MXPA00006151A - Call charging in a telecommunications system - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of and equipment for charging calls in a telecommunications system (1) providing wired and/or wireless telecommunication services (2;3). Signalling information (40) identifying a calling and called party is processed for call charging purposes (41, 42). The signalling information is processed for charging rates applicable at the time of and using such system resources required for establishing the call. The call is charged (45) following one of the applicable charging rates (43). Users of the telecommunications system may be provided with a charging rate right, wherein the call is set up (44) and charged (45) by applying an applicable charging rate selected (43) in accordance with such charging rate right.

Description

CALLING OF CALLS IN A TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the collection of calls in a telecommunications system, and more particularly, to a method and system of telecommunications to collect calls at a charging rate to be determined. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Traditionally, calls in a telecommunications system are charged to the account of the party making the call. Various charging fees may be applied, depending on the distance of the call, for example, regional, national and international rates and for example, the time of day, for example charging rates for peak hours and non-peak hours. The collection of collect calls, that is, the calls in which the party receiving the call pays such calls, is possible through a service known as "receivable." Through a telephone operator, the party receiving the call may agree to pay the charges for the call. With the liberation of telecommunications services and the introduction of wireless telecommunications, not only in. number of service providers has increased but also the number and type of rates to collect calls between parties.

For example, according to the number of calls, that is, the time of communication invested, operators of mobile telecommunication networks offer lower costs per unit of time (ie, per second or per minute), or higher charging rates with lower subscription rates, for example. International calls are usually exchanged through international and / or global companies that offer lower charge rates due to high traffic volumes. A local network operator can take advantage of that by offering subscriptions such as low international rates compared to high local rates, or conversely, low local rates against more expensive international rates. Experts in the field will note that various subscription fees and charges can be offered and used as a competitive instrument among telecommunication service providers. Document EP-0,608,066 and the North American Patent corresponding to number 5,515,425 present a telecommunications system that has what is known as an "active" database where billing fee information of various operators is stored. The term "active" is understood here to mean that the database has been updated with each change in the charging rate, for example, based on the time of day or call patterns that can be developed in a particular network. This rate database can be accessed on a call-by-call basis and retrieved information can be provided to a switching equipment, such as a PABX, in order to automatically route a call to the provider or lower cost network. WO 97/05749 offers a call handling system for determining an optimal telecommunication network or company based on the lowest cost to carry out the call. In the same way, a database of prices or rates information is provided. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to offer subscribers the possibility to take advantage of charging fees applicable to a call and / or to offer telecommunication service providers, ie operators of a telecommunications network, a tool to provide charging fees for competitive calls. This in order to prevent customers from changing operator and / or to generate more revenue from higher traffic volumes. These and other objects and advantages are achieved in the present invention through a method for charging calls in a telecommunication system offering wired and / or wireless telecommunication services where a signaling information indicating a calling party is provided. and a party that receives a call, and where the signaling information is processed for charging fees for calls applicable at the time of establishing the call and using such system resources to establish said call, and which is characterized in that the call is charged in accordance with one of the applicable collection fees independent of the actual system resources used. In the present invention, the actual collection of a call is made according to the applicable charging rates if said call had to be handled by other operators, other networks, other international and global companies, eventually, different call addresses, etc., to condition that resources or equivalent resources are used and when making the call. Unlike the prior art identified above, the selection of the most optimal (and most economical) enterprise and / or routing of the call through a selected operator is not a problem addressed by the present invention. This will be better explained in some examples. Consider a company that has 10 employees, each equipped with a mobile phone. With your telephony network operator, the company has made a subscription in such a way that calls can be made at a low charge rate during office hours. However, outside of office hours, the collection fee is more expensive. In this case, if an employee has to call the company outside office hours, the call can be relatively expensive. However, with the method in accordance with the present invention, if the call charge rate for the company's telephone call to the employee's mobile phone is less expensive because the normal charge rate applies to call a mobile phone, a provider or operator of telecommunications services network can offer to charge the call to the rate as if the call had been made from the company to the employee. As an example, let's consider an international call. A first part has a subscription with a first network operator in accordance with the condition of local calls with low rates and international calls with expensive tariffs. A second part has a subscription with the same network operator, which provides lower international rates and more expensive local rates. In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the network operator or communications service provider may offer to charge the least expensive charging fee applicable. In the previous case, the call rate from the second part to the first part.

With the present invention, however, the network operator may also offer to charge this call against a collection fee that would be applied by another service operator in the service area of the first party, if said charging rate is lower and on condition that equivalent system resources are used (that is, the same quality) and at the same time of day. Those skilled in the art will note that there are many other examples in which various call rates can be applied to a telephone call, not only based on special subscriptions or competitive network operators, but also due to differences in time zones in the case of international calls. That is, a call made from one country to another can be charged as a peak hour rate, while if the same call was made from the other country non-peak hour rates could apply. In a case of this type, calls may be charged between international subsidiaries of a company against the lowest non-peak hourly rate. Preferably, a network operator will offer this flexible method of charging as a novel service, available on the basis of a subscription, for example. In a further embodiment of the invention, what is known as a "collection fee right" may be offered. If you are a user of the telecommunications system, you have this right to charge the collection fee, the call is charged through the application of a collection fee selected in accordance with the collection fee right. In the modalities described above, it is considered that the network operator or the communications service provider applies a particular charging rate without de facto adapting the network resources to the applied charging rate. For example, if a call from a party receiving the call to a calling party is less expensive, the communication path, i.e. the system resources employed, will not be changed in fact. However, the method according to the present invention, in a further embodiment, also offers the establishment of a call using system resources corresponding to the charging rate to be applied. That is, if a call from a party that receives the call to the party making the call is less expensive, the call will be established from the party receiving the call instead of being established from the party making the call initially. If the pastes themselves have an agreement regarding the costs of the calls, it is not even necessary to adapt the collection fees by the network operator. The charge can be applied according to the well-known procedure in which the party receiving the call assumes the costs.

The selection of system resources can be implemented in the central system of the communication system or, alternatively, in the Prívate Automatic Branch eXchange (PABX) (private automatic branch office) or another user equipment or subscriber. The charging rate information, in an additional mode of method according to the present invention, is available from a collection database equipment of the telecommunication systems / i.e., the wired and / or wireless networks involved . In still another embodiment of the method according to the invention, the charging fees, at least partially, may be made available from the collection database equipment of one or both of the party making the call or party receiving the call. call. In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the present invention, the collection fees are acquired and processed through signaling and processing resources offered by the communications system. "This raises fewer requirements for subscribers who can benefit from a novel charging method in accordance with the invention without having to change or adapt their communication equipment In an efficient mode of the method according to the present invention, if you establish a call after the selection of the collection fee to apply. This avoids the occupation of scarce resources. During signaling processing for charging information, the telecommunications system may provide the same signaling tones and the like as in the case of establishing a "normal" call. Therefore, callers do not have to experience the selection of charging fees and / or a real selection of system resources if a call is established from a party receiving the call, for example. The invention further provides a telecommunications system comprising wired and / or wireless telecommunications networks, each of said networks comprising set-top equipment arranged to establish a communication link between a calling party and a party receiving a call through the processing of the signaling information, and collection devices to collect the call in accordance with the processed signaling information, which is characterized in that the means of collection are arranged to provide charging fees applicable at the time of establishing the call and to employ such system resources required to establish said call and to charge the call in accordance with one of the applicable collection fees independent of the system resources actually employed.

According to the invention, the collection devices can be arranged to charge the least expensive tariff applicable and / or to apply the applicable charging rate according to a charging fee right of one of the parties involved in the call or of both parties involved in the call. a call. According to the invention, the central unit of the telecommunications system can be arranged to establish a communication link according to the charging rate to be applied. That is, the communication link is established from system resources or using the resources of associated systems by the selected collection rate. In modern intelligent network (IN) telecommunication systems comprising configurations of Service Switching Point (SSP) and Service Control Point (SCP) equipment, the SSP equipment is beneficially provided with charging devices. The invention also relates to SCP equipment and telecommunication terminal equipment arranged for the collection of calls according to the invention. ~~ The aforementioned features and advantages of the invention are illustrated in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a simplified block diagram of a telecommunication system providing wired and / or wireless telecommunication services, incorporating the method according to the present invention. Figure 2 shows a simplified flow diagram of the method according to the present invention. Figure 3 shows a simplified block diagram of an SCP equipment arranged for use in a system according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE MODALITIES The invention will be presented below in a telecommunications system Intelligent Network (IN) 1 comprising a wired telecommunications network 2 such as, for example, the Telecommunication Network of Public Switching (PSTN) or the Digital Network of Telecommunications. Integrated Services (ISDN) and a mobile cellular telecommunications network 3, such as, for example, the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM). For clarification purposes, only one mobile telecommunication network has been presented. In practice, several different operators can provide mobile communication services to users in the same geographical area. In the same way, several wired network operators can provide telecommunications services to users in the same region or country, for example. Subscribers or users 4,5 are connected, through a Local Central (LE) 6,7 to at least one Central Trunk (TE) 8,9, respectively. The trunk station that is connected by a trunk line 10.9 is connected by 10. The LE 6 TE 8 are connected through a trunk line 11 and the LE 7 and TE 9 are connected through a trunk line 12. The subscriber 4 it connects to LE 6 through a subscriber line or call 13. Subscriber 5 is connected through a call line 14 to a Prívate Automatic Branch eXchange (PABX) (central private automatic branch) 15 that a it is connected to LE 7 through a trunk line or call line 16. For purposes of clarification, only subscribers 4, 5 were illustrated. In practice, several subscribers can be connected to an LE 6,7 and / or to PABX 15. In the illustrated embodiment, the TE 8.9 are of the type comprising SSP equipment 16.17, respectively, the SSP 16.17 controls the TE (8.9) in order to establish the required transmission links to exchange calls from subscribers 4,5, ie PABX 15. To each of SSP 17,18, Service Control Point (SCP) equipment is configured, that is, SCP 19,20 respectively. The SCP operates to control the telecommunications network services available to subscribers. In general, a subscriber 4 is assigned to SCP 19 while a subscriber 5, that is, PABX 15, is assigned to SCP 20. The SSP 17, 18 and SCPs 19, 20 connect to a signaling system or network through signaling links 21, 22, 23, 24 as illustrated. The collection of calls can be carried out in LE 6, 7 and / or SSP 17,18. For the purpose of the present invention, the charging information is provided by the SCP 19,20 through the charging means 25. The mobile telecommunication network 3 includes a mobile radio station or several mobile radio stations or units 26 illustrated in the form of a car, one or more radio base stations 27, illustrated in the form of a transmission tower, and a radio exchange or Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO) 28. The MTSO 28 connects to a TE 8 through a trunk line 30. Each mobile radio unit 26 comprises a transceiver device, one end of which is connected to a reception / transmission antenna 31 and another end is connected to a microphone / speaker array for communication of voice / or data interface, for example. Each base station 27 comprises radio transceiver means, the transceiver output is connected to a receiving / transmitting antenna 32 and offers radio services 33 to a geographically limited region, which is also known as a cell. A radio base station 27 connects to the MTSO 28 through a wire or cable 29. A typical cellular network may comprise hundreds of base stations 27, thousands of mobile stations 26, and more than an MTSO 28. The MTSO 28 offers radio communication between mobile stations 26 and subscribers of the wired telecommunication network 2. In addition, the MTSO 28 comprises a charging device 34, illustrated in the form of a block. In accordance with the present invention, the charging device 25, and if applicable, 34, are arranged to provide charging fees applicable to a call using network resources, i.e. network equipment and / or network operators to the network. respective hour of the day. This charging information can be retrieved from "charging engines" already available or through a separate node or database equipment 35 that connect to the SCP 19 through a signaling link 36 of the network of signaling. For the purpose of the present invention, it is considered that the MTSO 28 also connects to the signaling network 21, 22, 23, 24 of the telecommunications system 1 (not shown). The database equipment 35, for call charging purposes, can be provided centrally for the telecommunication system 1 in general or in a decentralized manner such as, for example, so that each telecommunication system provider or network operator operates and maintain your own collection database equipment 35. In addition, a call charge rate information can be provided from database devices associated with users or subscribers 4,5 ie, the P7U3X 15, which is indicated schematically through the reference numbers 37,38. The database equipment 37,38 may comprise, for example, billing information in relation to special subscriptions and the like. In accordance with the charging of the prior art, the charging fee for the call concept depends on the distance between the subscribers. Subscribers with states to the same LE, for example, will have a lower call charge per unit of time compared to calls between subscribers through intermediate TE and / or international or global companies. In addition, the charge may depend on basic and complementary services used by the subscribers. For collection purposes, either tariff information is exchanged or tariff indicators from which the tariff information is prepared. This, either in association or not with the charging analysis tables in the LE 6,7 or the SSP 17,18 and the charging device 25. In the mobile telecommunication network 3, the charging between mobile units 26 is accounted for by the charging device 34. In the case of a call from a wired subscriber 4 to a mobile radio unit 26, calls are charged to the subscriber's account 4 through the collection device 25 of SCP 19 to which subscriber 4 is associated, and LE 6 or SSP 17, if applicable. For the purpose of providing collection information, the MTSO 28 will be equipped in the same way with collection database equipment 39. In accordance with the invention, once the applicable charges have been acquired by the charging device, a particular charging rate can be selected, for example, in accordance with a charging fee right provided to a subscriber. Information regarding a charging fee right may be stored in the charging device 25, 34 and / or in the collection database equipment 37, 38, 39, for example. Collection fee rights may be applied, in such a way that the system operator or communications systems provider always guarantees the charge of the less expensive charging fees in comparison with other network operators or service providers, or the tariffs of less expensive charges in absolute terms. That is, also taking into account special subscriptions, the time of day (peak hour rate / non-peak hour rate), etc. Those skilled in the art will note that the present invention offers a very flexible tool to network operators or telecommunication service providers to provide their customers with the most convenient call charges in such a way that subscribers are not changing network operator. and to stimulate higher traffic volumes. Figure 2 shows, in the form of a flow diagram, the method according to the invention. The flow direction is considered from the top of the diagram to the bottom. Block 40 indicates the obtaining of the call number or identity information of the party making the call and the recipient of the call, ie the party receiving the call, from the subscriber number provided by the party making the call. the call. Generally, this information is transmitted, through the signaling network, to the collection means associated with the party making the call. The identity information offered is processed in order to obtain applicable collection fees, in accordance with that indicated by block 41. As indicated above, the collection information can be retrieved from the analysis tables of corars in a SSP / SCP, based on the collection database means 35 of the telecommunications system 1 or of the various network operators and telecommunications service providers, as well as from collection database equipment 37, 38 , 39 associated with subscribers of the telecommunications system 1.

In accordance with the invention, said charging information is obtained in which calls involving the same network or system resources and the time of day are applied. That is, for a call between wireline subscribers that involves international or global companies, the collection fees for calls between wireline subscribers from the same place of origin and destination are recovered, involving international and / or global companies, such as, for example, telephone rates. charge for calls provided by several operators and / or companies. In the case of a call from a wired subscriber to a wireless subscriber, collection information is obtained for calls related to calls from a wired subscriber to a wireless subscriber, evidently applicable at the time of day. The tariff information - for the concept of calls obtained in this way is evaluated and compared with the relevant collection devices, in accordance with what is indicated in block 42. Afterwards, a collection rate is selected, block 43, in accordance with with the collection fee rights of the parties involved or in accordance with the least expensive collection fee applicable if it is implemented. The charging fee right information can be obtained from the charging devices or SCP equipment to which the party making the call and the party receiving the call are associated. However, this information may also be stored in the collection database system of the system 35, for example. According to the implementation of the method according to the invention, the call can be established in accordance with normal routines, with appropriate collection according to the selected charging rates. However, the call can also be established using the resources and systems associated with the selected call charge rate. That is, the call can be established from the call receiving the call instead of being established from the calling party if the charging fee for a call from the party receiving the call is less than the collection fee corresponding to the original party making the call, for example. The establishment of a call is indicated schematically through block 44 in figure 2. The call will be cashed, block 45, in accordance with the selected charge rate, that is, block 43, either to the party performing the call or the party making the call according to the right of collection fee as for example. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various charging possibilities may be applied within the scope of the present invention. The method according to the present invention can be implemented both in equipment and in programmatic, taking advantage of for example the existing services such as calls collect. Figure 3 shows a typical SCP 46 for its use with the present invention. Block 47 indicates the existing equipment of an SCP for the purpose of providing services to users of the telecommunications system. Block 48 represents collection devices, that is, a collection engine arranged in accordance with the invention. Block 49 indicates a storage device for storing subscription fee rates, while block 50 represents a processing means for processing the applicable call charging fees in accordance with the collection fee rights 49 in applicable case. Obviously the invention is not limited to the modality of a telecommunications system illustrated and described above. Various modifications and additions can be carried out in relation to the invention by persons skilled in the art without applying inventive activity and within the scope of the present invention in accordance with that defined in the appended claims.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS A method for charging calls in a telecommunication system (1) that provides wired and / or wireless telecommunication services (2,3), where the signaling information (40) is provided to identify a calling party and a party receiving a call (4,5, 26), and where said signaling information (40) is processed for call charges (41, 42) applicable at the time of establishing said call and using said system resources required for the establishment of said call, characterized in that said call is charged (45) in accordance with one of said applicable charging fees (43) independent of the actual system resources used. - A method according to claim 1, wherein said call is charged (45) by applying the least expensive charging rate (43) applicable. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user (4,5, 26) of said telecommunications system (1) has a right of collection fees, and where said call is charged (45) by applying a collection fee (43) selected in accordance with said collection fee right. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said call is established using the system resources in accordance with the charging rate (43) to be applied. 5. A method of compliance with any of the preceding claims, wherein said charging rates (41) are available from collection database equipment (35,39) of said telecommunications system (1) • 6. A method of compliance with any of the preceding claims, wherein said charging fees (41), at least partially, are available from collection database equipment (37, 38) from one or both of the calling party and the party receiving the call (4, 5 26). 7. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said signaling information (40) is processed to collect tariffs (41, 42) using signaling and processing resources offered by said telecommunications system (1). 8. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said call is established (44) after the selection of the charging rates (43) to be applied. 9. A telecommunications system, comprising wired and / or wireless telecommunication networks (2,3), each of said networks comprising a central office equipment (6-9,15, 17-20, 46, 28) arranged for establishing a communication link between a calling party and a party receiving a call (4,5, 26) by processing the processing signaling information (40) offered, and charging means (25, 34) to collect (45) said call in accordance with said processed signaling information (40), said collection means (25,34) arranged to offer collection fees (41) applicable at the time of establishing said call and to use system resources required for the establishment of said call, characterized in that said collection devices (25, 34, 48) are arranged to collect (45) said call in accordance with one of said applicable collection fees (43) independent of the resources of re system ales employees. A telecommunications system (1) according to claim 9, wherein said charging devices (25, 34, 48) are arranged to collect (45) said call in accordance with the least expensive charging rate (43) applicable. A telecommunication system (1) according to any of claims 9 or 10 further comprising devices (25, 34, 37, 38, 39, 49) for storing a charge rate right of a part (4, 5, 26) and a selection device (50) connected to said charging devices (25, 34, 49) to select a collection fee (43) of said applicable collection fees in accordance with said collection fee right of said portion (4, 5, 26). A telecommunications system (1) according to any of claims 9, 10 or 11, wherein said exchange equipment (6-9, 15, 17-20, 46, 28) is arranged to establish a communication link between said party making a call and said party receiving a call (4, 5, 26) in accordance with the collection fee (43) to be applied. "A telecommunications system (1) according to any of claims 9, 10, 11 or 12, further comprising a database equipment (35, 39) to which said collection means (25, 34, 49) ) may have access to and comprise charging rate information (41) associated with the time and system resources required to establish said call A telecommunications system (1) according to any of claims 9, 10, 11 , 12, or 13, where a user (4, 5, 26) of said telecommunications system (1) is equipped with a collection database equipment (38, 39) comprising charging rate information (41). ) accessible through said charging devices (25, 34, 49) 15. A telecommunications system (1) according to any of claims 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein said equipment Central (6-9, 15, 17-20, 46, 28) comprises configurations of Switching Point equipment Service (SSP) and Service Control Point (SCP) (17, 18, 19 20, 46), wherein said SCP equipment (19, 20 46) comprises said copper devices (25, 49). 16. A Subscriber Control Point (SCP) equipment (19, 20, 46) comprising charging devices (25, 49) in accordance with any of claims 9 to 15. 17. A telecommunications terminal equipment ( 4, 5, 26) comprising a collection database equipment (37, 38) according to claim 14.