WO2004071012A1

WO2004071012A1 - Prepaid wise network service

Info

Publication number: WO2004071012A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/000260
Authority: WO
Inventors: Woo-Hyung Choi; Mi-Na Oh; Eun-Yeong Joe; Sung-Chul Kim
Original assignee: Ktfreetel Co. Ltd
Priority date: 2003-02-10
Filing date: 2004-02-10
Publication date: 2004-08-19
Also published as: KR20040072210A; CN1745539A; CN1745539B; KR100509936B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing prepaid WISE network service of multimedia data in mobile communication network. When a START ACCOUNTING REQUEST and a reporting condition are received, an Internet Protocol Accounting System calculates the prepaid IN subscriber’s usage amount of the wireless data service using call signals generated in the wireless data service network, transmits an information relating to the usage amount to a SCP when the reporting condition is satisfied, and transmits a billing request for the prepaid IN subscriber to an AAA server when a SESSION DISCONNECTION REQUEST is received from the wireless data service apparatus. Thereby, the present invention can charge according to graded billing rate by services on real-time by combination of a prepaid IN service and a price plan for multimedia data.

Description

PREPAID WISE NETWORK SERVICE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a system and method for providing prepaid WISE network service of multimedia data in mobile communication network. And more particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for applying graded billing rates classified by services to the conventional prepaid services to increase the use of the wireless data services.

Background Art

[2] Along with the development of technology and improvement in an economic standard, people can use Internet with PCs or mobile terminals (e.g., a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant) while moving contrary to the past when people can use Internet with a computer fixed at a particular location. Thus, restriction by location on using Internet no more exists.

[3] Various payment methods such as a prepaid method have being recently developed for paying service charges for data service uses using mobile terminals in addition to conventional post-paid methods charged in proportion to used times and volume.

[4] Generally, a prepaid method in the mobile communication system means a service that a prepaid subscriber who bought a prepaid card corresponding to a predetermined amount of money or paid a certain amount of money for his usage of a wireless data service in advance can use wireless data service to the extent of the amount of prepaid money during a predetermined validity period.

[5] While a conventional prepaid method has been limited in use for real time debiting on mainly voice calls, methods being recently developed are suitable for real time debiting on total amount of used data services calculated by used time or volume of used data with rapid progresses of data services in the mobile communication network.

[6] Attempt to classify various multimedia data services according to particular groups has been highly demanded to apply different billing rates to activate the use of data services. Examples of the group include contents, access networks, special service plans, destination IP addresses, usage protocols. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[7] But, the conventional prepaid Intelligent Network (hereinafter referred as to IN) system has limitations to apply a real time debiting method with an alternate billing rate to each classified service because of the complexity of real time debiting technologies and the difficulty of embodying the technology.

[8] Even if the real time debiting method is applied to charge for the use of multimedia data services, there are some drawbacks such as a constant billing rate for total amount of used services, additional post-paid process for exact calculation, and the like. Since the conventional real time debiting method is a real time balance deduction by a constant billing rate per unit of time or unit number of packets to prepaid subscribers, the conventional billing apparatus performs real-time balance deduction from total time or number of packets available to use corresponding to the subscriber's account balance. Further, there is another drawback in the conventional billing system that a billing apparatus not having a tariff table of graded billing rates according to services cannot perform the real-time balance deduction because a subscriber uses data services of various service groups during the data session.

Technical Solution

[9] The present invention is proposed to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for providing a prepaid WISE network service of multimedia data in the mobile communication network, wherein the system performs real time debiting with graded billing rates according to services by combining the prepaid IN service with a price plan for multimedia data, and provides a comprehensive way for minimizing loss of billing data.

[10] Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for providing prepaid WISE network service of multimedia data in the mobile communication network, wherein the system can charge for use of multimedia data with the real-time debiting method from the subscriber's account by periodically transmitting and receiving information of amount used between the billing apparatus and Intelligent Network systems.

[11] Further, still another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for providing prepaid WISE network service of multimedia data in the mobile communication network, wherein the system eliminates increase of system load capacity generated during the process of periodically transmitting and receiving of the information between the billing apparatus and Intelligent Network systems by using a gateway system.

[12]

[13] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION [14] According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention for achieving these objects, a method for real-time charging for use of a wireless data service to a prepaid IN subscriber in an Internet Protocol Accounting System (IPAS) of a wireless data service network is characterized by comprising: receiving a START ACCOUNTING REQUEST from a wireless data service apparatus, wherein the wireless data service apparatus is at least one chosen from an InterWorking Function (I F) and a Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN); receiving a reporting condition for an amount to use of the wireless data service of the prepaid IN subscriber from a Service Control Point (SCP) or a SCP gateway, wherein the reporting condition is at least one chosen from a predetermined interval of time and a predetermined amount to use of the wireless data service; calculating the used amount of the wireless data service of the prepaid IN subscriber using call signals generated in the wireless data service network; transmitting information of the used amount of the prepaid IN subscriber to the SCP when the reporting condition is satisfied; and transmitting a billing request corresponding to the information of the used amount of the prepaid IN subscriber to an Authentication Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server when a STOP ACCOUNTING REQUEST is received from the wireless data service apparatus.

[15] Herein, the predetermined amount to use in the reporting condition is decided correspondingly to the balance account of the prepaid IN subscriber, and number of packets available to use is decided by a service group having the most expensive billing rate per packet if a different billing rate per packet is applied to a plurality of service groups.

[16] Also, the call signal generated in the wireless data service network is traffic data transmitted to the IPAS by being duplicated by a traffic information transferring apparatus coupled between the wireless data service apparatus and an IP network.

[17] According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for generating a reporting condition corresponding to information of the used amount for a prepaid IN subscriber in either a Service Control Point (SCP) or a SCP gateway in order to charge on real-time for using the wireless data service to a prepaid IN subscriber is characterized by comprising the steps of: retrieving information of balance account of the prepaid IN subscriber when a REPORTING CONDITION OFFERING REQUEST is received from an Internet Protocol Accounting System (IPAS) or a user terminal is connected to a wireless data service network; calculating number of packets available corresponding to the balance information according to a predetermined billing rate of each service group; fixing a minimum number of packets as the reporting condition among calculated numbers of packets for a plurality of service groups; and transmitting the reporting condition to the IPAS.

[18] Herein, the method further comprises: receiving information of the used amount of the wireless data service of the prepaid IN subscriber from the IPAS; calculating a second balance information corresponding to the prepaid IN subscriber using the information of the used amount; re-calculating number of packets available corresponding to the second balance information according to predetermined billing rates by a plurality of service groups; and re-fixing a minimum number of packets available as the reporting condition for re-transmitting amount to use information when the prepaid IN subscriber's usage amount corresponds to the re-calculated minimum packet amount, after extracting minimum number of packets available among recalculated numbers of packets for a plurality of service groups.

[19] Also, the reporting condition further comprises the interval of the predetermined time period

Description of Drawings

[20] The above objects and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[21] FIG. 1 is an entire schematic diagram of a system for real-time charging for the use of data service to a prepaid IN subscriber in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[22] FIG. 2 illustrates a data flow for a procedure of a call processing for requesting data of a prepaid IN subscriber and a procedure of a billing processing in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[23] FIG. 3 illustrates a data flow for a procedure of a call processing for requesting data of a prepaid IN subscriber and a procedure of a billing processing in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[24] FIG. 4 illustrates a data flow for a procedure of a call processing for requesting data of a prepaid IN subscriber and a procedure of a billing processing in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[25] < The description of the reference characters of the maJDr parts of the drawings>

[26] 110 : PCS exchange (PCX)

[27] 115 : InterWorking Function (IWF)

[28] 120 : Packet Control Function (PCF)

[29] 125 : Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) [30] 130 : Internet Protocol Accounting System (IPAS)

[31] 135 : Service Control Point (SCP) Gateway

[32] 140 : Service Control Point (SCP)

[33] 143 : Service Switching Point (SSP)

[34] 145 : Authentication Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server

Mode for Invention

[35] The present invention provides alternate billing rates classified by service groups to prepaid services to increase the use of the wireless data service, and minimize the loss of real-time billing data corresponding to the usage of wireless data service by transmitting and receiving information of used amount periodically between a billing apparatus and Intellectual Network (IN) system.

[36] The system and method providing prepaid WISE network service of multimedia data in mobile communication network according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in further detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[37] FIG. 1 is an entire schematic diagram of a system for real-time charging for the use of data service to a prepaid IN subscriber in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[38] Referring to FIG. 1, the system for providing a prepaid-type IN service of multimedia data in accordance with the present invention comprises a PCS eXchange (PCX) 110, a InterWorking Function (IWF) 115, a Packet Control Function (PCF) 120, a Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) 125, a Internet Protocol Accounting System (IPAS) 130, a Service Control Point (SCP) gateway 135, a Service Control Point (SCP) 140, a Service Switching Point (SSP) 143 and an Authentication Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server 145.

[39] The PCX 110 is an apparatus for performing a function of processing a basic service and value-added services, a function of processing in-bound call and out-bound call, a function of performing a subscriber's location registration process and a hand- off process, and a function of coupling one network to other networks The PCX 110 may comprise an Access Switching Subsystem (ASS), an Interconnection Network Subsystem (INS), a Central Control Subsystem (CCS), a Location Registration Control Subsystem (LRS) and the like.

[40] The IWF 115 is a wireless data apparatus for interconnecting between a mobile communication system and a PSTN/Internet.

[41] The PCF 120 packetizes call data received from a user terminal (e.g., a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (FDA), a notebook computer and the like) through a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) (not shown) / a Base Station Controller (BSC) (not shown) in order to perform a packet communication using the call data, or converts packet data received from the FDSN 125 into wireless data for transmitting to the user terminal.

[42] The FDSN 125 provides data services to the user terminal according to subscriber's information corresponding to the user terminal received from the IN system comprising the SCP 140 and the AAA server 145 connected by the IP network.

[43] Here, the FDSN 125, the SCP 140 and the AAA server 145 are interconnected by the IP network or IP backbone network. It is natural that they can be interconnected directly as shown in FIG. 1.

[44] The IPAS 130 performs the billing process according to the predetermined rule by collecting the data transmitted and received between the IWF 115 and/or the FDSN 125 and the IP network and analyzing the collected data. That is, the IPAS 130 performs the billing process for all calls created in a data network, a graded billing rate function for the use of various data services, and a call control function.

[45] The IPAS 130 can comprise an Internet Protocol Accounting Filter (IPAF) (not shown), an Internet Protocol Accounting Manager (IP AM) (not shown), and the like.

[46] The IPAF receives traffic data from a Billing Dstribution Function (BDF) (not shown) that duplicates traffic data transmitted and received between the IWF 115 and/ or the FDSN 125 and the IP network and transmits the duplicated traffic data to the IPAF, and performs the data collection and billing according to the rules determined by the subscriber session through analyzing the received traffic data.

[47] The IP AM performs functions of collecting information for billing, call processing, generating and transferring billing information, and IN service processing by interconnecting with the IWF 115, the FDSN 125, the IPAF, the AAA server 145, the SCP 140 and the like, in order to apply to the respective graded billing rate according to services.

[48] The IPAS 130 can be not only consisted of the separated IPAF and the separated

IP AM, but also formed as one apparatus performing the all functions of the IPAF and the IPAM

[49] The IN service according to the present invention means a prepaid service as a service among a plurality of telecommunication services for performing new various services promptly and correctly in mobile telecommunication service.

[50] The IN system may be consisted of a transport network layer, a signaling network layer and a service network layer. The service network layer comprises the SCP 140, and the transport network layer comprises the SSP 143.

[51] The SCP gateway 135 receives a usage data corresponding to the prepaid subscriber from the IPAS 130, in order to reduce load of the SCP 140 and process billing to the subscriber.

[52] The SCP 140 retrieves IN information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber from an IN information database (not shown), and transmits the retrieved IN information to the SSP 145.

[53] The SSP 145 receives INITIAL CONNECTION REQUEST INFORMATION

(i.e., information for requesting initial connection) according to call signals from the PCX 110 and receives IN information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber from the SCP 140 by requesting the SCP 140 to transmit the IN information, if the prepaid subscriber is the prepaid IN subscriber.

[54] The AAA 145 determines whether or not the prepaid subscriber is the prepaid IN service subscriber (i.e., a subscriber that uses wireless data service after paying a certain amount of money in advance) by using subscriber database (not shown) correspondingly to PREPAID SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION REQUEST (i.e., a request for requesting to transmit information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber) received from the FDSN 125. And then, when the prepaid subscriber is the prepaid IN service subscriber, the AAA 145 transmits DETAILED INFORMATION OFFERING REQUEST (i.e., a request for requesting to offer detailed information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber) to the SCP 140 and receives detailed information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber from the SCP 140.

[55] In addition, not shown in FIG. 1, the prepaid IN service system of multimedia data according to the present invention can further comprise a billing processing apparatus for billing total service charges using billing data corresponding to the use of wireless data services and balance deduction data processed by the IPAS 130, the SCP gateway 135, the SCP 140, the AAA 145 and the like.

[56] FIG. 2 illustrates a data flow for a procedure of a call processing for requesting data of a prepaid IN subscriber and a procedure of a billing processing in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[57] That is, FIG. 2 illustrates procedures of call processing and billing processing in case that a prepaid IN subscriber requests the FDSN 125 as an end-point to transmit data.

[58] Referring to FIG. 2, the FDSN 125 receives out-bound call signals from a user terminal 203 of the prepaid subscriber who wants to use a wireless data service (step 210). At step 215, the FDSN 215 transmits an AUTHENTICATION AND AUTHORIZATION REQUEST for the user terminal 203 to the AAA server 145.

[59] The AAA server 145 determines whether or not the prepaid subscriber is the prepaid IN subscriber by retrieving from a subscriber database (not shown) using user terminal information (e.g., an ID of the mobile phone and the like) in the AUTHENTICATION AND AUTHORIZATION REQUEST of the prepaid subscriber received from the FDSN 125. When the prepaid subscriber is the prepaid IN subscriber, the AAA server 145 transmits a DETAILED INFORMATION OFFERING REQUEST (i.e., a request for requesting to offer the detailed information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber) corresponding to the prepaid subscriber to the SCP gateway 135 (step 220). The DETAILED INFORMATION OFFERING REQUEST may comprise Mobile Identification Number (MIN) information, initial connection information and the like.

[60] The SCP gateway 135 transmits an AUTHENTICATION REQUEST corresponding to the prepaid subscriber to the SCP 140 (step 222), and receives an authentication result corresponding to the prepaid subscriber from the SCP 140 (step 224). The balance information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber can be used in the authentication process for the prepaid subscriber performed by the SCP 140. In this case, the SCP 140 can acquire the balance information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber, calculate number of packets available using a tariff table, and transmit the detailed information (e.g., IN information, the packet amount available and the like) corresponding to the prepaid subscriber to the SCP gateway 135. In addition, the SCP 140 retrieves detailed information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber retrieved from an IN information database (not shown) correspondingly to the DETAILED INFORMATION OFFERING REQUEST received from the AAA server 145, and transmits the retrieved detailed information to the SCP gateway 135.

[61] The SCP gateway 135 transmits the detailed information and the authentication result received from the SCP 140 and the like to the AAA server 145 (step 225).

[62] The AAA 145 transmits an AUTHENTICATION AND AUTHORIZATION

RESPONSE (i.e., Subsinfo Response) comprising the detailed information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber received from the SCP 140 to the PDSN 125 (step 230).

[63] Here, the AUTHENTICATION AND AUTHORIZATION RESPONSE may comprise an information processing result field, a subscriber's detailed information field and an Access Denied Reason (ADR) field 520.

[64] The information processing result field is a field for indicating whether or not the process of the DETAILED INFORMATION OFFERING REQUEST corresponding to the prepaid subscriber is accomplished properly, and the ADR field is a field for indicating reasons when the process of the DETAILED INFORMATION OFFERING REQUEST corresponding to the prepaid subscriber is not accomplished properly.

[65] The subscriber's detailed information field is a field for indicating the detailed information of the subscriber, and comprises a Virtual Private Network (VPN) field, an AUTH field, a service classification code (WIN code) field, a PRICE_PLAN field, a WIN_CALL_ID field, a SVC_TYPE (Switched Virtual Connection Type) field, a USBL_TIME field, a USBL_PACKET field and so on.

[66] Then, the PPP connection is established between the PDSN 115 and the user terminal 203 (at step 235).

[67] At step 240, the FDSN 115 transmits a START ACCOUNTING REQUEST (i.e., a request for requesting to start account) corresponding to use of wireless data service and so on to the IPAS 130. The START ACCOUNTING REQUEST may comprise Mobile Identification Number (MIN) information of the user terminal 203, IP address information of the user terminal 203, IP address information of the FDSN, IN information and the like.

[68] At step 245, the IPAS 130 transmits a TRANSMISSION INTERVAL REQUEST

(i.e., a request for requesting to transmit transmission interval information) for transmitting usage amount information to the SCP 140 (or the SCP gateway 135).

[69] After either the SCP 140 or the SCP gateway 135 generates the transmission interval information for receiving the usage amount information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber from the IPAS 130, it transmits the generated transmission interval information to the IPAS 130 (step 250). The SCP 140 can transmit the transmission interval information to the IPAS 130 right after the DETAILED INFORMATION OFFERING REQUEST corresponding to the prepaid subscriber is received from the AAA 145 even if the TRANSMISSION INTERVAL REQUEST is not received from the IPAS 140.

[70] The transmission interval information may be periodical time information or predetermined usage amount. Also, the transmission interval information may be combination of the periodical time information and the predetermined usage amount. The usage amount information calculated by the SCP 140 (or the SCP gateway or any other apparatus in the IN system) is transmitted to the IPAS 130 , and fixed as a minimum number of packets available corresponding to the balance among numbers of packets calculated according to a plurality of service groups in a predetermined tariff table. For example, assuming that the amount available to use corresponding to the prepaid subscriber's balance is 100 Bytes for only service group A, 200 Bytes for only service group B or 80 Bytes for only service group C, and the prepaid subscriber uses only one service group among a plurality of service groups, the transmission interval information can be set that amount available to use is 80 Bytes. Time information for directing to transmit the prepaid subscriber's usage amount information of the wireless data service periodically even though the total usage amount available is not exhausted can be further provided to prevent the loss of the billing data due to system failure and the like.

[71] At step 255, the IPAS 130 transmits a response message corresponding to the start accounting message to the PDSN 115.

[72] User data (e.g., a data transmission request, a URL connection request), web data

(e.g., multimedia data) and the like are transmitted and received between the user terminal 203 and an application server 206 (step 260). The IPAS 130 performs a billing process by using information corresponding to data transmitted and received through the application server 206 (at step 265). Here, the IPAS 130 can further use the traffic data between the PDSN 125 and the application server 206 that are duplicated by the Billing Dstribution Function (BDF) and received from the BDF.

[73] At step 270, the IPAS 130 transmits the usage amount information (e.g., usage amount information by service groups) corresponding to the prepaid subscriber to the SCP gateway 135 if the usage amount information corresponds to the transmission interval received through step 250. The SCP gateway 140 transmits new refill information (i.e., information indicative of additional money being added to his account) corresponding to the prepaid subscriber to the IPAS 130 if the new refill information exists (step 275). A balance deduction response received from the SCP 140 can be transmitted along with the new refill information or separately. Step 275 can comprise a step of the SCP gateway 135 transmitting the usage amount information to the SCP 140, a step of the SCP 140 deducting the charge corresponding to the usage amount information from the balance, and a step of the SCP 140 transmitting the balance deduction response and/or the new refill information to the SCP gateway 135.

[74] The price plan using graded billing rates according to service groups can be applied to the prepaid subscriber and real-time balance deduction can be performed by step 270 through step 275. In addition, at step 275, the SCP gateway 135 (or the SCP 140) can transmit information corresponding to a new transmission interval to the IPAS 130 after generating the new transmission interval corresponding to the prepaid subscriber. Ibr example, assume that the usage amount available is fixed as 80 Bytes because it was calculated by using a service group C having the most expensive billing rate and the calculated usage amount is comprised in a first transmission interval. In such case, however the prepaid subscriber uses only service group A up to 80 Bytes, the IPAS 130 will transmit the used amount information of the prepaid subscriber to the SCP 140 (or the SCP gateway 135) because the used amount corresponds to the usage amount available in the first transmission interval. But, the balance corresponding to the prepaid subscriber is totally exhausted yet. Therefore, the SCP 140 (or SCP gateway 135) transmits a second transmission interval after generating the second transmission interval corresponding to the remaining balance using graded billing rates by service groups. Here, the usage amount available comprised in the second transmission interval may be smaller than the usage amount available comprised in the first transmission interval if the new refill information does not exist. Thereby, the present invention can minimize load of system because the process of balance deduction is performed after the usage amount available in the transmission interval is satisfied. But, the process of balance deduction will be performed by steps as follow, if the prepaid subscriber ends the use of wireless data service before the usage amount available in the transmission interval is satisfied.

[75] If the FDSN receives a SESSION DISCONNECTION REQUEST (i.e., a request for requesting to disconnect established session) from the user terminal 203 (step 280), the FDSN 125 transmits a STOP ACCOUNTING REQUEST (i.e., a request for requesting to stop accounting) to the IPAS 130 (step 283). The SESSION DISCONNECTION REQUESTSESSION DISCONNECTION REQUEST may comprise MIN information of the user terminal 203, IP address information of the user terminal 203, IN information, IP address information of the FDSN, a release indicator, usage amount information and the like.

[76] The IPAS 130 transmits the response corresponding to the SESSION DIS¬

CONNECTION REQUEST received from the FDSN 125 to the FDSN 125 (step 286), and transmits the usage amount information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber to the SCP gateway 135 (step 288). In such case, the usage amount information may comprise MIN information of the user terminal 203, IN information, usage amount information by categories and the like.

[77] The SCP gateway 135 transmits a BALANCE DEDUCTION REQUEST (i.e., a request for requesting to deduct charge from the account) corresponding to the data service usage amount information of the prepaid subscriber to the SCP 140 (step 290), and then receives a BALANCE DEDUCTION RESPONSE (e.g., billing data comprising information of an amount of money, balance information, new refill information and the like) from the SCP 140 (step 292). Here, as mentioned above, a step of the SCP 140 deducting the charge corresponding to the usage amount information from the balance and a step of the SCP 140 transmitting the balance deduction response and/or the new refill information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber to the SCP gateway 135 can be further comprised.

[78] And then, the IPAS 130 receives the balance deduction response and/or the new refill information from the SCP gateway 135 if the new refill information exists (step 293). The new refill information can be transmitted along with a balance deduction response received from the SCP 140 or separately.

[79] At step 296, a billing request and a response message are transmitted and received between the IPAS 130 and the AAA 145. And then, the AAA 145 transmits a charge file to the billing processing apparatus 209 (or any other apparatus in the IN system) at step 299.

[80] Until now, the method for processing data call and billing for the prepaid IN service subscriber is described in case that the balance is not exhausted until the subscriber closes the use of the wireless data service.

[81] But, the case that the balance is exhausted during the use of wireless data service and/or the balance is already exhausted at an initial connection stage may be if the subscriber is the prepaid subscriber. The case that the balance is exhausted during the use of wireless data service will be described with reference to FIG. 3. Hereinafter, the processes performed by the FDSN 125, the IPAS 130, the SCP gateway 135 and the SCP 140 are described in case that the balance is already exhausted at an initial connection stage.

[82] Rrstly, the IDSN 125 transmits an A UTHENTICATION AND AU¬

THORIZATION REQUEST for the user terminal 203 to the AAA 145 after receiving out-bound call signals from the user terminal 203.

[83] The AAA 140 transmits a DETAILED INFORMATION OFFERING REQUEST corresponding to the prepaid subscriber to the SCP gateway 135. The DETAILED INFORMATION OFFERING REQUEST may comprise MIN information of the user terminal 203, initial connection information and the like.

[84] The SCP gateway 135 transmits balance exhaustion information (i.e., detailed in- formation corresponding to the prepaid subscriber) indicative of being totally exhausted all balance to the AAA 145 after recognizing the exhaustion of the prepaid subscriber's balance using the balance information acquired by co-working with the SCP 140.

[85] The AAA 145 transmits a response message (e.g., 'Result=Unsuccessful,

ADR=balance_exhaust') corresponding to the A UTHENTICATION AND AUTHORIZATION REQUEST to the FDSN 125 using the detailed information received from the SCP gateway 135.

[86] FIG. 3 illustrates a data flow for a procedure of a call processing for requesting data of a prepaid IN subscriber and a procedure of a billing processing in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[87] That is, FIG. 3 illustrates in case that a FDSN as an end-point of PPP establishment performs the session disconnection when the balance is exhausted (i.e., the account balance falls to zero) during the prepaid IN service subscriber's use of the wireless data service. But, the explanation about step 310 through step 353 shown in FIG. 3 shall be omitted because they are the same as step 210 through step 265 shown in FIG. 2.

[88] With reference to FIG. 3, at step 356, a IPAS 130 transmits the prepaid subscriber's usage amount (e.g., usage amount information by categories) to a SCP gateway 135 after performing a billing process by using information corresponding to data transmitted and received through the application server 206.

[89] At step 359, the IPAS 130 transmits the BALANCE DEDUCTION REQUEST corresponding to the prepaid subscriber's usage amount of wireless data service to a SCP 140 (step 359). The usage amount information transmitted to the SCP 140 may comprise MIN information of a user terminal 203, IN information, usage amount by categories and the like. When the balance corresponding to the prepaid subscriber is exhausted, the SCP 140 transmits balance exhaustion information (e.g., interim- cha(ADR=balance_exhaust)) to the IPAS 130 at step 363.

[90] In addition, since the data flow illustrated in FIG. 3 is for the prepaid IN service subscriber, a procedure of transmitting and receiving the usage amount information, the balance deduction response and/or the new refill information periodically between the IPAS 130 and the SCP 140 (or the SCP gateway 135) can be performed prior to step 363, in order to determine whether or not the balance corresponding to the prepaid subscriber is totally exhausted.

[91] Because the prepaid balance for using the wireless data service is exhausted, the

IPAS 130 transmits a SERVICE RESTRICTION REQUEST for requesting to restrict the use of the prepaid subscriber (e.g., Qualification Drective (Reason = balance_exhaust)) to the FDSN 125 (step 369).

[92] The FDSN 125 transmits a response message corresponding to the SERVICE RE¬

STRICTION REQUEST to the IPAS 130 (step 373) and disconnects the session established with the user terminal 203 (step 376).

[93] The FDSN 125 transmits the SESSION DISCONNECTION REQUEST to the

IPAS 130 (step 379). The SESSION DISCONNECTION REQUEST may comprise MIN information of the user terminal 203, IP address information of the user terminal 203, IP address information of the PDSN, IN information, a release indicator, usage amount information and the like.

[94] The IPAS 130 transmits a response message corresponding to the SESSION DIS¬

CONNECTION REQUEST to the FDSN 125 (step 383). And then, the IPAS 130 transmits and receives a billing request and a response message to and from an AAA 145 (step 386), and transmits a charge file to a billing processing apparatus 209 (step 389).

[95] FIG. 4 illustrates a data flow for a procedure of a call processing for requesting data of a prepaid IN subscriber and a procedure of a billing processing in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[96] That is, FIG. 4 illustrates procedures of call processing and billing processing in case that a prepaid IN subscriber requests an InterWorking Function (IWF) as an end- point to transmit data.

[97] Referring to FIG. 4, a PCS exchange (PCX) 110 receives an out-bound call signals from the user terminal 203 of the prepaid subscriber who wants to use a wireless data service (step 413), and transmits an LSUP message for establishing PPP connection to an InterWorking Function (IWF) 115 (step 416). Here, the PCX 110 can be divided into an out-bound PCX and an in-bound PCX, and each of the PCXs can perform respective process.

[98] In addition, if the prepaid subscriber is a prepaid IN subscriber, step 416 comprises a step that the PCX 110 transmits an INITIAL CONNECTION REQUEST signal corresponding to the out-bound call signal to a SSP 143, a step that the SSP 143 requires a SCP 140 to transmit IN information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber, a step that the SCP 140 retrieves the IN information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber, a step that the SCP 140 transmits the retrieved IN information to the SSP 143, a step that the SSP 143 transmits a data service request signal to the IWF 115 directly (or through the PCX 110) after receiving the IN information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber from the SCP 140, and the like.

[99] At step 419, the PPP connection is established between the IWF 115 and the user terminal 203 through the PCX 110.

[100] And then, the IWF 115 transmits a START ACCOUNTING REQUEST corresponding to usage of wireless data service to the IPAS 130 (step 423). The START ACCOUNTING REQUEST may comprise Mobile Identification Number (MIN) information of the user terminal 203, IN information, IP address information of the user terminal 203, IP address information of the IWF 115 and the like.

[101] The IPAS 130 transmits a response message corresponding to the START

ACCOUNTING REQUEST to the IWF 115 (step 426), and transmits a DETAILED INFORMATION OFFERING REQUEST corresponding to the prepaid subscriber to the SCP gateway 135 (step 429). The DETAILED INFORMATION OFFERING REQUEST may comprise MIN information, IN information request, IWF information and the like.

[102] The SCP gateway 135 transmits an AUTHENTICATION REQUEST corresponding to the prepaid subscriber to the SCP 140 (step 433), and receives an authentication result corresponding to the AUTHENTICATION REQUEST from the SCP 140 (step 436). Here, balance information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber can be used in the authentication process for the prepaid subscriber performed by the SCP 140. In addition, the SCP 140 (or SCP gateway 135) can acquire the balance information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber, calculate the packet amounts available using a tariff table, generate the detailed information (e.g., IN information, the packet amount available and the like can be comprised) corresponding to the prepaid subscriber by using the calculated packet amounts, and transmit the detailed information to the IPAS 130. In addition, the SCP 140 retrieves detailed information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber retrieved from an IN information database (not shown) correspondingly to the DETAILED INFORMATION OFFERING REQUEST received from the IPAS 130, and transmits the retrieved detailed information to the SCP gateway 135.

[103] At step 439, the SCP gateway 135 transmits the detailed information and the authentication result received from the SCP 140 and the like to the IPAS 130 (step 439).

[104] At step 443, the IPAS 130 transmits a TRANSMISSION INTERVAL REQUEST for transmitting usage amount information to the SCP 140 (or the SCP gateway 135).

[105] After the SCP 140 (or the SCP gateway 135) generates the transmission interval information for receiving the usage amount information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber from the IPAS 130, it transmits the generated transmission interval information to the IPAS 130 (step 446).

[106] Here, as mentioned above, the SCP 140 (or the SCP gateway 135) can transmit the transmission interval information to the IPAS 130 at arbitrary step (e.g., a step of providing detailed information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber), even if the TRANSMISSION INTERVAL REQUEST is not received from the IPAS 140.

[107] At step 449, user data (e.g., a data transmission request, a URL connection request and the like), web data (e.g., multimedia data) and the like are transmitted and received between the user terminal 203 and an application server 206. The IPAS 130 performs a billing process by using information corresponding to data transmitted and received through the application server 206 (at step 453). Here, the IPAS 130 can further use the traffic data duplicated by the Billing Dstribution Function (BDF) and received from the BDF.

[108] At step 456, the IPAS 130 transmits the usage amount information (e.g., usage amount information by service groups) corresponding to the prepaid subscriber if the usage amount information are in accord with the transmit interval information received through step 446. At step 459, the IPAS 130 receives new refill information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber from the SCP gateway 135 if the new refill information exists. A balance deduction response can be transmitted along with the new refill information or separately. In such case, the step that the SCP 140 deducts a sum of money from the balance correspondingly to the usage amount of wireless data service, and the step that the SCP 140 transmits the balance deduction response and/or the new refill information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber to the SCP gateway 135 can be further comprised.

[109] The price plan using graded billing rate according to service groups can be applied to the prepaid subscriber and real-time balance deduction can be performed by step 456 through step 459.

[110] In addition, the SCP 140 (or the SCP gateway 135) can generate new transmission interval information corresponding to the prepaid subscriber by using the remaining balance, and transmit the new transmission interval information to the IPAS 130.

[I l l] Then, if the PCX 110 receives a SESSION DISCONNECTION REQUEST from the user terminal 203 while the balance corresponding to the subscriber remains (i.e., the balance is not exhausted totally) at the step 463, the PCX 110 transmits an IS UP message to the IWF 115 in order to direct to disconnect the established PPP connection between the user terminal 203 and the IWF 115. [112] At step 473, the IWF 115 transmits a SESSION DISCONNECTION REQUEST to the IPAS 130. The SESSION DISCONNECTION REQUEST may comprise MIN information of the user terminal 203, IP address information of the user terminal 203, IP address information of the IWF, a release indicator and the like.

[113] The IPAS 130 transmits a response message corresponding to the stop accounting message to the IWF 115 (step 476), and transmits the data service usage amount information of the prepaid subscriber to the SCP 140 (step 479).

[114] The SCP gateway 135 transmits a BALANCE DEDUCTION REQUEST corresponding to the data service usage amount information of the prepaid subscriber to the SCP 140 (step 481), and receives a balance deduction response (e.g., billing data comprising information of an amount of money, remaining balance information, new refill information and the like) from the SCP 140 (step 483).

[115] At step 486, the IPAS 130 receives the balance deduction response (e.g., billing data comprising information of an amount of money, the remaining balance information, new refill information) corresponding to the prepaid subscriber from the SCP gateway 135. The data service usage amount information may comprise MIN information of the user terminal 203, IN information, usage amount by categories and the like.

[116] And then, the IPAS 130 transmits and receives a billing request and a response message to and from the AAA 145 (step 489).

[117] Until now, with reference to FIG. 4, the method for processing data call and billing for the prepaid IN service subscriber is described in case that the balance is not exhausted until the subscriber closes the use of the wireless data service.

[118] But, the cases that the balance is exhausted during the use of wireless data service and/or the balance is already exhausted at an initial connection stage may be if the subscriber is the prepaid subscriber. Hereinafter, in respective cases, the processes performed by the IWF 115, the IPAS 130 and the SCP 140 are described.

[119] Firstly, if the subscriber is the prepaid IN service subscriber through the IWF and the balance is already exhausted at an initial connection stage, a process of co- working with the IPAS 130 and the like, and generating billing data is not performed since the IN system performs a process of processing session establishment failure.

[120] Secondly, a process of managing session and billing is described in case that the balance is exhausted totally while the subscriber use the wireless data service using the IWF 115 as an end-point of the PPP connection.

[121] The SCP 140 (or the SCP gateway 135) transmits balance exhaustion information (e.g., data-err(ADR=balance_exhaust)) to the IPAS 130 after recognizing the exhaustion of the prepaid subscriber's balance using the data service usage amount information (e.g., billing data) received from the IPAS 130.

[122] The IPAS 130 transmits a SERVICE RESTRICTION REQUEST (e.g., Qualification Drective(Reason=balance_exhaust)) to the IWF 115, and the IWF 115 transmits the ISUP message to disconnect the established session to the PCX 110. Then, the PCX 110 disconnects the established session between the user terminal 203 and the PCX 110. The cost for the use of the wireless data service of the prepaid subscriber will be billed until the use of data service is restricted by the IWF 115 and the PCX 110.

[123] Since the terminology used in the present invention is defined in association with the functions of the present invention so that various terms may be interchanged by those who are skilled in the art or practice of the corresponding technical field, the meanings of each definition must be interpreted in association with the overall specification of the present invention.

[124] Also, since the present invention has been described by referring to the preferred embodiments so that those who are skilled in the art can easily modify the present invention when considering the technical difficulty, the aforementioned embodiments and their modifications will not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

[125] As described above, the system and method according to the present invention can charge with a graded billing rate according to services on real-time by combination of a prepaid IN service and a price plan for multimedia data, and provide a comprehensive way for minimizing the loss of billing data.

[126] Further, the present invention can real-time deduct a charge corresponding to the used amount of multimedia data from the subscriber's account by periodically transmitting and receiving usage amount information between a billing apparatus and Intelligent Network systems.

[127] Furthermore, the present invention can solve the problem associated with increase of system load capacity created during the process of periodically transmitting and receiving of usage amount information between a billing apparatus and Intelligent Network systems by using a gateway system.

Claims

[1] A method for real-time charging for use of a wireless data service to a prepaid IN subscriber in anlnternet Protocol Accounting System(IPAS) of a wireless data service network, comprising the steps of: receiving a START ACCOUNTING REQUEST from a wireless data service apparatus, wherein the wireless data service apparatus is at least any one of an InterWorking Function (IWF) and a Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN); receiving a reporting condition for an amount to use of the wireless data service of the prepaid IN subscriber from a Service Control Point (SCP) or a SCP gateway, wherein the reporting condition comprises at least one chosen from a predetermined interval of time period and a predetermined amount to use of the wireless data service; calculating the used amount of the wireless data service for the prepaid IN subscriber using call signals generated in the wireless data service network; transmitting an information of the calculated used amount for the prepaid IN subscriber to the SCP when the reporting condition is satisfied; and transmitting a billing request corresponding to the information for the prepaid IN subscriber to an

Authentication Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server when a SESSION DISCONNECTION REQUEST is received from the wireless data service apparatus.

[2] The method as described in Claim 1, wherein said predetermined - amount to use in the reporting condition is decided correspondingly to the balance of the prepaid IN subscriber, and number of packets available to use is decided by a service group having the most expensive billing rate per packet if a plurality of service groups are differently applied to graded billing rates per packet.

[3] The method described in Claim 1, wherein said call signal generated in the wireless data service network is traffic data transmitted to the IPAS by being duplicated by a traffic information transferring apparatus coupled between the wireless data service apparatus and an IP network.

[4] The method for generating a reporting condition corresponding to information relating to usage amount for a prepaid IN subscriber in either a Service Control Point (SCP) or a SCP gateway in order to real-time charge for the use of a wireless data service of a prepaid IN subscriber with the charge of, comprising the steps of: retrieving a first balance information corresponding to the prepaid IN subscriber when a REPORTING CONDITION OFFERING REQUEST is received from an

Internet Protocol Accounting System (IPAS) or a user terminal of the prepaid IN subscriber is connected to a wireless data service network; calculating number of packets available to use corresponding to the first balance information according to predetermined billing rates classified by a plurality of service groups; fixing a minimum packet number as the reporting condition for transmitting a usage amount information when the prepaid IN subscriber's usage amount corresponds to the minimum packet number, after extracting the minimum packet number available among calculated packet numbers for a plurality of service groups; and transmitting the reporting condition to the IPAS.

[5] The method described in Claim 4, further comprising: receiving information relating to the usage amount of the wireless data service of the prepaid IN subscriber from the IPAS; calculating a second balance information corresponding to the prepaid IN subscriber using the information relating to the usage amount; re-calculating numbers of packets available to use corresponding to the second balance information according to predetermined billing rates by a plurality of service groups; and re-fixing a minimum packet number available as the reporting condition for retransmitting a usage amount information when the prepaid IN subscriber's usage amount corresponds to the re-calculated minimum packet number, after extracting the minimum packet number available among re-calculated packet numbers for a plurality of service groups.

[6] The method described in Claim 4, wherein said reporting condition further comprises the interval of the predetermined time period.

[7] A computer-readable medium including containing computer-executable instruction for performing a method for real-time charging for a wireless data service of a prepaid IN subscriber in anlnternet Protocol Accounting System(IPAS) of a wireless data service network, the computer-executable instruction comprising the steps of: receiving a START ACCOUNTING REQUEST from a wireless data service apparatus, wherein the wireless data service apparatus is at least one chosen from an InterWorking Function (IWF) and a Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN); receiving a reporting condition for a usage amount of the wireless data service of the prepaid IN subscriber from a Service Control Point (SCP) or a SCP gateway, wherein the reporting condition comprises at least one chosen from a predetermined interval of time period and a predetermined usage amount of the wireless data service; calculating the used amount of the wireless data service for the prepaid IN subscriber using call signals generated in the wireless data service network; transmitting information of the used amount for the prepaid IN subscriber to the SCP when the reporting condition is satisfied; and transmitting a billing request corresponding to the information of the calculated amount for the prepaid IN subscriber to an Authentication Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server when a SESSION DISCONNECTION REQUEST is received from the wireless data service apparatus.