KR20030054159A - Method and apparatus for data service - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A data service method and an apparatus are provided to offer mass data such as a moving picture to a prepayment subscriber by a PDSN(Packet Data Service Node). CONSTITUTION: A service subscriber database(270) stores information about whether a prepayment subscriber is an intelligent network service subscriber. An intelligent network information database(280) stores prepayment subscriber detailed information. A PDSN(240) transmits a prepayment subscriber information request according to a data service request received from the prepayment subscriber, receives prepayment subscriber detailed information corresponding to the prepayment subscriber information request, and provides the data service to the prepayment subscriber according to received payment subscriber detailed information. The PDSN(240) checks the data use quantity of the prepayment subscriber, and transmits information about the checked data use quantity when the data service of the prepayment subscriber is completed. An AAA(Authentication Authorization and Accounting)(250) retrieves the service subscriber database(270) according to the prepayment subscriber information request received from the PDSN(240), and confirms whether the prepayment subscriber is an intelligent network subscriber. The AAA(250) transmits a prepayment subscriber detailed information request to the PDSN(240) when the prepayment subscriber is the intelligent network service subscriber, transmits a money information request according to the data use quantity received from the PDSN(240), and temporarily stores money information according to the data use quantity. An SCP(Service Control Point)(260) retrieves the intelligent network information database(280) according to the prepayment subscriber detailed information request received from the AAA(250), and transmits retrieved prepayment subscriber detailed information to the AAA(250).

Description

Data service method and apparatus {METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DATA SERVICE}

The present invention relates to a data service method and apparatus in a data-only network, and more particularly, to a data service method and apparatus in a data-only network for efficiently performing billing according to data usage of a prepaid subscriber.

In a mobile communication system, a prepaid service is generally referred to as a prepaid subscriber who purchased a predetermined amount of a prepaid card or a prepaid subscriber who paid a certain amount to a mobile service company for a range of amounts or payment within a prepaid card purchased for a fixed period of time. A service that provides call services within an amount.

The prior art of providing a data service to such a prepaid subscriber is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a data service device according to the prior art.

Referring to FIG. 1, the prepaid subscriber generates a call signal for receiving data service through the prepaid subscriber terminal 100, and the prepaid subscriber terminal 100 transmits the generated call signal to the base station / base station controller 110. To send).

The base station / base station controller 110 transmits a data service request signal according to a call signal received from the prepaid subscriber station 100 to a mobile switching center (hereinafter referred to as MSC) 120. The originating exchange 120 determines whether the prepaid subscriber is an intelligent network service subscriber based on the received data service request signal.

The intelligent network service is a prepaid service as one of services for quickly and accurately processing various new services in a mobile communication service.

The intelligent network is largely composed of a transport network layer, a signaling network layer, and a service network layer, and the service network layer is referred to as a service control point (hereinafter referred to as SCP). ), And the transport network layer includes a service switching point (hereinafter referred to as SSP).

Subsequently, when the prepaid subscriber is the intelligent network service subscriber, the originating exchange 120 transmits an initial access request signal according to the call signal of the prepaid subscriber terminal 100 to the SSP 130, and the SSP 130 is the SCP 140. It requires intelligent network information about prepaid subscribers.

SCP 140 retrieves the intelligent network information for the prepaid subscriber and transmits the retrieved intelligent network information to the SSP 130.

At this time, the intelligent network information for the prepaid subscriber includes the available time information of the prepaid subscriber in the data service.

The SSP 130 receives the intelligent network information about the prepaid subscriber from the SCP 140 and transmits a data service request signal to the network matching device 150 (Inter Working Function: hereinafter referred to as IWF).

The IWF 150 provides the data service to the prepaid subscriber station 100 through the SSP 130 and the originating exchange 120 according to the data service request signal received from the SSP 130.

At this time, SCP 140 receives the service start information and the data service end request signal through the originating exchange 120, and according to the data service usage time of the prepaid subscriber checked according to the received service start information and the service end request signal. Generates billing information and transmits it to the SSP (130).

As described above, the data service apparatus according to the prior art is operated in connection with an exchange such as an originating exchange and an SSP, and the IWF and the originating exchange are connected through the relay line E1.

Here, the relay line has 32 channels, and has a data transmission rate of 64 Kbps per channel, so that the data service device according to the prior art provides only text-oriented data services.

Therefore, the data service apparatus according to the related art has a problem that it is difficult to provide a large capacity and high speed data service such as pictures and images.

In addition, since the data service apparatus according to the related art performs the billing according to the data service usage time when providing the data service to the prepaid subscriber, the data service device is used in a system where the data usage increases rapidly as the prepaid subscriber desires to use the data service. There is also a problem that can not be charged.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a data service apparatus and method for providing a large amount of data such as a moving picture to a prepaid subscriber by a packet data service apparatus (PDSN). have.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a data service apparatus and method for providing billing according to the amount of data used by providing information on the amount of data available for a prepaid subscriber to a packet data service apparatus.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a data service apparatus according to the prior art.

2 is a schematic structural diagram of a data service device according to the present invention;

3 schematically illustrates the operation of a data service device according to the present invention;

4 is a diagram illustrating an information request signal configuration of a prepaid subscriber.

5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a prepaid subscriber detail information signal;

6 is a flow chart for performing a data service according to the present invention.

<Description of the code for the main part>

200: mobile communication terminal 210: base station

220: base station controller 230: packet control function

240: packet data service device 250: AAA

260: service control unit

270: service subscriber database

280: intelligent network information database

290: exchange 292: VLR

294: HLR

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a data service apparatus for providing a data service to a prepaid subscriber connected through a mobile communication terminal, comprising: a service subscriber database for storing information on whether the subscriber is an intelligent network service or a subscriber of the prepaid subscriber; An intelligent network information database for storing detailed information, the detailed information including at least data amount information available in the data service of the prepaid subscriber, transmitting the prepaid subscriber information request according to the data service request received from the prepaid subscriber, and the prepaid subscriber information. Receive the prepaid subscriber details corresponding to the request, provide the data service to the prepaid subscriber according to the received prepaid subscriber details, check the data usage of the prepaid subscriber in accordance with the provision of the data service, and complete the data service of the prepaid subscriber. The data packet service unit (PDSN) that transmits the data usage information checked at the time point, the service subscriber database is searched according to the prepaid subscriber information request received from the data packet service unit, and the intelligent network service subscriber is checked. Send the confirmed prepaid subscriber details request, and transmit the prepaid subscriber details in accordance with the prepaid subscriber details request to the data packet service department, wherein the prepaid subscriber details include at least available data quantity information; AAA (Authentication Authorization and Accounting) that transmits a request for the amount of information received according to the data usage and temporarily stores the amount of the information according to the data usage, and according to the prepaid subscriber details request received from the AI network Information database It is characterized by providing a data service device comprising a service control unit (SCP) for retrieving e-s and transmitting the retrieved prepaid subscriber detailed information to an A-A.

Here, the data packet service unit terminates the data service according to the data service request of the prepaid subscriber or terminates the data service when the data usage of the prepaid subscriber reaches the amount of available data in the prepaid subscriber detailed information.

In addition, the prepaid subscriber information request includes a mobile communication terminal ID field, a reconnection flag field, and a base station ID field of the prepaid subscriber.

In addition, the prepaid subscriber detail information includes an information processing result field, a prepaid subscriber detail information field, and an ADR, wherein the prepaid subscriber detail information field includes at least an available time field and an available data amount field.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a data service method for providing a data service to a mobile communication terminal of a prepaid subscriber connected in a data dedicated network including a data packet service unit (PDSN), an AAA (AAA), and a service control unit (SCP). Receiving a data service request from a mobile terminal, determining whether the prepaid subscriber is an intelligent network service subscriber according to the data service request, searching for detailed information of the prepaid subscriber when the prepaid subscriber is an intelligent network service subscriber. Providing data to the mobile communication terminal corresponding to the prepaid subscriber detail information, wherein the prepaid subscriber detail information includes at least data amount information available at the time of data service; and continuously uses the data usage according to the data service provided to the mobile communication terminal. Detecting, data service It provides a data service method comprising the step of calculating the amount according to the data usage detected at the completion time.

Here, in the data service method according to the present invention, the step of calculating the amount according to the data usage detected at the completion of the data service includes the use of the detected data usage in the detailed information on the prepaid subscriber while the data service is provided to the mobile communication terminal. Detecting whether the amount of available data is reached, and completing the data service when the sensed data usage reaches the amount of available data.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a prepaid service method and apparatus in a data-only network according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a schematic structural diagram of a data service apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a view schematically showing an operation of the data service apparatus according to the present invention. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an information request signal of a prepaid subscriber, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a prepaid subscriber detailed information signal.

Referring to FIG. 2, the data service apparatus according to the present invention includes a mobile communication terminal 200, a base station 210, a base station controller 220, and a packet control function 230 (hereinafter, referred to as a PCF) 230. Packet Data Serving Node (hereinafter referred to as PDSN) 240, AAA (Authentication Authorization and Accounting: referred to as AAA) 250, Service Control Point (hereinafter referred to as AAA), 260), service subscriber database 270 and intelligent network information database 280.

Further, the data service apparatus according to the present invention includes a visitor location register (VLR) 292 and a home location register (HLR) 294 connected to each other via an exchange (MSC) 290, a signaling system 7 (SS7). do.

Here, the mobile communication terminal 200 includes a PCS, a cellular phone, an IMT-2000 terminal, a PDA, and the like, capable of wireless Internet communication, and prepaid service for paying a predetermined amount for voice calls and data communication to a mobile communication service company in advance. It is a system terminal.

The base station 210 and the base station controller 220 transmit a call signal for a data service request received from the mobile communication terminal 200 to the PCF 230.

PCF 230 packetizes a call signal or receives from PDSN 240 to perform packet communication by a call signal received from mobile communication terminal 200 via base station 210 and base station controller 220. The packet data is converted into wireless data for transmission to the mobile communication terminal 200.

The PDSN 240 is a device for providing a data service according to subscriber information of the mobile communication terminal 200 from an AAA 250 and an SCP 260 intelligent network system connected to an IP network.

Here, the interworking method between the PDSN 240, the AAA 250, and the SCP 260 is connected to an IP network or an IP backbone network, which is an internal data network of a service provider.

The service subscriber database 270 stores approximate intelligent network service information such as whether an intelligent network service subscriber of the mobile communication terminal 200 requested data service, and the intelligent network information database 280 is stored in the intelligent network service of the mobile communication terminal 200. Detailed information such as available time and amount of available data is stored.

The MSC 290 is a voice of the mobile communication terminal 200 received through the base station controller 220 by the location information of the mobile communication terminal 200 registered in the visitor location register 292 and the home location register 294. The prepaid subscriber is authenticated according to the data communication request signal, and call processing is performed accordingly.

Here, SS7 is a protocol for integrally managing call information of voice communication and connection information of data communication.

The operation of the data service device according to the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

First, the prepaid subscriber generates a call signal for a voice call or data service through the mobile communication terminal 200, and the generated call signal is transmitted to the base station 210 and the base station controller 220.

The base station controller 220 transmits the call signal generated by the mobile communication terminal 200 to the exchange 290, which exchanges the visitor location register 292 and the home location register 294 by the received call signal. Network authentication is performed based on the location information stored in).

Subsequently, when network authentication is performed by the exchange 290, the visitor location register 292, and the home location register 294, the base station controller 220 receives a call signal for a data service generated from the mobile communication terminal 200. Send to PCF 230.

The PCF 230 transmits a data service request signal by the call signal received from the mobile communication terminal 200 to the PDSN 240 through the base station 210 and the base station controller 220 (S300).

The PDSN 240 transmits a prepaid subscriber information request signal (Subsinfo_Request) for requesting detailed information about the prepaid subscriber according to the data service request received from the PCF 230 to the AAA 250 (S302). Here, the prepaid subscriber information request signal includes a terminal ID field 400, a reconnection flag field 402, and a base station ID field 404, as shown in FIG.

The terminal ID field 400 is a field in which an ID for identifying the mobile communication terminal 200 is recorded, and the reconnection flag field 402 indicates whether the mobile communication terminal 200 is initially connected for data service or is interrupted during data service. The ID field 404 is a field in which an ID for identifying the base station 210 is recorded.

In this case, '0' is recorded in the reconnection flag field 400 when the mobile communication terminal 200 is initially connected for data service communication, and '1' when the mobile communication terminal 200 is reconnected.

The AAA 250 retrieves the service subscriber database 270 by the mobile communication terminal ID in the prepaid subscriber information request signal for the prepaid subscriber received from the PDSN 240 and requests the data service through the mobile communication terminal 200. As the subscriber pays the prepaid fee, it is determined whether the subscriber is the intelligent network service subscriber provided with the service (S304).

Subsequently, when the prepaid subscriber is an intelligent network service subscriber, the AAA 250 transmits a prepaid subscriber detail information request signal for requesting detailed information about the prepaid subscriber to the SCP 260 (S306).

SCP 260 retrieves the detailed information of the prepaid subscriber by searching the intelligent network information database 280 according to the prepaid subscriber details request signal received from the AAA 250 (S308), and retrieves the detailed information of the prepaid subscriber from the AAA ( 250) (S310). Here, the detailed information of the prepaid subscriber includes at least the available time and the amount of available data.

The AAA 250 transmits a prepaid subscriber details information signal (Subsinfo_Response) including detailed information of the prepaid subscriber received from the SCP 260 to the PDSN 240 (S312).

Here, the prepaid subscriber detail information signal includes an information processing result field 500, a subscriber detail information field 510, and an access denied reason (ADR) field 520, as shown in FIG. 5.

The information processing result field 500 is a field indicating whether the processing for the prepaid subscriber information request is normally processed, and the subscriber detail information field 510 is a field indicating the detailed information of the prepaid subscriber.

That is, in the information processing result field 500, '1' is recorded when the prepaid subscriber information request is normally processed, and '0' is recorded when the normal processing is not performed.

In addition, the subscriber details field 510 is included only when '1' is recorded in the information processing result field 500, and includes a virtual private network (VPN) field 511, an AUTH field 512, and a service identification code ( WIN) 513, PRICE_PLAN field 514, WIN_CALL_ID field 515, Switched Virtual Connection (SVC) _TYPE field 516, USBL_TIME field 517, and USBL_PACKET field 518.

In this case, it is apparent that the subscriber detail information field 510 may further include various fields in addition to the above-described fields.

The VPN field 511 in the subscriber details field 510 is a field indicating whether a virtual private network service is registered, and the AUTH field 512 is a field indicating whether an authentication service is registered, as shown in the following table. Code 513 is a field for representing an intelligent network service code.

In addition, the PRICE_PLAN field 514 is a field indicating a discounted / non-discounted area at the time of initial call setup of the intelligent network service subscriber, the WIN_CALL_ID field 515 is a field indicating an ID for identifying the intelligent network subscriber, and the SVC_TYPE field 516 is This field indicates the detailed intelligent network type.

The USBL_TIME field 517 is a field indicating the amount of available time of the intelligent network prepaid subscriber, and the USBL_PACKET field 518 is a field indicating the amount of available data of the intelligent network prepaid subscriber.

<Table>

On the other hand, the ADR 520 in the prepaid subscriber detail information signal is included only when '0' is recorded in the information processing result field 500 and is a field indicating the reason why the information processing is not performed properly.

Meanwhile, the AAA 250 searches the service subscriber information database 270 and determines that the information processing result field 500 is determined as a basic service subscriber when the user of the mobile communication terminal 200 is not a subscriber of a prepaid system which is an intelligent network service. The prepaid subscriber detail information (Subsinfo_Response) set to '1' is transmitted to the PDSN 240.

In this case, the prepaid subscriber details signal does not include a subscriber details field 510 and an ADR field 520.

When the PDSN 240 receives the prepaid subscriber detail information signal as shown in FIG. 5 from the AAA 250, the PDSN 240 performs the negotiation with the PCF 230 for a data service (S314). Data communication with the mobile communication terminal 200 is performed (S316).

Here, the call path setting for data communication will be described in more detail as follows.

First, the PDSN 240 is configured to set a data transmission link layer parameter with the PCF 230 when the AUTH field is set in the subscriber details field of the prepaid subscriber details signal received from the AAA 250. Link Control Protocol (LCP) negotiation is performed.

On the other hand, when the authentication function is set inside, the PDSN 240 negotiates the authentication regardless of receiving the prepaid subscriber detailed information from the AAA 250 when performing LCP negotiation, and performs the related authentication function. Perform.

Subsequently, the PDSN 240 performs a Channel Challenge Authenticate Protocol (CHAP) negotiation for authentication between the mobile communication terminal 200 and the AAA 250 through the PCF 230, and then performs a communication with the mobile communication terminal 200. Perform IP Control Protocol (IPCP) negotiation to assign IP addresses.

In addition, the PDSN 240 performs a Mobile IP (MIP) negotiation for allocating a Mobile IP (Mobile IP) address to the mobile communication terminal 200, thereby connecting the mobile communication terminal 200 through the PCF 230. To set the call.

The PDSN 240 continuously checks data usage while data communication with the mobile communication terminal 200 is established through the established call path according to the above process (S318).

When a signal for terminating data service is input from the mobile communication terminal 200, the PCF 230 transmits a data service termination request to the PDSN 240 (S320), and the PDSN 240 transmits the PCF by the data service termination request. The data service with the mobile communication terminal 200 through 230 is terminated (S322).

Subsequently, the PDSN 240 transmits the checked data usage information to the AAA 250 at the end of the data service (S324).

On the other hand, when the data usage checked during the data service reaches the amount of available data in the detailed information of the prepaid subscriber, the PDSN 240 forcibly terminates the data service with the mobile communication terminal 200 and checks the used data usage. The information is transmitted to the AAA 250 (S324).

The AAA 250 transmits a request for the amount of money information about the data usage information received from the PDSN 240 to the SCP 260 (S326), and the SCP 260 sends a request for the received data usage according to a preset fee setting criterion. The amount of money is calculated (S328).

Subsequently, SCP 260 transmits the billing information including the calculated amount information to the AAA 250 (S330), and the AAA 250 temporarily stores the billing information of the received subscriber and displays the billing processing system (shown in FIG. Not transmitted) (S332).

Meanwhile, when the mobile communication terminal 200 enters a dormant state (Dormant), the PDSN 240 suspends or releases all the information necessary for deducting the charge of the prepaid subscriber until the reactivation time and maintains the state.

A data service method of a data service device according to the present invention configured and operated as described above will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6 is a flowchart for performing a data service according to the present invention.

First, the PCF 230 of the data service device transmits a data service request based on a call signal received from the mobile communication terminal 200 of the prepaid subscriber to the PDSN 240 (S600).

The PDSN 240 transmits a prepaid subscriber information request for the prepaid subscriber which is the user of the mobile communication terminal 200 to the AAA 250 by the data service request received from the PCF 230 (S602).

The AAA 250 searches the service subscriber database 270 according to the prepaid subscriber information request to determine whether the prepaid subscriber, which is a mobile terminal user, is an intelligent network service, that is, a prepaid service subscriber (S604).

If the mobile communication terminal user is an intelligent network service subscriber in step S604 above, the AAA 250 sends a prepaid subscriber details request to SCP 260 for requesting detailed information about the prepaid subscriber, and SCP 260. In response to the prepaid subscriber detail information request, the intelligent network information database 280 is searched and the prepaid subscriber detailed information about the prepaid subscriber is transmitted to the AAA 250 (S606).

At this time, the prepaid subscriber detailed information includes at least the available time of the prepaid subscriber and the amount of available data.

The AAA 250 transmits the prepaid subscriber details signal according to the prepaid subscriber details received from the SCP 260 to the PDSN 240 (S608), and the PDSN 240 uses the received prepaid subscriber details signal. After checking the amount of available data, the amount of data used is checked during the data service made by setting a call path for data service with the mobile communication terminal 200 through the PCF 230 (S610).

The PDSN 240 transmits the checked data usage amount to the AAA 250 when the data service completion request or the checked data usage amount from the mobile communication terminal 200 reaches the available data amount (S612). .

The AAA 250 transmits a request for the amount of information according to the data usage of the prepaid subscriber received to the SCP 260 (S614), and the SCP 260 calculates the amount according to the data usage based on a preset fee basis to calculate the AAA ( 250) (S616).

The AAA 250 temporarily stores the price information received from the SCP 260 and transmits it to the corresponding billing processing system of the data service device (S618).

The data service apparatus and method according to the present invention provides a data service to a mobile communication terminal of a prepaid subscriber via a data only network comprising a PCF, PDSN and AAA.

Therefore, the present invention has the effect of providing a large capacity and high speed data service such as a moving picture to a mobile communication terminal of a prepaid subscriber, compared to the data service according to the existing exchange and network matching device.

In addition, the present invention provides the PDSN with the available data amount information of the prepaid subscriber upon initial access according to the data service request of the mobile communication terminal, thereby continuously detecting the data usage of the prepaid subscriber according to the data service and detecting the data usage. There is also an effect that can be charged according to.

Although the above has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below It will be appreciated that modifications and variations can be made.

Claims (6)

A data service apparatus for providing a data service to a prepaid subscriber connected through a mobile communication terminal, A service subscriber database for storing information on whether to use the intelligent network service for the prepaid subscriber; An intelligent network information database for storing the prepaid subscriber detailed information, wherein the detailed information includes at least data amount information available in the data service of the prepaid subscriber; Transmit the prepaid subscriber information request in response to a data service request received from the prepaid subscriber, Receive the prepaid subscriber details corresponding to the prepaid subscriber information request, Provide data services to the prepaid subscriber according to the received prepaid subscriber details; Check the data usage of the prepaid subscriber according to the data service provision; A data packet service unit (PDSN) for transmitting the checked data usage information at the completion of the data service of the prepaid subscriber; In accordance with the prepaid subscriber information request received from the data packet service unit, the service subscriber database is searched to determine whether an intelligent network service subscriber is provided. Send a request for detailed information of a prepaid subscriber identified as the subscriber of the intelligent network service; Transmit the prepaid subscriber detail information according to the prepaid subscriber detail information request to the data packet service unit, wherein the prepaid subscriber detail information includes at least available data amount information; Transmits a price information request according to the data usage received from the data packet service unit, AAA for temporarily storing the amount of money information according to the data usage (AAA: Authentication Authorization and Accounting); A service control unit (SCP) for searching the intelligent network information database according to the request of the prepaid subscriber details received from the AI and transmitting the retrieved prepaid subscriber detailed information to the AI. Data service device, characterized in that configured to include. The method of claim 1, The data packet service unit terminates the data service according to the data service request of the prepaid subscriber or terminates the data service when the data usage of the prepaid subscriber reaches the amount of available data in the prepaid subscriber detailed information. Service device. The method of claim 1, The prepaid subscriber information request includes a mobile communication terminal ID field, a reconnection flag field, and a base station ID field of the prepaid subscriber. The method of claim 1, The prepaid subscriber details include an information processing result field, a prepaid subscriber details field, and an ADR. The prepaid subscriber details field is At least a free time field and a free data amount field. A data service method for providing a data service to a mobile communication terminal of a prepaid subscriber connected in a data dedicated network including a data packet service unit (PDSN), an AAA and a service control unit (SCP). Receiving a data service request from the mobile communication terminal; Determining whether the prepaid subscriber is an intelligent network service subscriber according to the data service request; Retrieving detailed information of a prepaid subscriber when the prepaid subscriber is an intelligent network service subscriber; Providing data to the mobile communication terminal according to the retrieved prepaid subscriber detailed information, wherein the detailed information about the prepaid subscriber includes at least data amount information available in a data service; Continuously detecting data usage according to a data service provided to the mobile communication terminal; Calculating an amount according to the detected data usage at the completion of the data service Data service method comprising a. The method of claim 5, Calculating the amount according to the detected data usage at the completion of the data service Detecting whether the data usage sensed while the data service is provided to the mobile terminal reaches the amount of available data in the detailed information for the prepaid subscriber; Completing a data service when the detected data usage reaches the amount of available data Data service method comprising a.