EP2845345A1

EP2845345A1 - Protocol for billing telecommunication services between network operators

Info

Publication number: EP2845345A1
Application number: EP13718120.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yuemei CHEN
Original assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
Current assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
Priority date: 2012-05-02
Filing date: 2013-04-15
Publication date: 2015-03-11
Also published as: IN2014DN09273A; US9762745B2; US20150087261A1; WO2013164065A1; DE102012008517A1; CN104685828A; CN104685828B

Abstract

The invention relates to the billing of telecommunication services between operators of different telecommunication networks, particularly when a mobile telecommunication transmission device requests a telecommunication service from a mobile communication network that is not its home telecommunication network - for example when there is a lack of availability or network coverage from the home telecommunication network or if the telecommunication transmission device is abroad (in relation to its home telecommunication network). In this case, service usage information (100) is produced by the telecommunication network (19) and provided to be forwarded on to the home telecommunication network (30) of the telecommunication transmission device, particularly for the purpose of billing. So-called TAP (Transferred Account Procedure) data are used here which, alongside a portion relating to service usage information, also comprise charging information. In particular, this charging information comprises information relating to the type of requested telecommunication service (for example, whether it concerns an international or a national call), and also information as to how high the costs are for the telecommunication service or with which discounts or volume agreements calculations are to be made. The problem addressed by the invention is that of suggesting a method for generating service usage data which allows said service usage data to be produced more simply, straightforwardly and quickly, and the processing thereof to take place more effectively. This problem is solved in that said service usage data are generated in such a manner that an entry is generated for each so-called request-event, and the type of telecommunication service, so for example whether it concerns an international or a national call, is associated with each entry.

Description

DESCRIPTION

title

PROTOCOL FOR BILLING TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

BETWEEN NETWORK OPERATORS

State of the art

The invention relates to a method for generating service usage data in a telecommunication network. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for transmitting and / or exchanging service usage data between one

Telecommunication network and another telecommunication network.

The invention further relates to a telecommunications network for generating

Service usage data.

Methods of generating service usage data are well known. For example, for purposes of providing telecommunications services, in particular using mobile communication networks,

Service usage information generated in particular for the transmission and / or exchange between different telecommunications networks or their operators. In the case, for example, that a mobile telecommunication terminal of a telecommunication network, in particular mobile communication network, which is not its home telecommunication network, a telecommunication service demand - for example in case of lack of availability or network coverage of the home telecommunication network or if the telecommunication terminal (in terms of its home Telecommunications network) located abroad - are generated by the telecommunications network service usage information, which are provided for forwarding to the home telecommunications network of the telecommunication terminal, in particular zuf billing purposes.

In this case, so-called TAP files are used (Transferred Account Procedure), which in addition to a part that relates to service usage information, additionally have billing information.

CONFIRMATION COPY This billing information includes, in particular, information about the type of telecommunication service requested (for example, whether it is an international call or a national call), as well as information about the costs of the telecommunication service or price discounts or volume agreements ,

When generating the billing information network elements of the telecommunications network are involved, which does not interfere with the provision of the

Telecommunications service to the telecommunications terminal are concerned, but only for the determination and acquisition of correct billing data.

It has been found that the effort for generating the service usage data in the previously known form is very large and associated with correspondingly high costs, in particular because different formats of the addressed TAP files are used and must be converted accordingly, in particular between the operators different telecommunications networks, ie between the operator of a first telecommunication network and the operator of a second telecommunication network

Telecommunications network, for example, takes place a conversion of the TAP data formats to the particular TAP format used.

Moreover, it is generally the case that the generation of the service usage data in the heretofore known manner takes place with a relatively large delay, i. between on the one hand the use of the telecommunication service by the

Telecommunication terminal or the settlement of the telecommunications service through the telecommunications network and on the other hand, the preparation of

Service usage data in the usual form may take several days, for example.

Disclosure of the invention

The invention is based on the object, a method for generating

To suggest service usage data so that the service usage data can be generated more easily, more easily, and more quickly and processed more effectively.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a method for generating service usage data in a telecommunication network, the service usage data being based on a group of a plurality of different types of services

Telecommunications services on the telecommunications network requesting Are related to telecommunication terminals, wherein the service usage data are generated automatically such that per demand event one on

Telecommunications network of demanded telecommunications service of

Telecommunications terminal of the group of telecommunication terminals, an entry of the service use data is generated, wherein each entry of the service use data at least one kind of the plurality of different types of

Telecommunications services is assigned.

It is thus possible according to the present invention in an advantageous manner that the generation of the service usage data in the telecommunications network considerably faster and more timely (relative to the provision of the corresponding

Telecommunication service).

According to the invention, it is preferred if the service usage data are generated only in relation to a group of telecommunication terminals, for example a group of telecommunication terminals which are allocated in a specific home telecommunication network. For other telecommunications terminals (i.e., associated with another home telecommunications network), other service usage data is then generated by the telecommunications network.

According to the invention it is further preferred that the generation of the service usage data in addition to the per demand event of a queried on the telecommunications network

Telecommunications service created entries a collective entry is generated, wherein the collective entry refers to all entries of the service use data and wherein the collective entry comprises a collection information, in particular quantity information, for each type of the plurality of different types of telecommunications services.

This makes it possible according to the invention advantageously that in a separate list to the created for individual telecommunications services entries of the service use data of the collective entry is generated, so that a use of the totality of the telecommunications services related content of

Service usage data in a simple manner and related to each one kind of

Telecommunications service can be done.

In the present invention, it is particularly preferred that the generation of the entries of the service usage data is carried out with the involvement of those network elements of the telecommunications network that are involved in the provision of the

Telecommunications services are involved. As a result, it is particularly advantageously possible according to the invention for the basic information required for generating the service usage data to be available

Telecommunications services are available directly, so that the

Service usage data can be generated promptly.

According to the invention, it is furthermore particularly preferred that for generating the

Collective entry of the service usage data collective entry generation systems of the telecommunications network are involved, which are provided within the telecommunications network for billing telecommunications services.

This makes it possible according to the invention advantageously in a special way that

Delays which may occur in the generation of service usage data by involving network elements of the telecommunication network used for billing telecommunication services are avoided.

As a result, it is possible according to the invention in particular that the process of generating service usage data can be made considerably simpler. In particular, it is provided according to the invention that the network elements provided within the telecommunication network for billing telecommunication services (by those involved in the provision of telecommunication services

Network elements generated) entries of the service usage data only forward or highest formatting, but not extensive and elaborate to elaborate that additional additional information - in particular with regard to the financial value of the use of individual telecommunications services - created or added to the individual entries.

The present invention also relates to a method for transmitting and / or exchanging service usage data between a user

Telecommunications network and another telecommunications network, thereby

characterized in that the service usage data relate to a group of telecommunication terminals requesting a plurality of different types of telecommunication services on the telecommunication network, wherein the

Service usage data are automatically generated in such a way that an entry of the service usage data is generated for each demand event of a telecommunication service of a telecommunication terminal of the group of telecommunication terminals, wherein each entry of the service usage data is at least one kind of the plurality of different types of service usage data

Telecommunications services is assigned, after the generation of the service usage data, the service usage data is automatically transmitted to the other telecommunications network. This makes it advantageously possible according to the invention that the exchange of service usage data between the telecommunications network and the other

Telecommunications network can be done in a simple and timely manner.

Likewise with regard to the method according to the invention for the transmission and / or exchange of service usage data, it is preferred according to the invention that

- the generation of the records of the service usage data is made involving such network elements of the telecommunications network involved in the provision of the telecommunications services;

- that for generating the collective entry of the service usage data

Collective entry generation systems of the telecommunications network are involved, which within the telecommunications network for billing

Telecommunications services are provided; and

- generating the service usage data in addition to the entries created per demand event of a telecommunication service requesting the telecommunication network, a aggregate entry, the aggregate entry relating to all entries, and wherein the aggregate entry comprises aggregate information on each type of the plurality of different types of telecommunication services.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided according to the invention that further processing of the service usage data by the further telecommunication network is provided in automated form starting from the collective entry.

This makes it possible according to the invention in an advantageous manner that - in contrast to the previous situation - a simple and timely generation, processing and

Processing the service usage data is realized.

The present invention also relates to a telecommunication network for generating service usage data, wherein the service usage data are related to a group of telecommunication terminals requesting a plurality of different types of telecommunication services on the telecommunication network, wherein the telecommunication network is provided to automatically generate the service usage data such that an entry of the service usage data is generated per demand event of a telecommunication service of a telecommunication terminal of the group of telecommunication terminals requesting the telecommunication network, wherein each entry of the service usage data is assigned at least one kind of the plurality of different types of telecommunication services. According to the invention, it is particularly preferred that the telecommunications network for generating the service usage data is provided such that, in addition to the pro

Demand event of a demanded on the telecommunications network

Telecommunications service created entries a group entry is generated, wherein the collective entry refers to all entries of the service use data and wherein the collective entry comprises a summary information for each type of the plurality of different types of telecommunication services of the service use data.

Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a computer program

Program code means, with the aid of which all steps of the inventive method are feasible when the computer program is executed on a programmable device or a network element of a telecommunications network.

Furthermore, the subject of the present invention is a computer program product with a computer-readable medium and one on the computer-readable medium

stored computer program with program code means which are suitable that all steps of the inventive method are feasible, if the

Computer program is executed on a programmable device or a network element of a telecommunications network.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the

Drawings, as well as from the following description of preferred

Embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of the invention, which the essential

Do not limit the idea of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows schematically a telecommunications network, another

Telecommunication network and a telecommunication terminal.

Figure 2 shows schematically an example of an exchange or the

Transmission of service usage data between one

Telecommunications network and another

Telecommunications network.

FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of the invention

Service usage data. Embodiments of the invention

In the various figures, the same parts are always provided with the same reference numerals and are therefore usually named or mentioned only once in each case.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a first telecommunication network 10, another one

Telecommunications network 30 and a telecommunication terminal 20 shown. The telecommunication terminal 20 according to the present invention is preferably a mobile radio communication device, and the telecommunication network 10 and the further telecommunication network 30 are each preferably a mobile radio communication network. The telecommunication network 10 (and / or the further telecommunication network 30) according to the invention may also be provided in particular such that in addition to shares of a WAN (Wide Area Network) also network shares - possibly also only in subareas of the telecommunication network - are present, a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) or a Wi-Fi network form or parts of it are.

In a roaming situation, i. in a situation where the telecommunication terminal 20 does not make radio contact with it (in particular due to a contractual relationship of the user of the telecommunication terminal 20 with the operator of a

Telecommunications network) assigned home telecommunications network is able to connect to a (from the point of view of the telecommunication terminal) foreign telecommunication network is made, wherein - in the event that

Telecommunications services are requested by the telecommunications terminal - service usage data between the telecommunications networks involved must be replaced.

In Figure 1, this is schematically represented by the fact that, for example, the other

Telecommunications network 30 the home telecommunications network of

Telecommunications terminal 20 corresponds and the telecommunications network 10 corresponds in this usage situation to the foreign telecommunications network. If that

Telecommunications network 10 a telecommunications service for the

Telecommunications terminal 20 provides corresponding service usage data 100 are generated by the telecommunications network 10 and to the other

Telecommunications network 30 transmitted or exchanged with the other telecommunications network 30. Conversely, if the other telecommunications network 30 (based on a not shown telecommunications terminal) a telecommunications service for the telecommunication network 10 provides, are by the other

Telecommunications network 30 corresponding additional service usage data 300 generated and transmitted to the telecommunications network 10 and exchanged with the telecommunications network 10.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the exchange or transmission of service usage data 100 between the telecommunication network 10 and the further telecommunication network 30 according to the present invention.

The telecommunications network 10 has network elements 11 involved in the provision of the telecommunications service. Accordingly, the other has

Telecommunications network 30 such (other) network elements 31, which at the

Providing the telecommunications service. Such network elements 11 of the telecommunication network 10 or such network elements 31 of the further telecommunication network 30 comprise, for example, the following network elements (of the respective telecommunication networks):

- MSC (Mobile Switching Center),

SMS-C (Short Message Service Center),

SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node),

GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node),

MMS-C (Multimedia Messaging Service Center),

P-CSCF (Proxy Call Session Control Function),

- IMS (IP (Internet Protocol) multimedia subsystem),

- Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) / Wi-Fi network elements.

The telecommunication network 10 also has collective entry generation systems 12 which within the telecommunication network 10 for billing

Telecommunications services are provided. Correspondingly, the further telecommunication network 30 also has further group entry generation systems 32, which are billed within the further telecommunication network 30

Telecommunications services are provided.

FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of service usage data 100 according to the invention. The service use data 100 have a plurality of entries 110, 120, 130, 140, wherein these entries 110, 120, 130, 140 are each a request event of a telecommunication network 10 on the part of a telecommunication terminal 20

(or vice versa each such demand event is associated with a corresponding entry of the service use data 100. In addition to the entries 110, 120, 130, 140, the service usage data 100 and also a collection entry 150, where the collection entry 150 relates to entries 110, 120, 130, 140 of the service usage data 100, and wherein the collection entry 150 contains summary information about each type of the plurality of different types of

Telecommunications services.

According to the invention, the entries 110, 120, 130, 140 for the service usage data 100 in the telecommunication network 10 are generated by the network elements 11 involved in the provision of the telecommunication services (the telecommunication network 10). (Accordingly, corresponding entries for the other

Service usage data 300 in the further telecommunication network 30 (see Figure 2) generated by the network elements 31, in the provision of the

Telecommunications services (further telecommunications network 30) are involved). These information generated by the network elements 11 of the telecommunications network 10 are forwarded to the collective entry generation systems 12, which within the telecommunications network 10 for billing

Telecommunications services are provided and generate the service usage data 100. Accordingly, the network elements 31 of the other

Telecommunications network 30 generated information to the other

Collective entry generation systems 32 forwarded within the further

Telecommunications network 30 are provided for billing telecommunications services and generate the other service usage data 300.

For example, if possible telecommunication services are the following categories:

- (voice) call international,

- (voice) call national,

- SMS,

- data transmission,

For each such type of telecommunication service, the aggregate entry 150 contains information as aggregation information, in particular quantity information relating to the entries 110, 120, 130, 140, for example in the form:

- (voice) call international: 365 minutes

- (voice) call national, 445 minutes

- SMS, 3110 SMS

- Data transmission 8,943 MB

wherein the specified information for each type of telecommunications service or for each category of the sum of the individual sets of the entries 110, 120, 130, 140 corresponds. According to the invention, it is thus advantageously possible that a billing between the telecommunications network 10 and the other telecommunications network 30 can be carried out in a simple manner.

Preferably, each of the entries 110, 120, 130, 140 for a demand event of a particular type of telecommunication service includes certain information that can be used to easily generate accounting data, but that does not include accounting data, such as:

the IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) of the calling party, i. the telecommunication terminal 20,

- the called number,

a time stamp as indication when the demand event of the

Telecommunication service is taking place,

the nature of the telecommunication service, in particular in the form of a coded indication, for example "TeleServiceCode = 11" for "(voice) call national" or the like,

- The extent of the demanded telecommunications service, for example in the form of the duration of a telephone connection or in the form of the volume of data used.

The generation of the service usage data 100 (or the further service usage data 300) takes place according to the invention, in particular, promptly after the provision of the

Telecommunications service to the telecommunication terminal 20. Preferably, the exchange or transmission of the service use data 100 (or the other service use data 300) takes place between the telecommunication network 10 and the further telecommunication network 30 at regular time intervals, for example at least every 4 hours or every 6 hours or all 12 hours or every 24 hours. Here, the entries 110, 120, 130, 140 contained in a file of the service usage data 100 preferably refer to the past periodic period (for example, 4 hours or 6 hours or 12 hours or 24 hours).

Claims

1. A method for generating service usage data in one

Telecommunications network (10), characterized in that the

Service usage data on a group of a plurality of different types of telecommunication services on the telecommunication network

requesting telecommunication terminals (20) are related, wherein the service usage data are generated automatically such that per

Demand event of a demanded on the telecommunications network (10)

Telecommunication service of a telecommunication terminal (20) of the group of telecommunication terminals (20) an entry (110, 120, 130, 140) of the service usage data is generated, wherein each entry (110, 120, 130, 140) of the service usage data is at least one kind of the plurality of different ones Types of telecommunications services is assigned.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the generation of the service usage data is provided in such a way that in addition to the per demand event of the telecommunication network (10) demanded

Telecommunications entry (1 10, 120, 130, 140) a collective entry (150) is generated, wherein the collective entry (150) refers to all entries (110, 120, 130, 140) of the service usage data and wherein the collective entry (150) comprises summary information on each type of the plurality of different types of telecommunications services.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the generation of the entries (110, 120, 130, 140) of the service use data is made with the involvement of such network elements of the telecommunications network (10), in the provision of the

Telecommunications services are involved.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for generating the collective entry (150) of the service usage data

Collective entry generation systems (12) of the telecommunications network (10) are involved, which are provided within the telecommunications network (10) for billing telecommunications services.

5. Procedure for transmission and / or exchange of service usage data

between a telecommunications network (0) and another Telecommunications network (30), characterized in that the

Demand event of a demanded on the telecommunications network (10)

Telecommunication service of a telecommunication terminal (20) of the group of telecommunication terminals (20) an entry (110, 120, 130, 140) of the service usage data is generated, wherein each entry (110, 120, 130, 140) of the service usage data is at least one kind of the plurality of different ones Types of telecommunications services is assigned, wherein after the generation of the service use data, the service use data to the other

Telecommunications network (30) is transmitted automatically.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the generation of the service usage data is provided in such a way that in addition to the per demand event of the telecommunication network (10) demanded

Telecommunications service created entries (110, 120, 130, 140) a collective entry (150) is generated, wherein the collective entry (150) refers to all entries (110, 120, 130, 140) and wherein the collective entry (150) a summary information to each type of the plurality of different types of

Telecommunications services.

A method according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the generation of the entries (110, 120, 130, 140) of the service usage data is made involving such network elements of the telecommunications network (10) involved in the provision of the telecommunications services are.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that for generating the collective entry (150) of the service use data

9. The method according to any one of claims 5, 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that a further processing of the service use data by the further Telecommunications network (30) in automated form, starting from the

Collective entry is provided.

10. The method according to any one of claims 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that the service usage data at regular intervals from the

Telecommunications network (10) to the further telecommunications network (30) are forwarded.

A telecommunication network (10) for generating service usage data, characterized in that the service usage data refer to a group of a plurality of different types of telecommunication services on the

Telecommunications network requesting telecommunications terminals (20) are related, wherein the telecommunications network (10) is provided, the

Automated to generate service usage data such that per demand event of a demanded on the telecommunications network (10)

12. telecommunications network (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the telecommunications network (10) for generating the service usage data is provided such that in addition to the per demand event a am

A collective entry (150) is generated, wherein the group entry (150) refers to all entries (110, 120, 130, 140) of the service usage data and wherein the Collective entry (150) a

Collective information on each type of the plurality of different types of

Telecommunication services of the service usage data.

Computer program with program code means by means of which all steps of a method according to one of claims 1 to 10 can be carried out, if the

Computer program on a programmable device or a

Network element of a telecommunications network (10) is executed.

14. Computer program product with a computer-readable medium and a computer program stored on the computer-readable medium

Program code means adapted to perform all the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 when the computer program is run on a programmable device or a network element of a

Telecommunications network (10) is executed.