Patent US6044261A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6044261A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple home zone areas within a mobile telecommunications network
Assignee: Ericsson Inc
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Filing: 1997-03-19
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Granted: 2000-03-28
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Expires: 2017-03-19
Abstract
Abstract A register correlating a number of different home zones with a particular subscription is associated with a home location register (HLR). A different geographic location, effective time period, and corresponding charging rate can be associated with each home zone. In response to a request to establish a call connection with a particular mobile station traveling within its coverage area, the serving mobile switching center (MSC) communicates with the associated HLR to determine which home zone is currently effective for the relevant mobile station. The serving MSC then determines whether the mobile station is currently located within the determined home zone. In response to an affirmative determination, a corresponding reduced charging rate is applied towards the resulting call connection.
Inventors
- 👤 Mustafa A. Kazmi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:28
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/24; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/80; H04M15/8083; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0184; H04M2215/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for charging a subscription for a mobile call connection within a mobile telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of: receiving an indication to establish a call connection with a particular mobile station associated with said subscription; determining which one of a plurality of particular reduced charging areas selected by a subscriber, each charging area having an effective time period and associated with said subscriber's subscription, is in effect at the current time of said call connection; determining whether said mobile station is currently within said determined in effect reduced charging area; and if yes, using a first charging area rate for said call connection; otherwise, using a second charging rate for said call connection.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for charging a subscription for a mobile call connection within a mobile telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of: receiving an indication to establish a call connection with a particular mobile station associated with said subscription; determining which one of a plurality of particular reduced charging areas selected by a subscriber, each charging area having an effective time period and associated with said subscriber's subscription, is in effect at the current time of said call connection; determining whether said mobile station is currently within said determined in effect reduced charging area; and if yes, using a first charging area rate for said call connection; otherwise, using a second charging rate for said call connection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining said particular reduced charging area further comprises the step of receiving data indicating said particular charging area from a home location register (HLR) associated with said subscription by a mobile switching center (MSC) currently serving said mobile station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of receiving said data further comprises the step of said MSC requesting and receiving said data from said HLR after receiving an indication to establish a call connection with said mobile station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of receiving said data further comprises the step of periodically receiving data representing an applicable reduced charging area from said HLR as said reduced charging area associated with said subscription changes with time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said data are received using a Mobile Application Part (MAP) based signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said time associated with said call connection includes a time of the day.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said time associated with said call connection includes a day of the week.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprises the step of informing said mobile station of said charging rate.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for determining a charging rate for a call connection with a mobile station within a mobile telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of: associating a plurality of reduced charging areas with a mobile subscription, each of said plurality of reduced charging areas having a different effective time period and each reduced charging area individually tailored to a user having the mobile subscription; receiving an indication to establish a call connection with a mobile station associated with said mobile subscription; determining that one of said plurality of reduced charging areas is currently effective for said mobile station; determining that said mobile station is located within said determined effective one of said plurality of reduced charging areas; and charging a subscription associated with said mobile station at a reduced rate for said call connection.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for determining a charging rate for a call connection with a mobile station within a mobile telecommunications network, said method comprising the steps of: associating a plurality of reduced charging areas with a mobile subscription, each of said plurality of reduced charging areas having a different effective time period and each reduced charging area individually tailored to a user having the mobile subscription; receiving an indication to establish a call connection with a mobile station associated with said mobile subscription; determining that one of said plurality of reduced charging areas is currently effective for said mobile station; determining that said mobile station is located within said determined effective one of said plurality of reduced charging areas; and charging a subscription associated with said mobile station at a reduced rate for said call connection.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said step of associating said plurality of reduced charging areas is performed within a home location register (HLR) associated with said subscription.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said step of associating said plurality of reduced charging areas further comprises the step of associating a separate charging rate for each of said plurality of reduced charging areas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said determined one of said plurality of reduced charging areas is associated with one or more cell areas and wherein said step of determining that said mobile station is located within said determined one of said plurality of reduced charging areas further comprises the steps of: determining a cell area currently serving said mobile station; and determining whether said determined cell area is one of said cell areas associated with said determined reduced charging area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said step of determining that one of said plurality of reduced charging areas is currently effective further comprises the step of requesting data representing said reduced charging area that is currently effective from a home location register (HLR) associated with said subscription by a mobile switching center (MSC) currently serving said mobile station in response to said received indication.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said step of determining that one of said plurality of reduced charging areas is currently effective further comprises the step of receiving data representing said reduced charging area as said time period associated with said reduced charging area becomes effective, said data received at a mobile switching center (MSC) serving said mobile station from a home location register (HLR) associated with said subscription.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9 further comprises the step of informing said mobile station whether said mobile station is within said determined reduced charging area.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for determining a charging rate for a call connection with a mobile station within a mobile telecommunications network, comprising: a register for storing data associating a plurality of reduced charging areas with a subscription, each of said plurality of reduced charging areas further having a different time period specifying when reducing charging within said reduced charging area is effective and each reduced charging area being individually tailored to a user having the subscription; and a telecommunications switch for receiving an indication to establish a call connection with a mobile station associated with said subscription, said telecommunications switch associated with said register and further comprising: means for determining that one of said plurality of reduced charging areas is currently effective for said mobile station; means for determining that said mobile station is located within said determined effective reduced charging area; and means for charging said subscription associated with said mobile station with a reduced charge for said call connection.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for determining a charging rate for a call connection with a mobile station within a mobile telecommunications network, comprising: a register for storing data associating a plurality of reduced charging areas with a subscription, each of said plurality of reduced charging areas further having a different time period specifying when reducing charging within said reduced charging area is effective and each reduced charging area being individually tailored to a user having the subscription; and a telecommunications switch for receiving an indication to establish a call connection with a mobile station associated with said subscription, said telecommunications switch associated with said register and further comprising: means for determining that one of said plurality of reduced charging areas is currently effective for said mobile station; means for determining that said mobile station is located within said determined effective reduced charging area; and means for charging said subscription associated with said mobile station with a reduced charge for said call connection.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of reducing charging areas is associated with a corresponding charging rate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said register is a home location register (HLR) associated with said subscription and said telecommunications node further comprises means for receiving said data from said HLR.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said means for receiving said data from said HLR requests and receives said data representing said reduced charging area currently effective in response to said received indication.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said telecommunications node comprises a mobile switching center (MSC) currently serving said mobile station.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
127 words
A telecommunications node for storing subscription data associated with a particular subscription, comprising: means for storing data associating a plurality of reduced charging areas with a subscription, each of said plurality of reduced charging areas having a corresponding different time period specifying when reduced charging within said reduced charging area is effective for said subscription and each reduced charging area being individually tailored to a user having the subscription; and means for determining which one of said plurality of reduced charging areas is currently effective for said subscription so that the subscription may be charged at a reduced rate for a call connection with a mobile station associated with the subscription if that mobile station is located within the determined effective one of said reduced charging areas.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
127 words
A telecommunications node for storing subscription data associated with a particular subscription, comprising: means for storing data associating a plurality of reduced charging areas with a subscription, each of said plurality of reduced charging areas having a corresponding different time period specifying when reduced charging within said reduced charging area is effective for said subscription and each reduced charging area being individually tailored to a user having the subscription; and means for determining which one of said plurality of reduced charging areas is currently effective for said subscription so that the subscription may be charged at a reduced rate for a call connection with a mobile station associated with the subscription if that mobile station is located within the determined effective one of said reduced charging areas.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The telecommunications node of claim 21 wherein said means are associated with a home location register (HLR) serving said subscription.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The telecommunications node of claim 21 further comprising means for associating a different charging rate for each of said plurality of reduced charging areas.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-28 | 2003-09-27 | 2004-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-28 | 2007-09-27 | 2008-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-28 | 2011-09-27 | 2012-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |