CN1249101A

CN1249101A - Rewarding telecommunication customers

Info

Publication number: CN1249101A
Application number: CN98802862A
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·汉森; F·奥尔森
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Current assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Priority date: 1997-02-26
Filing date: 1998-02-19
Publication date: 2000-03-29
Also published as: BR9807606A; GB2322762B; GB9704028D0; CA2282529A1; EP0963654A1; WO1998038788A1; GB2322762A; AU6297398A; NO993955L; JP2001513282A; KR20000071128A; AU740769B2; NO993955D0

Abstract

A method for handling calls in a telecommunications network (1) comprises monitoring an operating parameter of a call which is made by a customer (3) of a telecommunications network (1) and which has preselected characteristics, selecting that call if the monitored operating parameter equals a predetermined value, and if the call is selected, notifying the customer (3) of the selection. The operating parameter indicates the total number of calls made in the network (1) with the said preselected characteristic.

Description

Rewarding telecommunication customers

The present invention relates to rewarding telecommunication customers.

It is the system of this card payment procedure expense that Japanese patent application 03-235564 discloses a kind of Telephone Payment card that is used for the calling of intended destination number for use.

The destination telephone number whether the telephone exchange affirmation is exhaled has been registered as pays out service charge.If then when telephone finished, borrow a pair service charge for caller's phonecard.

Yet a kind of like this system only relates to use call payment card and is confined to according to call intent ground number payment procedure expense.So this system is inflexible and can not allows the telecommunication supplier to requite the network use of other type.

Therefore need provide a kind of and wherein can requite the system of the system user that satisfies the said firm's defined terms by telecommunications company.

According to a first aspect of the invention, provide the method for the calling of a kind of processing in communication network, this method comprises:

Supervision done by subscribers to telecommunication network and preliminary election the running parameter of calling of feature;

If institute's follow-up work parameter equals a predetermined value then selects this calling; With

If selected calling, then should call out to user notification;

It is characterized in that: the running parameter that is monitored is indicated the call count to the network user with described preselected characteristics.Such system just can be to the calling party that the n time (the 100th, 000 time) with some feature the calls out gold of compensating.

Pre-selected characteristics can be a special time frame of calling out betwixt, or the specific purpose of calling out ground.In addition, reward can be paid certain group network user, or uses the user of network specific transactions.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a kind of method of requiting the telephone network user is provided, this method comprises the calling of monitor using telephone network and carrying out, and determines which described calling satisfies predetermined condition, and selects several described users that meet the calling of requiting predetermined condition that send especially.

According to a third aspect of the invention we, provide a node apparatus that is used for communication network, having comprised:

Monitoring arrangement is used for monitoring the running parameter of the calling of being done by the network user, and this calling has preselected characteristics;

Choice device is selected this calling if the running parameter that is used for being monitored equals predetermined value; And

Notifying device is if be used for calling out selected then notify this user;

It is characterized in that: described running parameter is illustrated in the call count of being done in the network with described preselected characteristics.

According to a forth aspect of the invention, provide a kind of telephone network node to comprise to be used for the device that monitors by the calling that the user did of using telephone network, be used for determining which described calling satisfies the device of predetermined condition and be used for user's the device of special several described callings of selecting to do to satisfy predetermined reward condition.

Fig. 1 shows the theory diagram of implementing communication network of the present invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates in greater detail the network portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 illustrates in greater detail the other part of network shown in Figure 1; With

Fig. 4 is the flow chart of the step of explanation in implementing method of the present invention.

Fig. 1 schematically shows 5 the telecommunications network 1 that is used for the called party of link 11 callings by network by the main side of exhaling 3.For clarity sake and schematically shown link 11, generally the mode with routine will connect by the many networks between main side of exhaling 3 and called party 5.

Network 1 comprises that one is requited monitor unit 13 and a reward granting unit 15.Requite monitor unit and link the main side of exhaling 3, requite granting unit 15 and link the main side of exhaling 3 by link 19 by link 17.Requiting monitor unit 13 is linked to each other by link 18 with reward granting unit 15.

Link

17,18 and 19 for clarity sake and schematically shows, in fact can be provided by hardware in telecommunications network 1 and/or software link.From relating to call supervision and requite informing function, will do more detailed introduction below with

link

17 and 19 to the main side of exhaling.

Fig. 2 illustrates in greater detail reward monitor unit 13 with the block diagram of signal.Unit 13 comprises a type of call monitor 131, and it utilizes link 17 to receive information and a call number monitor 133 of the main side of exhaling, and it has an input to be connected the information of reception from type of call connector 131.This unit also comprises a calls comparator 135, and it has corresponding input to be connected reception from call number monitor 133 with from the information of presetting call number memory 137.The output of calls comparator 135 provides the output of requiting monitor unit 13 by link 18.

Fig. 3 more shows to information the reward of Fig. 1 and provides unit 15.Unit 15 comprises that is requited the output 18 from unit 13 (Fig. 1 and 2) that determining unit 151 is used for receiving its input.Notifying device 152 has an input and is connected reception from the output of unit 151 with have one and utilize link 19 from it information to be sent to the main side of exhaling 3.

Should be realized that: in just signal of the each several part shown in Fig. 2 and 3, and

unit

13 and 15 can be provided by hardware or software or both combinations in certain embodiments of the present invention.In addition, two

unit

13 and 15 can physically be realized by individual unit or by the single hop software coding.

Fig. 1, the principle of 2 and 3 embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to figure 4.Call establishment made a call to called party 5 (Fig. 1) 401 step users (Fig. 1 master side of exhaling 3) since 400 steps.Requite monitor unit 13 by link 17 supervising connections for callings and utilize type of call monitor unit 131 to determine whether to call out in 402 steps to have the right type that is suitable for requiting.As with described in detail below, correct type of call is determined by Network Provider usually.

If call out the right type that does not have the reward of obtaining, so, process directly entered for 406 steps, and set up in a usual manner and call out.Then, call out at 407 EOSs.

Yet if the right types with reward are determined to call out in type of call monitor unit 131, number of calls monitor 133 is determined the total degree of calling that the network with right type feature is done in step 403.So current calling has a corresponding number of times (n), for example the calls of current right type can be the 100th, 000.

In step 404, call out comparator 135 and determine whether that current number (n) equals preset value (p), then, process turns back to step 406 and carries out conventional call setup.

Yet, equaling preset value (p) if monitor calls (n), process is to step 405, and is that the calling that the p time user makes to have special characteristic is requited to this user by unit 15.After the user requites step, set up calling in a usual manner in step 406.Can adopt several forms as following explanation ground in the step of doing to the user to requite 405.

Consult the step 402 of Fig. 4 back, (and Fig. 2), type of call monitor 131 can monitor the feature of calling and determine whether that these features make calling be suitable for requiting.The feature that proof can be requited can be set by the supplier of telecommunications network, so that for example encourage to use the specific transactions of network.

A kind of possible feature is: the Network Provider regulation is called out the time frame that must carry out betwixt, makes to requite the p time network user that gives in this time frame.

In addition, called party 5 may be the feature of requirement, makes a call the P time people with given number like this and can obtain to requite.

In addition, also can requite the master side of exhaling that those use the particular network business.For example, use credit card business, call-back service, or call out and deliver the professional master side of exhaling.Use the P time user of this business can obtain to requite in such system.

Also can be that the main side of exhaling 3 is one group of network user member that selected the family for use.This group can be easy to the definition by Internet service provider, for example by its IMSI numbering directory definition.So the user who belongs to particular group of users can obtain reward when doing the P time calling.

Nature, network provider can provide the combination of any such scheme, so that the most suitable its market strategy.For example, in February, use the 100th, 000 of call transfer service can obtain special reward.

The particular type that can obtain to requite is provided by Internet service provider, and some example will be described below.

When the user meets the reward condition, then the reward release unit 15 of Fig. 3 promptly work (405 step) notify the reward of its gained of user.This notice and reward are handled can several selections.For example, requite determiner 151 and requite notifying device 152 and can interrupt calling and issue a message informing master side of exhaling 3 that it has obtained reward by the personnel that issue machinery or call center from the main side of exhaling 3 to called party 5.Use then from the call data of requiting notifying device 152 outputs and write down this reward.

In addition, after both sides call out, but the main side of exhaling 3 of notification unit 152 callbacks tells its reward.And data record is upgraded the reward business record from notifying device 152 outputs.

Being used to notify the main side of exhaling is to start a mailing system about the 3rd of its reward the possible method, and wherein notifying device 152 makes the notice of mailing send to the main side of exhaling.

Relevant record of requiting business can be made into the conventional call record part of handling in the network charge system, perhaps also can be direct responding system part.In direct responding system, for example, a credit card can prop up automatically borrows the coin that equals reward.

Reward can adopt any form and be determined by telecommunications network supplier.For example, supplier may wish to provide the bill of the deduction and exemption of using network to the client, if they meet aforesaid condition.The method of the reward that other is possible can be to borrow account No. or credit card, or accumulative total is convertible into counting of goods and service.

A kind of like this client's business of requiting is strong market means, makes telecommunications network provider can introduce new business and distinguish market as it is wished.

Claims

1. method that is used for handling the calling in the telecommunication system, this method comprises:

Supervision is by the running parameter of telecommunications network user calling that done and that elected as feature in advance;

If equaling predetermined value, the parameter that monitors selects this calling; And

If call out and selectedly just notify the user this selection,

And running parameter indication is with the total degree of the calling that has described predetermined characteristic and done in network.

2. the method for claim 1, wherein predetermined characteristic is to indicate therebetween as the time interval of calling out.

3. the method for claim 1, wherein preselected characteristics is the type of service of indication customer call.

4. the method for claim 1, wherein preselected characteristics is the destination number of indication by customer call.

5. the method for claim 1 selection wherein only offers all users of the predetermined number of network.

6. method that is used for requiting the telephone network user, this method comprises

Monitor the calling of using telephone network to carry out,

Determine which described calling conforms to a predetermined condition and

Select to meet the user of the specific several callings in the described calling of the predetermined condition of obtaining reward especially.

7. node that is used in telecommunications network comprises:

A kind of monitoring arrangement that is used for monitoring the running parameter of the relevant calling that the user did by this network, this calling has pre-selected characteristics;

, a kind of running parameter that is used for monitoring selects the selector installation of this calling if equaling predetermined value; And

If a kind ofly be used for calling out selected then notify user's notifying device,

It is characterized in that: the total degree of the calling that described running parameter is illustrated in the network to be carried out with described predetermined characteristic.

8. telephone network node comprises:

Be used for monitoring device by the calling that the user did of using telephone network,

Be used for determining device which described calling conforms to a predetermined condition and

Be used for selecting especially meeting the user's of the specific several callings in the described calling of predetermined reward condition device.

9. as claim 7 or 8 described node apparatus, it is to carry out work as method arbitrary among the claim 1-6.

10. telecommunications network as node apparatus arbitrary among the claim 7-8.

11. the telecommunications network of the arbitrary method work among basis such as the claim 1-6.

12. the method for the calling of substantially as before consulting accompanying drawing description of processing in telecommunications network.

13. method that is used for requiting basically as before consults the telephone net user of accompanying drawing description.

14. be used for basically as consult the node apparatus of the telecommunications network that accompanying drawing describes.

15. consult the telecommunications network that accompanying drawing is described basically as before for one kind.