EP0983681A1

EP0983681A1 - Method for charging calls in a communications network

Info

Publication number: EP0983681A1
Application number: EP98924151A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carlos Huyghe; Dirk De Bosscher; Dirk Renier; Jan Hamann
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 1997-05-22
Filing date: 1998-04-20
Publication date: 2000-03-08
Also published as: AR010167A1; US20020097852A1; EP0880265A1; WO1998053600A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for charging enabling flexible charging in deregulated networks. This is done by indicating the charge of a call by means of charge information.

Description

description

Method for charging connections in a communication network

The deregulation of the telecommunications market will expand the monopoly-determined network structure so that a larger number of new network operators will offer telephone services in addition to the previous PTTs. In the resulting competition, tariffs represent a kind of competitive means and must therefore be changeable at short notice, i.e. will not be voted among the network operators before a change.

So far i.e. In a monopoly network structure, the tariffs were set up throughout the network in such a way that a pointer (charge band nu ber) could be transported through the network in order to inform a switching center of a tariff. In this way, the tariff was transported from the switching agency determining (determining) the tariff to the switching agency processing the tariff. The aforementioned pointer allowed the switching center processing the tariff to uniquely assign the tariffs within the limits of a network via a corresponding table. However, this mechanism implies the same administration of tariffs (i.e. the

Tables in the exchanges processing the tariff) network-wide ahead. This same administration of tariffs is no longer possible in deregulated networks.

The invention has for its object a method for

To indicate tariffing that a tariff in deregulated networks, i.e. Networks with different administration.

The stated object is achieved by a method according to the features of claim 1. The method according to the invention enables tariff autonomy from network operators and / or service providers.

With decentralized tariff determination (tariff determination), the method according to the invention has the effect that charges (e.g. for IN services) can be recorded in a single switching center, although the tariffs have been determined in different switching centers.

With central tariff processing (e.g. charge determination), the method according to the invention has the effect that an operator can summarize all or part of the tariffs of a connection and, if necessary, implement them.

An embodiment of the invention is given by claim 5. With this configuration, when tariffs are changed in the tariff processing point, an exact switching of tariffs at absolute switching times is guaranteed without the network being burdened with message bursts by tariff avoidance.

An embodiment of the invention is given by claim 6. With this configuration, only a single tariff message is required for the majority of connections.

An embodiment of the invention is given by claim 7. This configuration enables an immediate switch from a current to the arriving tariff (immediately after the tariff arrives with the message).

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing.

First, the process of generating charges is explained in more detail, which can be broken down into three individual processes, namely the tariff determination, the charging of data (recording of charges) and the generation of invoices. Tariff determination is the determination of the tariff of a connection based on the distance (origin-destination relationship), the time (eg day of the week, time of day) and / or other additional criteria (such as the transmission quality).

Fee data acquisition is to be understood as the connection-specific creation of a data record (hereinafter also referred to as a record) with all the data required for the later billing, or the immediate implementation of the tariff in fee units and in the acquisition with subscriber-related fee counters.

Invoicing is to be understood as the participant-related summary and evaluation of the data records or fee meter readings created for a defined billing period.

The tariff determination and charge data collection is carried out by the switching centers, which are provided by the system suppliers (equipment suppliers), e.g. Siemens can be delivered. These switching centers are operated by the operating companies, e.g. Deutsche Telekom connected to a network and operated within the network.

The billing is finally carried out by post-processing, which runs on separate mainframes. The interface between exchanges and mainframe is realized by periodic transmission of the data records or subscriber fee counters created.

1 shows the example of a central charge data acquisition by the originating switching parts (local switching center). 2 shows the example of decentralized charge data acquisition by several switching centers.

The new tariff avoidances CRGE, CRA, and CRAO are explained in more detail below.

The new tariff agreements in which a tariff is explicit, i.e. in tariff units (e.g. in a currency format or a meter pulse format) per tariff interval (time cycle), allow tariffing in deregulated networks, i.e. Networks with different administration.

The tariff notification CRGE enables three different methods of tariff change, namely - a tariff change upon receipt of the tariff notification (hereinafter also referred to as "immediate" tariff change),

- a tariff change at the end of the so-called tariff duration (period within which the currency rate is valid),

- a tariff change at an absolute (arif) changeover time.

3 shows the layout of the tariff message CRGE.

The layout comprises a component "Message Type", which specifies which message it actually is

"Message Type" selects the correct application at the recipient.

The layout further comprises a component “tariff control information”, which contains, among other things, the so-called charging indicator, which indicates whether the tariff message may be processed by the switching center receiving the tariff message or not for the purpose of billing. In the latter case the tariff has already been processed for the purpose of billing and has only been sent back to the originating agency for the purpose of displaying the fee. The layout further comprises a component “transmitter identifier” (transmitter identifier) which contains the operator identifier and / or the signaling point code of the switching center which determined the tariff.

Finally, the layout comprises the components “current tariff”, “next tariff” and “absolute tariff changeover time”, the meaning of which is clear below.

During the establishment of a connection (call), the tariff message CRGE is used optimally if the following information is to be transmitted: the current tariff, which must be activated immediately. The tariff mentioned can comprise a tariff sequence of up to four basic tariffs. Each basic tariff comprises a currency rate (currency units per tariff time interval) and a tariff duration (integer multiple of the tariff time interval mentioned) within which the currency rate is valid. the next (next) tariff that must be activated at an absolute switchover time. the absolute switching time mentioned.

If the tariff message mentioned includes the information “current tariff” during the call state (active phase of a call), it is interpreted in such a way that the current tariff must be replaced immediately (replace tariff immediately!).

4 shows the layout of the information contained in the tariff message CRGE for the current tariff. The layout for the current tariff is identical to the layout for the next tariff, but there are differences in the purpose of the elements containing the layout and in the activation time. The information element "current tariff" is contained in the first tariff avoidance of an operator for a call (more precisely, a specific operator / charge type combination). The information in the first tariff avoidance is mandatory, since it represents the first tariff that applies to this Call is activated for the corresponding operator.

The information element "current tariff" can furthermore be contained in each subsequent tariff avoidance for a specific operator / charging type combination, ie it is optional in this case. If this optional information is sent, it replaces the current tariff immediately (replace tariff immediately!).

The information "next tariff" represents an optional information component in the first and the following tariff reports for a specific operator / charge type combination. However, if the information mentioned is sent, it replaces the currently active tariff at the absolute switchover time that is displayed in the information component "tariff changeover time".

Information "next tariff" that has already been sent is overwritten by new information "next tariff" sent with another tariff message.

In order to avoid bursts by sending tariff avoidances with "next" tariffs at the time of tariff switching, it is optimal to send the information "next tariff" together with the first tariff avoidance.

Of course, bursts can also be avoided with increased transmission effort if the information "next tariff" is only sent in a further tariff message. The tariff notification CRGE therefore offers the following advantages:

Possibility of switching immediately from a current tariff to the arriving tariff (immediately after the tariff arrives with the message),

Possibility of creating / enacting the tariff to the second, if the message "ANSWER" (= lifting the B-subscriber) comes up when the connection is established, possibility of switching to the second at the absolute switching times while avoiding the

Loading the network with message bursts at absolute switchover times, such as B. 6 p.m. or 9 p.m. At these switching times, one message would otherwise have to be sent for each standing connection, which would lead to a considerable load on the network (possibly to breakdown). More precisely, the message bursts are avoided in that the tariff message is sent with a time delay with the changeover times contained therein (each call starts at different times) and a tariff message already contains the next tariff at an absolute changeover time (90% All calls do not last longer than three to five minutes, so that a second tariff (the next tariff is generally sufficient).

The tariff avoidance CRAO (Charge Add On Message) represents time-independent tariff information (one-off additional charge) that is added once to the tariff that is already active. This additional charge is registered either by additional separate storage or / and addition to the fee already calculated online. With the help of the message mentioned, an already running, possibly active charge data acquisition is not disturbed or interrupted if a fixed charge is incurred during the connection (e.g. for a fee-based page on the Internet). The confirmation message CRA (acknowledgment message) confirms the arrival of tariff avoidances. The above-mentioned confirmation guarantees the (legal) security for the later safeguarding between operators. In addition, the above-mentioned message transmits the identifier of the operator who records and / or implements the tariff in order to notify this operator of the operator sending the tariff.

5 to 8 show message flows that occur in connection with the charging.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the message flows in the event that the charges are recorded in the local exchange, FIG. 5 showing an immediate tariff change in combination with additional charges and FIG. 6 a tariff change at an absolute changeover time.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the message flows in the event that the charge recording takes place in a transit exchange and only the charge display in the local exchange, with FIG. 7 showing an immediate tariff change and FIG. 8 a tariff change at an absolute changeover time.

The messages abbreviated in FIGS. 5 to 8 are explained below.

The SETUP and IAM (Initial Address Message) messages are used to establish a connection. The IAM includes the information as to whether the tariff determination for the sub-network of a respective operator has already been carried out by a previous switching center or not.

The message ACM (Address Complete Message) signals the A subscriber exchange that no further address codes are required. The ALERT message signals to the A subscriber that the B subscriber is not busy and that a ringing tone is now sounding.

The message ANM (Answer) signals the A subscriber exchange that the B subscriber has become active (for example, has lifted his handset).

The CONNECT message causes a

Voice channel between the A subscriber exchange and the A subscriber.

As can be seen from FIGS. 5 to 8, the IAM message is forwarded by the TDP only after the charge confirmation message CRA has been received by the tariff processing point or points.

If the participant has the authorization to display charges (Advice of Charge, AOC for short), he will be notified when the

Participant of the tariff valid for the connection.

During the connection, the subscriber is accrued

Fees displayed periodically.

If the operator in the TDP decides to change the tariff immediately, the new tariff is transferred to the TPP using the CRGE message. When this message arrives,

- the current tariff is immediately replaced by the new tariff,

- the subscriber is shown this new tariff (AOC),

- triggered by the CALL_DATA message from the GP to the CP, a data record (record, ticket) is generated for the connection period with the old tariff.

If a fixed fee then arises, this fee is registered in the TPP using the add-on message and displayed to the participant. Finally, when the connection is triggered ("Release" or "REL" message), the subscriber receives the fees and the CALL_DATA message closes the charging period with an end record.

FIG. 9 shows detailed fee-specific processes in a tariff determination point TDP, i.e. in a switching center that determines the tariff and a tariff processing point TPP (tariff processing point), i.e. a switching center which carries out charge-specific processes, charge-specific processes being understood to be the recording (recording) of the charge and / or the charge display and / or the charge limit monitoring (not shown in FIG. 9).

The description of the processes in the TDP follows first.

At a tariff changeover time, the tariff management of a group processor GP (the GP controls one line group of the exchange) is triggered in the TDP by the command "TARIFF SWITCH" (command comes from the central processor CP of the TDP), whereupon the tariff management ( Tariff Administration) carries out the following activities:

- it makes the passive tariff in the tariff database the active tariff,

- It marks in the tariff changeover bit map the zones which are influenced by the tariff changeover and

- it finally sends the message COLECHA to all ISUP users (an ISUP user is a call processing instance that helps to process a call in a transit node).

After receiving the message, the ISUP users carry out the following activities:

- They check whether the zone they are using is one of the marked zones for which tariff switching is relevant. - They cause the "Tariff Changed" flag to be set in the CR call register if the zone mentioned touches due to the tariff switching The named flag in turn later triggers the retransmission of a new passive tariff. The flag mentioned must not be reset until the CRGE message has been sent.

After the "TARIFF SWITCH" command, the current tariff table of the tariff database is loaded into the GP using the CP command "TARIFF DATA", which may be repeated several times. This loads the new passive tariffs. After receiving the last command "TARIFF DATA", the tariff administration sends the new collective event "SEND TARIFF BACKWARD" to all ISUP users.

Due to the receipt of the new collective event "SEND TARIFF BACKWARD", an ISUP user checks the "Tariff Changed" flag in the call register. If the flag is set, a new random timer is started. When the above-mentioned random timer has expired, the new passive tariff with the associated absolute switchover time for the new tariff and, if appropriate, the current active tariff are sent in the reverse direction via the expanded CRGE message.

Finally, the "Tariff Changed" flag is reset in the call register CR.

The random timer mentioned protects against a message burst and has the following case-dependent algorithm:

Case 1:

The next tariff changeover time is in less than 15 minutes. In this case, the random timer is set to a working range of 0 to 10 minutes.

Case 2:

The next tariff changeover time is only in more. than 15 minutes. In this case, monitoring is initiated, which recognizes 15 minutes before the tariff changeover time mentioned that a tariff changeover must be carried out. Because of this- ^' Once this knowledge is found, the randomly controlled timer is started again within a working range of 0 to 10 minutes.

In both cases, the active calls are informed by the CRGE message when the specified timer expires. If an active call is triggered before the specified random timer has expired, the specified timer is stopped and no tariff information is sent in the reverse direction.

The switchover functions in the tariff processing point are explained in more detail below.

Since the tariff information received and the corresponding changeover times are only stored in a transient charge register of the GP, the tariff changeover function is implemented by a cyclical process of the GP. There are two variants for the implementation mentioned.

In the first variant, the central cyclical process checks all tariffs that are to be changed after reaching a quarter of an hour and only triggers the relevant calls. This variant serves to dynamically relieve call processing. To carry out this variant, the process must access all charge registers, check the tariffs contained therein and mark tariffs affected by the switchover (set "Switch Tariff"). If at least one tariff is found, the new collective event "CHANGE TARIFF" ( = CHANGETA) sent to all call processing instances CALLP.

10 contains the representation of the second variant. In the second variant, the cyclical process triggers all active calls (call processing instances CALLP) each after one

Quarter of an hour. The calls then check themselves whether tariffs- 'have to be switched for them or not. The second Va riante thus guarantees that only the call processing can access the charge register (improvement of data security).

If a tariff changeover is necessary, a call processing instance CALLP in both variants will immediately switch the tariffs of their call affected by the changeover, i.e.

- the call duration DUR-TAl since the last tariff change or an interim storage of charges in the CP is determined (this call duration is used jointly for all operators),

- The call charge is calculated according to the current active tariff (including the one that is changed) and added to the cumulative total of the current call charge in the charge register. The current call charge is particularly e.g. required for the purpose of displaying the fee and / or monitoring the fee limit.

- In the charge register of the GP, the current active tariff TAl is replaced by the next tariff TA2. In addition, the next tariff, the tariff switching time and the "SWITCH TARIFF" flag are reset.

- The "CALL DATA" message (trigger for record generation in the CP) is sent to the CP with the previous active tariffs of a respective operator. This CALL_DATA message is then sent from the CP to the disk memory in an AMA.

Data record (AMA = Automatic Message Accounting, abbreviated AMA record) filed, whereby the invoice for the participant is created on the basis of the AMA records by the subsequent postprocessing. The unchanged tariff of the other operators is also included in the "CALL DATA" message, because in the charge register CR and in the AMA record there is only a single call duration for AMA (hereinafter also referred to as "call duration" or “AMA duration”), which is common to all operator tariffs. This procedure simplifies the charging procedures in the GP and in the post processing.

If many or all operators want to change their tariff at the same absolute switchover time, the tariff change would affect many or all calls and the "CALL DATA" message would have to be sent to the CP for many or all calls at this point To prevent such a burst and thus a possible loss of these messages, the sending of such a message is delayed until a so-called “CALL DATA” timer expires. The timer mentioned is calculated as follows:

"CALL DATA" timer = call duration modulo (15 minutes) The timer mentioned is derived from the call duration, which is different for each call. In order to keep the call duration different for the next tariff changeover, the timer for temporarily storing the charges in the CP The 15 minutes represent the minimum time interval between two absolute switchover times.

- Because of the above-mentioned delay in the CALL_DATA message, the old tariff (Old TA1) and the corresponding call duration (DUR-TAl) for the Automatic Message Accounting must be briefly saved in the charge register of the GP before the new tariff is activated.

- The shared call duration is finally reset and a new time stamp is set.

-When a new CRGE message is received, the call entity updates its fee register with the new passive tariff and the new tariff changeover time (possibly with the current tariff supplied).

Claims

claims

1. Method for charging for connections in a communication network, which comprises a plurality of subnetworks of different operators, accordingly a tariff of a connection is determined in a tariff determination point (TDP) of a subnetwork and with the aid of a tariff message for tariff processing -Point (TPP) is transmitted, through which fee-specific processes are carried out on the basis of the tariffs received, characterized in that a tariff of a connection is explicit in a tariff message, ie in tariff units per tariff interval (time cycle).

2nd The method of claim 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t, that the tariff units are specified in a currency format

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the tariff units are specified in a meter pulse format.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tariff message in an originating exchange only for

Purpose of displaying the charge is used if it is noted in the tariff message that the tariff message has already been used for the purpose of recording the charge.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a current tariff and / or a next tariff with associated tariff changeover time for the next tariff are transmitted in a tariff message (CRGE).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in a tariff avoidance (CRGE) at the start of a connection, a current tariff and a next tariff with associated tariff changeover time for the next tariff are transmitted.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a tariff avoidance (CRGE) is interpreted during a connection by the TPP as a command for an immediate tariff switching if the tariff message contains only a current tariff.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that

Tariff avoidances of a TDP for different connections that contain the same tariff changeover are sent at different times.