EP1535456A1

EP1535456A1 - Method for automatic charging

Info

Publication number: EP1535456A1
Application number: EP03793588A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Georg Kastelewicz; Jens Schendel
Original assignee: Siemens AG; Nokia Siemens Networks GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2002-09-03
Filing date: 2003-07-30
Publication date: 2005-06-01
Also published as: BR0313885A; DE10241628A1; CN1679316A; DE10241628B4; US20060031167A1; JP2005537756A; AU2003264247A8; WO2004023777A8; AU2003264247A1; WO2004023777A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for automatic charging in an arrangement with a telecommunication network (1) and another telecommunication network (2). According to the method, electronic data is exchanged between a user server device (3) and an exchange device (4) in the telecommunication network (1) and between an interface (7) in the other telecommunication network (2) and the exchange device (4) using a CAP/INAP protocol standard.

Description

description

Automatic accounting procedure

The invention relates to a method for automatic accounting in an arrangement with a telecommunications network and another telecommunications network, electronic information being able to be exchanged between one and the other telecommunications network.

Operators of telecommunications networks currently offer a range of electronic services that can be used by users logged into the respective telecommunications network for a fee. An example of this are so-called premium rate services, which can be reached by the user via a prefix "0190". However, with the further mutual opening of the telecommunication networks, the aim is that in the future third-party providers should also be able to use such fee-based services via the telecommunication networks In this context, third-party providers mean that the device which is used to provide the electronic services, for example a server device, is not included in the telecommunications network, via which the electronic service is made available to the users of the telecommunications network Internet service provider (ISP) or application service provider (ASP) The electronic services of third parties include, for example, the sale of goods of any kind.

In order to reach a large number of potential service users, it is advantageous for the third party provider to work in one 2 To make the service offered by the telecommunications network available not only to the users of this telecommunications network, but also to the users of other telecommunications networks. Such a network-independent provision of services increases the number of potential users. However, this requires the exchange of electronic information between the telecommunication networks, possibly in real time.

In this context, it is of particular importance for the third-party provider that the service offered by him via the telecommunication networks is billed reliably and quickly to the user.

The object of the invention is to provide a method of the type mentioned at the outset which creates a possibility for reliable billing of services which can be used in different telecommunication networks.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a method according to independent claim 1.

The essential idea of the invention includes in particular the use of a CAP protocol (CAP “CAME Applications Part”; CAMEL “Customized Applications for Mobile Network Enhanced Logic”) or an INAP protocol (INAP - “Intelligent Network Application Protocol”) ") for the exchange of electronic fee information between telecommunications networks involved in the provision and use of electronic services. The use of the CAP protocol or the INAP protocol ensures addressing, routing and the security of those used to transmit the electronic fee information necessary opera- 3 ions. The CAP protocols and INAP protocols known as such provide the required security mechanisms, which contribute, for example, to authentication, integrity protection and to ensure the confidentiality of the electronic information transmitted. Since the necessary structures for using the CAP / INAP protocol are basically available in the telecommunication networks, only minor adaptation measures have to be carried out in the telecommunication networks to use the method for automatic accounting. In this way, the costs for the telecommunications networks are kept low, since no second infrastructure with new network nodes has to be developed and set up for the implementation of an automatic billing process.

From the point of view of a third-party provider who wishes to make a service available to users via telecommunication networks, there is also the advantage that a direct connection can be formed with only one telecommunication network via an interface, in order to ensure the availability of the third-party service also in other telecommunication networks to accomplish. As a result, the costs for setting up an infrastructure that guarantees the availability of the service for the largest possible group of users are kept low for the third-party provider.

With the aid of the method according to the invention, even the smallest fees can be automatically and economically billed. From the user's point of view, no registration procedure with the third party provider is required, which is often perceived by users as disadvantageous. In addition, there is no need for security-related data such as credit card numbers or account details about unsecured 4 connections are transmitted in the telecommunications networks.

An expedient development of the invention provides that the switching device automatically establishes a telecommunication connection between the one of the telecommunication devices and the service provider server device in response to the receipt of the telecommunication request. In this way it is ensured that the user of the telecommunication device is able to use the

Service provider can connect. If the telecommunication device is, for example, a cell phone with which the user would like to order goods from the service provider, then the further server device is the switching center of the service provider. In this case, the telecommunication connection is expediently a voice connection.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the service provider server device is comprised by a network and that network content which is subject to charge is transmitted via the telecommunication connection from the service provider server device to one of the telecommunication devices. In this way, the user of the telecommunication device is able to retrieve electronic information from a server device of the service provider for a fee. In this case, the telecommunication device can be, for example, a modem, via which the user reports to the switching device.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the network is the Internet. In this way it is possible to

To make many of the contents of the Internet, which are available for a fee, available to the users of the telecommunications networks quickly and in a user-friendly manner and to ensure reliable and exact automatic billing.

In order to provide the user with the service offered by the third-party provider even if the user does not initially dial into the telecommunication network with the telecommunication device in which the telecommunication device is registered as a use device, an expedient embodiment of the invention provides that the user Server device is comprised by a further telecommunication network, so that the transmission of the electronic charge information from the switching device to the user server device comprises a telecommunication transmission from the one telecommunication network to the further telecommunication network.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to a drawing. Here show:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation to explain the

Method for automatic accounting in an arrangement with two telecommunications networks;

Figure 2 is a schematic representation to explain the

Method for automatic accounting in an arrangement with three telecommunication networks; FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the message flow in the case of a successful settlement of fees; and

6 Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the message flow in the event that fees can not be billed.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an arrangement with a telecommunications network 1 and another telecommunications network 2. The telecommunications networks 1, 2 can each be a fixed network or a mobile radio network, it also being possible for one of the two telecommunications networks to occur 1, 2 is a landline and the other is a cellular network. A fixed network can be used if an analog trigger mechanism is implemented and the networks communicating with each other continue to agree on a common protocol. This protocol to be used is either a CAP or an INAP protocol. The telecommunication network 1 comprises a user server 3, in which account information for telecommunication devices that are registered in the telecommunication network 1 is stored electronically. The telecommunication devices can be identified in the telecommunication network 1 on the basis of their own device identifier. The device identifier forms the basis for an automatic assignment of the account information stored in the user server 3. The device identifier can be, for example, the MSISDN (MSISDN - Mobile Station ISDN number, ISDN - "Integrated Services Digital Network") or the IMSI (IMSI - "International Mobile Subscriber Identity"). More specifically, it is not the identifier of the special device but the identifier of the SIM card (SIM - "Subscriber Identity Module").

The telecommunications network 1 also has an SSP device 4 (SSP “service switching point”).

In the exemplary embodiment, the SSP device 4 is used to coordinate and mediate inquiries made by a telecommunication device 5, for example a landline telephone, a cell phone or via a modem. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the telecommunications network 1 is the so-called "home network" for the telecommunications device 5. If the user of the telecommunications device 5 now wants to take advantage of a service that is offered by a third-party provider via a service provider server device 6, electronic Information is exchanged between the telecommunications networks 1, 2. In this case, the service provider server device 6 according to FIG. 1 is coupled to the other telecommunications network 2 via an OSA gateway 7, so that information in electronic form is provided between the service provider server 6 and the other telecommunications network 2 The OSA gateway 7 translates the OSA protocol into the CAMEL protocol. It also ensures security by shielding the network from the outside. The OSA gateway 7 is only one example, it can also be a parlay - Gateway or a completely different one eres gateway can be provided, which is addressed by the service provider server device 6 via a proprietary interface. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the service provider server device 6 is comprised by a network 9, which can be, for example, the Internet. However, it can also be provided that the service provider server device 6 is not integrated in a network.

The service offered by the third party provider via the service provider server 6 can be, for example, the sale of any goods. For example, the third-party provider can be a transport company operating on sold tickets this way. When the ticket is purchased by the user of the telecommunications device 5, the ticket purchase must then be automatically and electronically billed. For this purpose, the account information that is stored in the user server 3 for the telecommunication device 5 that can be identified on the basis of the device identifier is to be used. If the telecommunication device 5 has, according to the information in the user server 3, a prepayment account, the electronic credit can be used to pay for the service offered by the third party provider via the service provider server 6.

In the following, the method for the use of the service offered by the third-party provider by the user of the telecommunication device 5, in particular the steps necessary for automatic billing of the service used, is explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. The user of the telecommunication device 5 first calls a special telephone number 20 which is known to him for the use of the service. The SSP device 4 receives the call from the telecommunications device 5 and recognizes the telecommunications device 5 on the basis of its device identifier. With the aid of the device identifier, the SSP device 4 automatically determines that the use of the telecommunications device 5 is to be compensated for using the advance payment method. The “trigger as a function of the device identifier” 21 located in the SSP device 4 is network-dependent and initiates the sending of start information which comprises an IDP message (IDP - “Initial Detection Point”) 22 to the user server 3. The trigger is either a specific trigger profile implemented on the SSP device 4 or one according to the CAMEL standard. 9 defined O-CSI (O-CSI - "Originating CAMEL Subscription Information"). The user server 3 responds with an AC message (AC - "ApplyCharging"), a CUE message (CUE - "Continue" ), an RRB message (RRB - "ReguestReportBCS-MEvent") and an SCI message (SCI - "SendChargingInformation") 23. In addition, an RNC message (RNC - "RequestNotification-Charging") is sent. The RNC message causes the SSP device 4 to monitor the arrival of fee information, in particular a fee request.

In an advantageous embodiment, no RNC message is sent, but an already listed message, e.g. B. the RRB message is expanded such that it triggers the same functionality at the SSP device 4 as was described for the RNC message. Current standards for CAP or INAP protocols allow the compatible definition of such additions, which are called "extensions". This has the advantage that protocols (certain versions of the CAP or an INAP) which have not defined the RNC message also do can be used.

The SSP device 4 then evaluates the telephone number called by the telecommunications device 5. A suitable trigger is set 24 for this telephone number in the SSP device 4, for example a D-CSI operation (D-CSI - "Dialed Camel Subscription Information"). The trigger mechanism can also be implemented on a device implemented on the SSP device 4. When triggered, the SSP device 4 sends an IDP message 25 to the OSA interface 7 in the other telecommunications network 2. In response to the received IDP message, the OSA gateway 7 sends to the SSP Device 4 automatically the following 10 message: CUE, CWA (CWA - "ContinueWithArgument") or

CON (CON - "Connect") and RRB 26. The RRB message in this case includes, in particular, the request to monitor the hanging up by the telecommunication device 5. The method steps described so far for exchanging electronic information between the user server 3 of the SSP Device 4 in the telecommunications network 1 and the OSA interface 7 in the other telecommunications network 2 are implemented using a CAP protocol or an INAP protocol.

After the necessary steps have been carried out using the CAP or INAP protocol, the SSP device 4 establishes a telecommunication connection 8 (cf. FIG. 1) between the SSP device 4 and the service provider server 6. This is done in Dependence on the telephone number that was dialed by the telecommunication device 5. The telecommunication connection 8 can be, for example, a voice connection, in particular an ISUP connection (ISUP - "ISDN User Part"; ISDN - "Integrated Services Digital Network"). The user of the telecommunication device 5 can then contact the service provider in this way and make use of the service 28. However, the telecommunication connection 8 can also be a connection for transmitting electronic information, which is stored on the service provider server 6 and can be called up are. For example, the service provider server 6 could be designed as part of the Internet, so that the user of the telecommunication device 5 can access 8 Internet content via the telecommunication connection.

11 After the user of the telecommunications device 5 the

Has claimed the service or has informed the service provider which service he would like to use, an electronic fee request is generated in the service provider server 6 and sent to the OSA gateway 7. The OSA gateway 7 then sends by means of the CAP - or the INAP protocol, an SCI message 30 to the SSP device 4. The fee request can be contained in the so-called E parameters of the SCI message. Although these E parameters have no units and do not specify a specific amount, they can be used and configured for the purpose described. The E parameters can be used, for example, as follows: From the AoC functionality (AoC - "AdviceOfCharge") defined in the mobile radio standard, which by means of the definition of the E parameters and their mathematical link (a formula, basic form AoC = scaling {constant + time related + data related}), only the constant part 'constant', ie parameter E4, should preferably be used; "scaling" must be set to '1' and the other parts set to '0'. This parameter is defined as the number of 'units' to be incremented on receipt, with the following data: min = 0, max = 819.1 and resolution = 0.1. If this decimal point specification is used directly, for example, 4 euros could be displayed using the equivalent value e4 = 40.

Since the SSP device 4 received the RNC message from the user server 3 in a previous step 23 or, in an advantageous embodiment, e.g. B. the RRB message has been expanded such that it has taken over the functionality of the RNC message, the SSP device 4 is now able to accept the fee request from the OSA gateway 7 as

12 to recognize such and automatically forward them to the user server 3. For this purpose, the operations ENC (ENC -

"EventNotificationCharging") and ACR (ACR - "ApplyChargingReport") 31, which are then answered by the user server 3 with an AC message. In an advantageous

Execution, the ENC message is not sent, but the

ACR message expanded so that it is the same

Functionality as the ENC message also has.

This version is to be used if no RNC message was previously sent. This means that the transfer of the fee request carried out in the context of the CAMEL dialog between the OSA gateway 7 and the SSP device 4 by the SSP device 4 and the transfer of the fee request to the CAP or INAP dialog between the SSP - Device 4 and the user server 3 also leads to the sending of the ACR message, which enables the user server 3 to update the electronically stored account information for the telecommunication device 5 and to react automatically depending on the update. If the account information electronically stored in the user server 3 indicates a sufficient prepayment account balance, the amount previously transmitted in the message 31 is debited from the account and the dialog to the SSP device 4 is continued by the transmission of an AC message 32.

If the account information electronically stored in the user server 3 for the telecommunication device 5 shows that an insufficient prepayment account balance is available for booking the fee request, the user server 3 can be operated in the simplest case with the operation RC (RC - “Release Call ") react 40 (see FIG. 4), whereupon the telecommunication connection 8 is triggered. One

Another possibility is that the user server 3 sends an operation DL (DL - "DisconnectLeg") to trigger the service provider. The SSP device 4 then sends an ERB message 41 with the event "in accordance with the CAMEL protocol standard" Disconnect B-Party "to the OSA gateway 7, so that the service provider server 6 can be informed about this event, for example with the aid of an error message 42 according to the OSA protocol. In this context it can then be provided that the service provider server 6 automatically plays a corresponding announcement to the user of the telecommunication device 5. In the above example of purchasing a ticket from a transport company, the content of the auditioned message could be information that the user's prepayment account does not have sufficient funds.

The CAMEL protocol standards installed in the telecommunications networks 1, 2 should be sufficiently up-to-date for the error-free execution of the described method. At present, CAMEL 3 is expediently expanded in conformity with standards in the telecommunications network 1 or CS1-INAP and in the other telecommunications network 2 expediently implemented CAMEL 3 or CS1-INAP (CS1 - “Capability Set 1”).

FIG. 2 shows an arrangement in which, in contrast to FIG. 1, the SSP device 4 is not arranged in the telecommunications network 1 but in a further telecommunications network 100. This is the situation that the user of the telecommunication device 5 is not in the area of the telecommunication network 1 which forms his "home network". In this case, an SSP device 101 receives the call from the telecommunication device 5 and takes it as part of a normal call "Roamings" contact with the

14 user server 3 in the telecommunications network 1. The electronic information exchange between the SSP device 101 and the user server 3 and between the SSP device 101 and the OSA gateway 7 in the other telecommunications network 2 is, as described above, using the

CAP or INAP protocol executed. According to FIG. 2, a suitable protocol is used for electronic data exchange between the telecommunication device 5 and the SSP device 101 and between the service provider server 6 and the SSP device 101, for example, an ISUP connection.

The method described can advantageously also be used to bill Internet services that are subject to a charge. The service provider server device 6 is included in the network 9, the Internet. In this case, the service can be accessed, for example, using a modem dial-up connection to the Internet. If billing is then to take place, the user of the modem connection is requested to call a service telephone number. No data then has to be transmitted via this connection which arises in this case, it "only" serves to establish the CAMEL connection. In addition, the user is also identified on the basis of the device identifier, thereby ensuring that the charge request is correct Telecommunication device 5 is assigned.

Claims

15 claims

1. Method for automatic accounting in an arrangement with a telecommunications network (1) and another

Telecommunications network (2), the method comprising the following steps:

- Automatic detection of electronic start information (22) with the help of a user server device (3) in the one telecommunication network (1), in which account information for several telecommunication devices automatically identifiable on the basis of an electronic identifier is stored electronically, the start information being provided by one Switching device (4; 101) in response to receipt of a telecommunication request (20) from one (5) of the telecommunication devices to the user server device (3);

- Transmission (29) of electronic charge information from a service provider server device (6) via an interface (7) to the other telecommunications network (2);

- Transmission (30) of the electronic fee information from the other telecommunication network (2) to the switching device (4; 101);

- Transmission (31) of the electronic fee information from the switching device (4; 101) to the user server device (3); and

- Automatic processing of the fee information by means of the user server device (3); whereby to transmit the electronic charge information between the interface (7) in the other telecommunication network (2) and the switching device

16 device (4; 101) and between the switching device

(4; 101) and the user server device (3)

CAP / INAP protocol is used.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching device (4; 101) in response to the receipt of the telecommunication request (20) a telecommunication connection (8,28) between the one (5) of the telecommunication devices and the service provider server direction (6) automatically creates.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the service provider server device (6) is comprised by a network (9), and that chargeable network content via the telecommunication connection from the service provider server device (6) to one (5) of the telecommunications equipment are transmitted.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the network (9) is the Internet.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching device (101) from another telecommunications network (100) is included, so that the transmission of the electronic fee information from the switching device (101) to the user server device (3) Telecommunication transmission from the one telecommunication network (1) to the further telecommunication network (100) comprises.