Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/10—Metering calls from calling party, i.e. A-party charged for the communication
  • H04M15/12—Discriminative metering, charging or billing
  • H04M15/14—Discriminative metering, charging or billing according to class of calling party
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/02—Details
  • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/02—Details
  • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
  • H04L12/1453—Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network
  • H04L12/146—Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network using digital cash
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/02—Details
  • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
  • H04L12/1453—Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network
  • H04L12/1467—Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network involving prepayment
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
  • H04L63/02—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
  • H04L63/0227—Filtering policies
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/55—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP for hybrid networks
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/83—Notification aspects
  • H04M15/85—Notification aspects characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/83—Notification aspects
  • H04M15/85—Notification aspects characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
  • H04M15/851—Determined tariff
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/83—Notification aspects
  • H04M15/85—Notification aspects characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
  • H04M15/853—Calculate maximum communication time or volume
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
  • H04M15/83—Notification aspects
  • H04M15/85—Notification aspects characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
  • H04M15/854—Available credit
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M17/00—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M17/00—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
  • H04M17/20—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
  • H04M17/204—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment on-line recharging, e.g. cashless
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W12/00—Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
  • H04W12/08—Access security
  • H04W12/088—Access security using filters or firewalls
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
  • H04W4/24—Accounting or billing
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M17/00—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
  • H04M2017/24—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems with on-line recharging of an account or card, e.g. cashless
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M17/00—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems
  • H04M2017/26—Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems with real-time recharging of account/card, e.g. if limit is reached during connection user is asked if he wants to recharge or not
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/01—Details of billing arrangements
  • H04M2215/0192—Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/22—Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/28—SMS billing
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/44—Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/81—Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
  • H04M2215/815—Notification when a specific condition, service or event is met
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/81—Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
  • H04M2215/815—Notification when a specific condition, service or event is met
  • H04M2215/8162—Calculate maximum communication time or volume

Definitions

• the present invention is of a method and a system for management of pre ⁇
• multimedia data including e-mail (electronic mail) messages and Web pages.
• SMS short messaging service
• servers or gateways are connected to a wireless telephone network on one side and
• Internet Internet
• an SMSC receives a text message from the Internet or other source
• an HDML or WAP gateway In another example, an HDML or WAP gateway
• the Internet server sends a corresponding request to a server on the Internet.
• the Internet server
• the gateway reformats
• implementations of wireless data network elements do not allow for real-time data
• the GPRS architecture features a system 10
• a wireless device 12 which contains a wireless device 12, which may be a cellular telephone for
• Wireless device 12 is connected to a base station 14, which contains a
• BSC base station controller 16.
• BSC 16 is in turn in communication with a
• SGSN 18 serving GPRS support node 18.
• SGSN 18 is a network element which is
• Internal GPRS packet network 20 is in turn in communication with a GGSN
• GGSN 22 connects GPRS packet network 20 to the Internet 24.
• GGSN 22 communicates with devices connected to the Internet 24 (not shown)
• GGSN 22 also converts the GPRS packets received from SGSN 18 into the
• IP IP
• X.25 appropriate packet data protocol format
• background art system 10 unfortunately has a number of
• the present invention is a system and method for providing prepaid data
• the wireless device is
• a data network for transferring data from a data source, such as the
• a prepaid system monitors the data network in order to obtain a prepaid call.
• the subscriber uses a wireless device, such as a cellular
• GGSN or other gateway, which resides between the external network (such as the
• Internet and the internal data network (such as an internal GPRS packet network).
• internal data network such as an internal GPRS packet network
• the prepaid system thereby intercepts data traffic which would otherwise travel
• the prepaid system preferably then determines how the data traffic should
• the prepaid system could optionally selectively allow the
• the prepaid system preferably examines packets representing requests or
• the calculation of the debit is divided into two parts. According to a first part, the component of the prepaid system which actually receives the request from the user
• the user optionally according to particular characteristics of the user.
• the user optionally according to particular characteristics of the user.
• the request such as the data monitor, may optionally not receive any information
• the class of service information is received.
• the amount of the debit can depend on the size of the packet or the number
• the account can be debited for each "n" bytes or for each
• the amount of the debit could depend on the type
• request packets might optionally be
• the amount of debit depends upon the date and time of the data
• CoS subscriber's class of service
• the prepaid system preferably allows packets to be transferred between the wireless device and the data service provider (server) only if the subscriber's
• the system notifies the subscriber when the subscriber's balance is low
• the prepaid system can optionally notify the prepaid system.
• wireless device refers to any type of electronic
• channel for example through transmission and/or reception of radio waves.
• cellular telephone is a wireless device designed for the
• computational device includes, but is not limited to,
• wireless devices any type of wireless device and any type of computer. Examples of wireless
• devices include, but are not limited to, handheld devices, including devices
• Palm OS operating with the Palm OS®; hand-held computers, PDA (personal data assistant)
• WAP wireless application protocol
• the present invention could be implemented in software, firmware or
• the present invention could be implemented as substantially any type of integrated circuit or other electronic device capable of performing the functions
• the present invention can be described as a plurality of
• FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a background system
• FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a system according to the
• FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a system for voice and data
• FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary system for voice
• FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an alternate exemplary system for
• FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an additional alternate exemplary
• FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of another alternate exemplary system
• invention is not limited to wireless communication systems, but can also be applied
• the present invention is of a system and method for providing prepaid data
• the wireless device is
• a data network for transferring data from, or to, a data source, such as
• a prepaid system monitors the data network in order to determine .
• the flow of operations is described as follows. First, the
• the subscriber uses a wireless device, such as a cellular telephone for example, to communicate with a wireless device.
• a wireless device such as a cellular telephone for example
• the request for access is to transfer data services, such as SMS or the Internet.
• the request for access is to transfer data services, such as SMS or the Internet.
• the external network for example the Internet 24
• the prepaid system thereby intercepts data traffic which would otherwise travel directly
• the prepaid system preferably then determines how the data traffic should
• the prepaid system could optionally selectively allow the
• the prepaid system preferably examines packets representing requests or
• the calculation of the debit is divided into two parts.
• the first part the first part
• the device can used and programmed to control or manage the prepaid billing as
• the data monitor may optionally not receive any information about the user, but
• the class of service information is received.
• the way in which the debit is calculated can vary, and the amount of the
• debit can depend on the size of the packet or the number of packets. For example,
• the account can be debited for each "n" bytes or for each page to be displayed.
• the amount of the debit can depend on the type of request or data in the
• request packets might optionally be free.
• Music data might optionally be free.
• the amount of debit could depend upon the date and time of
• CoS subscriber's class of service
• the prepaid system preferably allows packets to be transferred between the
• the system notifies the subscriber when the subscriber's balance is low
• the prepaid system can optionally notify the prepaid system.
• CDMA Code Division Multiple Access
• WCDMA Wideband Code Division Multiple Access
• the product can work with any such internal
• Figure 2 shows an exemplary
• System 30 differs from background art system 10 in that system 30 also
• prepaid server 34 is also in communication with a voice network 36. Data payment
• server 32 is more preferably only in communication with the data
• Data payment server 32 is an optional but
• system 30 for management of the prepaid system and for
• prepaid server 34 communicates with data monitor 38
• Data monitor 38 monitors all data traffic from Internet
• Such characteristics include, but are not limited
• request packets might optionally be free.
• Music data might optionally be
• data monitor 38 more preferably calculates the
• Prepaid server 34, data payment server 32 and data monitor 38 may
• prepaid system collectively be termed a "prepaid system", and optionally may also include a DPS
• Prepaid server 34 preferably receives the number of tokens, or other
• amount of payment is preferably calculated in terms of actual money to be charged to the account of the subscriber and, therefore, preferably represents a conversion
• payment could also be calculated according to the date and time
• the amount debited might also optionally depend on the
• subscribers can be based on, or controlled by, the amount of data being transferred
• data protocol such as WAP or HTTP for example
• data protocol such as HTTP, FTP,
• TELNET TELNET, POP3, and so forth
• location of the data source such as the URL for
• WAP and HTTP transfers can be used, alone or in combination.
• data monitor 38 calculates the total amount required for the data
• data monitor 38 sends the required number of tokens to be
• Prepaid server 34 determines whether the
• prepaid server 34 sends the required tokens to data monitor 38, thereby enabling the transfer to occur, and debits the
• prepaid server 34 sends a message to data monitor 38 to block the
• the subscriber is notified of changes in
• the subscriber is notified that access denial is about to occur
• this imminent access denial is communicated to the subscriber.
• negative amount may optionally be limited according to a "threshold of denial"
• CDRs Call Detail Records
• CDRs are records generated and stored in the prepaid
• each prepaid subscriber receives services according to a specific class of
• the parameters for each class of service optionally and more preferably
• the operator is then preferably responsible
• each rule pertains to a particular class of service (CoS), and may also be
• content type content
• status return code of the application level protocol, such as HTTP "status” return flag
• HTTP "status” return flag whether access permission is permitted
• the weight is the number of tokens that should be charged
• the weight is a real number, and is more
• Data monitor 38 is preferably responsible for finding the exact rale which
• the charge is calculated according to a number of tokens
• the basic billing block is a parameter which is configured by the operator
• Each token is thus a basic unit for charging the
• Prepaid server 34 determines how much money is available to the subscriber.
• Data monitor 38 calculates the number of tokens required for each
• data monitor 38 enables the data transfer to occur.
• Prepaid server 34 is, therefore, also responsible for translating the money
• monitor 38 and prepaid server 34 (optionally through Data Payment Server 32), a
• Token Request and Refund Message is more preferably provided. This message is
• This message is optionally divided into several
• a first part is the "request tokens" part, which is used to request subscriber
• the message is optionally used in four different situations. First, when the
• daytime/weekday tokens can be valued at 20 tokens for $1.00.
• daytime/weekday tokens can be valued at 20 tokens for $1.00.
• the prepaid server 34 sends the tokens to the data monitor 38
• monitor 38 send the tokens back to the prepaid server 34 when they expire to
• a DPS manager 39 is provided for
• FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of another preferred embodiment of
• prepaid server 34 handles prepaid services for both
• Data network 40 is shown as being
• prepaid server 34 distributes tokens to both data monitor 38 and voice
• billing system is used, particularly when a voice call is being handled by the voice
• the prepaid server 34 monitors the connection of the wireless
• connection at a set interval during the connection.
• the interval could be
• This embodiment is particularly useful when, in a voice network 36, there is
• connection to the wireless device 12 fails before a proper connection hang-up or
• the present embodiment avoids this problem by monitoring the connection
• the prepaid server 34 (or any appropriate system platform which is not
• connection records at each occurrence of the preset interval Therefore, at any one
• connection server or system fails before the connection is
• connection is monitored at one minute intervals and the connection
• connection time which can be properly billed, whereas in the prior art the entire connection time is lost and remains un-billed.
• the interval to be used can be set at any time or duration depending on the
• connection can be monitored at intervals of 10 seconds, however, this creates a
• an interval of one minute, or longer, may be used.
• a code "tag" is
• the Voice XML document which is obtained contains a script that is to be interpreted by the Voice
• XML interpreter is connected to the telephony (or communication) subsystem that
• Voice XML interpreter This results in a user interface session for a telephone, or
• XML interpreter can be a part of the same unit as shown in Figures 5 and 6.
• firewall is used in the system for security and essentially creates three zones within
• DMZ or neutral zone
• neutral zone is generally located between a private
• the web server from which the information, or
• web page is to be obtained (i.e. web servers 1, 2 or 3) can be located in anyone of
• Voice XML interpreter or Voice XML platform can access a web server
• the Voice XML platform (or equivalent platform)
• system sends a query to a pre-determined address according to a pre-set of rales
• prepaid system (which can be configured and operate as the prepaid
• prepaid system can be an amount of data. This can be used when the Voice XML
• Some source e.g. some web server containing text or audio
• the two unused amounts i.e. data and time
• the two unused amounts can be returned to the prepaid system
• the system can "reserve” an amount of service. In return for the
• Voice XML interpreter shown in Figures 4-7 can be used to
• the VoiceXML platform refers to the Tariff engine and the prepaid system as one
• Voice XML interpreter or platform to send a charging record, or check the system
• Voice XML tags For example, the additional tag required for the present
• the present invention is not limited to these locations, but can also be placed in any
• XML tag can be inserted which contains a URL to which data regarding the service
• the above embodiment can also be used in data transfer applications in a similar fashion.
• prepaid server 34 is triggered to not bill for the connection time, as the data
• the prepaid server 34 determines whether or not sufficient "tokens" exist in the
• the present invention limited to wireless communication systems.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Computing Systems (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
• Financial Or Insurance-Related Operations Such As Payment And Settlement (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=23018659

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (13)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2002
  • 2002-02-08 AU AU2002247000A patent/AU2002247000A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-02-08 EP EP02714750A patent/EP1366630A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-02-08 WO PCT/US2002/001243 patent/WO2002067600A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (2)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events