Patent ID: 7340436

Claim:
A method for charging for transmission of information in a communications network, the method comprising: (a) providing an interface through which the information is transmitted, and which controls access to and transfer of the information, a level of the charging being dependent on content of the information to be transmitted; (b) causing the interface to generate a request to a central entity in the network, the central entity to request charges of a subscriber in the communications network; (c) enabling the central entity to decide based upon the information contained in the request, information relating to the subscriber and an information provider which is available to the central entity, to accept or reject the charge-incurring transmission of the information; and (d) reporting a decision of the central entity to the interface, wherein when the subscriber calls for information, and the central entity accepts the transmission, the charge information is transmitted to the subscriber before the transmission of the called for information, and the subscriber is enabled to accept or reject the transmission of information.