MXPA00010182A - Tariff management apparatus and methods for multiple-mode communications terminals - Google Patents

Abstract

In a multiple-mode communications terminal, such as a dual-mode analog/digital cellular radiotelephone, cumulative usage of communications units in multiple modes is measured for comparison to stored critical values of tariffs for each of the modes, and measures to control usage are initiated based on an economic efficiency of the multiple modes. More specifically, expenses incurred by a communications terminal that communicates with a first mobile radiotelephone system and a second mobile radiotelephone system are controlled by storing first and second critical values which characterize a tariff structure of the respective first and second mobile radiotelephone communication systems. Communications units used by the communications terminal are measured. An economic efficiency associated with the use of the terminal to communicate with the first and second mobile radiotelephone communications systems is determined from the measured communications units and the first and second stored critical values. Measures are initiated to control communications usage with the first and second radiotelephone communications systems by the terminal based on the determined economic efficiency.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ADMINISTRATION OF RATES FOR MULTI-MODE COMMUNICATION TERMINALS Field of the Invention The present invention relates to communication systems and methods, in particular to systems and methods for controlling costs associated with the use of communications service Background of the Invention The cost of communication services of Higher quality such as packet data or mobile telephony services tends to be a significant impediment to the universal use of these services. As a result, service providers regularly introduce new pricing programs, often referred to as tariff options or pricing programs. Disbursement to make these services more attractive to a wider group of consumers Typically, this series of price programs represent a series of so-called "pareto" improvements, a new rate option is a pareto improvement over an established set of rate options if at least one person is better off and no one gets worse as a result An ideal fee structure will calculate the ex post service charges, meaning the most economical fare option would be used, based on current usage of the customer during a particular billing cycle, so that the customer will be charged the lowest amount supported by any of the possible tariff options. In practice, however, complex tariffs are usually used to calculate charges for ex ante services, that is, the client previously selects a tariff option based on an expected traffic pattern and lives with the result, even when other options were available that would have resulted in lower service charges in case they had selected ex post Once a fare option is chosen ex ante, the client has little discernment about the charges that accumulate, and therefore is exposed to the risk of incurring excessive charges In addition, an authorized user, for example, an excessively talkative child or a thief who steal a cell phone to make unauthorized calls, you may incur excessive charges under a select rate option p or the primary user who expects little use Unfortunately, cellular subscribers are typically limited in their ability to determine their status with respect to the rate structure of the systems to which they subscribe. Conventional cellular radiotelephones provide mechanisms to measure the duration of a current call, to measure and store the duration of the last call, to measure and store cumulative call duration and to measure and store accumulated ignition time However, these parameters are typical that are not easily usable by the telephone operator to determine viewing use or with vision to minimize usage charges Many telephone radio terminals can operate in multiple modes to communicate with multiple telephone radio systems For example, a dual-mode analog (AMPS) digital radio telephone can be used in those areas that include both analog cellular communication systems and As another example, radio combined cellular and satellite phones can also be used in those where analog and / or digital cellular systems and a satellite system overlap. Still as another example, a conventional analogue or digital cellular system may be usable in a local region and in an operating region The use of multiple modes of a communications terminal may exacerbate the problems noted above, because multiple-rate structures may be involved. These multi-rate structures may even do so. harder than a user determines the use with a focus to minimize charges of abuse The present published application 096/28947 describes a mobile communications system that combines several mobile communication networks that can belong to different mobile communication systems, wherein the mobile terminals can be operated and establish a connection in several mobile communication networks The parameters on the basis of which a mobile terminal decides a transfer and include, in addition to the quality of the connection, at least one other parameter The parameter can be example price, capacity, transmission speed and availability The selection can be based on price and quality, ie selection PQ or selection based on price capacity and quality, ie PCQ selection When a system with price information and calculation structures is provided Prices, with which mobile stations can freely choose the most convenient or the most advantageous of the available connections, creates a transparent market for the subscriber for terminals of multiple modes or dual mode, which improves rational competition and improves efficiency of the use of capacity in mobile communications COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION A the light of the above, an objective of thepresent invention is to provide improved systems and methods for controlling expenses incurred by a communications terminal in multiple modes. Another objective of the present invention is to provide systems and methods for controlling a communications terminal in multiple modes, which avoids incurring excessive charges by a user Not authorized These and other characteristic objectives and advantages are provided in accordance with the present invention, by multiple mode communication terminals and methods of operation thereof, wherein the cumulative use of communication units in multiple modes is measured for comparison with critical values. stored rates for each of the modes, and where the measures for control use are initiated based on an economic efficiency of multiple modes More specifically, expenses incurred by a communications terminal that communicates with a first telephone radio system mobile and a second mobile telephone radio system, are controlled by storing first and second critical values that characterize a tariff structure of the first and second mobile radio telephone communication systems, respectively. The communication units used by the communication terminal are measures An economic efficiency associated with n the use of the terminal to communicate with the first and second mobile telephone radio communications systems, the measured communication units and the first and second stored critical values are determined from the communication units. The measures are initiated to control the use of communications with the first and second telephone radio communications systems by the terminal based on the determined economic efficiency. The measures to control the use of communications can initiate a communication session with one of the first and second. second mobile phone radio communication systems, based on the determined economic efficiency A communications session with one of the first and second mobile phone radio communication systems, can be initiated automatically in response to user initiation of a radio communications session telephone Alternatively, a user may be directed to initiate a communications session with one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems, based on the determined economic efficiency, in response to user initiation of a telephone radio communication In this regard, the user can to initiate a communications session by providing at least one of a visible indication and an audible indication to the user According to this, the telephone radio can automatically or manually initiate a communications session with a first or second mobile phone radio communication system based on a certain economic efficiency. In this way, for example, if all the free monthly use for an analogue cellular system has already been exhausted, new outgoing calls can be automatically or manually directed to a satellite system, when the minimum monthly free charges have not been used. Similar operations can be carried out during a communication session between the communication terminal and one of the first and second mobile telephone radio systems. During the communications session, the communication units are measured. Then, during the communications session, measures are initiated to control the use of communications based on the economic efficiency determined during the communications session. For example, the transfer of the communications session from one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems to the other of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems, may be carried out based on the economic efficiency determined during the session of communications. Alternatively, a user may be directed to initiate a new communications session with the other of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems, based on the determined economic efficiency In this aspect, a visible indication and / or an audible indication can be used to indicate to a user that initiates a new communication session In another alternative, a session of communications with one of the first and second mobile phone radio communication systems can be determined, based on the determined economic efficiency. Alternatively, the user can be directed to end the communication session by an audible indication and / or a visible indication. First and second critical values can be stored in a smart card that is coupled to the communication terminal. First and second corresponding billing cycle dates can also be stored in the smart card. In addition, user identification information that secures this information can also be stored. on the card int The first and second critical values may comprise the values of monthly communication units that are allowed for a fixed fee, excluding charge, for respective first and second respective mobile radio telephone communication systems. In addition, other incrementals for respective monthly communication units which exceed the first and second respective amounts also They can be stored. Separate critical values can be stored for monthly incoming and outgoing communication units with separate tariff structures.

It will be understood that the present invention can be provided as systems, methods and radio mobile telephones. Improved capabilities to control communications expenses in this way can be provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Some of the objects and advantages of the present invention have been established, others will be more fully understood from the detailed description that follows and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a graph illustrating a typical non-linear communications rate; Figure 2 is a graph illustrating a typical multi-part communications rate; Figures 3 and 4 are graphs illustrating other types of multi-part communications rates; Figure 5 is a graph illustrating typical multi-part communications rates for radio phones of multiple modes; Figures 6 and 7 are schematic illustrations of a telephone radio apparatus in which the present invention can be practiced; Y Figures 8 to 10 are flow chart illustrations of operations for controlling a communications terminal according to the present invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED MODALITIES The present invention will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which of the invention are illustrated This invention can however be incorporated in very different ways and should not be considered as being limited to the modalities set forth herein, on the contrary, these modalities are provided in such a way that this description is complete and detailed and will completely transport the scope of the invention for those skilled in the art In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements Although the description of the preferred embodiments here refers to cellular telephony, the present invention also applies to communication systems other than cellular communication systems For example, the present invention can be used with data communications services such as packet data systems or frame retransmission, wherein the communications units are packet accounts or check boxes instead of minutes -use of use One embodiment of the present invention can therefore be used in useful way, for example on a cordless phone, a network management application running in a data communication terminal such as a personal computer, lap-top computer or personal digital assistant, and the like Figure 1 illustrates a typical tariff structure or expense function or disbursement, in particular a typical non-linear rate Message units, for example monthly cumulative minutes of cell phone use, are displayed on the horizontal axis, monthly service charge is displayed on the vertical axis The tariff can be divided into approximately three regions a convex region A, a concave region C and a flat region B located between the curved regions A and C According to economic theory, the curve shown in Figure 1 represents a mathematical relationship known as the inverse elasticity rule for prices not uniform, at each point in the disbursement program, the dual merger mark between marginal cost and marginal price is investment proportional to the elasticity of demand with respect to the marginalized price The intersection Y or displacement shown in Figure 1, can help recover the fixed costs of providing service and if they rise above the level of recovery, to recapture a portion of the surplus of the consumer Seen in another way, the convex region A of Figure 1 offers an attractive operating range to casual users and the flat region B offers an attractive operating range to high volume users, while the concave C region deters the overload of the system and arbitrage The type of tariff structure illustrated in Figure 1 appears to be well-founded in economic theory and supported by empirical data and therefore can continue to be used as communications services continue to evolve. However, the general population is typically unable to Intuitively taking a nonlinear tariff that has a first derivative continues, service providers typically employ a piecewise approach to a non-linear tariff, as illustrated in Figure 2 This type of segmented rate structure is commonly referred to as a tariff of multiple parties, for example, the tariff structure of Figure 2 represents a tari Four-part fa Within a multi-part tariff, there are certain critical values in which the price program changes its nature These values are represented by points Q1 and Q2 Due to the linear nature of a multi-part tariff, a knowledge of these values can fully characterize the program of Disbursement As other examples, Figures 3 and 4 show a two-part tariff and a three-part tariff, respectively along with appropriate critical points. In these Figures, the critical values Qj and Q2 can represent predetermined budget constraints not related to the tariff. per se Figure 5 illustrates a conventional rate structure or disbursement function for a dual mode communications terminal In particular, in Figure 5, a dual-mode cellular telephone and satellite radio that is usable with both a communications system satellite phone radio as cell phone radio communication system Figure 5 shows the cumulative monthly charge as a function of minutes of use for a conventional rate system and a dual-mode satellite-cellular system with calls directed over the satellite only when during the same month some calls are directed by the satellite system and some by the system cellular, the curve will be the combination of these two curves The initial flat portion of the cellular curve in Figure 5 represents the constant monthly subscription, where a number of "free" minutes are included The flat portion on the satellite-cellular curve of Figure 5 represents the cost of subscribing to both services of satellite and cellular, with an amount of free minutes on the satellite included After the respective numbers of the free minutes have been used, a rate per minute is used, and a higher slope for satellite use compared to the use of satellite beyond the flat portion, it represents a higher cost per minute for satellite air time compared to cellular air time. Figure 5 is only illustrative and the number of free minutes included in the cellular subscription, is not necessarily less than the number of free minutes included in the satellite subscription, but may be higher. Similarly, the cost of airtime can not be higher in the case of satellite due to its use of spectrally more efficient voice coding. However, the shape of the respective cumulative charge curves is characterized by the respective interruption points Q1 and Q2 together with the subscription fees and the airtime charges. In accordance with the invention, the dual mode cellular-satellite telephone administers economic efficiency for the user Efficiency management can be activated by use or overcome. If activated, the efficiency management seeks to place each new call on the system, satellite or cellular that results in the lowest cumulative monthly charges. For example, one strategy would be to place preferential calls through the cellular system until the number of free minutes included in the cellular part of the subscription is exhausted. Then, the calls will be directed by the satellite system until the number of free minutes included in the subscription of Satellite services are exhausted Subsequently, calls will be directed by the system offering the lowest per minute charge. Implementing the above strategy can be complicated by the following factors First, the preferred system may not always be available, forcing the temporary use of the system less preferred Cumulative call synchronizers can track the number of minutes used in each system Cumulative call synchronizers are restarted at the end of a billing period Your values can be saved in archive memories before restarting Even more, the billing period for two systems may not be synchronous For example, a cellphone billing period can determine the last day of each month while a billing period for satellite ends on the 15th of each month. Therefore, the knowledge may need to be stored not only at rates but also to the breakpoints but also the date (and possibly time) in which it ends or a billing cycle begins When using the latter, a real-time clock calendar can also be provided Some telephone radio systems broadcast real-time clock calendar information to which the radio telephones can synchronize their internal clocks, should they are wrong due to power interruptions To facilitate the invention, the respective systems with which the subscriber has a subscription, can broadcast an indication that signals the transition to a new billing period According to the invention, first and second critical values that characterize a tariff structure of first and second respective mobile phone radio communication systems are stored, preferably on a smart card that is coupled to the communications terminal. The communication units used by the communications terminal are measured. An associated economic efficiency with the use of the tea rminal to communicate with the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems, is determined from the measured communication units and from the first and second stored critical values. Measures are initiated to control the use of communications with the first and second telephone radio communications systems by the terminal, based on the economic efficiency determined. For example, the number of free monthly minutes of airtime may be different for each service and may even be zero. Even more, the rates for one service may be higher than for another, and their billing cycles may be different. According to the invention, a communication terminal can automatically initiate a radio telephone communication by means of a system that offers the lowest rate, if that system is available. Alternatively, the user can be directed to initiate a radio telephone communication with the system offering the lowest rate. Furthermore, during a radio telephone communication, if the terminal detects that the rate for the system currently in use is likely to change, such as having exhausted the number of free monthly minutes in that billing cycle, the most economical service can recalculate automatically and communications can be automatically transferred to the lower rate system. If the automatic transfer between different systems during a call is not technologically implemented, an indication to the user of an impending rate change may be provided, allowing the user to choose to complete the radio telephone communication, terminate the communication of Telephone radio or redial the phone radio communication using a lower rate system. Alternatively, the telephone radio communication can be terminated automatically. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the apparatuses and operations of the present invention can be implemented using a communications terminal such as the cellular telephone radio 500 illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. The telephone radio 500 includes a control processor, for example a microprocessor, which controls operations of a transceiver 20 that is operative to send and receive communication signals via an antenna 30 The control processor 10 is operatively associated with the memory 40, for example the random access memory (RAM = Random Access Memory), programmable read-only memory (PROM) and the like, for storage of operation programs and data. The power supply 50 supplies power to the control processor 10 and other elements of the radio telephone 3300. The control processor 10 is also operatively associated with a keyboard 60, a speaker 70, a microphone 80 and an exhibitor 90. As illustrated in FIG. Figure 7, the display 90 may include one or more graphics fields 95. As also illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the smart card 100 is coupled to the control processor 10 via a smart card interface 110 The design of the smart card 10 and the smart card interface 110 are well known to those skilled in the art and do not need to be described further here. smart card 10 can be inserted into the telephone radio by a slot 120 or other conventional means Figures 8 to 10 are illustrations of flow diagrams of methods and apparatuses, which can be implemented in a communication terminal such as the telephone radio 500 illustrated in FIG. Figure 6 It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations may be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded into a computer or other apparatus. programmable data processing, for example the processor control 10 of the radio telephone 500, to produce a machine in such a way that the instructions executed in the computer or other data processing apparatus create means to implement the functions specified in the block (s) of the flowchart These program instructions computer can also be stored in a readable memory by computer that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to operate in a particular way Computer program instructions can also be loaded into a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, to cause a series of operating stages are performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process, such that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps to implement the solutions specified in the flow chart block (s) Accordingly, blocks of the flowchart illustrations support combinations of means to perform the specified functions and combinations of steps to perform the specified functions and program instruction means to perform the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block of the illust Flowchart rations, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by systems based on special purpose physical equipment, which perform the specified solutions or stages, or combinations of computer instructions and special purpose physical equipment Figure 8 illustrates operations for controlling the use of a multi-mode communication terminal, in accordance with the present invention (block 700) One or more critical values for communications rates for first and second communications systems are stored, preferably at a smart card 100 (block 710) The terminal communicates with one of the communication systems, for example it sends or receives voice information or data packets, with the communication units used during the measured communications (block 720) An economic efficiency is determined based on the stored critical values and the measured communication units (block 730) Measures are initiated to control communications by the terminal with the first and second communication systems based on economic efficiency determined (block 740) It will be understood that the smart card 100 may store other information that is used by the radio telephone 500, including but not limited to encryption keys, user identification and stored values indicating the value of the communications services that Further purchases were made, the smart card preferably stores a start date of the monthly billing cycle, so that cumulative usage values can be reinitialized at the beginning of a billing cycle. It will be understood that when initiating measures to control the use of communication units, the present description refers to a variety of actions that may cause the use of the terminal to be terminated or reduced, either by the user or automatically. For example, a communications session may be initiated with one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems based on the determined economic efficiency. The communications session can be started automatically in response to user initiation of a telephone radio communication. Alternatively, the user can be directed to initiate a communications session with one of the first and second mobile phone radio communications system, based on the determined economic efficiency. A visible and / or audible indication may be provided to the user to initiate a communication session with one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems, based on the determined economic efficiency. In another alternative, during a communications session, communication units that are to be used are measured. The measurements are initiated to control the use of communications by the communication terminal with one of the first and second radio communications systems mobile phone, based on the economic efficiency determined during the communication session For example, a transfer from one to the first and second mobile radio communication systems can be automatically performed to the other of the first and second mobile phone radio communication systems, based on the economic efficiency determined In alternate form, the user can be directed to start a new communication system with the other of the first and second mobile phone radio communication systems based on the determined economic efficiency The user can be directed By providing a visible and / or audible indication In alternate form, the communications session may be terminated automatically based on the determined economic efficiency or the user may be directed to terminate the communication system by a visible indication and / or an audible indication. provide a display to a termination user that indicates the determined economic efficiency associated with the operation of the terminal The user can respond to this indication in various ways, such as by terminating a call or communication session, or by discarding the message and continuing to use the terminal Automatic measurements may also be included that are not subject to user control such as deactivation of marking or other characteristics of the terminal Figure 9 illustrates the operations for controlling a multi-mode communication terminal for outgoing communications in accordance with the present invention (block 900) The start of a radio telephone outgoing communication is expected in block 905 When initiating an outgoing telephone radio communication, a determination is made in block 910 of whether the communications are billed to the originator. If not, then the operations terminate in block 915 if the outgoing communications are billed to the originator, then in block 920, a determination is made as to how many systems can handle the output communication. If none of the systems can handle the communications, the operations end in block 915, and if only one system can handle the communication, telephone radio communication starts in block 925 and operations end Conti When using the description in Figure 9, if more than one communication system can handle the communication, then the tariff records in block 935 are verified, to determine the uses of cumulative units for each of these systems. In block 940 , a determination of whether it is still available is made free time in the primary system for the radio telephone If affirmative (yes), then in block 945, the call is directed in primary service If negative (no), then a determination is made in block 955 of whether it is available free time in the secondary system If affirmative (yes) then in block 950 communication starts in the secondary system In block 960, if free time is not available in the primary system or the secondary system, then a determination is made which system is less expensive and communication starts in the least expensive system in block 960 During telephone radio communication, a check is made repeatedly in block 965 if it is time to re-verify for a better option affirmative (yes), in block 970 a test is made as to whether a system not used would be more economical If yes (yes), then measures are initiated for the change As already described, the transfer can be performed automatically or the user can be alerted to switch systems Figure 10 illustrates operations to control the use of a multi-mode communication terminal during incoming communications (block 1000) Operations start in the block 1005 waiting for the arrival of an income communication. When an incoming communication arrives, a test is performed in block 1010 of whether the communication is billed to the recipient. Otherwise, the operations end in block 1015. If affirmative (10), a determination is made in block 1020 of whether the lowest cost system is in use. If negative (no) then measurements are initiated to switch systems in block 1025. The system can be switched automatically or user instructions can be provided as already described. In block 1030, during communications, a check is also made as to whether a better option can be obtained. This must be so, measurements can be initiated to switch in block 1025. If it is not possible to switch the system supplying the incoming call, the number of minutes of incoming call air is accumulated by the call synchronizer, so that that by placing an exit call below, an adequate count can be taken of the number of air minutes that were already used for any incoming or outgoing calls. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that methods and apparatus of flow chart illustrations 8 through 10 can be implemented, for example using a communications terminal such as the telephone radio 500 of Figure 5. For example, the values critical for the first and second communications tariffs, can be stored in the smart card 100 which is coupled to the telephone radio 500 through the smart card interface 110. The control processor 10 can perform calculations of use of cumulative communication units and projected use with based on information received from the transceiver 20, and can compare these calculated values with the critical values stored in the smart card. The comparison can also be carried out by storing the critical values of the smart card 100 in the memory 40 and using the stored critical values in memory 40 for comparison The control processor 10 can also cause the appropriate indications of economic efficiency through the display 90 or the horn 70, for example The control processor 10 can also initiate austerity measures in response to a high undesirable use, such as deactivating portions of the transc Those skilled in the art will appreciate, however, that portions of the methods and apparatus of the present invention can be realized in components other than the communication terminal. In case a service provider is inclined to provide a service that offers Improved user usage control, rate storage, usage determination and initiation of measures to control usage, can be performed by the service provider system, with or if communication of the information to the user's terminal. For example, the storage of critical values and determination of the use of cumulative units can be carried out in a mobile telephone switching center (MTSO) or another node of a cellular network, and retransmitted to a radio telephone in a manner similar to the The manner in which other control information is provided. Austerity Measures may also be initiated by the system. In the drawings and specification, typical embodiments of the invention have been described and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a descriptive generic sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS 1 - A method to control expenses incurred by a communications terminal, which communicates with a first mobile telephone system and a second mobile telephone radio system, the method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of storing first and second respective critical values of the communication units that characterize a tariff structure of the respective first and second respective mobile telephone radio communications systems, measure respective communication units used by the communication terminal to communicate with the respective first and second respective mobile telephone radio communications systems, determining an economic efficiency associated with the use of the terminal to communicate with the first and second mobile phone radio communication systems by comparing the respective measured communication units and the respective first and second critical stored values, and initiating measures to control the The use of communications with the first and second telephone radio communications systems by the terminal based on the determined economic efficiency 2 - Method of compliance with claim 1, characterized in that the step of initiating comprises the step of initiating a communications session with one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communications systems based on determined economic efficiency 3 - Method of compliance with claim 2, characterized in that the step of initiating a communications session comprises the step of automatically initiating a communications session with one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communications systems, based on the determined economic efficiency, in response to user initiation of a telephone radio communications section 4 - Method of compliance with claim 2, characterized in that the step of initiating the communication session, comprises the step of directing a user to initiate a communications session with one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems, based on the determined economic efficiency, in response to user initiation of a session of communications "telephone radio 5 - Method of compliance c on the claim 4, characterized in that the directing step comprises the step of providing at least one of a visible indication and an audible indication to the user to initiate a communication session with one of the first and a second mobile telephone radio communication systems, based on the determined economic efficiency, in response to user initiation of a telephone radio communications session. 6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises the step of conducting a communication session between the communication terminal and one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems; and wherein the step of measuring comprises the step of measuring communication units during the communication session; and wherein the step of initiating comprises the step of initiating measures to control the use of the communications unit by the communication terminal with one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems, based on the economic efficiency determined during the session of communications. 7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the step of initiating measurements comprises the step of automatically performing transfer of the communications session from one of the first and second mobile radio communication systems to the other of the first and second systems of mobile phone radio communications based on the economic efficiency determined during the communications session 8 -. 8 - Method of compliance with claim 6, characterized in that the step of initiating measures comprises the step of directing a user to initiate a new communication session with the other of the first and second mobile telephone radio communications system based on the determined economic efficiency 9 - Method of compliance with claim 8, characterized in that the directing step comprises the step of providing at least one of a visible indication and an audible indication to the user to initiate a new communication session with the other of the first and a second mobile telephone radio communication system based on the determined economic efficiency 10 - Method of compliance with claim 6, characterized in that the step of initiating measurements comprises the step of automatically terminating the communication session from one of the first and a second mobile telephone radio communication systems, based on the economic efficiency determined during the communications session 11 - Method of compliance with claim 6, characterized in that the step of initiating measurements comprises the step of directing a user terminating the communication session with one of the first and a second communication systems of mobile phone radio with base in the determined economic efficiency 12 - Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the directing step comprises the step of providing at least one of a visible indication and an audible indication to the user to determine the communication session with another of the first and a second mobile telephone radio communications system, based on the determined economic efficiency 13 - Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of storing first second critical values comprises the step of storing the first and second critical values in a smart card that attaches to the communications terminal 14 -. 14 - Method of compliance with claim 13, characterized in that the step of storing first second critical values comprises the step of storing first and second critical values and first and second cycles of corresponding billing data in a smart card that is coupled to the terminal Multi-Mode Communications System 15 - Method of compliance with claim 14, characterized in that the step of storing further comprises the step of storing user identification information and security information in the smart card that is coupled to the terminal of communications 16 - Method of compliance with claim 1, characterized in that the step of storing first second critical values comprises the step of storing first and second values of monthly communication units that are allowed for a fixed quota for first and second communications systems of respective mobile radio telephone 17 - Method of compliance with claim 1, characterized in that the step of storing first second critical values comprises the step of storing first and second amounts of monthly communication units that are allowed by a fi rate quota for the first and second second respective mobile telephone radio communications system and respective incremental quotas for monthly communication units exceeding the respective first and second quantities for the respective first and second mobile radio communications systems,. 18 - Method of compliance with the claim 1, characterized in that the step of storing first second critical values comprises the step of storing first and second values of monthly incoming and outgoing communication units that are allowed for a fixed quota by the respective first and second systems mobile telephone radio communications 19 - Apparatus for controlling expenses incurred by a communication terminal that communicates with a first mobile radio system and a second mobile telephone radio system, the device is characterized in that it comprises means for storing respective first and second critical values of communication units that characterize a tariff structure of the respective first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems, means for measuring respective communication units used by the communication terminal to communicate with respective first and second communications systems of mobile telephone radio, means for determining an economic efficiency associated with the use of the terminal to communicate with the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems, by comparing the respective units of communications measured and the respective first and second values stored critical resources, and means for initiating measures to control the use of communications with the first and second telephone radio communications systems by the terminal based on the determined economic efficiency. - Apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that the means for start understand means for initiating a communication session with one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems, based on the determined economic efficiency 21 - Apparatus in accordance with the claim 20, characterized in that the means for initiating a communication session comprises means for automatically initiating a communications session with one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems, based on the determined economic efficiency, in response to the user's initiation of a telephone radio communication section 22 - Apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the means for initiating a communication session comprise means for directing a user initiating a communication session with one of the first and second communication systems of mobile telephone radio, based on the determined economic efficiency, in response to user initiation of a telephone radio communication session 23 - Apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the directing step comprises the steps of (a) comprises means to provide at least one of an indication visible and an audible indication to the user to initiate a communications session with one of the first and a second mobile phone radio communication systems, based on the determined economic efficiency, in response to user initiation of a telephone radio communications session. 24. - Aparado in accordance with the claim 19, characterized in that it further comprises means for conducting a communications session between the communication terminal and one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems; and wherein the means for measuring comprises means for measuring communication units during the communication session, and wherein the means for initiating comprises means for initiating measures to control the use of communication units by the communications terminal with one of the first and second. Second mobile phone radio communications systems, based on the economic efficiency determined during the communications session. - Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the means for initiating measurements comprise means for automatically performing transfer of the communications session from one of the first and second mobile radio communication systems to the other of the first and second communication systems mobile phone radio, based on the economic efficiency determined during the session of communications 26 - Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the means for initiating measurements comprise means for directing a user to initiate a new communication session with the other of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems, based on in the determined economic efficiency 27 - Apparatus according to claim 26, characterized in that the means for directing comprise means for providing at least one of a visible indication and an audible indication to the user to initiate a new communication session with the other of the first and a second mobile telephone radio communication system based on the determined economic efficiency 28 - Apparatus in accordance with the claim 24, characterized in that the means for initiating measurements comprise means for automatically terminating the communication session from one of the first and a second mobile telephone radio communication systems, based on the economic efficiency determined during the communication session 29 - Compliance Apparatus with claim 24, characterized in that the means for initiating measurements comprise means for directing a user terminating the communications session with one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication system based on the determined economic efficiency 30 - Apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that the means for directing comprise means for providing at least one of a visible indication and an audible indication to the user to determine the communication section with another of the first and a second mobile phone radio communications system, based on the determined economic efficiency 31 - Apparatus in accordance with the claim 19, characterized in that the means for storing first second critical values comprise means for storing the first and second critical values in a smart card that is coupled to the communications terminal 32 - Apparatus in accordance with the claim 31, characterized in that the means for storing first second critical values comprise means for storing the first and second critical values and corresponding first and second billing cycle data in a smart card that is coupled to the multi-mode communications terminal 33 - Apparatus in accordance with the claim 32, characterized in that the means for storing further comprises means for storing user identification information and security information in the smart card that is coupled to the communications terminal 34 - Apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that the means for storing first second critical values comprises means for storing first and second values of monthly communication units that are allowed for a fixed fee per the first and second respective mobile telephone radio communication systems 35 - Apparatus in accordance with the claim 19, characterized in that the means for storing first and second critical values comprise means for storing first and second amounts of monthly communication units that are allowed by a fixed fee for the first and second mobile telephone radio communications system and respective incremental quotas for monthly communication units, exceeding the first and second respective quantities for the respective first and second radio communications systems mobile telephones 36 - Apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that the means for storing first and second critical values comprise means for store first and second values of monthly communication units of entry and exit that are they allow for a fixed fee for the first and second respective mobile radio telephone communication systems 37 - Apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that it also comprises means for communicating with the first mobile radio system and the second radio system mobile phone, in order to provide a multi-mode mobile phone radio communication terminal 38 - Apparatus in accordance with the claim 37, characterized in that the means for initiating comprise means for initiating a communication session with one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communications systems, based on the determined economic efficiency. 39 - Apparatus in accordance with the claim 38, characterized in that the means for initiating a communication session comprises means for automatically initiating a communications session with one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communications systems, based on the determined economic efficiency, in response to user initiation of a telephone radio communication session 40 - Apparatus according to claim 38, characterized in that the means to initiate a session of communications comprise means for directing a user to initiate a communications session with one of the first and a second mobile telephone radio communication systems, based on the determined economic efficiency, in response to user initiation of a communications session of telephone radio 41 - Apparatus according to claim 40, characterized in that the means for directing comprises means for providing at least one of a visible indication and an audible indication to the user to initiate a communication session with one of the first and a second one. mobile phone radio communications based on the economic efficiency determined in response to user initiation of a telephone radio communication session 42 - Apparatus in accordance with claim 37, characterized in that it further comprises means for conducting a communication session between the communication terminal and one of the first and a second mobile telephone radio communication systems, and wherein the means for measurement comprises means for measuring communication units during the session of communication; and wherein the means for initiating comprise means for initiating measurements, for controlling the use of communication units by the communication terminal with one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems, based on the economic efficiency determined during the communication session 43 - Apparatus according to claim 42, characterized in that the means for initiating measurements comprise means for automatically performing transfer of the session communication from the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems to the other of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems, based on the economic efficiency determined during the communications session 44 - Apparatus according to claim 42, characterized in that the means for initiating measurements comprise means for directing a user initiating a new communication session with the other of the first and a second mobile telephone radio communication system, based on the determined economic efficiency 45 - Apparatus in accordance with the reclamation n 44, characterized in that the means for directing comprises means for providing at least one of a visible indication and an audible indication to the user to initiate a new communication session with the other of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems based on the economic efficiency determined 46 -. 46 - Apparatus according to claim 42, characterized in that the means for initiating measurements comprise means for automatically terminating the communication session with one of the first and second mobile telephone radio communication systems based on the economic efficiency determined during the session of communications 47 Apparatus according to claim 42, characterized in that the means for initiating measurements comprise means for directing a user to terminate the communication session with one of the first and second mobile phone radio communication systems, based on economic efficiency determined 48 - Apparatus according to claim 47, characterized in that the means for directing comprise means for providing at least one of a visible indication and an audible indication to the user to terminate the communication session with one of the first and second communication systems of radio tel Mobile phone, based on the determined economic efficiency 49 - Apparatus according to claim 37, characterized in that the means for storing first second critical values comprise means for storing the first and second critical values in a smart card that is coupled to the terminal of communications fifty - . 50 - Apparatus in accordance with the claim 49, characterized in that the means for storing first second critical values comprises means for storing first and second critical values and corresponding first and second cyclic billing dates on a smart card that is coupled to the multi-mode communication terminal 51 - Compliance Apparatus with the claim 50, characterized in that the means for storing further comprises means for storing user identification information and security information in the smart card which is coupled to the communications terminal 52 - Apparatus according to claim 37, characterized in that the means for storing first and second critical values comprise means for storing first and second values of monthly communication units that are allowed for a fixed fee for the first and second respective mobile radio telephone communication systems 53 - Apparatus according to claim 37, characterized in that the means for storing first and second critical values comprise means for storing first and second amounts of monthly communications units that are allowed for a fixed fee by the first and second respective mobile radio telephone communication system and respective incremental quotas for monthly communication units exceeding the first and second respective amounts by the respective first and second radio communications systems respective mobile phones, 54 - Apparatus according to claim 37, characterized in that the means for storing first and second critical values comprise the step of storing first and second values of monthly incoming and outgoing communication units that are allowed for a fixed fee for the first and second respective mobile phone radio communications systems