of bandwidth for each subscriber communication by a charging rate.