US6345181B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Charging criteria for a call in a cellular mobile network
Assignee: Hanger Solutions LLC
•
Filing: 1997-06-03
•
Granted: 2002-02-05
•
Expires: 2017-06-03
Abstract
Abstract If the location cell of a calling subscriber or a called subscriber belongs to a set of special cells at the beginning of a call, a cheaper tariff is applied. According to the invention, the charging criterion is updated in the beginning and during the call. If a subscriber roams from the area of a public network cell to the set of special cells, the cell information propagates to the MSC of the called subscriber. The MSC and/or service control point compares this cell information with the set of special cells and determines that the new cell of the called subscriber belongs to the special cells, due to which the tariff can be changed. Information on the called subscriber's changed cell type is transmitted to the mobile switching centre of the calling subscriber.
Inventors
- 👤 Risto Janhonen
- 👤 Markku Tuohino
- 👤 Veli Turkulainen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:47
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/24; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/28; H04M15/80; H04M15/8038; H04M15/8083; H04M15/81; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0029; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0112; H04M2215/0184; H04M2215/20; H04M2215/2026; H04M2215/32; H04M2215/34; H04M2215/74; H04M2215/7442
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of improving charging criteria for a call between a calling subscriber and a called subscriber in a cellular mobile network, in which a mobile switching center comprises a service switching point of an intelligent network, the service switching point providing a subscriber with an access to services of a service control point, wherein at least one cell of the mobile network constitutes a set of special cells entitled to a more advantageous tariff; the method comprising the steps of: providing the service control point with a charging criterion service applying a special charging criterion defined for the set of special cells; monitoring, during the call, in respect of both the calling and the called subscriber, whether either subscriber's cell belongs to the set of special cells entitled to the more advantageous tariff; and the service control point applying the special charging criterion defined for the set of special cells, if the cell of at least one subscriber belongs to the set of special cells.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of improving charging criteria for a call between a calling subscriber and a called subscriber in a cellular mobile network, in which a mobile switching center comprises a service switching point of an intelligent network, the service switching point providing a subscriber with an access to services of a service control point, wherein at least one cell of the mobile network constitutes a set of special cells entitled to a more advantageous tariff; the method comprising the steps of: providing the service control point with a charging criterion service applying a special charging criterion defined for the set of special cells; monitoring, during the call, in respect of both the calling and the called subscriber, whether either subscriber's cell belongs to the set of special cells entitled to the more advantageous tariff; and the service control point applying the special charging criterion defined for the set of special cells, if the cell of at least one subscriber belongs to the set of special cells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said monitoring step is performed in connection with a handover to another cell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein information on the special cells is stored at the service control point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile switching centre serving at least one subscriber and/or a related visitor location register receives, at a location area update procedure, information on that at least one subscriber has special cells within said location area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 4 , wherein the mobile switching centre serving and/or the related visitor location register receives said information from the service control point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein information on the called subscriber's cell change is transmitted from the mobile switching centre serving the called subscriber to the mobile switching centre serving the calling subscriber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein information on the called subscriber's location cell change is transmitted from the intelligent network service switching point serving the called subscriber to the service control point serving the calling subscriber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein information on the called subscriber's location cell change is transmitted from the intelligent network service control point serving the called subscriber to the service control point serving the calling subscriber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein that the service control point of the intelligent network is asked for information on the called subscriber's location cell only if the called subscriber is a subscriber to which are allocated special cells.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 1 , further comprising defining a default value cell for at least one private branch exchange in an exchange network, and applying the special charging criterion if a subscriber of the exchange network is located within the area of the default value cell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1 , further comprising using a time hysteresis to determine that the change in cell information is permanent before beginning or ceasing to apply the special charging criterion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1 , further comprising transmitting information to the calling subscriber's mobile station if the call begins or ceases to be entitled to the more advantageous tariff.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
133 words
A mobile communication system comprising: at least two cells, at least one of the cells constituting a set of special cells; a mobile switching centre and a related service switching point of an intelligent network; a service control point of an intelligent network, the service control point comprising a charging criterion service applying a special charging criterion defined for the set of special cells; and means for monitoring, during the call, in respect of both the calling and the called subscriber whether the subscriber's cell belongs to the set of special cells entitled to the more advantageous tariff; wherein the service control point is adapted to apply the special charging criterion defined for the set of special cells if the cell of at least one subscriber belongs to the set of special cells.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
133 words
A mobile communication system comprising: at least two cells, at least one of the cells constituting a set of special cells; a mobile switching centre and a related service switching point of an intelligent network; a service control point of an intelligent network, the service control point comprising a charging criterion service applying a special charging criterion defined for the set of special cells; and means for monitoring, during the call, in respect of both the calling and the called subscriber whether the subscriber's cell belongs to the set of special cells entitled to the more advantageous tariff; wherein the service control point is adapted to apply the special charging criterion defined for the set of special cells if the cell of at least one subscriber belongs to the set of special cells.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5260987A
Cited
US5579379A
Cited
US5295180A
Cited
US5457810A
Cited
EP0597638A1
Cited
US5592535A
Cited
US5526400A
Cited
WO1996020571A1
Cited
WO1996020570A1
Cited
US5568153A
Cited
US6018652A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-02-04 | 2005-08-06 | 2006-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-02-04 | 2009-08-06 | 2010-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-02-04 | 2013-08-06 | 2014-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |