Method for effecting telecommunication connections at low cost and a device for carrying out the method

The Invention relates to a method for effecting telecommunication connections in a telecommunications system with competing user rates, wherein a selection of expensive Tariff a given user based on data in a memory is performed contained competing rates, wherein these data Prices depending of at least one of the following parameters, starting time for the communication connection, Week, holiday and tariff zone represent the completion time and the duration of a telecommunication connection and the associated data belong to the collective data above, the telecommunication connection is switched through without previous choice of a single tariff.

In Telecommunication systems in which a plurality of network providers with different tariffs telecommunication connections (telephone connections, Telefax connections, data connections) via the public telecommunication network provide or cause the rates differ depending of week, holiday, time of day, and in this regard, between which locations the connection is effected. In a case of a plurality of network providers this results in a multitude of possible combinations, which there by checking of tariff tables for make the user extremely difficult, the least expensive connection tariff for a select given situation. For this reason, so-called low-routers or cheap guide for a connection available at the user been made which have a memory in which data of are different tariffs stored and which, when the user intends to carry out a phone call, and based on the stored tariffs, the current time of day, day of the week or the Holiday and tariff zone, which belongs to the dialed number (in particular the area code), based on this information the least expensive Rate or its provider and then determine the so-called call-by-call procedure use to the number of characterized particular vendor, in this To include the case of a network provider, which continues with the number, which is selected by the user, but not yet to the public A telecommunications network has been passed, and then this Total number combination into the public Telecommunication network sends. The call may characterized by be handled and calculates the predetermined provider, where the duration of the call and the start time and termination time, which together define an important time window for the fees, for determining calculated by the network provider charges are used.

one can optionally specific, such as toll-free, numbers (in Germany eg 0800) and expensive call (in Germany eg 0190) without initiating a comparison of tariffs by connecting directly.

It is often the case that differences between a calculation of Individual rates depending the length the conversation are obtained, wherein, for example, if a conversation only ten seconds takes, a provider A on expensive is, however, when the conversation Lasts 50 seconds, a provider B is the most economical, and then, when the conversation 60 seconds or longer it takes, a provider of affordable C is. Although this situation is known in the prior art, it is been considered up to now only to a limited extent. But attempts a user selection by the low cost router based on its Phone habits (perhaps very short calls or perhaps only very long conversations) to influence, the low cost router trying to select based on the previously communicated phone habits of a user to cause. tariffs may also in charge units expressed will.

A Procedure of this type is always accurate, the greater the Number of different individuals is calling from the terminal out.

A another possibility is for the user who is about to perform an outgoing call, the fact the possible length of Call in advance to communicate at a low cost router which for consider of different call lengths is equipped. In this way, the user can often have the advantage have a special cheap rate. However, should the user Show that a longer Call duration for the compound should be provided, and unintentionally incorrect selects party (Eg an incorrect number selected) then the selection of the tariff was based on the expected length of the call done wrong and he was not the least expensive Tariff.

US-A-5 553 131 discloses a computing system that cost-effective to Service on a long distance for a subscriber by analyzing calls over long distances in a Aggregate, by comparing their costs between multiple vendors and by calculating fees for the Participants at the lowest cost provides balanced.

The Determining the cost of the service is based on either a length or Miles a total time. In a first case, the duration of calls while a predetermined time period in <?page 3?>one of a plurality of bands of Miles lengths placed. The duration of the calls is accumulated within each band of miles lengths and belonging to the tape Costs are calculated by multiplying the accumulated time with a cost factor per unit time determined. The cost per band of miles lengths be for different vendors calculated and lowest cost for each Band of miles lengths be selected and the subscriber billed. In a second case, made calls in chronological order, the duration of will each specific call for the duration of the previously conducted calls added, and the duration of the call in question is a variable cost per unit time multiplied. The variable Cost factor provides a total discount available since the cost factor per unit time is lower if the total duration of is greater calls.

It is the underlying purpose of the invention, the above-mentioned To avoid disadvantages.

The Invention avoids these disadvantages using a method the above-mentioned type in that, after the above mentioned Telecommunication connection has ended, the rate data of this Compound may be used to determine the charge applicable to these Compound of the cheapest , while the duration of the telecommunication connection and this most economical is taken into account and cheapest Tariff for accounting for is used the subscriber.

Of the Tariff is characterized only selected, after the interview is completed, wherein the time duration of the conversation and other parameters, such as set forth above or even additional parameters, the types consider to which the individual rates differ, considered in order to determine the tariff, the cheapest would have been, and wherein the user a charge for the call is billed, as close as possible at these actual expensive Tariff will come, and in particular corresponds exactly to this rate, or actually perhaps a little less than the tariff, or if it the wishes provider, perhaps somewhat This rate is.

at a variant of the method of the invention, a determination is the least expensive Tariff performed directly after the end of Telecommunications.

at a variant of the method of the invention it is provided that between the calling party and the network of the provider the least expensive Tariff occurred costs and pay after leaving the network between the party who is being called, and the network considered be when the most affordable Tariff is determined.

For data transport, this means for the Telephone conversation, can any public Access paths are used, such as the IP-method (telephone conversations with The Internet Protocol, IP) The Internet telephony extremely cheap and should be considered in the comparison, if the availability of appropriate computer equipment for the User is given. In this way, even conversations over large distances with costs local calls effected or executed will.

According to a another aspect, the invention relates to a method by which the fees for a telephone conversation (Or any other type of telecommunications) in a public Network through the network or middlemen / resellers to a termination of the connection, and by taking into consideration the start time, the completion time, the duration of the connection, the tariff zone and, optionally, of other necessary Parameters are determined. Different from the prior art is not only one tariff (the tariff of the network provider) considered, but before calculation of the fees will be a variety of Parameters, which are indicated above, or on other parameters, which could be important, or a selection thereof having a sufficient degree of distinguishability and predictability used from the variety of tariffs, offered by other network providers or intermediaries / resellers be to select the tariff, the for that call on expensive would, and using this rate (not necessarily in strict compliance order) are the fees for the users for this compound calculated. This also applies to a suitable Modification if the settlement by an intermediary / reseller causes becomes.

The Invention also relates to devices for performing the method according to the invention. It is characterized to a network represented by a network provider is operated and which for each telecommunication link the relevant data records, including the duration of the call, the fees to calculate. According to the invention uses a determination of the fees a memory in which Data contained by competing tariffs and what individual are associated with parameters, whereby the ending time and the duration the connection to these parameters include. In Depending<?page 4?>ness of whether the service provider or middlemen / resellers the Calculation of charges for the User causes have the charging devices the network provider or intermediary access to the top specified memory with the data of competitive rates and to lead in the manner described above either in strict compliance with certain expensive Tariff or with deviations from this tariff calculation the fee by which is provided to the user into account.

at embodiments the device according to the invention is a call data memory provided, in which the discussions or other telecommunication connections of a user separately dependent on can be saved from those tariffs, calculated with which the associated conversation becomes. In this way it is for the network provider or for the middlemen / resellers advantageously possible on End of a billing period, such as one month, during which a single charge, the conversations is referenced by the user and already recorded is actually billed easily for reductions to ensure (rebates) available from another network provider or distributor / reseller, as eg depending of the extent to talks, and for the network provider or the middleman / dealer who the invention uses, and to credit this to the user. This has a single network provider or distributor / reseller a size Number of different possible accounts for a user, each corresponding to a tariff, thereby other network providers or distributors / resellers meet. A storing call data, the different tariffs are associated, in particular charges on a type which is associated with the respective rate, was described above for a device, but it is also used as an improvement of the method according to the invention considered.

instead of assigning the data, including fees, of individual talks to the associated Tariff and thereby resulting separate collecting these, It is also possible, the data of a single user at first, for example, on a purely chronological manner, within a given billing period to collect and only evaluate this data separately and / or sort, if the settlement is created and the individual Rates are used which then of course the individually stored Call charges Information must contain.

The Network, a large be or a small network, such as a local area network or a metropolitan area network.

at the embodiments described below, the back -acting Calculation of a toll, which is most advantageous for the user is carried out for example by a network provider who offers this possibility serving, and in another embodiment, it is a middleman / dealer executed the not even related to the network, but a contractual agreement with a network provider to "Sell" from telecommunications capacity of the network provider for single conversations has and using data to it by the network provider be delivered in respect of each individual call (of course, including telephone connections or data connections), as a data group with all the details for one Comparison of tariffs needed are, and in addition for a Communication to the user, for example, together with a monthly Accounting and a separation of the calls according to the different fare zones and / or with an enclosure the called telephone number, the cheapest date and the fee for the call is calculated.

On suitable operating procedures for the method according to the invention requires that the data relating to the rates which data are stored in the memory, corresponding to the current tariffs, offered by network providers or intermediaries / resellers will.

At the Calculating the fees for a specific phone call considered one as far as the fees are concerned, which are to provide the user into account, not, on which telephone communication path the objective telephone conversation indeed accomplished has been. Rather, it may be advantageous for the user easy to calculate the associated fee assume that the connection along the least expensive path was taken, the offered by the provider of the least expensive tariff becomes.

According to the invention , the user automatically has the advantage that even if a user select a preset must order another single living being in a neighboring town to contacting, said compound by a local connection a network provider is calculated, but by a different network operator as a call on a long distance is considered, the local tariff of the first said agent as determined least expensive tariff, and then with the above possible deviations as a base for the accounting for the associated Phone call is used. This provides the technical and marketing possibility an actual <?page 5?>Abrechnens a fee For this Type of call for available to the user, which is lower than that of another network provider.

More Features and advantages may from the following description of embodiments of the invention be derived by referring to the drawings, the details shows that for the invention are important, and from the claims. These features can in each case in embodiments individually to the invention or together in any combination will be realized.

<figref idrefs="S14">1</figref> shows a telecommunication system comprising a plurality of networks,

<figref idrefs="S14">2</figref> shows a first embodiment of a Device according to the invention, and

<figref idrefs="S14">3</figref> shows a second embodiment of a Device according to the invention.

<figref idrefs="S14">1</figref> shows schematically a telephone network N1 having a plurality (two are shown) of connection points <figref>5</figref> and <figref>6</figref>, The terminal device<figref>7</figref> one User is connected to the junction <figref>5</figref> (Central Office, Switch) by means of a dialing procedure, and the terminal device <figref>7 '</figref> of a user, who lives in another city, is connected to the junction <figref>6</figref> connected, and the two connection points are a sufficient number of transmission channels <figref>10</figref> together connected. The network N1 is connected to additional networks N2 and N3.

<figref idrefs="S14">2</figref> shows schematically components for the invention are important, which are important for the invention, which in the example connected to the junction <figref>5</figref> connected are. To start, has this passage in a conventional Thus, a coupling point network <figref>12</figref> to, by means of which a call (The voice telephone call, as described above, also refers to telefax communications or connections and a data connection) from a calling Users, the according to the representation of the <figref idrefs="S14">2</figref> is located to the left, to a called user (Right), or switched, is mediated. Data relating to this conversation, conventionally in a call detail record (= CDR = call detail record) are, contain information relating to the start time of the compound, if the connection is transmitted by another network and optionally Information with respect to the path along which this communication ran or walked, information with respect to the external carrier (Eg the network provider) who have passed the telephone conversation, and other necessary Information (in particular the telephone numbers of the calling and called party). These data are initially in a computing device<figref>14</figref> among consideration the end time of the conversation (This is the time when the conversation ended and by which the length the conversation can be determined) and taking into account the tariff of the network provider of the network N1, which in the example of the computing device <figref>14</figref> saved is, for each single call when a group of call charges, the within a memory <figref>16</figref> are included, the symbol as moderately Memory is shown with a rotating storage medium stored. These charges be provided to those users by the network providers in accounting, do not take advantage of the option to determine the least expensive have taken Tariff to complete.

According to the invention has the connection point (ICP) <figref>5</figref> a computing device <figref>18</figref> (at other embodiments the invention is arranged centrally and by means of the computing device Data links connected to a plurality of ICPs) to which which belongs to the currently completed this week call detail record of the computing device <figref>14</figref> is supplied. The computing device<figref>18</figref> used the stored tariff data from all other network providers or other dealers in a collective memory <figref>20</figref> are stored, which been recognized by the operator of the network N1 to be important were to determine those tariff which considering the start and the end time, the duration, the weekday and other potential important parameters for the least expensive call charge leads. The resulting fees and the call detail record, in a free space <figref>22</figref> stored. The network provider may, for example, the monthly billing for a specified user using the in the charges memory <figref>22</figref> saved generate data. The network provider can then thereby also possible Volume Discounts or other types of discounts account. In addition, the provider specific conversation quantity use within a certain time period to make a comparison run with all tariff data in the computing device to consider, whether other providers a greater quantity discount are within this time period, and to this when calculating the fee be taken into account.

at a further embodiment of the invention, in connection with <figref idrefs="S14">3</figref> described is the network provider of the network N1 delivers not even a billing for the lowest possible Costs. In this case, however, is a middleman / resellers available, the person can not directly access the network N1, however, a contract has with the provider of the network N1, which is allowing him to &lt;?page 6?&gt;participating Users settles that authorized by the intermediaries / resellers are and of the service provider in any way to other Way are visible. The above mentioned recognition can, for example by are causing the network access the phone numbers of these Users familiar with, or the fact that these phone numbers by certain additional component on provided a technical device of the intermediary available will. to enable a Abrechnens communicates a network provider, the call data to middlemen. For this and accordance with the configuration <figref idrefs="S14">3</figref> is the left joint in <figref idrefs="S14">1</figref>, with a reference number <figref>5 '</figref> provided is to them over of the <figref idrefs="S14">2</figref> to distinguish, and contrary to the junction <figref>5</figref> of the <figref idrefs="S14">2</figref>. in the conventional Manner so configured that a computing device <figref>24</figref> the Standard fees settles at a user who telephoned over this network N1 has, without a middleman / resellers to use, and stores the same in a memory <figref>16</figref> for each each user.

The computing device <figref>24</figref> sends the data to the call detail record to the middlemen / resellers for the authorized users on a transmission channel <figref>26</figref>. wherein the middlemen / resellers a evaluation unit <figref>28</figref> has the computing device a <figref>18</figref> having, with the computing device <figref>18</figref> of the <figref idrefs="S14">2</figref> comparable is, and also for their Part tariff data from a collective memory <figref>20</figref> evaluates to the least expensive tariff for to determine the call has already been terminated. In this be the case, as in <figref idrefs="S14">2</figref>, The data in a storage fees <figref>22</figref> stored. are the middlemen / resellers these charges as the settlement at the appropriate time based on the in the charges memory <figref>22</figref> contained fee data to from users. In the middlemen / resellers themselves are billed by the network provider charges for fees belong, in the charges memory <figref>16</figref> contain are (for example, the sum of the fees minus a volume discount).

The above mentioned connection of an additional element with the call number a calling user associated with using this additional Element by the network provider of the device <figref>5 '</figref> processed is such that its data to the middlemen / resellers forwarded be, can be effected in a particularly simple manner when the middlemen / resellers themselves a phone device operates by means of which a plurality of individual users and companies access to a single Connection or have the characteristics of a multi-device installation may, without that these companies actually a multiple unit installation in their offices have. Since the talks to walk over channels to which the intermediaries / resellers a Access has the middlemen / resellers can a special characterizing feature into the call detail record introduce. Such intermediaries / resellers is then equal to a service provider in this regard that he one to certain a extent technical device and information (call detail record) which it others to out place is, can influence.

The Invention to such embodiments included, in which the user who, for example through the middlemen / resellers and be technical device <figref>28</figref> of the <figref idrefs="S14">3</figref> operated will not have access to reduced individual conversational telephones has, and rather as a fee discount Amend the end of a billing period. In this case, pay the users eventually also reduced fees compared with those who he network service provider without the services the device <figref>28</figref> would have paid that operated by the intermediaries / resellers becomes.

at other embodiments The invention N1 a local area network or local area network, namely in the power City network with a single connection point or switch.

The The above describes a method for effecting telecommunication connections for users in a telecommunications system having competing rates, which a selection of a tariff, which for the user at the least expensive is, is performed based on data in a memory stored containing competing rates, these rates Prices dependent on at least one of the following parameters represent: Start Time the telecommunication connection, day, day of vacation or holiday and tariff zone. The method is characterized in that the end time and the duration of a telecommunication connection and the associated data additional parameters are associated with the tariff data given above, the communications link without first selecting switched or switched from any one of the tariffs is, and the tariff data, after the telecommunication connection has been completed, be used to determine those tariff, the taking into account the length the telecommunications link would have been affordable, with a Settling against the user the least expensive Tariff considered. In this way, it is possible Users over the a lower fee for the talk settle.