Abstract:
A method of providing packet switched data services on a wireless network is presented. The method of providing a sponsored packet switched data service in a wireless network including receiving a request for a sponsored packet switched data service from a user, determining a sponsor for the requested service in accordance with stored policies, determining a session billing in accordance with the stored policies, establishing a session between the user and the sponsor, and billing the sponsor on completion of the session.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/292,564 filed May 22, 2001, “Method for Sponsored Packet Switched Data Services on a Wireless Network”. This application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to packet switched data services on a wireless network.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    With the growth of the Internet, a great deal of information and services are available to a network that can handle packet switched data in TCP/IP protocol. To provide a suitable bearer for packet switched data protocols, such as TCP ring protocol for multicast use (TCPRP), so-called second generation wireless systems support Circuit Switched Data (CSD). To overcome data rate limitations of CSD, a variation of CSD is available for Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) called High Speed Circuit Switched Data (HSCSD). HSCSD combines multiple individual channels (time slots) for an aggregate data transmission bearer. To enable the second generation networks to more optimally provide a bearer service for packet switched data, upgrade technologies such as the General Packet Radio System (GPRS) have been developed as an augmentation of the GSM system technology.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0004]    In an aspect, the invention features a method of providing a sponsored packet switched data service including receiving a request in a wireless network for a sponsored packet switched data service from a user, determining a sponsor for the requested service in accordance with stored policies, determining a session billing in accordance with the stored policies, establishing a session between the user and the sponsor, and billing the sponsor on completion of the session.  
           [0005]    Embodiments may include one or more of the following.  
           [0006]    The stored policies may include pre-arrangements between a network provider and sponsors of packet switched data services. The stored polices include factors and the factors may include a user identity, a user location, a time of day, a user class, a service provider class, network conditions, pre-agreement rules and/or governmental regulations.  
           [0007]    The sponsor may be packet switched data service provider, an operator of the network, and/or a third party packet switched data service.  
           [0008]    The wireless network may be a second generation wireless network. The wireless network may be a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) network, and the GSM network may be General Packet Radio System (GPRS) enabled.  
           [0009]    The wireless network may be a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, a TETRA network, a Tetrapol network, A DECT network, an AMPS network, or a wireless local area network (WLAN). The wireless network may be a third generation wireless network.  
           [0010]    In another aspect, the invention features a method of providing a sponsored packet switched data service in a General Packet Radio System (GPRS) enabled Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) network including receiving a request for a sponsored packet switched data service from a user, determining a sponsor for the requested service in accordance with stored policies, determining a session billing in accordance with the stored policies, establishing a session between the user and the sponsor, and billing the sponsor on completion of the session.  
           [0011]    Embodiments may include one or more of the following.  
           [0012]    The stored policies may include pre-arrangements between a network provider and sponsors of packet switched data services and may include factors. The factors may include a user identity, a user location, a time of day, a user class, a service provider class, network conditions, pre-agreement rules and/or governmental regulations.  
           [0013]    The sponsor may be a packet switched data service provider, a network operator and/or a third party packet switched data service.  
           [0014]    In another aspect, the invention features, in a General Packet Radio System (GPRS) enabled Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network, collecting call data records (CDRs) from a Serving GPRS support node in the network, sending the CDRs to a charging gateway in the network, and processing the CDRs for packet switched data into a single composite CDR stream in the charging gateway.  
           [0015]    Embodiments may include one or more of the following.  
           [0016]    Collecting may also include collecting CDRs from a GPRS support node. Processing may include augmenting the CDRs for packet switched data in a billing mediation node.  
           [0017]    The single composite CDR stream may represent a user session.  
           [0018]    In another aspect, the invention features a method of providing a sponsored packet switched data service including, in a GPRS enabled GSM network, receiving a request for a packet switched data service, selecting a service provider for the packet switched data service, connecting a session to the selected service provider, metering the session, and generating billing information from the metering.  
           [0019]    Embodiments may include one or more of the following.  
           [0020]    The request may be from a user. Selecting may also include authenticating access for the user to the service provider, determining whether the request is for the selected service provider, and/or determining authorization for the user to the selected service.  
           [0021]    Metering may include monitoring the session between the user and the selected service provider.  
           [0022]    Embodiments of the invention may have one or more of the following advantages.  
           [0023]    A wireless network is capable of carrying packet switched data so that one or more packet switched data services on the network are sponsored by another for a user.  
           [0024]    The method allows the user to transparently obtain and use the packet switched data services without charge or toll.  
           [0025]    The sponsor can be the provider of the packet switched data services, the operator of the network, third parties or combinations thereof.  
           [0026]    A selected service provider is identified as a sponsor and a connection between the user and service provider monitored to produce billing units. The wireless network operator charges the selected packet switched data service provider account with the billing units based upon network usage such as packet volume, user location, time of day, type of service provided, and user class over the duration of a session with the packet switched data service. The session may be monitored to determine information units that are based upon the usage of the data service.  
           [0027]    The network operator may be selected to provide the service and is identified as the sponsor. The session between the user and service provider is monitored to produce billing units. The network operator charges an internal account with the billing units based upon network usage such as packet volume, user location, time of day, type of service provided, and user class over the duration of a session with the packet switched data service. Optionally, the session is monitored to determine information units that are based upon the usage of the data service. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless network.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of sponsored packet switched data service process. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0030]    Referring to FIG. 1, a General Packet Radio System (GPRS) enabled Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) network  10  includes a Mobile Station (MS)  12 . Although only one MS  12  is shown, the network  10  more typically includes a number of mobile stations. The MS  12  as commonly a digital telephone handset or other handheld digital device, such as a wireless enabled personal digital assistant (PDA).  
         [0031]    The MS  12  communicates over an air interface  13  to a Base Station Subsystem (BSS)  14 . The BSS  14  is responsible for controlling the air interface  13  operations of the network  10 . The BSS  14  includes a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) and a Base Station Controller (BSC). The BTS is a radio transmitter/receiver and is located in its own cell or area of effect. The BTS has certain radio frequencies within a GSM band assigned to it. The BSC usually manages several BTSs and is the command and control for its dependent cells. Functions include radio channel allocation, call control and communications with a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)  16 .  
         [0032]    For circuit switched voice or data traffic, the BSC of the BSS  14  routes a circuit to the MSC  16 . The MSC  16  routes traffic to an external network such as Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)  18  for land station-to-mobile station calls, mobile station-to-land station calls, or other mobile networks connected to the PSTN  18 . The MSC  16  also manages authorization, authentication, and accounting functions for provided services.  
         [0033]    The network  10  includes databases for enabling CSD services, e.g., a Visiting Location Register (VLR)  19 , a Home Location Register (HLR)  20 , an Equipment Identity Register (EIR)  22  and an Authentication Center (AuC)  24 . The HLR  20  is a database (which can be distributed geographically) of all the subscribers on the network  10 . The HLR  20  also includes information such as a current (or last known) handset where-abouts.  
         [0034]    A complement of the HLR  20  is the VLR  19 . Where as the HLR  20  is geographically distributed, and may not even be implemented at a particular MSC  16 , it is usual for the VLR  19  to be located with each MCS  16 . This greatly simplifies the routing of calls around the network  10 . The network  10  also includes a Short Message Service Center (SM-SC)  26  that manages a short messaging service. The SM-SC  26  provides access and store-and-forward functions for short text/data messages in GSM, DCS, PCS, CDMA and D-AMPS mobile networks.  
         [0035]    The network  10  further includes a Packet Control Unit (PCU)(not shown), a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN)  30 , a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN)  32 , a Charging Gateway (CG)  34 , Border Gateway (BG)  36 , and a GPRS Backbone Network (GBN)  38 .  
         [0036]    The PCU, which is implemented as part of the BSS  14 , provides a packet switched data interface for the circuit switched BSC of the BSS  14 . The PCU also performs set up, supervision, and disconnection functions for packet switched calls. The PCU separates packet data and circuit-switched data when it is received from the MS  12  and multiplexes the different data streams from circuit-switched and packet-switched core networks into common streams going down to the cells.  
         [0037]    The SGSN  30  interfaces between the GBN  38  and a radio portion of the network  10  and switches the data packets via GBN  38  to the correct BSS  14 . The SGSN  30  performs, for packet switched services, ciphering and authentication, session management, mobility management, and logical link management through the network to Mobile Station  12 . The SGSN  30  also communicates with the HLR  20 .  
         [0038]    The GGSN  32  is a gateway node between the GBN  38  and an external Packet Data Network (PDN), such as Internet  44 . When the PDN is an external Internet Protocol (IP) network like the Internet  44 , the GGSN  32  appears to the external IP network as an IP router serving an IP address of the Mobile Station  12 . The GGSN  32  may include firewalling and packet filtering functions. The GGSN  32  also determines, for any external connection, the correct SGSN  30  to assign for any Mobile Station  12 .  
         [0039]    The SGSN  30  and the GGSN  32  register all possible aspects of a GPRS user&#39;s behavior and generate billing information accordingly. The billing information is gathered in Charging Data Records or Call Data Records (CDRs). CDRs may accumulate information based on a number of parameters, such as volume, duration, time, final destination, location, quality of service, SMS, served IMSI/subscriber, reverse charging, free of charge, flat rate, and bearer service.  
         [0040]    The Border Gateway (BG)  36  is a gateway system between different Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs)  52 . One purpose of BG  36  is to provide a secure connection over an inter-PLMN backbone network for packet switched data. The BG  36  virtually extends the GBN  38  to SGSNs that are physically located in different PLMNs  52  through connection to their BGs. Like the GGSN  32 , the BG  36  appears as an IP router if the inter-PLMN network is an IP network. The BG  36  may also include security and firewalling functions.  
         [0041]    A Charging Gateway (CG)  34  collects and processes all of the charging or billing information for the GPRS packet switched data handled by the network  10  in a collection process  35   a . The collection process  35   a  collects charging information in the form of Call Detail Records (CDRs) from the SGSN  30  (referred as S-CDRs) and the GGSN  32  (referred to as G-CDRs) for all of the packet switched data. The S-CDRs from the SGSN  30  and the G-CDRs from the GGSN  32  are sent from the collection process  35   a  to a collation process  35   b . The collation process  35   b  collates collected CDRs into a single composite CDR stream that is sent to a Billing System  42 . The collation process  35   b  also processes the received CDR information to check for record duplication, information correlation, and validation.  
         [0042]    In another example, the single composite CDR stream is sent through a Billing Mediation System (not shown) and then on to the Billing System  42 .  
         [0043]    In an example, the network  10  is utilized to provide a sponsored packet switched data service accessed by a user on a fully sponsored basis by another. Both the application based service (the content or user interactive service) and the network service (the packet data transport) are offered on a no charge, no toll basis to the user. Prior to using the service, the user is aware that by connection to the service that neither “air time” packet data transport charges or other content or usage service charges will apply. Optionally, the user may be notified at the time of requesting a service that it is sponsored.  
         [0044]    A network operator manages and controls the sponsored packet switched data services, which includes any and all unique network addresses that identify the packet switched data service, the policy decisions that determine how, and to which, packet switched data service provider the user is directed, and the policy decisions that determine which sponsor is to be billed for the session and on what basis. The policy decisions for selection and billing may include rules that incorporate pre-agreements between the operator and third parties, either sponsors or service providers, as to the selection of the service provider and the method and basis of payment for the sponsor. A policy decision of which service provider to make a connection to may be made at the time of the service request based upon such factors as a user identity, a location of the user, a time of day, a user class, a service provider class, network conditions, pre-agreement rules, and/or governmental regulations. For example, a policy decision of which sponsor to bill and on what basis can be made at time of the service request based upon similar factors such as the user identity, the location of the user, time of day, user class, service provider class, network conditions, pre-agreement rules, and/or governmental regulations.  
         [0045]    Referring to FIG. 2, a sponsored packet switched data service process  100  includes receiving ( 102 ) a request for a packet switched data service. This request typically originates with the user connecting over the air interface to the network  10 . The request may also be in response to a push operation by a service sponsor inviting the user to try the sponsor&#39;s service. A push operation is one in which the sponsor initiates activity. The process  100  determines ( 104 ) whether the user is authorized to access the network  10  for packet switched data services. User class information and location information needed to make later policy decisions about the packet switched data service is collected during the determination ( 104 ). If the user is not authorized to access the network  10  the process  100  denies ( 106 ) the user request.  
         [0046]    If the user is authorized to access the network  10  for packet switched data services, the process  100  determines ( 108 ) whether requested service is a sponsored packet switched data service. If the service request is not for a sponsored packet switched data service, the process  100  handles ( 110 ) the user request with other service request processes.  
         [0047]    If the service request is for a sponsored packet switched data service, the process  100  determines ( 112 ) whether the user is authorized to access the specific requested sponsored packet switched data service. If the user is not authorized to access the specific requested packet switched data service, the process  100  denies ( 106 ) the user request.  
         [0048]    If the user is authorized to access the specific requested packet switched data service, the process  100  selects ( 114 ) a service provider for the specific requested switched data service. The selection ( 114 ) is made in conjunction with a stored rule base implementing policy decisions of an operator of the network  10  based on one or more factors. Factors may include a user identity, a location of the user, a time of day, a user class, a service provider class, network conditions, pre-agreement rules, and/or governmental regulations. For example, if the operator of network  10  would normally supply specific requested switched data service, the rule base selection preferentially chooses the operator as the service provider.  
         [0049]    The selected service provider, i.e., sponsor, identity may be a class, i.e., a subsequently selected service provider, or rules for determining the sponsor from later acquired information. The operator, in the case of where it is providing the service, will be named as the sponsor. If a third party is chosen as the service provider and has agreed to sponsor the service, then it will be identified as the sponsor. The process  100  may use another rule base that implements policy decisions of the operator for selecting the sponsor. In an example, the selection is based on a preagreement between a third party and the operator to be the sponsor or co-sponsor of a particular service.  
         [0050]    The process  100  connects ( 116 ) the user through SGSN  30 , GBN  38 , and GGSN  32  to the selected service provider and initiates a packet switched data service session. The process  100  monitors and meters ( 118 ) the packet switched data session, gathering, for example, billing and other information generated during the session. The type of billing and other information generated depends upon the type of packet switched data service provided and the sponsor. In an example, the type of information gathered will be a policy decision of the network operator. In the case of a third party sponsor, the policy decision is usually based upon a pre-agreement between the operator and the third party. For example, if a third party service provider is the sponsor of a free packet switched data service, the billing information is gathered for network connection charges that are based on a number of criteria. Additionally, information about the use of the data service may be gathered, so that the provider may charge such expenses to, for example, its marketing and advertising accounts. Similarly, when the service provider is the operator it typically has no out-of-pocket costs, but may need to know network usage and data service usage so can transfer this information to, for example, its marketing and advertising accounts.  
         [0051]    During the session, the process  100  may forward charging information Billing System  42  in real time, or in near real time.  
         [0052]    When the session is complete, the process  100  transfers ( 120 ) the billing and other information to the Billing Node  42 . The Billing Node  42  credits to the account(s) of the identified sponsor(s) for payment and information units stored for information transfer. Also, any usage information, as necessary, is reconciled for user records by the billing node  42 .