Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7725097?dq=6,600,481
Timestamp: 2014-12-21 17:21:52
Document Index: 743525409

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2', 'Application No. 01985456', 'Application No. 06076820', 'Application No. 7016009', 'Application No. 7016009', 'Application No. 7008499', 'Application No. 2003']

Patent US7725097 - Charging in a communication system - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA method and system for charging for services in a communication system comprises a charging entity and at least two connection support entities for providing resources to support a connection in the communication system. Various steps include detecting initiation of a connection by the connection support...http://www.google.com/patents/US7725097?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7725097 - Charging in a communication systemAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7725097 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/396,537Publication dateMay 25, 2010Filing dateApr 4, 2006Priority dateDec 22, 2000Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2432551A1, CA2432551C, CN1262140C, CN1531831A, EP1344422A2, EP1744584A1, EP1771030A1, US7058165, US20040101117, US20060234674, WO2002052833A2, WO2002052833A3Publication number11396537, 396537, US 7725097 B2, US 7725097B2, US-B2-7725097, US7725097 B2, US7725097B2InventorsJuha-Pekka Koskinen, Juha Vallinen, Merja HopeaharjuOriginal AssigneeNokia CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (46), Non-Patent Citations (13), Referenced by (3), Classifications (39), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetCharging in a communication systemUS 7725097 B2Abstract A method and system for charging for services in a communication system comprises a charging entity and at least two connection support entities for providing resources to support a connection in the communication system. Various steps include detecting initiation of a connection by the connection support entities; generating a charging identity for identifying the connection; determining a first charge for supporting the connection by the first connection support entity; determining a second charge for the support of the connection by the second connection support entity; transmitting a first charging message from the first connection support entity to the charging entity, the message specifying the first charge and including the charging identity; and transmitting a second charging message from the second connection support entity to the charging entity, the second charging message specifying the second charge and including the charging identity.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/450,609, filed on Nov. 24, 2003, which is a national stage of PCT/IB01/02815, filed on Dec. 30, 2001. The subject matter of these earlier filed applications is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to charging for services in a communication system such as a mobile telephony system.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for charging for services in a communication system comprising a charging entity and at least two connection support entities for providing resources to support a connection in the communication system, the method comprising: detecting initiation of a connection for provision by the connection support entities; generating a charging identity for identifying the connection; determining according to a first stored tariff a first charge for the support of the connection by the first connection support entity; determining according to a second stored tariff a second charge for the support of the connection by the second connection support entity; transmitting a first charging message from the first connection support entity to the charging entity, the message specifying the first charge and including the charging identity; and transmitting a second charging message from the second connection support entity to the charging entity, the message specifying the second charge and including the charging identity.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the architecture of a 3G network. However, it will be understood that it can be applied to any other suitable form of network.
5. Core network (CPS�a physical element which includes the CSCF and optionally the MGCF too): for use of the UMTS core network for transfer of data.
As a call progresses the charging entity periodically estimates the charge for the call so far using the CIEs received for the call. This may be done, for example, every second or every five seconds, depending on the load on the charging entity. The charging entity compares that estimated charge with the balance of the account to which the call will be charged. The operator causes the call to be ended if the estimated charge exceeds the balance, or�to take account of potential errors in the estimation�if the estimated charge is not greater than the balance by a predetermined threshold. To do this the charging entity should have knowledge of or should be able to estimate the call-dependant factors, such as the duration of the call or the amount of data transferred during the call, that may have an impact on the charge. These may be transmitted periodically to the entity by at least one of the entities involved in carrying the call, for example unit 22 in FIG. 2. Alternatively, they may be estimated by the charging entity from a knowledge of the time when the call began (e.g. approximately the time at which the CIEs for the call were received by the charging entity), the present time, and (if needed) an average data transmission rate. The duration of the call may be estimated by subtracting the time at which the call began from the present time. The amount of data transmitted may be estimated by multiplying the duration of the call by the expected data rate.
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