KR100415108B1 - System and method implementing advice of charge in a cdma network - Google Patents

Abstract

In the present invention, a mobile switching center (MSC) operating in a CDMA wireless system charges for a call in the process of using the mobile station charging profile for display on the mobile station. The MSC can also send data and program logic so that all calculations are done on the mobile station. Upon receipt of the off-hook signal from the mobile station, the MSC sends the charging information (utilization fee notification) extracted from the profile through the base station as an attachment or as additional content using a standard message. The billing profile may include billing information and program logic to calculate and display bills before, during and after a call.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD IMPLEMENTING ADVICE OF CHARGE IN A CDMA NETWORK

The present invention relates generally to wireless networks, and more particularly to a system for transmitting messages in a wireless network. More specifically, the present invention relates to billing information in code division multiple access (CDMA) wireless networks.

Since the early days of the telecom business, the creation and development of billing systems has been a major concern for terrestrial and wireless communications. Most cellular and personal communications system (PCS) communications networks use billing systems that are not "dynamic" or "real-time", and accumulate or accumulate broadcasting that yields 15 to 30 days circulating billing procedures and billing schemes. Depend on time usage record. The procedure is generally unsatisfactory, resulting in a significant amount of fraud and late fees. These fraud and late charges require cellular and PCS network management to implement stronger customer consent policies.

Wireless telephone systems are widely accepted worldwide and CDMA wireless systems are growing at a high speed. More customers are attracted to CDMA systems because of their increased call quality, coverage, and privacy. However, CDMA systems have been hit by unsatisfactory billing and charging procedures as described above.

Usage Charge Notification (AOC) is a feature implemented in non-CDMA systems that are widely used in Japan. AOC provides real-time information for users of mobile stations and is applicable to Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) wireless systems. Currently, IS-95 (CDMA standard) based CDMA wireless systems do not support the AOC feature, and many wireless system operators require that 3G (3rd generation) CDMA systems include AOC functionality.

Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide dynamic billing information, i.e., AOC, on demand to CDMA wireless system customers. In addition, it is required to provide an AOC at the beginning of a call. It is required to provide a trigger to signal to the customer that a rate change occurs during a call. There is also a need to provide a billing notification service to reduce telephone operator interference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems of the prior art, a first object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for use in a CDMA wireless telephone system and to provide dynamic billing information during or before or after a call.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and system for making various billing services available in a CDMA system.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a billing notification method and system that reduces the interference of telephone operators.

The configuration of the present invention for achieving the above object is described below. A mobile switching center (MSC) operating in a CDMA wireless system may send a billing amount for a call in progress using the mobile billing details for display on the mobile station. The MSC can also transmit data and program logic so that all calculations are done at the mobile station side. Upon receiving the off-hook signal from the mobile station, the MSC may send the billing information (utilization charge notification) extracted from the history using a standard message through the base station as an attachment or additional content. Billing details can be included in billing information and program logic that calculates and displays billing amounts before, during, or after a call.

The foregoing is a broader description of the features and technical advantages of the present invention, and those skilled in the art will better understand the following detailed description of the invention. Other features and advantages of the present invention which form the subject of the claims of the present invention are described below. Those skilled in the art understand that the concepts and specific embodiments disclosed herein are used as a basis for modifying or designing other configurations for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also appreciate that the equivalent configuration of the invention does not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary wireless network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a detailed view of an exemplary usage fee notification (AOC) controller of a mobile switching center, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a high-level flow diagram of notifying a CDMA wireless mobile station of a billing amount according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a high-level block diagram of communication and message flow in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

Hereinafter, it is preferable to define specific terms and phrases used throughout the present invention before describing the detailed description of the invention. The terms “include”, “comprise” and derivatives thereof are encompassed without limitation; The term “or” encompasses the meaning of “and / or”; The phrases "associated with", "associated therewith" and derivatives thereof include, are included within, interconnected, contains, contains within, is connected to, is coupled to, and is in communication with May mean, to integrate with, to interpose, to juxtapose, to be close to, to be constrained to have, to have characteristics, and so on; The term “controller” means any device, system or portion thereof that controls at least one operation, which device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or any combination of at least two of them. The functions associated with any particular controller can be centralized or distributed, either partially or remotely. Definitions of certain terms and phrases apply herein, and those skilled in the art understand that in many cases these definitions apply to prior art as well as to future use of defined terms and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention and its advantages, reference numerals are made to the following description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same parts.

1 to 4 and the various embodiments used herein to explain the theory of the invention are for illustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art understand that the theory of the present invention may be implemented in any suitably configured wireless network.

1 is a diagram generally illustrating an exemplary wireless network 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless telephone network 100 includes a plurality of cell sites 121-123, each cell site including one base station of BS 101, BS 102 or BS 103. Base stations 101-103 are operable to communicate with a plurality of mobile stations (MS) 111-114. The mobile stations 111-114 may be any suitable wireless communication device, including conventional cellular telephones, PCS handset devices, portable computers, telemetry devices, and the like.

In FIG. 1, the dotted line represents the approximate boundary of the cell sites 121-123 where the base stations 101-103 are located. The cell site is shown in approximately circular form for purposes of illustration and description. It is clear that cell sites may have irregular shapes depending on the cell morphology, natural and artificial obstacles selected.

In one embodiment of the present invention, BS 101, BS 102 and BS 103 may each include a base station controller (BSC) and a base station transceiver (BTS). Base station controllers and base station transceivers are well known to those skilled in the art. A base station controller is a device that manages wireless communication resources including base station transceivers for specific cells in a wireless communication network. The base station transceiver includes an RF transceiver, an antenna, and other electrical equipment installed at each cell site. This facility may include an air conditioning unit, a heating unit, an electrical supply, a telephone line interface and an RF transmitter and RF receiver, as well as a call processing circuit. For simplicity and clarity to explain the operation of the present invention, the base station transceivers of each cell 121, 122, 123 and base station controllers associated with each base station transceiver are jointly represented by BS 101, BS 102 and BS 103, respectively.

BS 101, BS 102 and BS 103 transmit voice and data signals through communication line 131 and mobile switching center (MSC) 140 between each other and with a public telephone system (not shown). Mobile switching center 140 is well known to those skilled in the art. Mobile switching center 140 is a switching device that provides service and coordination between subscribers in wireless and external networks, such as public telephone systems and / or the Internet. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, MSC 140 includes a usage fee notification (AOC) controller 170, described in detail below. The communication line 131 may be any suitable connecting means including a T1 line, a T3 line, an optical fiber link, a network backbone connection, and the like. In some embodiments of the present invention, communication line 131 may be several different data links, each of which couples one of BS 101, BS 102 and BS 103 to MSC 140.

In the exemplary wireless network 100, MS 111 is located at cell site 121 and communicates with BS 101, MS 113 is located at cell site 122 and communicates with BS 102, and MS 114 is cell site 123. And communicate with BS 103. MS 112 is also located in cell site 121 adjacent to the boundary of cell site 123. Arrows adjacent to MS 112 indicate that MS 112 moves to cell site 123. At this time, when the MS 112 moves out of the cell site 121 and moves to the cell site 123, "handoff" occurs.

As is known, the "handoff" procedure transfers control of the call from the first cell to the second cell. For example, if MS 112 is communicating with BS 101 and senses that the signal from BS 101 is unacceptably weakened, MS 112 can switch to a BS with a stronger signal, such as the signal transmitted by BS 103. The MS 112 and BS 103 establish a new communication link and signal is communicated to the BS 101 and the public telephone network to transmit ongoing voice, data or control signals over the BS 103. The call is thus seamlessly transmitted from BS 101 to BS 103. An “idle” handoff is an inter-call handoff of a mobile device communicating over a control or paging channel, rather than transmitting voice and / or data signals over a regular call channel.

2 details an exemplary usage fee notification (AOC) controller 170 of a mobile switching center (MSC) 140 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The AOC controller 170 includes a usage fee notification (AOC) call processor 210 and a usage fee notification (AOC) database processor 220. AOC database 220 includes N call records, including example call records 231, 232, 233, 234, each represented by a call 1 record, call 2 record, call 3 record, and call N record. Exemplary call record 231 includes caller ID field 241, call start time field 242, call end time field 243, local / long distance rate information field 244 and call 1 billing information field ( 245).

The AOC call processor 210 executes an AOC application program that calculates a fee associated with a wireless call, and attaches the fee information to a mobile service center message and sends it to the mobile station that the call is in progress.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a high-level flow diagram illustrating a process of sending an usage fee notification (AOC) to a CDMA wireless mobile station of a billing fee according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A should be referred to during the description of the process to facilitate understanding of the order and meaning of the various signals in the process of FIG. 3. The process begins with the CDMA call phone (mobile station) going off-hook (step 300). The off-hook signal is sent to the nearest base station (see Figure 4a). The base station receives a service request (off hook signal) from the mobile station (step 302). The base station then sends a service request from the mobile station to the associated mobile switching center (MSC).

The MSC assigns a communication channel to the requesting mobile station via the base station (step 304). Next, it is determined whether the mobile station profile is available for the MSC (step 306). If the mobile station is a local subscriber, the mobile station profile may be available in the MSC database. If it is determined that the mobile station is not a local subscriber, the MSC restores the mobile station profile from offsite (step 308). If the mobile station profile is partially available for the MSC, the MSC extracts the charging information as an AOC and attaches it to a standard message (which can be an information message in the case of FIG. 4A) (step 310). The MSC then sends a standard message with the AOC to the base station.

The base station receiving the AOC attachment extracts the AOC and attaches it to the corresponding change message with the information base station message (step 312). The base station message with the AOC attachment is sent to the mobile station (step 314). The mobile station provides the mobile station user with audible or visual indication of the AOC.

The attachment may be an application for calculating a fee, may communicate with the MSC during a call, and allow the mobile station user to display or hear this information. The process is the same, attaching charging information (AOC) to standard messages available at the MSC and base station, and sending all to the mobile station.

4A-4H illustrate high-level block diagrams of communication and message flows in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. The basic method of sending the AOC to the mobile station is that a standard message sent during normal operation is used as a carrier for the billing plan (billing parameters and program logic). 4A illustrates sending and indicating AOC during initiation of a call. After the call channel is assigned to the mobile station 400 (assignment complete), the MSC 404 associates the AOC (according to the system program logic to calculate and display the charge) with the Alert with Information message 406 and associates them with the base station 402. To transmit. BS 402 extracts the AOC and attaches it to the base station Alert with Information message and sends all to the mobile station on the assigned call channel.

4B shows the transmission of AOC during initiation of a call. After the call channel is assigned to the mobile station 400 (assignment is complete), the MSC 404 sends an AOC (optionally including program logic to calculate and display a charge) an Application Data Delivery System message. 410 and send them to the base station 402. Base station 402 extracts the AOC and attaches it to data burst message 412 and sends them to the mobile station.

4C shows the transmission of an AOC while a call is in progress. During the conversation, the MSC 404 associates the AOC (according to the system program logic to calculate and display the fee) with the Flash with Information message 414 and sends them to the base station 402. Base station 402 extracts the AOC and attaches it to a Flash with Information message 416 with base station information and sends them to the mobile station.

4d shows a second embodiment of AOC transmission during a conversation. The MSC 404 associates the charging information (including program logic to optionally calculate and display a fee) with the feature notification message and sends them to the base station 402. The base station 402 extracts the charging information and attaches it to the data burst message 420 and sends them to the mobile station.

4E illustrates one embodiment of the transmission of an AOC at the end of a call. When the call is released by the MSC, the MSC 404 associates the charging information (including program logic, optionally calculating and displaying the fee) with the feature notification message 422 and sends them to the base station 402. Base station 402 extracts the AOC and attaches it to the corresponding feature notification message 424 and sends them to the mobile station via the paging / control channel. At this time, the traffic channel is separated, and the mobile station no longer uses the traffic channel.

4F illustrates another embodiment of the transmission of an AOC at the end of the call once the call is released by the MSC. The MSC 404 associates the charging information (program logic that optionally calculates and displays the fee) with the clear command message 426 and sends them to the base station 402. The base station 402 extracts charging information such as AOC and attaches it to the release order message 428 for transmission to the mobile station via the traffic channel. This embodiment requires that AOC information be available at the MSC 404 when clearing the call.

4G illustrates another embodiment of AOC transmission at the end of a call when the traffic channel is released (when the mobile station is on hook). MS 400 releases the call and sends release order 430. MSC 404 sends the AOC attached to clear command 432 while disconnecting, or alternately, in ADDS page message 444. The base station 402 sends the AOC a data burst message 436 or a feature notification message (not shown) to the mobile station 400 on the paging / control channel.

The AOC is generated by the MSC via the base station and sent to the off-hook wireless mobile station. The AOC includes the billing agreement parameter as determined by the MSC between the system operator and the mobile subscriber. The charging information may be readily available in the local database by recovering the information from the MSC or from the mobile system's home system. The calculation of the charge is made by the MSC and is sent at the beginning of the call (rate per minute), the progress of the call (rate may be charged during the call in progress), and the end of the call (estimation of the total call charge) using various messages. Alternatively, it may be included in an application AOC that calculates and displays a fee, along with program logic on the MSC. The application provides the same information as the MSC, but the calculations and information display are performed by the mobile station. The information obtained from the charging agreement includes whether there is a free time, different rates for different times of the day, whether there is a time for which the display of the fee is desired, and the like. The information is used to be provided at the beginning of the call (the progress of the time cost), during the call (rate rate) and at the end of the call (estimation of the total rate of the call).

Standard MSC and base station messages serve as forwarders for AOC and / or AOC applications for mobile stations, and each message is usually sent by an MSC. Different messages include Alert With Information (AWI), Data Burst (DB), Application Data Delivery System (ADDS), Flash With Information (FWI), Feature Notification, Clear Command, Adds Page and Release Order.

Although the invention has been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art understand that the invention can be variously modified, modified, and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

Claims (18)

A system for use in a mobile service center of a wireless network and transmitting a usage fee notification to a mobile station, A charge notification controller of the mobile station switching center for restoring charging information associated with the mobile station from a charging profile database; A plurality of messages attaching the charging information to the mobile station; And a usage fee notification processor for attaching the information to at least one of the plurality of messages to notify the mobile station of a real-time fee while a call is in progress. The system of claim 1, wherein said billing information includes program logic for calculating and displaying a charge during a call. The method of claim 1, wherein the program logic of the mobile switching center is to transmit an AOC. Instructions for attaching the AOC to an Alert With information message; Instructions for transmitting the message and the AOC to the base station; And instructions for associating the AOC with an alert message with corresponding base station information and transmitting the alert message with the information to the mobile station on an assigned call channel. The method of claim 1, wherein the program logic of the mobile switching center is to transmit an AOC. In the program logic, attach the AOC to an Application Data Delivery System Deliver message, Send the message to the base station, Attach the AOC to a data burst message; And an instruction for transmitting the data burst message to the mobile station via an assigned call channel. The method of claim 1, wherein the program logic of the mobile switching center is to transmit an AOC. In the program logic, attach the AOC to a Flash With Information message, Send the message to the base station, Attach the AOC to a flash message with corresponding information, And an instruction for sending a flash message with the information to the mobile station. The method of claim 1, wherein the program logic of the mobile switching center is to transmit an AOC. In the program logic, send the AOC of the ADDS Deliver message to the base station, Extract the AOC, And an instruction for transmitting said AOC of said data burst message on said assigned traffic channel. The method of claim 1, wherein the program logic of the mobile switching center is to transmit an AOC. And in said program logic, instructions for providing said AOC in a Feature Notification message over a paging / control channel in response to a call complete signal. The method of claim 1, The program logic of the mobile switching center to send AOC Within the program logic, determine if the AOC is available at the MSC, In response to a call complete signal, send the AOC to the base station using a Clear Commend message; And an instruction for restoring the AOC and transmitting the AOC to the mobile station using a release order. The method of claim 1, wherein the program logic of the mobile switching center is to transmit an AOC. In the program logic, in response to a release order from the mobile station, send an AOC to the ADDS page message; And an instruction for the base station to transmit the AOC to a mobile station using a data burst message. A method of notifying a CDMA mobile station of a usage fee, Restoring charging information of the mobile station in response to an off-hook signal from the CDMA mobile station; Attaching the charging information to the message as an AOC; Sending the message with the AOC to the mobile station; And notifying the mobile station user of a real-time fee using the contents of the AOC. The method of claim 10, wherein the AOC is Program logic for calculating and displaying a charge for an ongoing call using program logic and contracted information included in the AOC. The method of claim 10, wherein attaching the AOC to a message comprises: Attaching the AOC to an informational alert information message; Transmitting the message to a base station, the base station transmitting the AOC in an alert message with corresponding information to the mobile station on the assigned call channel. The method of claim 10, wherein attaching the AOC to an existing message comprises: Attaching the AOC to an application data delivery system delivery message; Transmitting the message to a base station; Attaching the AOC to a data burst message; And transmitting the data burst message to the mobile station via an assigned call channel. The method of claim 10, wherein attaching the AOC to an existing message comprises: Attaching the AOC to a flash message with information; Transmitting the message to a base station; Attaching the AOC to a flash message having corresponding information; And sending a flash message with the information to the mobile station. The method of claim 10, wherein attaching the AOC to an existing message comprises: Transmitting the AOC of the ADDS forwarding message to the base station; Extracting the AOC; Sending the AOC in the data burst message over the assigned traffic channel. The method of claim 10, wherein attaching the AOC to an existing message comprises: And providing the AOC in a Feature Notification message over a paging / control channel in response to a call complete signal. The method of claim 10, wherein attaching the AOC to a message comprises: Determine if the AOC is available in the MSC, In response to a call complete signal, send the AOC to the base station using a Clear Commend message; Restoring the AOC and sending the AOC to the mobile station using a release order. The method of claim 10, wherein attaching the AOC to an existing message comprises: In response to a release order from the mobile station, send an AOC via the ADDS page message; And the base station transmitting the AOC to a mobile station using a data burst message.