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
  • H04M15/80—Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
  • H04M15/8038—Roaming or handoff
• • 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
  • H04M15/49—Connection to several service providers
• • 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
  • H04M15/51—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP for resellers, retailers or service providers
• • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/20—Technology dependant metering
  • H04M2215/2026—Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/20—Technology dependant metering
  • H04M2215/2046—Hybrid network
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/32—Involving wireless systems
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/34—Roaming
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/46—Connection to several service providers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/54—Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
  • H04M2215/74—Rating aspects, e.g. rating parameters or tariff determination apects
  • H04M2215/7442—Roaming
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
  • H04W88/02—Terminal devices

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method and devices for loading and reloading an account assigned to a mobile communication terminal with a monetary amount. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method and devices for loading and reloading an account assigned to a mobile communication terminal with a monetary amount, whereas a reload request including a value code and an identification of the mobile communication terminal are transmitted over a communication channel to a computerised reload unit and whereas the reload unit transfers a monetary amount corresponding to the value code to the account assigned to the identified mobile communication terminal.
• the loading or reloading of prepaid credits onto chipcards assigned to mobile communication terminals is generally known.
• Described in the patent application EP 827 119 A1 is a method for loading or reloading a chipcard with a monetary amount value.
• the sale value of a value card available at a great many public points of sale is loaded or reloaded on a particular chipcard, in particular a SIM card (Subscriber Identification Module) after a value code, located on this value card, has been transmitted to a service centre.
• SIM card Subscriber Identification Module
• Such value cards are also known as so-called prepaid cards.
• An alternative method for loading of telephone cards for mobile radio telephones with a value card is described in the patent application EP 848 537 A1.
• the sale of a telephone card is registered in a customer database, and the prepaid telephone card is only activated after the user enters a secret number, defined by him, upon making the first telephone call.
• the credit amount is not stored on the card, but rather in an account.
• the user calls a service number and enters, in addition to the secret number, a credit card number or a value code of a
• BESTATIGUNGSKOPIE value card whereupon the account is increased by a reload amount.
• Value cards with value codes loaded thereon can be used in countless areas of application since the value cards with the stored value codes can be used not only for loading telephone cards or other chipcards with monetary amount values, but can also be used to obtain credit for all sorts of services that must be paid for.
• Such prepaid cards with value codes in the state of the art can usually be purchased at various types of points of sale such as, for instance, kiosks or other points of sale.
• Value codes without value cards or value cards with value codes can also be obtained at ATMs (automated teller machines) or POS (point of sale) terminals, which carry out the debiting and crediting via a bank account of the user, credit cards or prepaid cards (e.g. chipcards).
• ATMs automated teller machines
• POS point of sale terminals
• the distribution of value codes by means of a value card as carrier has the drawback that the value codes are usually tied to a particular provider or mobile radio network operator. If a user of a mobile communication terminal, specifically a mobile radio device, is in another country, for example, and, using a prepaid value card originating there, would like to load or reload credit on his chipcard, this would not be possible.
• the service centre of the mobile radio network operator with whom the user is a subscriber, does not accept the value code of the foreign mobile radio network operator, and the service centre of the foreign mobile radio network operator who issued the value card does not have permission to load or reload the account of the mobile radio device.
• One possibility would be to allow this through special agreements between the individual mobile radio network operators.
• the users should have the possibility of being able to buy any value cards with value codes of any participating mobile radio network operator and of being able to use them for loading or reloading their accounts without having to pay attention to whether the value card or the value codes stored thereon, respectively, are issued by the mobile radio network operator through whom the mobile communication terminal or the SIM card connected thereto, respectively, is given network access, i.e. the home network.
• a reload request including a value code, for example off a prepaid value card, and an identification of the mobile communication terminal to be credited, for example the MSISDN- number assigned to the user of that mobile communication terminal, are transmitted over a communication channel to a computerised reload unit.
• the reload unit transfers a monetary amount corresponding to the value code to the account assigned to the identified mobile communication terminal.
• the above-stated objects are particularly achieved in that the initiating reload request including a value code associated with a first mobile radio network and an identification of the mobile communication terminal to be credited, registered in a home location register of a second mobile radio network, are transmitted over a communication channel to a computerised central unit.
• the computerised central unit transmits a second reload request including the value code associated with the first mobile radio network and an identification of a proxy mobile communication terminal, for example the MSISDN-number assigned to that proxy mobile communication terminal, registered in a home location register of the first mobile radio network, over a communication channel to a first reload unit associated with the first mobile radio network.
• the computerised central unit transmits a third reload request, for example a reload third party request, also known as an "on-behalf request", including a proxy value code associated with the second mobile radio network and the identification of the mobile communication terminal to be credited over a communication channel to a second reload unit associated with the second mobile radio network.
• the second reload unit transmits to the account assigned to the identified mobile communication terminal to be credited a monetary amount corresponding to the proxy value code.
• reload requests originating from users who have subscribed to different mobile radio networks (or operators) and who are possibly roaming in different mobile radio networks, and are using value codes issued by different network operators, i.e. value codes associated with different mobile radio networks, can be handled consistently in one common automated service unit, addressable by one common service number, for example.
• the monetary value corresponding to this value code will be credited by this reload unit in the conventional way to the account assigned to the proxy mobile communication terminal, i.e. the monetary amount will be credited to the operator of the computerised central unit.
• the monetary value corresponding to the proxy value code which is taken from a database of the computerised central unit, will be credited by this reload unit in the conventional way to the account assigned to the mobile communication terminal to be credited.
• An advantage of this invention is, inter alia, that no special contractual agreements between the individual mobile radio network operators are necessary for mutual recognition of value cards with value codes from different mobile radio network operators. On the contrary, a single contractual agreement with a central unit according to the invention or the operator thereof suffices for a mobile radio network operator, if the central unit does not in fact already belong to the mobile radio network operator.
• Another advantage is that the user of the mobile radio network does not have to worry about where, or from which operator, he buys a value card with a corresponding value code for loading or reloading his account. The user likewise does not have to be concerned about to which reloading unit the value card has been assigned.
• the user always has the same central unit or service centre to call to load or reload the account assigned to his mobile communication terminal and/or chipcard.
• the invention can be implemented without any modifications of the conventional reload units and the conventional mobile communication terminals.
• no special interfaces are required between reload units of different operators and the network traffic between the reload units of different operators is reduced because all the reload requests can be handled by one central unit forwarding conventional reload requests to the reload units of the different operators.
• the computerised central unit prior to transmitting the third reload request, directs the proxy mobile communication terminal to perform a balance enquiry, to determine whether the first reload unit transferred a monetary amount corresponding to the value code associated with the first mobile radio network to an account assigned to the proxy mobile communication terminal. In this way, it can be assured that no monetary amount is credited to the account assigned to the mobile communication terminal to be credited, if no monetary amount was credited to the operator of the computerised central unit.
• at least part of the contents of the second reload request and/or the first reload unit associated with the first mobile radio network are determined from a database based on the value code associated with the first mobile radio network.
• VLR-identifier Visitor Location Register
• HLR- identifier Home Location Register
• At least part of the contents of the third reload request and/or the second reload unit associated with the second mobile radio network are determined based on the identification of the mobile communication terminal to be credited. This makes it possible for different formats of reload requests, particularly different formats of third party reload requests, to be used for reload units associated with different mobile radio networks to be supported by the central unit, and no additional information for the identification of the second reload unit and the second mobile radio network must be provided in the initiating reload request.
• the proxy value code is determined by the computerised central unit from a voucher database such that the monetary amount assigned to the proxy value code corresponds to the monetary amount assigned to the value code associated with the first mobile radio network. In this way the account assigned to the mobile communication terminal to be credited is credited with the monetary amount corresponding to the value code used in the initiating reload request.
• corresponding monetary values in a second currency are assigned to the proxy value codes stored in the voucher database. This makes it possible for proxy value codes of corresponding monetary amount, and possibly in another currency, that are associated with a target mobile radio network, to be determined for any value code associated with an initial mobile radio network and assigned to monetary amounts in any denomination and currency.
• the monetary amount corresponding to the value code associated with the first mobile radio network is transferred to a data store located on a first accounts database and the monetary amount corresponding to the proxy value code is transferred to a data store located on a second accounts database.
• This is particularly advantageous in network environments where the (credit) balance of a network subscriber (user) is stored in a database of the network, for example in so called IN-networks (Intelligent Networks).
• the monetary amount corresponding to the value code associated with the first mobile radio network is transferred (alternatively or in addition) to a data store of the proxy mobile communication terminal, for example a data store located on a chipcard fixed or removably connected to the proxy mobile communication terminal, and the monetary amount corresponding to the proxy value code is transferred to a data store of the mobile communication terminal to be credited, for example a data store located on a chipcard fixed or removably connected to the mobile communication terminal to be credited.
• storing the monetary amount in a datastore of the mobile communication terminal provides a distributed backup for the centralised accounts database. Particularly, storing the monetary amount in a data store located on a removable chipcard increases flexibility because the chipcard can be removed and inserted for payment in devices external to the mobile communication unit.
• the present invention also relates to a computerised device, a computer-readable data carrier, and a computer program product for executing the method according to the invention.
• Figure 1 shows a block diagram which illustrates schematically a computerised device connected through communication channels to multiple mobile radio networks, reload units and terminals, and embodying a computerised central unit capable of sending and receiving reload requests over these communication channels.
• Figure 2 shows a timing diagram illustrating schematically the data flow between a mobile communication terminal or a data entry terminal and the computerised device, and reload units.
• the reference numeral 1 refers to a computerised device including at least one computer and a database 13.
• the computerised device 1 is connected through communication channels 7a, 7b, 7c, 8a, 8b, 8c, 9, 10a, 10b, 10c to computerised reload units 6a, 6b, 6c and to communication terminals such as the mobile communication terminal 4 and the data entry terminal 5, for example an ATM- (Automatic Teller Machine) or POS-terminal (Point of Sale).
• the computerised device 1 is used as a computerised central unit for loading and reloading accounts assigned to mobile communication terminals.
• the terms "computerised device” and “computerised central unit” are used interchangeably, and are both denoted with the reference numeral 1.
• the mobile communication terminal 4 illustrated schematically in Figure 1 , is a mobile radio telephone or a laptop-, palmtop or PDA-computer (Personal Data Assistant) equipped to communicate over a mobile radio network 2a, 2b, 2c.
• the mobile communication terminal 4 includes an identification module, preferably a chipcard 41 fixed or removably connected to the mobile communication terminal 4, preferably a so-called SIM-card (Subscriber Identification Module).
• the identification module contains an identification data element, for example an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMS1).
• IMS1 International Mobile Subscriber Identity
• the mobile communication terminal 4 includes a data store 411 , preferably located on the chipcard 41 , which can be used as an account to store monetary amounts.
• the communication channels 8a, 8b, 8c provide to mobile communication terminals 4 direct access to the computerised central unit 1 through mobile radio networks 2a, 2b, 2c, the computerised central unit 1 being accessed using a respective service number or address.
• the mobile radio networks 2a, 2b, 2c are, for example, GSM- (Global System for Mobile communication) or UMTS-networks (Universal Mobile Telephone System) or other, for example satellite-based, mobile radio networks.
• the communication channel 9 connects the computerised central unit 1 to the data entry terminal 5 through the fixed communication network 3, for example an IP-network (Internet Protocol), an ISDN-network (Integrated Services Digital Network), a PSTN- (Public Switched Telephone Network), LAN- (Local Area Network) or WAN-network (Wide Area Network) or another fixed network.
• IP-network Internet Protocol
• ISDN-network Integrated Services Digital Network
• PSTN- Public Switched Telephone Network
• LAN- Local Area Network
• WAN-network Wide Area Network
• the communication channels 7a, 7b, 7c provide to communication terminals 4, 5 indirect access to the computerised central unit 1 through the computerised reload units 6a, 6b, 6c, the computerised reload units 6a, 6b, 6c being accessed by the mobile communication terminals 4 using a respective service number or address.
• the computerised reload units 6a, 6b, 6c are connected to the computerised central unit 1 by means of a fixed network, for example an IP-network (Internet Protocol), an ISDN-network (Integrated Services Digital Network), a PSTN- (Public Switched Telephone Network), LAN- (Local Area Network) or WAN- network (Wide Area Network) or another fixed network.
• IP-network Internet Protocol
• ISDN-network Integrated Services Digital Network
• PSTN- Public Switched Telephone Network
• LAN- Local Area Network
• WAN- network Wide Area Network
• the computerised reload units 6a, 6b, 6c are accessible from a mobile communication terminal 4 through the mobile radio networks 2a, 2b, 2c and through an SMSC, an MSC, a USSD-gateway, a GGSN-unit or a WAP-gateway in the infrastructure of the mobile radio networks 2a, 2b, 2c, an IVR-interface or a CORBA-agent in the infrastructure of the mobile radio networks 2a, 2b, 2c or in the reload units 6a, 6b, 6c, or by another data exchange system in the infrastructure of the mobile radio networks 2a, 2b, 2c or in the reload units 6a, 6b, 6c.
• the computerised reload units 6a, 6b, 6c are also accessible from a data entry terminal 5 through a fixed communication network 3.
• the computerised central unit 1 includes a communication module 111 for controlling the communication over the communication channels 7a, 7b, 7c, 8a, 8b, 8c, 9, particularly for receiving reload requests from communication terminals such as the mobile communication terminal 4 or the data entry terminal 5 and for sending and/or receiving reload requests to and from the reload units 6a, 6b, 6c.
• the communication module 111 is preferably a programmed software module.
• the computerised central unit 1 includes proxy mobile communication terminals 12a, 12b, 12c fixed in the computerised central unit 1.
• the proxy mobile communication terminals 12a, 12b, 12c are each capable of emulating a mobile communication terminal capable of transmitting and sending data over the communication channels 10a, 10b, 10c through the mobile radio networks 2a, 2b, 2c to and from the computerised reload units 6a, 6b, 6c.
• the proxy mobile communication terminals 12a, 12b, 12c are implemented either as individual hardware modules, connected through an interface to the computer(s) of the computerised central unit 1 , or as programmed software modules running on the computer(s) of the computerised central unit 1 .
• the communication channels 10a, 10b, 10c actually include an air interface to the mobile radio networks 2a, 2b, 2c.
• the communication channels 10a, 10b, 10c may include a connection through a fixed communication network to the mobile radio networks 2a, 2b, 2c.
• each proxy mobile communication terminal 12a, 12b, 12c includes an identification module 121 a, 121 b, 121 c containing an identification data element, for example an IMSI.
• the identification modules 121a, 121 b, 121c are implemented as chipcards, i.e. SlM-cards.
• Each of the proxy mobile communication terminals 12a, 12b, 12c is assigned to one of the mobile radio networks 2a, 2b, 2c by its identification data element, i.e. the IMSI, being registered in the Home Location Register (HLR) of the particular mobile radio network 2a, 2b, 2c.
• HLR Home Location Register
• the proxy mobile communication terminal 12a is assigned to the mobile radio network 2a
• the proxy mobile communication terminal 12b is assigned to the mobile radio network 2b
• the proxy mobile communication terminal 12c is assigned to the mobile radio network 2c.
• the call number assigned to a home user who subscribed to this mobile radio network 2a, 2b, 2c the so-called MSISDN-number (Mobile Subscriber ISDN), is linked to the IMSI of that particular user.
• the computerised central unit 1 includes a reload management module 11 which controls the operation of the computer(s) and the proxy mobile communication terminals 12a, 12b, 12c.
• the reload management module 11 is preferably a programmed software module.
• the computerized reload units 6a, 6b, 6c are directly connected to the mobile radio networks 2a, 2b, or 2c, respectively, and set up to handle reload requests including value codes associated with the respective mobile radio network 2a, 2b or 2c.
• Value codes issued by an operator of another mobile radio network 2a, 2b, 2c, not directly connected to the reload unit 6a, 6b, 6c, are considered to be associated with a foreign mobile radio network 2a, 2b, 2c and issued by a foreign operator.
• the computerized reload units 6a, 6b, 6c are each connected to an accounts database 61a, 61b, 61c.
• each of the accounts databases 61a, 61 b, 61c one particular account 611a, 611b, 611c is illustrated schematically in Figure 1.
• the individual accounts 611a, 611 b, 611c are each linked to an identification data element of a mobile communication terminal, preferably an MSISDN-number or an IMSI assigned to a mobile communication terminal and its user.
• the database 13, illustrated in Figure 1 includes a voucher database 131 containing value codes associated with different mobile radio networks 2a, 2b, 2c, i.e. value codes issued by different operators of these mobile radio networks 2a, 2b, 2c.
• the value codes stored in the voucher database 131 are linked to monetary amounts in different denominations and currencies.
• the reload management module 11 includes an interface module for currency updates, which makes it possible for operators of the mobile radio networks 2a, 2b, 2c to store value codes associated with their mobile radio networks 2a, 2b, 2c in different denominations and currencies (voucher types) in response to currency changes.
• the reload management module 11 including the communication module 111 , as well as possible other programmed software modules required for a software version of the proxy mobile communication terminals 12a, 12b, 12c are stored and/or loaded into the computer(s) of the computerised central unit 1 on data carriers.
• the MSISDN-number assigned to a mobile user initiating the reload request process is validated before the process is started.
• step S1 the user of the mobile communication terminal 4 inputs the value code to be submitted as part of a reload request for loading or reloading an account assigned to the mobile communication terminal 4 with a monetary amount corresponding to the value code.
• the value code can be input by the user directly on his mobile communication terminal 4 or on an appropriate data entry terminal 5 by way of manual data entry or insertion of a code carrier.
• the value code can be entered as part of a reload request command string, for example in form of an SMS- (Short Messaging Service) or a USSD- message.
• the value code can also be entered on the mobile communication terminal 4 or on the data entry terminal 5 under the control of a GUI- (Graphical User Interface), an IVR-interface or another menu-controlled user interface accessed using a respective service number or address.
• GUI- Graphic User Interface
• IVR-interface IVR-interface
• another menu-controlled user interface accessed using a respective service number or address.
• step S2 is automatically initiated by the POS-terminal.
• the entered value code is transmitted through the different possible communication channels 7a, 7b, 7c, 8a, 8b, 8c, 9, as outlined above, to the computerised central unit 1.
• an identification of the mobile communication terminal to be credited preferably a call number, i.e. an MSISDN-number, or alternatively an International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) or an IMSI, is transmitted to the computerised central unit 1.
• IMEI International Mobile Equipment Identifier
• IMSI International Mobile Equipment Identifier
• the identification of the mobile communication terminal 4 can be determined automatically in the SMSC, in the MSC, in the USSD-gateway, in the GGSN- unit, in the WAP-gateway, by the IVR-interface, by the CORBA-agent, in the reload units 6a, 6b, 6c, or in the computerised central unit 1 , for example by means of services such as Call Line Identification (CLI) or Automatic Caller Identification (ACI).
• CLI Call Line Identification
• ACI Automatic Caller Identification
• Reload requests addressed to the reload units 6a, 6b, 6c are only routed to the computerised central unit 1 if the value code included is associated with another (a foreign) mobile radio network or with another (a foreign) operator, respectively, or if the mobile communication terminal to be credited is registered in the Home Location Register (HLR) of another (a foreign) mobile radio network, i.e. if the monetary amount is to be credited to the mobile communication terminal of a user who has subscribed to another (a foreign) operator. Otherwise, the reload requests can be handled conventionally in the reload units 6a, 6b, 6c.
• HLR Home Location Register
• the reload management module 11 determines the mobile radio network and/or operator, respectively, with which the value code received by the communication module 111 is associated. This is done by extracting a network and/or operator identifier from the value code, by looking up the network identifier and/or operator linked to the value code in the database 13, or by receiving a network and/or operator identifier along with the reload request from the SMSC, the MSC, the USSD-gateway, the GGSN- unit, the WAP-gateway, the IVR-interface, the CORBA-agent, the reload units 6a, 6b, 6c, the service centre associated with the data entry terminal 5, or the user.
• the reload management module 11 determines the home mobile radio network of the mobile communication terminal 4 to be credited, i.e. the mobile radio network 2a, 2b, 2c where the user of this mobile communication terminal is registered in the HLR. This is done by analysing the identification of the mobile communication terminal to be credited or by receiving an identifier of the home network and/or home operator of the mobile communication terminal to be credited along with the reload request from the SMSC, the MSC, the USSD-gateway, the GGSN-unit, the WAP-gateway, the IVR-interface, the CORBA-agent, the reload units 6a, 6b, 6c, the service centre associated with the data entry terminal 5, or the user.
• the reload management module 11 determines from the database 13 or from another lookup table or data file stored in the computerised central unit 1 , the address or service number of the reload units 6a, 6b, 6c associated with the mobile radio networks 2a, 2b, 2c determined in steps 3 and 4.
• the reload management module 11 directs the proxy mobile communication terminal 12a, 12b, 12c, registered in the HLR of the mobile radio network 2a, 2b, 2c with which the received value code is associated, to transmit a reload request including the received value code to the reload unit 6a, 6b, 6c directly connected to that mobile radio network.
• the reload request is transmitted through the respective communication channel 10a, 10b, 10c, as outlined above. If the received value code is associated with mobile radio network 2c, for example, the reload request is transmitted by the proxy mobile communication terminal 12c through the communication channel 10c to the reload unit 6c.
• Communication between the proxy mobile communication terminals 12a, 12b, 12c and the reload units 6a, 6b, 6c may be based on IVR, SMS, USSD, WAP, GPRS or other protocols and data services.
• the reload management module 11 determines the specific data interface and data format to be used for transmitting reload requests to the reload unit 6a, 6b, 6c connected to a particular mobile radio network 2a, 2b, 2c, as determined in steps S3 and S4, from the database 13 or from another lookup table or data file stored in the computerised central unit 1. In this way complete reload request command strings, including the service number or address as mentioned above, for example, or at least part of the contents of the reload requests can be determined dynamically by the reload management module 11.
• step S6 illustrated in Figure 2, the reload unit 6a, 6b, 6c which received the reload request transmitted in step S5 (in the example illustrated reload unit 6c), credits in the conventional way the monetary amount corresponding to the value code included in the received reload request to the account assigned to the respective requesting proxy mobile communication terminal 12a, 12b, 12c (in the example illustrated to account 611c assigned to the proxy mobile communication terminal 12c).
• step S7 the reload unit 6a, 6b, 6c which received the reload request transmitted in step S5 also transfers the monetary amount to the data store of the mobile communication terminal to be credited (in the example illustrated the reload unit 6c transfers the monetary amount to the proxy mobile communication terminal 12c - i.e. to the computerised central unit 1 - to be stored in a data store of the proxy mobile communication terminal 12c).
• step S8 illustrated in Figure 2, the reload management module 11 directs the proxy mobile communication terminal 12a, 12b, 12c which transmitted a reload request in step S5 (in the example illustrated proxy mobile communication terminal 12c) to perform a conventional balance enquiry.
• the reload management module 11 notifies, in step S13, the communication terminal 4 (or 5) that the initial reload request failed.
• the reload management module 11 determines, in step S9, in the voucher database 131 a proxy value code which is associated with the home mobile radio network of the mobile communication terminal 4 to be credited, as determined in step S3.
• the proxy value code is determined such that its corresponding monetary amount corresponds to the monetary amount of the value code received in step S2.
• step S10 the reload management module 11 directs the proxy mobile communication terminal 12a, 12b, 12c, registered in the home mobile radio network of the mobile communication terminal 4 to be credited, as determined in step S3, to transmit a reload request including the proxy value code determined in step S9 to the reload unit 6a, 6b, 6c directly connected to that home mobile radio network.
• the reload request is transmitted through the respective communication channel 10a, 10b, 10c, as outlined above. If the mobile communication terminal 4 to be credited is registered in the HLR of the mobile radio network 2a, for example, the reload request is transmitted by the proxy mobile communication terminal 12a through the communication channel 10a to the reload unit 6a.
• the reload management module 11 determines the specific data interface and data format to be used for transmitting reload requests to the reload unit 6a, 6b, 6c connected to a particular mobile radio network 2a, 2b, 2c, as determined in steps S3 and S4, from the database 13 or from another lookup table or data file stored in the computerised central unit 1. In this way complete reload request command strings, including the service number or address as mentioned above, for example, or at least part of the contents of the reload requests can be determined dynamically by the reload management module 11.
• the reload request transmitted in step S10 is preferably transmitted in the form of a reload third party request, also known as an "on-behalf request".
• the service number or address of the responsible reload unit 6a, 6b, 6c, as well as the specific data interface and data format to be used can be determined by the reload management module 11 , as described above.
• An example of a reload third party request command string in the form of a USSD- message is shown in Table 3, wherein "TTT" represents a function code identifying the USSD-message as a reload third party request, wherein "PPPPPPPPPPPPPP" represents the proxy value code, and wherein "NNNNNNNN” represents the identification of the mobile communication terminal (i.e. the third party) to be credited.
• step S11 illustrated in Figure 2, the reload unit 6a, 6b, 6c, which received the reload request transmitted in step S10 (in the example illustrated reload unit 6a), credits in the conventional way the monetary amount, corresponding to the proxy value code included in the received reload request, to the account assigned to the mobile communication terminal 4 identified in the reload request (in the example illustrated to account 61 1a assigned to mobile communication terminal 4).
• step S12 the reload unit 6a, 6b, 6c which received the reload request transmitted in step S10, also transfers the monetary amount to the data store of the mobile communication terminal to be credited (in the example illustrated the reload unit 6a transfers the monetary amount to the data store 41 1 of the mobile communication terminal 4).
• the computerised central unit 1 1 described above is capable of handling reload requests issued by a user in his home mobile radio network or in a visited foreign mobile radio network, wherein the value code included in the reload request can be associated with the home mobile radio network or with the visited mobile radio network.
• the present invention can be used in network environments where monetary amounts are loaded or reloaded on accounts assigned to mobile communication terminals, wherein corresponding value codes are issued by different operators and/or wherein reload requests are transmitted by users roaming in foreign mobile radio networks.
• I computerised device (computerised central unit) 2a, 2b, 2c mobile radio network
• 61a, 61 b, 61c accounts database

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• 2001
  • 2001-09-12 DE DE60105043T patent/DE60105043T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-09-12 ES ES01966926T patent/ES2227260T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-09-12 EP EP01966926A patent/EP1325621B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-09-12 WO PCT/CH2001/000550 patent/WO2003019926A1/en active IP Right Grant
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