EP1260055A1

EP1260055A1 - Method and system for preparing reports in a communication system comprising at least two networks

Info

Publication number: EP1260055A1
Application number: EP00916858A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Juha-Pekka Manner
Original assignee: Nokia Oyj
Current assignee: Nokia Oyj
Priority date: 2000-02-23
Filing date: 2000-02-23
Publication date: 2002-11-27
Also published as: WO2001063840A1; AU3805800A

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for creating combined reports such as charging or traffic records. The communication system comprises at least two networks. Information on charges accumulated in one network are sent to the other network which creates a combined charging record combining its own charging information with the charging information received from the other network. This concept can also be used for creating combined reports of other types such as traffic reports.

Description

Method and System for Preparing Reports in a Communication System comprising at least two Networks

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and system for preparing reports in a communication system comprising at least two networks. The reports are registering information and may for instance be charging (billing) reports, ^'traffic reports or the like.

Background of the Invention

The preparation of reports for or in communication systems is customary and sometimes strictly necessary, for instance for calculating telephone charges. The service provider or network used for communication issues information on its use such as time duration of use, tariff information, and the like, which information is collected for calculating and registering the charges.

If several networks are used, the charges of each network will be separately collected.

This problem does not only occur in connection with charging strategies ^'but also with regard to collecting information on the traffic use of networks and their services .

Furthermore, when accessing a specific network such as the Internet for using a service or buying an article, one is normally requested to send banking information or credit card number for deducting the price for the used service or bought article from the bank or credit card account. This transmission of confidential information may cause security problems because third parties may illegally try to learn and misuse such confidential information like the credit card number.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a method and a system being able to prepare reports for communication ι systems using at ^'least two networks, in particular information and/or communication networks.

The present invention provides a method for preparing reports as defined in the independent method claim and/or the dependent method claims.

According to a further aspect, the invention provides a system as defined in the independent system claim and/or any of the dependent system claims.

According to the present invention, combined reports are prepared in which the information from at least two networks are combined.

These reports may for instance be charging reports in which the charges accumulated in two or more networks are registered in combination.

•---Alternatively, the combined reports can also be drawn up for the traffic of and in the networks. For instance, c.ombined traffic reports of an access communication network, for instance a signalling system SS7, and of the usage of the Internet (or of IP traffic) can be created, for instance minutes versus packets sent/received, and/or minutes versus services used. The time (minutes or any other time unit) is important in a conventional circuit switched network such as a signalling system SS7 whereas packets are important in an IP-based network. Preparing a combined report collecting both this information provides goods insight into the use of the resources and allows an optimization of the use of resources.

The possibility of creating combined reports furthermore provides the ability to flexibly create new billing methods, for instance, such as the starting or changing of the charging of the use of a conventional switched network only after a desired application of another network, e.g. an Internet application, has been successfully provided or a requested Internet service has been successfully accomplished, for instance.

Furthermore, there is no need to combine separate reports created in different places (e.g. servers) so that smoother processes are available and the occurrence of problems is reduced. Only one source for recording charging or traffic data has to be provided in, or assigned to one of the networks which report includes all necessary information for charging and optimizing the traffic or otherwise dealing with this information.

For instance, a device such as a controller, server or the like, may create a charging record for every connection to a further network such as the Internet. For instance, every •modem connection, ISDN connection or other type of connection may be registered in the charging record. The charging record may contain e.g. the following information: day and time, length of the connection, tariff, calling party number (for instance calling modem number), called connection number (e.g. called modem number), trunk/circuit group, clear code, and the like. The use of a controller renders it possible to include further necessary or desired information to the charging record, for instance to a specific controller part of the record. This additional information may for instance be the number of sent/received bytes, of used network services such as IP services, number of used services, success or non-success of actions, and the like. The length of this additional controller part of the charging report is arbitrary and may depend on the length of the information to be stored in the charging record. The charging examples presented here are only some of a few examples. A variety of possibilities of creating information reports for two or more communication networks exists which are all included in the scope of the present invention.

The present invention provides a total combining of the charging (or, more generally, information collecting) capabilities of several networks, for instance of both an IP network and an SS7 network or any other circuit (or packet) switched network. The concept of the invention can also be used for generating sales reports, traffic reports in general and all other types of combined records.

Moreover, the reports such as combined charging and/or traffic reports are prepared in real time so that the reports are always up to date.

A further advantage of the invention is that the combined ■report may provide only one source of charging data which includes all the necessary information for calculating the bill for a user such as a subscriber. There is no need to combine charging data created in different reports. This provides smoother processes and less problems. The SS7 network mentioned above is only one example. The networks may be of any type including TDM (time division multiplexing) based networks such as PSTN (public switched telephone networks) and PLMN (public land mobile network) , or code division multiplexing based networks.

The invention thus presents a method for preparing a combined report by combining the information such as charging information created by different networks such as an IP network and a TDM (time division multiplexing) network in real time, preferably with the help of an intelligent network (IN) platform. The invention is able to register, for instance, modem connections originating from the TDM network and terminating in the Internet IP. The invention may also be used for other types of communicating networks or for communications originating from the IP network and terminating in another network such as TDM network. The invention can be used for offering common charging, or traffic reporting, for services utilizing two or more different networks such as IP network and TDM network.

The invention is particularly useful with regard to the increasing dial-up IP traffic wherein the Internet is accessed by dialling (for instance from mobile stations) . This increasing access is also promoted by the development of WAP (wireless application protocol) . Internet-based services are accessed not only by WAP but also by -traditional PSTN or PLMN networks. The invention provides a solution for combined charging which is one of the important elements of commercial services, and provides a concept which is also applicable for creating combined traffic reports or other types of reports. The invention furthermore provides tools for appropriate charging. For instance, in some countries, dial-up Internet services are charged based on the length of the connection to the Internet such as modem connection. It is for example possible to buy articles or to down-load programs or other items such as new tones to one's mobile phone, from the Internet. When basing the charging on the length of the connection and on charging records created in the access network such as a> TDM network, there is the possibility of charging a user even if the requested service was not successfully provided. The invention provides a solution for this problem as the information on the status of the service (successful or non-successful) may be used as one additional item of the charging record and may be used for inhibiting a charging in case of a non-successful service request .

Furthermore, the invention provides a new manner of handling the charging of Internet services or other Internet-related processes such as the payment of articles ordered via the Internet. In particular, the prepaid charging method is usable therefore in which the user pays in advance for services. This prepaid method is nowadays used for prepaid calls in mobile networks. The present invention provides a possibility of deducting the costs of purchases effected via the Internet from such a prepaid account. Therefore, the user is no longer forced to send confidential data via the Internet such as information on his/her bank account or credit card number. It is sufficient to indicate the prepaid account number. The system and method according to the invention then deducts the costs of the Internet purchase of Internet services or articles from this prepaid account. Even if the information on the prepaid account should be illegally collected by a third party, the maximum risk is restricted to the amount of the prepaid account. Therefore, the security against significant losses is greatly improved.

The invention is not restricted to the problems discussed above, and can also be used for any kind of charging (or recording) in which information both from the IP network and the access network are needed for creating and calculating the final costs of the service. The invention provides the possibility of creating many new, advanced and sophisticated methods for charging or, more generally, creating combined reports.

Some operators are also using the IP networks for transmitting voice traffic, that is for conducting telephone calls via the Internet.

The charging reports can be selectively created for individual users, or also for user groups assigned to the same account, or otherwise connected with each other in a defined way known and announced to the provider.

The debiting of intended purchases of services or goods via the network is preferably performed only when the purchase was successful. Therefore, the networks are arranged to transmit information on success or non-success of a purchase.

Preferably, the reports may be managed by using an -intelligent network which provides easy managing and adaptability to changes of parameters or conditions.

The information is preferably sent from both networks to an entity in charge of preparing the reports which then collects this information for creating the combined reports. Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows a basic layout of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates the information flow between several components of the networks;

Figure 3 shows the structure of a further embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of preferred Embodiments of the Invention

Figure 1 shows a basic layout of a first embodiment of the present invention. The communication system of figure 1 comprises at least two communication networks. The first communication network may be a standard communication network such as a network comprising fixed communication lines for voice/data transmission, or a GMS (global system for mobile communications) network, for instance a circuit switched or packet switched network like GPRS (general ■.-packet radio service), or UMTS (universal mobile telecommunication system) ; a conventional analogue cpmmunication network, an ISDN-based network or the like. A platform 8 forms part of this first communication network. A second communication network may be a network of a different type such as an IP-based (internet protocol) network 3, e.g. the Internet. According to figure 1, the communication system comprises a billing server 1, an application server 2, the network 3 which is, in this embodiment, IP-based but may also be based on a different protocol or concept, a platform controller 5, the platform 8, a router 7, an access server 13, and a charging record 14 managed by the platform 8 and basically consisting of a basic part 15 and a platform controller part 1'6.

The platform 8 may be a server or any other interface equipment suitable for handling and distributing the communications between the different components. For instance, the platform 8 is communicating with the network of which it forms part by means of a known communication standard such as the signalling system SS7 which is indicated by a communication line 9. This line 9 is a line carrying signalling and data channels. The platform 8 communicates with the platform controller 5 by means of communication link or line 6 with mainly serves for transmitting signalling data. The platform 8 can access the Internet 3 via several alternative ways selected according to information received or generated within the network of which the platform 8 forms part. One way is a direct access to the router 7 by means of the Internet Protocol IP via link 10 which router 7 then addresses the Internet 3 according to the selected address. An alternative way for accessing the Internet from the platform 8 network is via ^•■-the access server 13 which is addressed via link 11 being adapted, for instance, for PRA access (primary rate access) . The access server 13 accesses the Internet 3 by addressing router 7 with IP address via link 12. The billing server 1, the application server 2, the platform controller 5 and the router 7 are adapted to directly communicate with the Internet 3 as indicated by the direct lines interconnecting these elements. Furthermore, the application server 2 issues charging information which is transmitted via link 4 finally to the charging record 14. The charging information may be transmitted via the billing server 1, the platform controller 5 and the platform 8 which elements may also generate additional charging information or may generate the charging information according to use information received from application server 2, for instance via the Internet 3.

According to the embodiment shown in figure 1, the platform 8 creates the charging record 14 for every use of its network, for instance for every modem connection and therefore collects the charging information for calculating the charges relating to every use of the network. This charge record 14 can accumulate the charges for a predefined time period such as one month, for instance. Basically, the charge record 14 contains e.g. the following information: day, time and length of the connection, tariff, identification of the call originating party, for instance the calling modem number; identification of the terminating party, for instance called modem number, trunk/circuit group, clear code, and so on. This information is stored in the basic part 15 of the charging record 14.

The platform controller 5 is adapted to collect and/or create additional charging information from other networks -such as network 3 which additional information is stored in the specific platform controller part 16 of the same charging record 14. The charging record 14 is therefore basically a database storing a plurality of information elements for all connections (or other types of charge- related events) made up to then, starting for instance from the beginning of each month. The information to be included in the platform controller part 16 may for instance be the number of sent/received bytes, used services of the network 3, number of used services, and/or success or non-success of the actions. The part 16 may also contain additional or different information relevant for calculating charges for using the network 3, for instance day and time of the connection, terminating IP address, and the like. The length of the part 16 of the charging record 14 is selected according to necessity or availability and may consist of an appropriate number of bytes.

The platform controller 5 takes care of sending information for the platform controller part 16 to the platform 8 which adds this information to the charging record 14 after release of the connection, for instance the modem connection. IP services related information is sent to the platform controller 5 either by the billing server 1 or the application server (s) 2. The structure of this information (additional charging information) to be sent from the controller 5 to the platform 8 is defined in an appropriate manner so that it can be handled by the billing or by other post-processing systems (for instance indicating, as mentioned above, the number of sent/received bytes or packets, or the like) .

Basically, the basic part 15 may contain the charging information on the use of the network of which the platform 8 forms part, i.e. the SS7 tariff, for instance, which may -also be changed during the connection.

Figure 2 shows an example for handling the charging in an embodiment of the invention. The numerals attached to the lines and provided with an additional dot indicate the individual method steps which are explained below in greater detail. This embodiment is implemented using an intelligent network wherein a service switching point (SSP) 18 is handling the normal communication including the initiating and terminating of communications. The service switching point 18 may be part of the fixed or mobile network (this may be a public land mobile network PLMN or a public switched telephone network PSTN) or, more generally, a TDM (time division multiplexing) network or CDM (code division multiplexing) network, or any other type of • network) . A service control point (SCP) 17 of the intelligent network is accessed by the service switching point 18, in case of problems, for receiving information on how to continue with the present situation, and for transmitting and/or receiving charge-related information.

The service control point 17 communicates with the application server (s) 2 and receives additional charging information (CI) therefrom. In step 1., a user having number A (0405411506) dials a number B (0951123450) and the call is routed to the service switching point 18 which receives both numbers A and B. Instead of the number A, the network may alternatively, or additionally, send the calling line identity (CLI) information to the service switching point 18.

In step 2., a trigger information is sent from the service switching point 18 to the service control point 17. This trigger information may be sent at a trigger detection point TDP) as standardized in intelligent network ■. -.structures . In a fixed or a mobile network, the triggering can be done by the service switching point 17. In mobile networks, the triggering may also be effected based on information in a home location register (HLR) . The triggering may be performed based on the number A (A-number or calling line identity CLI), and/or the dialled number B (B-number) , or be based on a combination of both the A- number and the B-number.

Preferably, the signalling protocol used between the service switching point 18 and service control point 17 may be the application protocol CorelNAP (core intelligent network application protocol); cf. European telecommunication standard ETS 300 374-1 (September 1994) . The signalling according to. this CorelNAP is indicated by step 3. In the initial dial pulse (DP) message, the service switching point 18 sends both the A-number and the B-number to the service control point 17.

In step 4., the caller is identified based on the A-number. If a service for combining information both from the IP network 3 and the network to which the service switching point 18 is connected, has been installed and activated for the caller, the service is then executed and an instance for the caller is created in the service control point 17. If the service used is a charge combination, the charges both for using the network of which the service switching point 18 forms part, and the further network such as the Internet 3, is activated. If the service in use is prepaid account, the costs of the call may be calculated based on the B-number, time, day and so on for calculating and deducting the charge from the prepaid account. In this case, it can first be checked if the caller has enough money available in her/his account. The service will also •.- e prepared, in this case of prepaid account, for receiving billing information from the further network (IP network 3.) •

In step 5., if the caller is allowed to access the IP network (Internet), the service control point 17 returns a routing number (C-number) to the service switching point 18 for indicating the number to which the call is to be routed (in the embodiment shown in figure 2, the routing number C is the same as the originally indicated terminating number B but may also be different depending on the number or IP address of the terminating party) .

In step 6., the service switching point 18 connects the call to the indicated C-number which may correspond to an external IP access server, or to an integrated access server of the switch providing and representing the service switching point 18 features.

In the embodiment shown in figure 2, an application of an application server 2 is activated and used by means of the Internet (IP network 3) . The application may be part of the services provided by the Internet. If the use of the application is charged for, the application, or the application server 2 providing this application, is sending, in step 7., information to the service control point 17. This information indicates the originating caller number (number A) and charging information „additional CI (charging information)" which is designated, in figure 2, as information item D. The call will always be in control of the service control point 17 which collects the additional charging information and the communication charges of the actual call and may disconnect the call if, for instance, the prepaid account of the caller has been used up after a certain time. The service control point 17 --^•may receive the billing information D also from the IP network 3 instead of directly from the application server 2..

In step 8., after the call is released by the caller, the service control point 17 sends the additional charging information D to the service switching point 18. The additional charging information may consist of the (possibly accumulated) costs of the individually used network services of the IP network, the number of IP packets sent/received during the connection, the IP services used during the connection and the costs thereof, and the like. The service control point 17 may also be adapted to receive, from application server 2, merely the just mentioned information such as the number of sent/received IP packets, and to calculate the charge to be collected for the use of the network services.

The service switching point 18 is preparing the charging record 14 for the normal communication charges for using the network, for instance depending on the use time, in a conventional manner.

In step 9., the service switching point 18 is adding -the additional charging information D received from service control point 17, to the charging record 14 so as to form a combined record in which the charges for using the two (or eventually also more than two) networks are combined. Therefore, only one charging record 14 is to be provided in which all charges are combined, eliminating the necessity of preparing two separate charging accounts which would then have lateron to be managed for preparing the bills.

When using the prepaid concept in which a user or user group has a prepaid account, this prepaid account maypreferably also be used for charging services of the second network, for instance the IP network. Preferably, the application server 2 providing the application to be used by the caller, and the service control point 17 exchange messages, before initiating the start of the requested application, for validating whether or not the user has enough money, time or other account amount in her/his account for using the application, for instance making a purchase, the costs of which are to be deducted from the prepaid account.

In the present invention, the A-number (or calling line identity CLI or any other identification information) in the first network such as a TDM network, and the characterizing name or address such as IP address in the second network such as the IP network 3 are used for identifying the user and the used application. In the above example, the application or application server sends the A- number in addition to the additional charging information CI (or any other information such as traffic information or number of sent packages that is sent to the service control point 17) whenever sending messages to the service control point 17. In the service control point 17, this A-number (or any other received identification information) is used for identifying the caller and/or the associated charging record for collecting the charges. According to another approach, the application or application server 2 sends the IP address or any other identification information of the user to the service control point 17, and the service control point 17 detects the corresponding A-number, for instance by accessing an AAA-server storing a correspondence list of correspondence between IP address and A-number or calling line identity.

In the example shown in figure 2, the invention is •implemented by using an intelligent network technology with interfaces both to the service switching point 18 switch and the IP network 3.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The components of this embodiment corresponding to the components of the figure 1 embodiment are designated by using the same reference numerals. The embodiment of figure 3 mainly differs from same of figure 1 in so far as the charging record (or, here, prepaid account 14') is now managed by the platform controller 5.^' Furthermore, the application server 2 is sending, to the billing server 1, events characterizing the user or prepaid account, and the amount of usage of the application provided by the application server 2, i.e. all information necessary for calculating the costs to be charged for using the application provided by the application server 2. The billing server 1 is sending information regarding the costs to be charged to the platform controller 5. Although the arrows "event" and "cost" shown in figure 3 directly lead from the application server 2 to the billing server 1, or from server 1 to platform controller 5, respectively, the relevant information may of course be transmitted between these entities by using the IP network 3.

The structure of figure 3 is adapted for handling a prepaid account but may also be used in connection with a combined charging record.

Generally, the prepaid concept is a billing method in which the customers pay in advance for the use of services. The platform controller 5 may be used as a prepaid system for the access to the IP network, for instance for the modem access part. The prepaid account, that is the user's balance, is stored and managed in the database of the latform controller 5. The platform controller 5 also takes care of the tariffing. The mechanisms for top-ups etc., for instance with vouchers via the billing server 1, are provided. For identifying a customer, a modem number can be used in case of modem access to the IP network. The prepaid account allows an interesting billing method also to be used with IP applications. The same prepaid account can be used for debiting the normal communication charges charged for using the accessing network, the use of and access to the IP network, and the use of other IP services. The prepaid account 14 is a database managed by, or included in, the platform controller 5. When a service to be charged for is effected in the IP network, the application server 2 sends an event to the billing server 1 indicating the parameters necessary for calculating the charges. The billing server 1 calculates the costs to be charged, and sends this information to the platform controller 5. The platform controller 5 reduces the prepaid account of the respective customer by a corresponding amount. If the account should no longer have sufficient money, time or other account value left, the communication will be released. Otherwise, the connection will continue normally, and the prepaid account will be debited appropriately.

This prepaid account for all services means that only one account is to be managed and updated. The existing top-up and other management interfaces can be utilized, for instance for recharging the prepaid account.

For additional security, the application server 2 may check, before giving free a requested service, whether the requesting user has a sufficient account. This check can be •effected via the billing server 1 and the platform controller 5.

This concept of prepayment provides a significant increase in security against fraud as no security-relevant information of the user regarding his/her bank account or credit card information is to be supplied via the Internet. Even if the data regarding the prepaid account should be unlawfully intercepted, the maximum risk is restricted to the money amount kept in the prepaid account.

Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of the present invention. According to figure 4, the application server 2, the billing server 1 and the platform controller 5 are comprised in the same physical server as indicated by the combined arrangement of entities, 1, 2 and 5. Contrary to the structure of figures 1 and 3 according to which these servers 1, 2 and 5 are distributed to different physical servers, the combination of all these servers into one physical server simplifies the overall structure and furthermore allows an internal data flow, for instance of the charging information, from application server to billing server and platform controller. This reduces the risk of unlawful access from the outside, and the signalling load on the network.

The implementation to be selected may depend on the type and volume of offered services.

The platform controller 5 preferably supports both IP and CorelNAP signallings.

Although some preferred embodiments have been described above, the invention is not intended to be limited thereby, and all modifications and changes are to be included in the ^•scope of the present invention. For instance, the above description of the embodiments mainly refers to the creation of combined charge reports or combined prepaid account handling. This concept is also applicable for creating any combined reports of other type, for instance combined traffic reports. In such a case, instead of charge information, traffic information is generated and/or sent from the networks such as duration of a communication and number of packets sent/received in a packet switched network, and are combined in a combined traffic report.

Claims

1. Method for preparing reports in a communication system comprising at least two networks, wherein both networks are adapted to send information necessary for preparing reports to an entity of one of the networks which combines the information to prepare combined reports for the networks or users or user groups.

2. Method according to claim 1 wherein the combined report is a charging report which combines, selectively for each user or user group, the charges accumulated in the at least two networks.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a prepaid account is prepared for at least some of the users or user groups, and the charges accumulated in the at least two networks for a user or user group are combinedly deducted from the corresponding prepaid account.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein in addition to charges debited for using the at least two networks, charges for purchases of goods or services effected via one or more of the communication networks are combinedly deducted from the prepaid account.

5. Method according to claim 2, 3, or 4, wherein the network (s) send(s) information on success or non-success of a purchase effected via one or more of the networks, and a charge is only charged to the account, or detracted from a prepaid account, when the purchase is reported as success.

6. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the report is a traffic report for registering data traffic within one or more of the networks.

7. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the traffic report registers the time duration of connections, and the number of packets or type of used services .

8. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein one of the networks is a PSTN or PLMN, and the other network is a packet switched network, for instance the Internet.

9. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the report is managed by using an Intelligent Network.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein an application charging for its use or rendered services, sends charging information to an entity, preferably a Service Control point, of the Intelligent Network which, calculates the corresponding charges and adds these charges to the charging record, or transfers the charging information or calculated charges to a further entity managing the combined charging report.

11. System for preparing reports in a communication system comprising at least two networks having entities for deriving information necessary for preparing reports, wherein a report preparing entity is adapted to generate combined reports which entity receives the information from the at least two networks and combines the information to prepare the combined reports.

12. System according to claim 11, wherein the report preparing entity is generating a combined charging report which combines, selectively for each user or user group, the charges accumulated in the at least two networks.

13. System according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the report preparing entity manages a prepaid account for at least some of the users or user groups, and deducts the combined charges accumulated in the at least two networks for a user or user group from the corresponding prepaid account.

14. System according to claim 13, wherein the report preparing entity is adapted to deduct, in addition to the communication charges accumulated for using the at least two networks, charges for purchases of goods or services effected via one or more of the networks, from the prepaid account .

15. System according to claim 12, 13, or 14, wherein the network (s) send(s) information on success or non-success of a purchase effected via one or more of the networks to the report preparing entity, and a charge is only added to the account, or detracted from a prepaid account, when the purchase is reported as success.

16. System according to anyone of claims 11 to 15, wherein the report preparing entity generates a traffic report for registering data traffic within one or more of the networks .

17. System according to anyone of claims 11 to 16, wherein the report preparing entity comprises, or is part of an Intelligent Network.

18. System according to claim 17, wherein an application server charging for the use of an application or rendered services, is adapted to send charging information to the report preparing entity, preferably a SERVICE Control point, of the Intelligent Network.