Method and apparatus for billing in a telecommunication network

The present invention relates to a method for determining a Fee in a telecommunications network according to the preamble of the Claim 1 and a device according to the preamble of claim . 7

It is known that charging for use of a Communications services is carried out by static charges. In a static Tariff are the charges for the use of the communications service of the operator of the communication service specified in advance. On Example of such a static rate is generally in Telecommunications networks usual charging for the construction of a Connection from a first to a second subscriber in dependence from the time when the connection is established, and the distance between the two parties.

Another example of a static rate is particularly Telecommunication networks with an asynchronous transmission method used charging as a function of the transmitted Amount of information between the first and the second subscriber.

It is the object of the present invention, a charge for Use of a communications service in a define telecommunications network, so that a uniform load a telecommunications network is made possible.

This object is achieved by the technical teaching of claim 1 and Claim 7 dissolved.

In this case, a user in dependence on one of him predetermined charge limit a choice of several different configured communication services offered.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are the dependent refer claims.

In the following the invention and its advantages with reference to a Embodiment and the drawing shows. It shows:<dl tsize="9"><dt>The figure</dt><dd>an example of a telecommunication network, in which The inventive method can be performed, with one embodiment of an inventive Device.</dd></dl>

The figure shows a telecommunication network with a plurality of T Switching centers, one of which in the figure, the switching centers VST 1, ..., VSTX, ..., VSTN are shown. The exchanges are not illustrated transmission equipment directly or indirectly with each other connected. At the central office subscriber can be connected be. In the present example is to the switching center VST 1 Participants A and to the exchange VSTN a subscriber B connected. The telecommunication network T further includes a central controller TZ. The switching centers VST 1, ..., VSTX, ..., VSTN convey in this example predetermined information for detecting and evaluating, in particular for static purposes, to the central controller TZ. Such predetermined information is in particular also information on the burden of Telecommunications network. Load here means the availability of Resources within the telecommunication network T.

The central control device TZ contains in the present example, a Fees fixing means GM establishing the fee for use a communication service to a predetermined criterion. On Such a predeterminable criterion can, for example, the burden of Telecommunication network T or an advertising campaign with reduced his fee of the operator or any other organization. Of the Communications service may be any within the Telecommunication network T viable service or its features, such as the establishment of a connection from a first to a second subscriber, a call diversion from a first to a second or a conference between several its participants.

The central controller TZ with the fees fixing means GM is advantageous for the practice of the present invention, however, unnecessary. It is possible to control within the Telecommunication network T and the determination of the fee for Use of the communication service exclusively via a Signaling between the switching centers VST 1, ..., VSTX, VSTN the telecommunications network T perform. Here, on the central control unit TC can be omitted. The objects of the central controller TZ can be decentralized to the individual Exchanges of the telecommunications network T to run.

In the present example, a compound as a communication service constructed by the subscriber A to the subscriber B. These are in the telecommunication network T resources occupied. This provides for the Telecommunication network T another burden. In this case, is the predetermined criterion for determining the charge for the use the communication service the burden of the telecommunications network T. to a result of the switching centers VST 1, ..., VSTX, ..., VSTN the central control device information about the transmitted TZ Load state of the telecommunications network T is central of the Controller TZ first information about the burden of Telecommunication network T is determined. This provision of the load the telecommunications network T will advantageously by specific time clock instead, so that the information about the load of the Telecommunication network T is updated regularly. For the Connection from the subscriber A to the subscriber B is a channel switched through the telecommunications network T. The to characterized occupying resources of the telecommunications network T are the central Controller TZ known. This additional burden of Telecommunication network T due to the use of Communications service by the subscriber A is hereinafter referred to as second information referred. Depending on the first and second information is then of the fee setting means GM, the charge for the use of the communication service specified. This fee is the subscriber A advantageously accessible made. This can occur, for example, that the fee of the participants online from the central controller or TZ can be obtained another, not shown, server or Charge for the use of the communication service to automatically transmitted to the terminal of the subscriber A and displayed by this becomes. The operator of the communication service can for its use set a minimum and / or maximum fee.

In the manner described above, it is possible in the charging of Communication services a dynamic principle of supply and introduce demand. Dynamic because that fee Use of the communication service is not fixed from the outset, but in dependence on a predeterminable criterion, such as the Load of the telecommunication network T, is variable.

It is possible that the fee for the use of Communications service throughout the use of the Communications service remains unchanged. It is also but also possible, also the charge during use of the Communications service dynamically change.

It is advantageously also possible that the subscriber A for Use of the communication service a maximum charge limit pretending. The communication service is therefore only of the Participants used A when the actual charge for the use the communication service this cost limit is not exceeded. For example, the subscriber A could pretend that connect to the subscriber B, who is located overseas, is only established, if the fee for this connection a predetermined amount below.

Furthermore, the subscriber A, the fees for the border Use of the communication service has set, a selection of differently configured Kommunikationsd iensten offered. For example, a connection to the subscriber B at high Load of the telecommunications network T as pure voice connection and at low load of the telecommunications network T as voice and Picture connection offered. For the subscriber A while advantageously an economical use of additional Communication services in times of low load on the Telecommunication network T possible.