JPH05191343A - Mobile communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute relevant charging without notifying the position of a mobile station by sending charging period information to a caller exchange of a caller user and informing it of the information prior to the communication start. CONSTITUTION:A caller charging area information notice means 10 of a caller exchange 19 generates a control signal used to inform caller charging area information and a control signal transfer means 22 uses a common line signal network to transfer a control signal between optional nodes. A position information read means 12 of a communication network exchange 20 uses a control signal transfer means 11 to read position information from a home memory 5 and a charging period calculation means 13 calculates a charging period from caller charging area information and position information. Then a called exchange charging period notice means 14 generates a control signal notifying the charge period information to the exchange 19. The charging means 16 implements charging noticed to the exchange 19 and a user charging notice means 17 informs the charging period to a user 18. Then the user 18 makes a calling without notifying the position of the mobile station and the network executes the charging in response to the position of the mobile station.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mobile communication charging method for receiving an incoming call to a mobile station user and a method for notifying the calling user of the charging cycle. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is a system particularly suitable for a region-unspecified mobile communication system that does not specify a region when calling to a mobile station. The present invention is particularly applicable to a charging method applied when a call charge differs depending on a call distance or there are a plurality of mobile networks having different charges, and a mobile station can connect to a plurality of networks among them. Involve

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of a mobile communication system in which a plurality of mobile networks having different call charges or different charges depending on a call distance exist and a mobile station can connect to a plurality of networks. .. The incoming call to the mobile station includes an incoming call from the user of the fixed network to the mobile station user, an incoming call from the user of another mobile network, or an incoming call from another user of the own mobile network. The present invention is applied to these incoming calls. Although the charging method which is the target of the above is applied to all, in FIG. 7, a configuration example between the mobile communication network and the fixed network will be described, and a case where there is an incoming call from the fixed network to the mobile network will be described as an example.

In a mobile communication network, a mobile station user 1, a mobile communication base station 2 that makes a wireless communication connection with the mobile station user 1,
A mobile local area exchange 3 directly connected to the mobile communication base station 2,
It is provided with a mobile network gateway switch 4 serving as a barrier to other networks, and a home memory 5 for registering position information of the mobile station user 1.

Each of the exchanges 3 and 4 and the home memory 5 transfers a control signal via a common line signal network. In addition, in the fixed network, there is a fixed network gateway exchange 6 which is a barrier to other networks, and an originating exchange 8 which accommodates a fixed user 7. Similarly, the control signal is transferred through the common line signaling network. There is. Although the originating exchange 8 is shown as a single node for simplification of the description here, it may actually be divided into a plurality of floors including a local exchange and a relay exchange that are directly connected to the user. It is often done. The mobile network gateway switch 4 and the fixed network gateway switch 6 are directly connected, and the communication connection with each other's network is via these gateway switches.

When the mobile station user 1 receives a call, the calling exchange 8 receives a call signal from the fixed user 7 who has called.
A line is set up to the mobile network gateway switch 4 via the fixed network gateway switch 6, the mobile network gateway switch 4 inquires the position information in the home memory 5 of the mobile station user 1, and the mobile station user 1 moves. The line is set up to the local exchange 3. The mobile local area exchange 3 instructs all mobile communication base stations under its control to call all at once. The mobile communication base station 2 that has received a response from the mobile station sets up a line with the mobile local area exchange 3 and a radio line with the mobile station user 1, and finally sets up a fixed user 7 and a mobile station user in the fixed network. A communication path is set up with the communication terminal 1.

A conventional connection procedure in such a mobile communication system will be described by showing the connection sequence in FIG.

Conventionally, in order to determine the charging period, the fixed user 7 who makes a call is considered to have "030" at the head, for example, when the mobile station is considered to be within a predetermined distance range, and is out of the range. When dialing, dial "040".
Then, the calling exchange 8 makes the dial number 030 in the calling signal.
The charging cycle is determined according to / 040. Then, the billing area information is sent as a parameter in the line setting signal. In the mobile network gateway switch 4, if the 030/040 dialed by the calling fixed user 7 does not match the actual location of the mobile station, the information is compared with the position information in the home memory 5 and it is found on the communication path. Fixed user 7 who stopped the call connection and notified again after notifying by announcement
030/040 is reattached and dialed again.

[0008]

In such a conventional method, the calling user dials the charging cycle at 030/04.
Since it is decided by 0, if the position where the mobile station actually exists and the setting of 030/040 are different, it is necessary to stop the call connection once and dial again from the user. There was an inferior problem. Furthermore, an announcement to the calling user to prompt the user to redial is required.

Further, in the conventional method, since the charging pattern depending on the call distance is small, the frequency of re-calling is small, but there is a plurality of mobile networks, and so-called roaming in which mobile stations of each network can connect to other networks. It is expected that there will be more diverse charging patterns, and in that case, if the charging fee is identified by dialing from the calling user, the frequency of redialing increases.

Further, since the number at the beginning of the outgoing dial is used for designating the area in which the mobile station is located, there is a problem that the number of subscribers that can be accommodated with the same number of digits is reduced.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication system in which a calling user can make a call without being aware of the position of the mobile station, and the network can carry out charging according to the position of the mobile station. Especially.

It is another object of the present invention to return a billing cycle notification to the calling user so that the user can estimate the call charge and judge whether or not to establish a communication connection, and an unexpectedly high charge is charged. Is to eliminate things like

Another object of the present invention is to increase the number capacity with the same number of dial digits.

Another object of the present invention is to eliminate the need to use different dial patterns even when various and flexible fee settings are made according to the demands of the network.

Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to determine the charging cycle in a centralized manner by the mobile network gateway switch, thereby facilitating the handling of changes in charges.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system applicable to a mobile communication system in which mobile station users can roam in a wide range and it is necessary to carry out billing under various charge systems.

[0017]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, communication control with the mobile station and circuit switching with another communication network are performed in a mobile communication network which enables communication of mobile stations moving in a service area. A mobile network switch for performing, and a home memory for registering position information for specifying a range in which the mobile station is located,
In the mobile communication system, the mobile network switch includes means for performing incoming call control based on the position information of the destination mobile station read from the home memory when the mobile station receives a call from another communication network or its own mobile communication network. The other communication network or the own mobile communication network includes means for sending charging area information in which the calling user is located to the mobile network exchange, and the mobile network exchange has the charging area information and the home before starting communication. Means for calculating billing period information from the position information of the destination mobile station read from the memory, and means for sending this billing period information to the originating exchange for billing the originating user prior to the start of communication. And

It is possible to provide a means for notifying the calling user of the charging cycle information calculated in the mobile network switch, prior to the start of communication.

[0019]

When there is a call to the mobile station, the calling exchange transfers the calling / charging area information in which the calling user is located together with or including a signal instructing the line setting to the mobile network switch. The mobile network switch determines the charging period from the calling / charging area information of the calling user and the position information of the called mobile station read from the home memory. The charging period information is included in or together with the line setting completion signal to notify the calling exchange that charges the calling user. The calling exchange carries out the billing after the start of the call based on the notified billing cycle.

The mobile network switch notifies the calling user of the charging period by voice or the like before the communication between the users is started, so that the calling user receives the notification of the charging period and performs communication connection. It can be judged whether or not. If communication is not performed, the connection can be abandoned at that point.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a mobile communication system to which the present invention is applied. Since the device configurations of the mobile network and the fixed network in FIG. 1 are the same as those in FIG. 7, description of those parts will be omitted.
The feature of the present invention in the mobile communication system shown in FIG. 1 is that the calling exchange 8 is provided with means for sending the calling area information in which the calling fixed user 7 is located to the mobile network exchange, and the mobile network gateway exchange. 4 calculates the charging period information from the calling / charging area information and the position information of the terminating mobile station user 1 read from the home memory 5 prior to the start of communication, and calls this charging period information prior to the start of communication. It is provided with means for sending to the originating exchange 8 which charges the fixed user 7.

First, the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2 which is a functional block diagram for explaining the functions of the present invention. The functions of the present invention are arranged in the mobile switching center 20 and the calling switching center 19 which charges the calling user 18 who makes an incoming call to the mobile station 21. When the calling network is a mobile network, the calling exchange is also a mobile network exchange.
It should be noted that, in correspondence with the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the calling user 18 corresponds to the fixed user 7, and the destination mobile station 21 corresponds to the mobile station user 1.
The originating switch 19 corresponds to the originating switch 8 and the mobile network switch 20 corresponds to the mobile gateway switch 4.

The calling and charging area information notifying means 10 of the calling exchange 19 has a function of creating a control signal for notifying the calling and charging area information, and the control signal transfer means 22 uses a common line signaling network for any node. It has a function of transferring a control signal between them. The position information reading means 12 of the communication network switch 20 has a function of reading the position information from the home memory 5 using the control signal transfer means 11. The billing cycle calculation means 13 has a function of calculating a billing cycle from the issuing / charging area information and the position information. The originating exchange billing period notifying means 14 has a function of creating a control signal for notifying the originating exchange 19 of billing period information. The billing cycle setting means 15 has a function of setting the billing cycle based on the billing cycle information sent by the control signal. The charging means 16 has a function of performing actual charging. The originating user charging cycle notifying means 17 has a function of notifying the calling user 18 of the charging cycle.

The operation of the present invention will be described with this functional configuration.
When the calling exchange 19 receives the calling signal from the calling user 18, the control signal transfer means 22 sends a control signal generated by the calling area information notifying means 10 to the mobile network exchange 20. In the mobile network switch 20,
A charging cycle calculating means 13 is obtained from the calling / charging area information sent from the calling exchange 19 and the position information of the destination mobile station 21 obtained from the home memory 5 by the position information reading means 12.
Calculate the billing cycle by. The control signal transfer means 11 sends a control signal including the billing period created by using the originating exchange billing period notifying means 14 to the originating exchange 19. In some cases, the charging user charging cycle notifying unit 16 notifies the calling user 18 of the charging cycle. In the originating exchange 19, the received billing cycle information is set as a billing cycle by the billing cycle setting means 15, and the billing means 16 charges the bill after the communication between the calling user 18 and the destination mobile station 21 is started.

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the system configuration shown in FIG. 1 and the sequence diagram of FIG. FIG. 3 shows signals between the nodes in the configuration of FIG. 1 and the procedure thereof.

When there is an incoming call from the fixed user 7 to the mobile station user 1, the calling signal including the incoming call is sent to the fixed user 7.
To the originating exchange 8 which accommodates the user.
When the originating exchange 8 recognizes from the incoming dial signal that the destination user is a mobile station, it sends a line setting signal including the originating / charging area information to the fixed network gateway exchange 6. in the meantime,
It may also go through a transit switch. Fixed network gateway switch 6
Similarly sends a line setting signal including the calling and charging area information to the mobile network gateway switch 4. As a result, the communication path to the fixed user 7 who has called from the mobile gateway switch 4 is set.

The mobile network gateway switch 4 sends a position information read signal to the home memory 5 of the terminating mobile station user 1, receives a position information response signal containing the position information from the home memory 5, and receives the position information response signal from the fixed network gateway switch 6. A billing cycle is determined from the received billing area information and position information. The line setting signal is sent to the mobile local area exchange 3 of the terminating mobile station user 1 judged from the position information, the line setting completion signal is received from the mobile local area exchange 3, and the line setting including the charging cycle information is completed. The signal is sent to the fixed network gateway switch 6.

The fixed network gateway exchange 6 similarly sends a line setting completion signal including the charging cycle information to the originating exchange 8. The originating exchange 8 sets the billing cycle based on the billing cycle information in the line setting completion signal, and carries out the billing in the above billing cycle after the start of communication.

After transmitting the line completion signal, the mobile local area exchange 3 instructs the subordinate mobile communication base stations to call all at once, and the response is obtained between the mobile communication base station 2 and the mobile local area exchange 3. Line setting, mobile communication base station 2 and mobile station user 1
The connection between the fixed user 7 who made the call and the mobile station user 1 who receives the call is completed by setting the wireless line between them. Then, the called user is called (ringing), and the called user responds to start communication between the users.

In this way, the calling user can make an incoming call to the mobile station without specifying the area, and can also make a charge according to the position of the mobile station.

Next, as a second embodiment, an example in which the calling exchange 8 is notified of the charging cycle and the calling fixed user 7 is notified of the charging cycle so that the calling fixed user 7 can determine the call charge Will be explained. A sequence diagram of this second embodiment is shown in FIG.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, when the mobile network gateway switch 4 determines the charging period, the timer is set at the same time when the charging period announcement is started to flow to the fixed user 7 who originates the call. , Stop processing. From the announcement of the call charge, the fixed user 7 who made the call determines whether or not to continue the connection with the terminating mobile station user 1, and if he / she does not desire the connection, he / she abandons on-hook.

The mobile network gateway switch 4 restarts the connection when the timer set at the start of the announcement times out, but is released by a recovery signal if the fixed user 7 who called during that time has abandoned midway. After the time-out, the connection process is restarted.

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the second embodiment for notifying the calling user of the charging cycle. The difference between the embodiment of FIG. 5 and the embodiment of FIG. 4 is that in the example of FIG. 4, the call charge announcement and the timer setting are performed immediately after the billing period is determined, whereas in the example of FIG. An announcement is being made after the station user 1 receives a general call response.

In the modification of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the mobile local area exchange 3 sends a charging cycle notification request signal to the mobile network gateway exchange 4 after receiving the response to the general call.

The mobile network gateway switch 4 performs the charging cycle announcement and timer setting after receiving the charging cycle notification request signal.
Similar to the example of FIG. 4, when the fixed calling user 7 does not wish to make a connection, it is abandoned during that time, but if desired, a charging cycle notification completion signal is sent to the mobile localized area exchange 3 after a timeout. There are various other methods for selecting whether or not communication connection is made, but the same effect as this embodiment is obtained.

When the mobile local area exchange 3 receives the charging period notification completion signal, the mobile localized area exchange 3 continues the connection.

The second embodiment shown in FIG. 4 has the advantage of fewer signals and a simpler procedure than the modification shown in FIG. Further, in the example of FIG. 4, the mobile network gateway switch 4 and the mobile local area switch 3 are used when the fixed user 7 who has called does not want to communicate.
Although there is an advantage that the line between and is not held inactive, in the example shown in FIG. 5, since the call charge is announced after confirming the response of the incoming mobile station user 1, there is no response (the power is turned off). ) The user interface is excellent in that the fixed user 7 who has issued a useless announcement when receiving a call to the mobile station cannot be heard. Which of the example shown in FIG. 4 and the example shown in FIG. 5 is adopted is determined by the system design policy.

In this embodiment, the fixed user 7 who has called
As a method of notifying the charging period to the terminal, an announcement on the communication path was used. However, as a method of notifying the fixed user 7 who made the call of the charging period, the charging period is sent as a parameter in the control signal and displayed on the terminal. There is also a method of notifying the fixed user 7 who has called by using the function, and the notification method is not limited to the announcement.

Further, the charging cycle for the calling user is not always executed, but it may be executed when the charging cycle is equal to or more than the set charge. In this case, when it is unnecessary to judge the connection based on the call charge, the time for notifying the calling user of the charging period is shortened, and the connection delay can be shortened.

The first and second embodiments described above show the incoming call procedure when the mobile station user 1 is present in the home mobile network. However, the mobile station user 1 can call another network other than the home mobile network. FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment in the case of performing roaming in which the user is in the service area and is connected. FIG. 6 shows a configuration and a procedure when an incoming call is made to a roaming mobile station from a fixed user.

In the third embodiment, the mobile station user 1 of the mobile network A is roaming to the mobile network B,
Within the mobile network B is a roaming user memory 9 for storing user information for roaming mobile stations. The gateway exchanges of the fixed network, mobile network A, and mobile network B are connected to each other.

Similar to the first embodiment, when an incoming call is received from the fixed user 7 to the mobile station user 1, the mobile network A gateway which is the home network of the mobile station user 1 receiving the call from the fixed network via the gateway switch. The line is set up to the exchange 4a. The mobile network A gateway switch 4a reads the information in the home memory 5 of the terminating mobile station user 1, and when it is recognized that the terminating mobile station user 1 is roaming to the mobile network 2, the mobile network B gateway switch 4b is connected. Make settings. The line setting signal includes information on the billing area.

The mobile network B gateway switch 4b reads the location information of the terminating mobile station user 1 from the roaming user memory 9, determines the accounting period from the calling area information, and uses the mobile network A as the information element of the line setting completion signal. Gateway switch 4
a, It is notified to the originating exchange 8 via the fixed network gateway exchange 6. At the same time, it is also possible to notify the calling fixed user 7 of the charging cycle from the mobile network B gateway switch 4b.

When roaming is performed, since it is assumed that different call charges are set for each roaming destination mobile network, the gateway exchange of the roaming destination mobile network determines the charging period. Effectiveness is high.

The present invention is premised on a means for transferring the charging / discharging area information and the charging cycle information between the exchanges. 7 common line signaling system ISUP
This is possible by using the areas defined as "charge area information" and "billing information" in the address signal (IAM) for instructing the line setting and the address completion signal (ACM) which is the response signal thereof. Therefore, it is realized by a system that complies with international standards and is highly applicable.

Further, the calling user's billing exchange requires a means for billing based on the billing cycle notified by the above-mentioned means, but in the exchange supporting the above ISUP, the above means is used for notification. It has a function of charging based on "billing information", and even if the exchange does not support ISUP, the above-mentioned exchange that supports ISUP will perform the charging by sending the charging pulse. Is possible.

[0049]

According to the present invention, even when a call is made to a mobile station that freely moves within a service area, which is a characteristic of mobile communication, a calling user can make a call without being aware of the position of the mobile station. Therefore, the network can realize an area-unspecified mobile communication system that charges according to the position of the mobile station.

Further, by returning the billing cycle notification to the calling user, the user can estimate the call charge and judge whether or not to establish the communication connection, so that an unexpectedly high fee is charged. Disappears.

Further, unlike the conventional case, it is not necessary for the calling user to properly use the dial number in consideration of the position of the destination mobile station user in order to determine the charging period, and the number capacity can be increased with the same number of dial digits. ..

Further, even when various and flexible fee settings are set according to the demands of the network, it is not necessary to use different dial patterns.

Further, since the charging cycle is centrally determined by the mobile network gateway switch, in order to change the charge form of the mobile network, it suffices to change the file of the mobile network gateway switch, and to cope with the change in charge. There is an advantage that it becomes easy.

The standardization of mobile communication has progressed, and mobile stations can roam over a wide range. For example, when a domestic mobile device can be used overseas, it is necessary to perform charging with various charge systems. The advantages of the present invention in the case of occurrence of are great.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a mobile communication network and a fixed network to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an incoming call connection procedure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an incoming call connection procedure according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an incoming call connection procedure of a modified example of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration and procedure of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a conventional mobile communication network and fixed network configuration.

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing a conventional incoming call connection procedure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 mobile station user 2 mobile communication base station 3 mobile localized area switch 4 mobile network gateway switch 5 home memory 6 fixed network gateway switch 7 fixed user 8 originating switch 9 roaming user memory 10 billing area information notifying means 11, 22 control signal Transfer means 12 Position information reading means 13 Charging period calculation means 14 Counter switching exchange charging period notification means 15 Charging period setting means 16 Charging means 17 Counter user charging period notifying means 18 Calling user 19 Calling switch 20 Mobile network switch 21 Calling mobile station

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A mobile network switch that performs communication control with the mobile station and circuit switching with another communication network in a mobile communication network that enables communication of mobile stations moving within a service area, and the mobile station. The mobile network switching device comprises a home memory for registering position information for specifying a range in which the station is located, and the mobile network exchange receives and receives a call from the home memory when the mobile station receives a call from another communication network or its own mobile communication network. In a mobile communication system including means for controlling incoming call based on station position information, the other communication network or the own mobile communication network comprises means for sending charging area information in which the calling user is located to the mobile network exchange. The mobile network exchange calculates means for calculating charging period information from the charging area information and the position information of the destination mobile station read from the home memory prior to the start of communication; Prior to the period information to the communication start mobile communication system, characterized in that it comprises a means for delivering to the originating exchange for charging the onset user. 2. The mobile communication system according to claim 1, further comprising means for notifying the calling user of the charging cycle information calculated in the mobile network switch, prior to the start of communication.