WO2011138699A2 - Communication charge indication - Google Patents

Communication charge indication Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2011138699A2
WO2011138699A2 PCT/IB2011/051738 IB2011051738W WO2011138699A2 WO 2011138699 A2 WO2011138699 A2 WO 2011138699A2 IB 2011051738 W IB2011051738 W IB 2011051738W WO 2011138699 A2 WO2011138699 A2 WO 2011138699A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
charge
communication
character
communication charge
characters
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2011/051738
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2011138699A3 (en
Inventor
Marthinus Phillipus Neethling
Willem Marthinus Bonnema
Original Assignee
Rorotika Technologies (Pty) Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Publication date
Application filed by Rorotika Technologies (Pty) Ltd filed Critical Rorotika Technologies (Pty) Ltd
Publication of WO2011138699A2 publication Critical patent/WO2011138699A2/en
Publication of WO2011138699A3 publication Critical patent/WO2011138699A3/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/24—Accounting or billing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/28—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/80—Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
    • H04M15/8083—Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/83—Notification aspects
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/83—Notification aspects
    • H04M15/85—Notification aspects characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/83—Notification aspects
    • H04M15/85—Notification aspects characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
    • H04M15/851—Determined tariff
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/83—Notification aspects
    • H04M15/86—Recipients of the notification
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/83—Notification aspects
    • H04M15/86—Recipients of the notification
    • H04M15/866—Recipients of the notification a predetermined or undetermined destination, e.g. notifying a prepaid accounting server of a successful delivery of a service
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/01—Details of billing arrangements
    • H04M2215/0184—Details of billing arrangements involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/01—Details of billing arrangements
    • H04M2215/0192—Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/81—Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/81—Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
    • H04M2215/815—Notification when a specific condition, service or event is met
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/81—Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
    • H04M2215/8187—Send to
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/81—Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
    • H04M2215/8187—Send to
    • H04M2215/8195—Send to a predetermined or undetermined destination, e.g. notifying a prepaid accounting server of a successful delivery of a service, a connection, or chargeable content to a mobile terminal
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/82—Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation

Definitions

  • This invention relates to communication charge indication on a mobile communication device. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of communicating a discount in respect of a communication charge to a user, and to a method of associating a particular entity with such a discount. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
  • the field of mobile telephone communications and mobile telephone charging includes, amongst other aspects, discount provisioning, discount calculations and discount communication in respect of communication charges.
  • Mobile telephone communication charges are discounted in certain network cells. This is done, for amongst other reasons, to optimize usage of the mobile communication networks by encouraging users to utilize the network in off-peak times.
  • Existing systems have the facility to indicate a current communication charge discount, which is applicable in a particular network cell, on a mobile communication device.
  • the current discount is displayed in the form of a percentage, e.g. "30%" on the display screen of the mobile device, which indicates to the user thereof that presently he is entitled to 30% discount on phone calls in his current location, alternatively a monetary value in respect of the discount.
  • a shortcoming of the existing methods employed by the existing systems is that it only gives the user an indication of a current discount in respect of a normal communication charge. It does not provide him with any indication of what the discount may be over the course of a next period of time, for example, over the next 3 hours, nor does it provide the user with an indication of the discount over several future periods.
  • mobile communication device includes communication devices or user equipment which enables a user to make use of a mobile communications network, including but not limited to the GSM, WCDMA, CDMA and LTE mobile telephony networks.
  • communication charge refers to the charge levied by a mobile communication network operator for using a mobile communication device to make mobile telephone voice calls, video calls, short message service (SMS) and data transfers using that network.
  • SMS short message service
  • a method of communicating a communication charge which has been provisioned in respect of a particular communication node in a communications network and for a particular time period to a user of a mobile communication device which includes making available for display on a display screen associated with a mobile communication device operated within the communications network an indication of the current communication charge and an indication of a future communication charge for a future time period.
  • the communication charge indicator to be made available on the mobile communication device by transmitting a data carrying signal to the device, which signal is configured to be processed by the mobile communication device to display on the display screen at least one character or symbol which represents the current communication charge and at least one character or symbol which represents the future communication charge.
  • the character or symbol which represents the current communication charge, and optionally also the future communication charge to comprise a character or symbol representing the percentage value by which the current communication charge differs from the normal communication charge, alternatively representing the monetary value of the communication charge.
  • the future communication charge to be indicated by means of a charge variance which indicates an increase or a decrease in the current communication charge.
  • a positive charge variance to be indicated by means of characters or symbols which are associated with a positive value, including without limitation the "+”, “A” and “ ⁇ ” characters or symbols
  • a negative charge variance to be indicated by means of characters or symbols which are associated with a negative value, including without limitation the "v” and “I” characters or symbols
  • the number of characters or symbols used to indicate the charge variance to indicate the magnitude of the charge variance, with a greater number of characters indicating a greater charge variance and a lesser number of characters indicating a lesser charge variance.
  • the characters or symbols which represent the indication of future communication charges to be presented in a plurality of groups, with each group indicating a communication charge for a specific future time period.
  • future time periods to comprise predetermined time periods.
  • the invention further provides for the charge variance to be represented by at least one character or symbol that is displayed as a graph indicating the charge variance for one or more future time periods, alternatively by a character string that graphically indicates the charge variance for one or more future time periods.
  • a method of associating a particular entity with a communication charge provisioned for a particular communication node for a particular time period including making available for display on a display screen associated with a mobile communication device operated within the communications network an indication of a communication charge and an association between an entity and the communication charge.
  • the communication charge and the association to be made available on the mobile communication device by transmitting a data carrying signal to the device, which signal is configured to be processed by the device to display on the display screen at least one character or symbol which represents the current communication charge and at least one character which represents the associated entity.
  • the character or symbol that represents the current communication charge to comprise a character or symbol representing the percentage value of the current communication charge with respect to the normal communication charge
  • the character or symbol which represents the associated entity to comprise any one or more of a character, symbol or text string representing one or more of the name and a logo associated with the entity.
  • step of making available an association between a particular entity and the communication charge to include an advertisement that the particular discount is sponsored by a particular entity.
  • step of making available to a user may include displaying the association on a display screen associated with the device.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show displays implementing a method of communicating a communication charge to a user
  • Figure 3 shows a display implementing a method of associating a particular entity with a communication charge.
  • reference numeral 10 refers to a mobile communication device, such as a mobile telephone.
  • reference numeral 10 refers to a display of a mobile telephone.
  • a method of communicating an indication of the communication charge to a user of a mobile communication device in which a communication charge is provisioned for a particular communication node and for a particular time period, there is provided a method of communicating an indication of the communication charge to a user of a mobile communication device.
  • the method in this example includes making available on a mobile communication device 1 0 an indication of a communication charge for a particular time period, which in this embodiment is a percentage of the normal communication charge, indicated by reference numeral 14.
  • the method in particular then includes making available on the mobile communication device 12 an indication of a communication charge for a future time period(s).
  • the future time period is a next time interval.
  • the communication charges are provisioned every hour.
  • the future time period is therefore the following hour. It is to be appreciated that the communication charges can also be provisioned ahead of time, such as for a 24 hour period, or the like.
  • the indication of the communication charge for a future time period is in the form of arrows 16, indicating a variance of the communication charge.
  • Upwardly facing arrows 16 indicate that the discount represented by the communication charge with respect to the normal communication charge will be higher for the future time period as shown in Figure 1 .
  • FIG 2 another example of the display on the mobile communication device 12 is shown with a charge reduction for a particular time period again indicated by reference numeral 14, and the indication of a charge reduction for the future time period in the form of arrows 16.
  • the downwardly facing arrows 16 indicate that the charge reduction will be lower for the future time period.
  • the method in this example includes the prior step of transmitting to the mobile communication device both the communication charge referred to by numeral 14, and the indication of the communication charge for the following time period 16.
  • the number of characters is used to indicate the magnitude of the charge variance. For example, where a communication charge is provisioned for the next time period which represents a greater discount with respect to the normal communication charge than the current communication charge, the characters "++" may be used. This indicates a greater charge variance than what the "+” character indicates. The same applies to the negative value characters.
  • the communication charge may be displayed as the percentage of the current or future communication charge with respect to the normal charge, such as 80% of the normal charge, or it could indicate the percentage savings such as 20% savings, or a monetary value representing the actual communication charge provisioned for the relevant period.
  • More than one group of charge variances may be displayed adjacent each other, with each group indicating the charge variance for a specific future time period. For example the indication may read "60% ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ U".
  • the 60% refers to the current communication charge.
  • the first " ⁇ ” refers to the greater communication charge reduction for the first hour following the current tie period, for example that a 65% communication charge reduction will then be available, i.e. 5% more than the current charge represents over to the normal communication charge.
  • the second set of characters is " ⁇ " and this indicates that an even greater reduction in communication charge over the current communication charge will be available in the second hour from the current period, typically then a discount of 70%, which is 10% greater than current charge reduction.
  • the third set of characters is again ' ⁇ " which indicates again an increase in the communication charge over the current charge reduction, again in the region of 65% which is 5% greater than the current communication charge reduction.
  • the final set of characters is "a" which indicates less communication charge reduction compared to the current charge, typically in the region of 50% discount over the current charge of, and this is 10% less than the current charge reduction, but still a reduction.
  • the invention in this example extends also to a method of associating a particular entity with a communication charge.
  • a display 20 of a mobile communication device in particular a mobile telephone 12, is shown with a communication charge 22 for a particular time period indicated as a percentage of the normal communication charge.
  • An association 24 between the charge 22 and a particular entity is shown in the form of an advertisement sponsored by the entity.
  • the entity may then also sponsor the reduced communication charge. For example, as shown in Figure 3 text such as "80% discount, brought to you by ABC" may be displayed.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Meter Arrangements (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

The patent specification discloses a method of communicating a communication charge which has been provisioned in respect of a particular communication node in a communications network and for a particular time period to a user of a mobile communication device, which includes making available for display on a display screen associated with a mobile communication device operated within the communications network an indication of the current communication charge and an indication of a future communication charge for a future time period. It also extends to providing an association between a particular entity and a provisioned communication charge.

Description

COMMUNICATION CHARGE INDICATION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to communication charge indication on a mobile communication device. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of communicating a discount in respect of a communication charge to a user, and to a method of associating a particular entity with such a discount. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
The field of mobile telephone communications and mobile telephone charging includes, amongst other aspects, discount provisioning, discount calculations and discount communication in respect of communication charges.
Mobile telephone communication charges are discounted in certain network cells. This is done, for amongst other reasons, to optimize usage of the mobile communication networks by encouraging users to utilize the network in off-peak times. Existing systems have the facility to indicate a current communication charge discount, which is applicable in a particular network cell, on a mobile communication device. The current discount is displayed in the form of a percentage, e.g. "30%" on the display screen of the mobile device, which indicates to the user thereof that presently he is entitled to 30% discount on phone calls in his current location, alternatively a monetary value in respect of the discount.
A shortcoming of the existing methods employed by the existing systems is that it only gives the user an indication of a current discount in respect of a normal communication charge. It does not provide him with any indication of what the discount may be over the course of a next period of time, for example, over the next 3 hours, nor does it provide the user with an indication of the discount over several future periods.
In this specification the phrase "mobile communication device" includes communication devices or user equipment which enables a user to make use of a mobile communications network, including but not limited to the GSM, WCDMA, CDMA and LTE mobile telephony networks. The phrase "communication charge" refers to the charge levied by a mobile communication network operator for using a mobile communication device to make mobile telephone voice calls, video calls, short message service (SMS) and data transfers using that network.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a method and system which at least partly overcomes the abovementioned problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention there is provided a method of communicating a communication charge which has been provisioned in respect of a particular communication node in a communications network and for a particular time period to a user of a mobile communication device, which includes making available for display on a display screen associated with a mobile communication device operated within the communications network an indication of the current communication charge and an indication of a future communication charge for a future time period.
There is further provided for the communication charge indicator to be made available on the mobile communication device by transmitting a data carrying signal to the device, which signal is configured to be processed by the mobile communication device to display on the display screen at least one character or symbol which represents the current communication charge and at least one character or symbol which represents the future communication charge.
There is still further provided for the character or symbol which represents the current communication charge, and optionally also the future communication charge, to comprise a character or symbol representing the percentage value by which the current communication charge differs from the normal communication charge, alternatively representing the monetary value of the communication charge.
There is still further provided for the future communication charge to be indicated by means of a charge variance which indicates an increase or a decrease in the current communication charge. There is further provided for a positive charge variance to be indicated by means of characters or symbols which are associated with a positive value, including without limitation the "+", "A" and "†" characters or symbols, for a negative charge variance to be indicated by means of characters or symbols which are associated with a negative value, including without limitation the "v" and "I" characters or symbols, and for a neutral charge variance to be indicated by means of characters or symbols which are associated with a neutral value, including without limitation the "<", "=", or "→" characters or symbols. There is still further provided for the number of characters or symbols used to indicate the charge variance to indicate the magnitude of the charge variance, with a greater number of characters indicating a greater charge variance and a lesser number of characters indicating a lesser charge variance. There is also provided for the characters or symbols which represent the indication of future communication charges to be presented in a plurality of groups, with each group indicating a communication charge for a specific future time period.
According to a further feature of the invention there is provided for the future time periods to comprise predetermined time periods.
The invention further provides for the charge variance to be represented by at least one character or symbol that is displayed as a graph indicating the charge variance for one or more future time periods, alternatively by a character string that graphically indicates the charge variance for one or more future time periods.
According to still further feature of the invention there is provided a method of associating a particular entity with a communication charge provisioned for a particular communication node for a particular time period, the method including making available for display on a display screen associated with a mobile communication device operated within the communications network an indication of a communication charge and an association between an entity and the communication charge.
There is further provided for the communication charge and the association to be made available on the mobile communication device by transmitting a data carrying signal to the device, which signal is configured to be processed by the device to display on the display screen at least one character or symbol which represents the current communication charge and at least one character which represents the associated entity.
There is also provided for the character or symbol that represents the current communication charge to comprise a character or symbol representing the percentage value of the current communication charge with respect to the normal communication charge, and for the character or symbol which represents the associated entity to comprise any one or more of a character, symbol or text string representing one or more of the name and a logo associated with the entity.
There is provided for the step of making available an association between a particular entity and the communication charge to include an advertisement that the particular discount is sponsored by a particular entity. There is still further provided for the step of making available to a user the association between a particular entity and the communication charge may include displaying the association on a display screen associated with the device.
These and other features of the invention are described in more detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the invention is described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :
Figures 1 and 2 show displays implementing a method of communicating a communication charge to a user; and
Figure 3 shows a display implementing a method of associating a particular entity with a communication charge.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In Figure 1 reference numeral 10 refers to a mobile communication device, such as a mobile telephone. In particular, reference numeral 10 refers to a display of a mobile telephone. In this embodiment in which a communication charge is provisioned for a particular communication node and for a particular time period, there is provided a method of communicating an indication of the communication charge to a user of a mobile communication device.
The method in this example includes making available on a mobile communication device 1 0 an indication of a communication charge for a particular time period, which in this embodiment is a percentage of the normal communication charge, indicated by reference numeral 14.
The method in particular then includes making available on the mobile communication device 12 an indication of a communication charge for a future time period(s). In this example, the future time period is a next time interval. The communication charges are provisioned every hour. The future time period is therefore the following hour. It is to be appreciated that the communication charges can also be provisioned ahead of time, such as for a 24 hour period, or the like.
In this example, the indication of the communication charge for a future time period is in the form of arrows 16, indicating a variance of the communication charge. Upwardly facing arrows 16 indicate that the discount represented by the communication charge with respect to the normal communication charge will be higher for the future time period as shown in Figure 1 .
In Figure 2, another example of the display on the mobile communication device 12 is shown with a charge reduction for a particular time period again indicated by reference numeral 14, and the indication of a charge reduction for the future time period in the form of arrows 16. In this example, the downwardly facing arrows 16 indicate that the charge reduction will be lower for the future time period.
The method in this example includes the prior step of transmitting to the mobile communication device both the communication charge referred to by numeral 14, and the indication of the communication charge for the following time period 16.
The charge variance as indicated in Figures 1 and 2 may also be indicated by making use of different characters, respectively indicating a positive, negative or neutral variance. For example to indicate a greater charge variance the "+", "A" or "†" characters may be used. To indicate a lesser charge variance the "v" or "I" characters may be used. A neutral charge variance (which means it remains the same) may be displayed by means of the "<", "=", or "→" characters.
The number of characters is used to indicate the magnitude of the charge variance. For example, where a communication charge is provisioned for the next time period which represents a greater discount with respect to the normal communication charge than the current communication charge, the characters "++" may be used. This indicates a greater charge variance than what the "+" character indicates. The same applies to the negative value characters.
It is also possible to transmit characters which graphically indicate a trend, as if on a graph. An upwards moving graph will indicate greater charge variance, and a decreasing graph lesser discount. It will be appreciated that the communication charge may be displayed as the percentage of the current or future communication charge with respect to the normal charge, such as 80% of the normal charge, or it could indicate the percentage savings such as 20% savings, or a monetary value representing the actual communication charge provisioned for the relevant period.
More than one group of charge variances may be displayed adjacent each other, with each group indicating the charge variance for a specific future time period. For example the indication may read "60% † †† † U". The 60% refers to the current communication charge. The first "†" refers to the greater communication charge reduction for the first hour following the current tie period, for example that a 65% communication charge reduction will then be available, i.e. 5% more than the current charge represents over to the normal communication charge. The second set of characters is "††" and this indicates that an even greater reduction in communication charge over the current communication charge will be available in the second hour from the current period, typically then a discount of 70%, which is 10% greater than current charge reduction. The third set of characters is again '†" which indicates again an increase in the communication charge over the current charge reduction, again in the region of 65% which is 5% greater than the current communication charge reduction. The final set of characters is "a" which indicates less communication charge reduction compared to the current charge, typically in the region of 50% discount over the current charge of, and this is 10% less than the current charge reduction, but still a reduction.
The invention in this example extends also to a method of associating a particular entity with a communication charge. In this example a display 20 of a mobile communication device, in particular a mobile telephone 12, is shown with a communication charge 22 for a particular time period indicated as a percentage of the normal communication charge.
An association 24 between the charge 22 and a particular entity is shown in the form of an advertisement sponsored by the entity. The entity may then also sponsor the reduced communication charge. For example, as shown in Figure 3 text such as "80% discount, brought to you by ABC" may be displayed.
It will be appreciated that it is possible to provide the current communication charge indication, the future charge variance for future time periods and the association with a sponsor on the mobile phone display.

Claims

1 . A method of communicating a communication charge which has been provisioned in respect of a particular communication node in a communications network and for a particular time period to a user of a mobile communication device, which includes making available for display on a display screen associated with a mobile communication device operated within the communications network an indication of the current communication charge and an indication of a future communication charge for a future time period.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the communication charge indicator is made available on the mobile communication device by transmitting a data carrying signal to the device, which signal is configured to be processed by the mobile communication device to display on the display screen at least one character or symbol which represents the current communication charge and at least one character or symbol which represents the future communication charge.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which the character or symbol which represents the current communication charge comprises a character or symbol representing the percentage value by which the current communication charge differs from the normal communication rate.
4. A method as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which the character or symbol which represents the future communication charge comprises a character or symbol representing the percentage value by which the future communication charge differs from the normal communication rate.
5. A method as claimed in any one or more of claims 2 to 4 in which the future communication charge is indicated by means of a charge variance which indicates an increase or a decrease in the current communication charge.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5 in which a positive charge variance is indicated by means of characters or symbols which are associated with a positive value, including without limitation the "+", "A" and "†" characters or symbols, a negative charge variance is indicated by means of characters or symbols which are associated with a negative value, including without limitation the "v" and "I" characters or symbols, and a neutral charge variance is indicated by means of characters or symbols which are associated with a neutral value, including without limitation the "<", "=", or "→" characters or symbols.
7. A method as claimed in claims 5 or 6 in which the number of characters or symbols displayed indicates the magnitude of the charge variance, with a greater number of characters indicating a greater charge variance and a lesser number of characters indicating a lesser charge variance.
8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7 in which the characters or symbols which represent the indication of the future communication charges is presented in a plurality of groups, with each group indicating a communication charge for a specific future time period.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8 in which the future time periods comprise predetermined time periods.
10. A method as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 9 in which the charge variance is represented by at least one character or symbol that is displayed as a graph indicating the charge variance for one or more future time periods, alternatively by a character string that graphically indicates the charge variance for one or more future time periods.
1 1 . A method of associating a particular entity with a communication charge provisioned for a particular communication node in a communications network for a particular time period, the method including making available for display on a display screen associated with a mobile communication device operated within the communications network an indication of a communication charge and an association between an entity and the communication charge.
12. A method as claimed in claim 1 1 in which the communication charge and the association are made available on the mobile communication device by transmitting a data carrying signal to the device, which signal is configured to be processed by the device to display on the display screen at least one character which represents the current communication charge and at least one character which represents the associated entity.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12 which the character or symbol that represents the current communication discount comprises a character or symbol representing the percentage value of the current communication charge with respect to the normal communication rate, and the character or symbol which represents the associated entity comprises any one or more of a character, symbol or text string representing one or more of the name and a logo associated with the entity.
14. A method as claimed in claim 12 or 13 in which the step of making available an association between a particular entity and the communication charge includes an advertisement that the particular discount is sponsored by a particular entity.
15. A method of communicating a communication charge to a user of a mobile communication device of as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 which includes a method of associating an entity with the communication charge as claimed in any one of claims 1 1 to 14.
PCT/IB2011/051738 2010-05-05 2011-04-20 Communication charge indication WO2011138699A2 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6577717B1 (en) * 1999-05-27 2003-06-10 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Broadcasting of different tariff periods in a telephone system
JP2004336581A (en) * 2003-05-09 2004-11-25 Nec Corp Advertising method by mobile terminal, mobile terminal advertising system, and mobile terminal
US7328001B2 (en) * 2004-08-05 2008-02-05 International Business Machines Corporation Traffic shaping of cellular service consumption through modification of consumer behavior encouraged by cell-based pricing advantages

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