EP1374552A2

EP1374552A2 - Method for billing services using a prepaid account

Info

Publication number: EP1374552A2
Application number: EP02726076A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Georg Kastelewicz; Peter Kim
Original assignee: Siemens AG; Nokia Siemens Networks GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2001-04-02
Filing date: 2002-03-28
Publication date: 2004-01-02
Also published as: WO2002080517A2; WO2002080517A3; US20040117304A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for billing chargeable services using a prepaid account managed in a communication network for a communication terminal that is registered in said network. To bill the chargeable services, at least one billing message is transmitted by a payment request device to an account management device of the prepaid account via a signalling system of the communication network that controls the establishment of a communication link. The payment request device (ZAE) provides the billing message (VN) with an address for the communication terminal (KEG) and said message is routed to a device exchange (CSCF1) that is assigned to the communication terminal (KEG). The exchange determines an identification address for the account management device (KFE) based on the address of the communication terminal (KEG) and the billing message (VN) is routed to the account management device (KFE).

Description

description

Procedure for billing services using a credit account

The invention relates to a method for billing chargeable services by means of a credit account, which is managed in a communication network for a communication terminal registered in the communication network.

It is generally known that in communication networks fees for communication services are debited from credit accounts (so-called prepaid accounts) managed in these communication networks. These credit accounts are assigned to communication terminals registered in the communication network (for example landline telephones, cell phones). From such a communication terminal, communication connections can be established and carried out as long as there is a fee credit on the assigned credit account. If the charge credit is used up, then no new communication connections can be established or existing communication connections are interrupted.

A method is known from German published patent application DE 199 05 054 A1, in which messages which relate to payment transactions which are carried out by means of prepaid credit are transmitted from a communication terminal of a borrower to a communication terminal of a payer, which is then a service control point of an intelligent network notified.

From the German patent DE 44 12 727 C2 a method for billing charges in a mobile radio system is known, in which a pre-charge using a Intelligent network is carried out, one with one

Mobile debit center connected debit center is formed as part of a service control point of the intelligent network.

Furthermore, DE 36 89 214 T2 discloses a method for refusing to forward a connection via a message transmission network, in which messages relating to telephone charges are transmitted between a database and long-distance exchanges via a central channel signaling system.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a method with which billing of chargeable services can be carried out securely and reliably via credit accounts in communication networks.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a method of the type specified at the outset, in which at least one charge message is transmitted from a payment request device via a signaling system of the communication network that controls the establishment of a communication connection to an account management device of the credit account, in that the charge message is sent from the payment request device with an address the communication terminal is provided, based on the address of the communication terminal the charge message is routed from the switching centers assigned to the communication line mechanism to a device switching center assigned to the communication terminal, the device switching center determines an identification address of the account management device on the basis of the address of the communication terminal and the charge message is routed to the account management device determined by this identification address. It is particularly advantageous here that the billing message is transmitted via a signaling system of the communication network that controls the communication connection. Such a signaling system is included in modern communication networks for the purpose of establishing, implementing and clearing communication links (session setup, mid-session signaling, session clearing). By using a signaling system that already exists, the charging messages can be transmitted with little effort. Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous that the payment request device only has to have the address of the communication terminal (to which the credit account is assigned) in order to transmit the billing message to the account management device of the credit account.

The method according to the invention can be configured in such a way that the billing message is from a packet-oriented

Signaling system message routing mechanism is routed to the account management facility.

The method according to the invention can also be designed in such a way that the billing message is protected against unauthorized access by a message security mechanism of the signaling system.

In the aforementioned embodiments of the method according to the invention, it is particularly advantageous that the

Billing messages can be routed to their destination with little effort and protected against unauthorized access. This is particularly advantageous because the

Billing of services must take into account the security requirements of the process participants. It is particularly necessary to protect all data that is transferred during the procedure (e.g. data related to the credit account, the payment amounts or personal data of the process participants) against misuse. The security aspect is of particular importance when parts of communication networks are formed by so-called "insecure networks". An "insecure network" is to be understood here as a network in which data transported through the network is listened to, copied or changed by unauthorized persons can, without the sender of the data or a recipient of the data noticing or preventing this.

An example of such an “insecure network” is the Internet (use of the IP protocol), in which data packets (so-called IP packets) can be listened to, copied or changed

Communication network uses such an "insecure network", then the security of the data transmitted in this communication network is endangered.

The method according to the invention can be designed such that

- An identifier of the communication terminal and a payment amount is transmitted with the billing message and

- After the payment message arrives, the account management device debits a debit amount dependent on the payment amount from the credit account. The method according to the invention can be designed such that, after the debit amount has been debited, a confirmation message is transmitted to the payment request device. It is particularly advantageous here that the payment requesting device is informed promptly of successful debiting of the debit amount.

The method according to the invention can also be designed such that a communication network is used as the communication network which has unsecured message transmission links before access by unauthorized persons. With such an embodiment, it is particularly advantageous that, despite the presence of unsecured message transmission links, the charging messages are transmitted in a secure manner by the signaling system that controls the establishment of the communication connection.

The method according to the invention can also be designed in such a way that a payment request device is used as the payment request device that is outside the control of an operator of the communication network. Even with such payment request devices, services that are subject to a charge can advantageously be billed via the credit account of the communication network.

The method according to the invention can also be designed such that a payment request device is used as the payment request device, which is assigned to a request communication network which is connected to the

Communication network is connected through the signaling system. In this embodiment, services that are subject to a charge can also advantageously be made using the credit accounts of the communication network are billed if the

Payment request device is arranged in a different communication network than the communication network containing the credit account.

The method according to the invention can also be designed such that a signaling system is used in which a message transmission protocol called "Session Initiation Protocol" is used.

To further explain the invention, FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a communication network and a request communication network for using the billing process, and FIG. 2 shows another exemplary embodiment of a communication network and a request communication network for using the billing process.

1 shows a communication network KN which can be connected to a communication terminal KEG. The communication terminal KEG is registered in the communication network KN, the communication network KN thus represents the home network of the communication terminal KEG. The user of the communication terminal KEG is consequently also referred to as

Referred to as home user. For the communication network KN, only the components essential to the invention are shown schematically. The communication network KN includes a device switching center CSCF1 assigned to the communication terminal KEG, an account management device KFE and a credit account GK managed by the account management device KFE. The credit account GK is assigned to the communication terminal KEG. The KEG communication terminal is connected to the device switching center CSCF1 via a signaling system SIP that controls the establishment of a communication connection. This signaling system is shown schematically as a dashed line. This signaling system also connects the device switching center CSCF1 with the account management device KFE. On the right-hand side of the communication network KN, a request communication network AKN is shown in the figure, which contains a payment request device ZAE. The payment request device ZAE is connected to a service provider device LAE, which provides or offers a fee-based service for the communication terminal KEG. The payment request device ZAE of the request communication network AKN is also connected to the device switching center CSCF1 of the communication network KN via the signaling system SIP that controls the establishment of the communication connection. This signaling system is used not only to control the establishment of the communication connection, but also to control the entire process of the communication connection and to control the clearing down of this communication connection.

In this exemplary embodiment, the communication network KN should be designed according to the UMTS standard (UMTS = Universal Mobile Telecommunication System).

For example, for use in a UMTS communication network of this type, a signaling system is known which operates using a protocol called “Session Initiation Protocol” (SIP) and is referred to below as the signaling system SIP TS 23.228 VI.7.0 from February 2001 with the title: "Third Generar- tion partnership project; Technical Specification Group Services and Systems Aspects; IP Multimedia (IM) Subsystem - Stage 2 "especially described in chapter 4.4" Signaling Concepts ".

An exemplary embodiment of the method for billing services now runs as follows.

A user of the communication terminal KEG (service user) wants to make use of a service (that is, use a service) that is offered and / or provided by the service provider device LAE of the request communication network AKN. For example, the communication terminal KEG can set up a call to a special service number, for example to a service number beginning with "0190" (not shown in the figure). Such a service is, for example, a so-called premium rate service in which information is transmitted to service users. Such a service can also include the sale of goods of any kind, the delivery of information, business services, entertainment services or, for example, games. In this embodiment e.g. an information delivery service is provided by the request communication network AKN.

The credit terminal GK is assigned to the communication terminal KEG, via which the service or the service provided is to be billed. There is a prepaid credit from the communication terminal KEG on this credit account.

The service provider device LAE offers the information delivery service in the request communication network AKN. It instructs the payment request organization ZAE, one Send billing message VN. This billing message contains an identifier of the communication terminal KEG (for example a so-called SIP address of the communication terminal KEG) and a payment amount dependent on the chargeable service. In this case, the payment request device ZAE is a switching center CSCF (CSCF = Call State Control Function). The billing message VN is thus addressed with the SIP address of the communication terminal KEG and transferred to the signaling system SIP. On the basis of the SIP address of the communication terminal KEG, the signaling system SIP is able to automatically route the billing message VN to the destination (routing of messages, message routing mechanism). The billing message VN thereby reaches (possibly via various switching centers, not shown) to the device interface CSCF1, which is assigned to the communication terminal KEG. The device switching center CSCFl recognizes that it is a charge message VN. It is stored in the device switching center that such charging messages VN are not to be routed to the communication terminal KEG, but rather to the account management device KFE which is assigned to the credit account GK of the communication terminal KEG. The device switching center CSCFl has an identification address of this account management device (if necessary, it reads this identification address from a data storage node of the communication network KN or the identification address can also be stored directly in the device switching center CSCFl). The device switching center then sends the billing message to the account management device KFE determined by this identification address. The account management device KFE now reads the identifier of the communication terminal KEG and the payment amount from the charge message VN. by virtue of The account management device uses the identifier of the communication terminal to determine the credit account GK assigned to the communication terminal. The account management device debits a debit amount dependent on the payment amount from the credit account. The debit amount can be equal to the payment amount, but it can also be determined from the payment amount by adding or subtracting fee amounts.

After the debit amount has been debited from the credit account, the account management device instructs a unit of the communication network KN to send a confirmation message BN back to the request communication network. This unit of the communication network KN can be the device switching center, the account management device KFE itself can send the confirmation message BN to the request communication network or a further unit, not shown in the figure, can be instructed to send the confirmation message BN. The confirmation message BN is addressed, for example, with the SIP address of the payment request device ZAE. Therefore, the confirmation message BN is transmitted (routed) by the signaling system SIP from the communication network KN to the request communication network AKN, and the payment requesting device ZAE is thus informed of the successful debiting from the credit account.

However, it is also possible for the confirmation message BN to be addressed with the SIP address of the service provider device LAE (for example with the SIP address of a server). A confirmation message addressed in this way is also routed from the signaling system to the payment request point ZAE, which recognizes that this message is a confirmation message for the service provider. provider provider LAE acts, and sends the confirmation message BN to the service provider facility LAE.

All the procedural steps that are carried out are logged in the communication network KN, so that the billing can be checked at a later point in time and, in accordance with the debit amount debited from the credit account GK, funds in the conventional manner, e.g. can be transferred to a known bank account of the service provider.

With charging messages, not only debit orders can be transferred to the account management facility, but also amounts that are required later can be reserved on the credit account or reserved amounts that are no longer required can be released. In this case, confirmation messages are sent back to the request communication network analogously to the previously described method.

The signaling system SIP can also be referred to as an "all-IP network" or represents one.

In the method according to the invention, it is particularly advantageous that no data must be output from the communication network that describe the communication terminal KEG, user of the communication terminal, the fee account or the account management device KFE. In particular, it is not necessary to transmit the identification address of the account management address (sometimes also referred to as the IP server address) to the request communication network AKN. For the

This is a great advantage for network operators of the communication network KN, since network operators often have to issue identification addresses of account managers for security and competitive reasons. facilities or other internal data to others

Want to avoid operators. In addition, by not releasing data, conclusions about the internal network structure can be avoided.

It is advantageously sufficient if the SIP address of the communication terminal KEG is known in the request communication network in order to send it to the communication network KN with the charge message VN. No further user-specific data or data via the communication network KN is required. In particular, the request communication network does not need to know the prepaid server address because this is known to the device switching center CSCF1 of the communication network KN.

A further advantage is that all those security mechanisms can be used for the transmission of charging messages that are used in the signaling system SIP (which is also referred to as SIP session control) to control the establishment, implementation and removal of communication connections. These security mechanisms include, for example, authentication, authorization, integrity protection and the protection of confidentiality. Security can be increased by encrypting or signing messages. All of these security mechanisms of the signaling system SIP can be used to transmit charging messages between different networks, that is to say, for example, between the communication network and the request communication network. Of course, this also applies to confirmation messages or other messages to be transmitted as part of the billing process. Message line mechanisms of the signaling system can also be used to transmit such messages, such mechanisms are also referred to as routing mechanisms of the SIP session control. Charging messages between the networks are routed along the same path as messages for session control. Charge messages can, however, have a different entry or exit point. A possible exit point (termination point) is the prepaid server in the home network of the user, a possible entry point could be an application server (for example the service provider facility LAE) in the network of the service provider. The prepaid server can be found with the routing mechanisms, since it is located in the path of the session control (the signaling system SIP).

Another advantage of the method according to the invention for billing services is that the service provider (the service provider facility LAE) can be located in a different network than the credit account GK. The credit account GK is normally located in the home network of the communication terminal KEG. It is very advantageous for a service or service provider that his service provider facility LAE only has to be located in a single network of a single operator, since other networks with connected communication terminals and credit accounts can also be reached from this network via the SIP signaling system for the purpose of billing can be. This saves effort and costs for the service provider. Service users (such as the communication terminal KEG) advantageously do not even have to be logged into the service provider's network, nor does the service provider's network have to be the home network of the service users act. For the service user with the communication terminal

KEG is advantageous in that it can use the services of the service provider facility LAE, although it remains anonymous or does not have to enter into a contract with the service provider. It is also not necessary for him to register with the service provider.

In the method according to the invention, it is particularly advantageous that the billing of the services can take place in real time. As a result, the solvency of the user of the communication terminal KEG can be determined even before the service or the service is used.

The service-providing network (request communication network) can communicate with the prepaid server in the user's home network before and during service use. The user's ability to pay can be determined and monitored in real time during the service life. In extreme cases, when the user's credit is exhausted, the service can be canceled.

Furthermore, user-specific information, such as e.g. the addresses of prepaid servers are not passed on to external networks (such as the AKN request communication network). The use of paid services can also be made possible for those (prepaid) users who do not roam in the network of the service provider, but only select a service in this network (from another network).

Advantageously, a (prepaid) user can also use services that are not provided in his home network become. The (prepaid) user can also roam in another network.

Since the account management of the user takes place in his home network, but the service is provided in another network, the necessary billing information must be exchanged between the two networks. If, for example, the network of the service provider requests a reservation of money, the corresponding transactions are carried out in the home network of the user and the

Network of the service provider then informed whether there is sufficient coverage of the user account. The network of the service provider can later assert payment claims up to the reserved amount with the user's network.

In particular, all SIP session control messages can in principle be used to exchange the fee messages between the networks KN and AKN. Examples of this are INVITE, 200 OK, 183 Provisional Response, COMET, INFO.

In the present example, the user calls a service on the service provider device LAE (service or application server) in the foreign network AKN of the service provider. According to document 3GPP TS 23.228, the communication terminal KEG sends a SIP message "INVITE", which the service answers with the SIP message "200 OK". This SIP message “200 OK” contains a field in which a charge message VN or charge date can be embedded. In the present case, this can be a reservation request for a certain amount of money. The device switching center CSCFl has a filter function and routes those messages, the charge information included to the Account management device KFE, which evaluates the part relating to the charge (and forwards the message to the actual recipient, the communication terminal KEG).

Alternatively, e.g. the SIP message "200 OK" also remains unchanged and an SIP message "INFO" is also sent, which is sent from the device switching center CSCF1 to the account management device KFE as the final recipient.

The account management device KFE reacts with a SIP message "INFO", which also contains a field in which a charge message can be embedded and sent to the foreign network AKN of the service provider. In the present case, this can be a confirmation or rejection of a reservation the requested amount of money.

If fee claims are incurred in the course of the service use, these can be sent by the service provider facility LAE to the user's communication network KN by means of the SIP message "INFO". These messages, for example fee requests of a certain amount, are filtered and sent to the device switching center CSCFl the KFE account management facility is forwarded as the final recipient

Account management device KFE reacts with a SIP message "INFO", in which a message relating to the charging is embedded and sent to the network of the service provider. In the present case, this can be a confirmation or an error message.

If the user ends the use of the service, the service can release the remaining reservation. This message too can be embedded in a SIP message "INFO" and sent to the account management device KFE.

In Fig. 2 the communication terminal KEG itself is in the foreign network AKN and is logged in there.

During the establishment of the SIP session, the network operator of the foreign network AKN sends a reservation request from its service provider facility LAE to the network operator of the home network KN of the station KEG, who directs the actual establishment of the connection in UMTS networks. Otherwise, the procedure is essentially as described above.

Of course, the communication terminal KEG can alternatively also be located in a third network in which neither the account management device KFE nor the called service provider device (service server) LAE are located.

How to set up and control a SIP call or session between two networks in UMTS is described in the document 3G TS 23.228 VI.7.0. The terminal of the service user exchanges SIP messages with the network of the service provider via the signaling interface S shown in the figure. If charging messages are now embedded in the session control, advantageously no further interface and no new network elements are required for the addressing and routing of charging messages between the two network operators.

Another advantage of the proposed solution is that the addressing, routing and security infrastructure that is set up for SIP session control in UMTS also for the exchange of billing information. between the networks. This reduces costs, since no second infrastructure, with new network nodes, for example, has to be developed and set up specifically for the routing of charging messages.

Advantageously, according to the invention, the mechanisms of the SIP session control in a UMTS network are also used for prepaid billing across network boundaries or for prepaid billing within a network. The exchange of billing messages between network operators also allows the provision of services for third-party subscribers who are not roaming in the service-providing network.

In order to reach a large number of potential service users, the services offered in a network are advantageously made available not only to the users (home users) and users registered there (roaming users), but also to the users of other telecommunications networks such as those whose home network is not identical to the service provider network and who are not logged in there. Such a network-independent provision of services increases the number of potential users and thus the profit prospects of the provider. The method according to the invention enables the exchange of information between the networks, possibly in real time, so that those users who use a service in another network can also be billed. For this purpose, a method for transporting billing information between UMTS network operators or UMTS networks is described. A further exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention is shown below.

A user has a UMTS mobile phone with a prepaid account with a German network operator and is in his network. This user now wants to view an interactive image sequence (video telephone call), which is offered by an American network operator. It does not matter whether this telephony service is offered by the network operator itself or by a third party via the network of the American operator. In addition to the provision of the user service, the use of the service in the sense of premium rate services should be billed, whereby the prepaid method is to be used. During the establishment of the SIP session, the American network operator sends a reservation request for USD 10 to the German network operator. This is done via the connection of the SIP session control. The German network operator then reserves a corresponding amount in the user's prepaid account in the home network. After the user's confirmation has been obtained, the video telephony service is started. During the service, the American network operator sends a charge message of 50 cents to the prepaid server in Germany every 30 seconds, which is used to debit the service user's prepaid account. After 3 minutes, the user ends the call and the reservation of the remaining 7 USD is canceled.

A method for billing services via a credit account has been described, with which billing can be carried out across network boundaries or within a network. By using the signaling system SIP (the SIP session control) no additional routing or security infrastructure is needed and developed be used because the structures of the signaling system SIP can be used. The exchange of billing messages between network operators also allows the provision of services for third-party subscribers who are not roaming in the service-providing network.

Claims

claims

1. Procedure for billing for chargeable services using a credit account (GK), which is managed in a communication network (KN) for a communication terminal (KEG) registered in the communication network (KN), in which at least one billing message (VN) is sent by one Payment requesting device (ZAE) is transmitted to an account management device (KFE) of the credit account via a communication-establishing connection-controlling signaling system (SIP) of the communication network by

the billing message (VN) is provided by the payment requesting device (ZAE) with an address of the communication terminal (KEG),

- on the basis of the address of the communication terminal (KEG), the charge message (VN) is routed from the switching centers (ZAE) assigned to the communication line mechanism to a device switching center (CSCF1) assigned to the communication terminal (KEG),

- A identification address of the account management device (KFE) is determined by the device switching center (CSCFl) on the basis of the address of the communication terminal (KEG) and

- The billing message (VN) is routed to the account management device (KFE) determined by this identification address.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the charge message (VN) from a packet-oriented

Signaling system communication line mechanism

(SIP) is routed to the account management facility (KFE).

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, that the charge message (VN) is protected from unauthorized access by a message security mechanism of the signaling system (SIP).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that

- With the billing message (VN) an identifier of the communication terminal (KEG) and a payment amount is transmitted and

- After the payment message (VN) arrives, the account management facility (KFE) debits a debit amount dependent on the payment amount from the credit account (GK).

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, so that a confirmation message (BN) is transmitted to the payment requesting device (ZAE) after the debit amount has been debited.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that a communication network is used as the communication network (KN), which has access to unauthorized persons unsecured message transmission links.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that as a payment request facility (ZAE)

Payment request device is used, which is outside the control of an operator of the communication network (KN).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, that a payment request device is used as payment request device (ZAE), which is assigned to a request communication network (AKN), which is connected to the communication network (KN) by the signaling system (SIP).

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, that a signaling system (SIP) is used in which a message transmission protocol called "Session Initiation Protocol" is used.