Method and System for prepaid voice telephony and/or data transmission

The present invention relates to a method for voice telephony and / or data transfer fees prepayment and a system for Realizing the method. In particular, the invention relates to such a method used in the mobile phones.

It is known, mobile phones with prepaid fees operate, ie the so-called prepaid mode. In this mode, which usually does not require a subscription to a specific provider, leads the provider a fee account by the terminal identifier of the mobile phone and typically by more identifiers encoded in a rule are identified. The identifiers are the provider and / or in Chip on your SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module) stored that in itself must be in your phone to keep this operated for telecommunication can be. Such additional identifiers are for example certificates, confirming the authorization of the mobile phone user and with a Connection setup are checked.

From the published international patent application WO 03/079713 discloses a method for operating mobile terminal devices known provided in the WIM functionality (Wireless Identification Module) and settled, characterized in that the WIM internally, ie in the terminal and the present there SIM identification module, implemented becomes. Each initiated by the subscriber signature is counted internally, and namely from an initial state back to the preset number of Signatures is reached. Then the device is until a new Signature Number charging disabled.

A disadvantage of this method is that the treatment of the signature, that is, the digital data of the access rights, with the exception of Sperrund Unlocks does not provide for data processing and a simple exerts counting function, so that a guide from the operator Nutzkonten (Provider) is still required, said in a telephone conversation always a connection from the MSC (Mobile Switching Center) up to the provider must be and entertain. In this step, errors may occur, for example, be such that the Nutzkonten corrupted by transmission faults can.

The invention is based on the concept of the involvement of a Providers annul the communication process, because it is indeed to prepaid systems is where the provider does not contribute to communication provide needs.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new system and a Procedures for voice telephony and / or data transfer with negotiate fees Prepaid (prepaid), which the abovementioned Disadvantages of the prior art does not have. In particular, a automated, simple and rational system and method are proposed, the general safety of the settlement of User data as well as the reliability of the treatment of digital data the access rights improved and also accelerated.

According to the present invention, this aim is in particular achieved by the elements of the independent claims. Further advantageous Embodiments follow moreover from the dependent claims and the description.

In particular, these objects are achieved by the invention in, that digital data of prepaid access rights that a cryptographic key comprise, are stored that digital Payload data in the communication terminal of a mobile subscriber encrypted using said cryptographic key are digitally signed, encrypted or that the digital and / or signed user data from the communication terminal to a computer-based Access control unit of a telecommunication network are transmitted, and that the digital user data decrypted by the access control unit be or the digital signature of the access control unit is checked, in which a forwarding is released. Especially can also contain data for example prepaid account data or consist of them. This variant has the advantage inter alia that no central administration of the acquired user Communication rights (eg prepaid balance) is necessary. This includes for example with the associated centrally managed database users stored credit away. The pre-paid digital data Access rights in accordance with the communication terminal can be deleted and / or modified forwarding the usage data. at a modification, for example, a monetary amount value into the digital data of the be reduced prepaid access rights.

In one embodiment, the pre-paid digital will Data access rights on the SIM module (Subscriber Identification Module) of the communication terminal stored. These Variant has, among other things, the advantage that the user his balance can transfer from one device to another by SIM exchange. in the Furthermore, so may also suit the legislature to Registration of the user are met.

In another embodiment, the system and / or the procedure to forward the decrypted digital payload by the access control unit via the telecommunications network to the selected destination at decoding the digital user data, or successful verification of the digital signature. This variant One of the advantages that links to all voice and / or Data transmission devices are available on public networks.

In one embodiment, the digital data are called the Access rights temporary data whose key is erasable. These Variant has, among other things, the same advantages as the preceding.

In yet another embodiment, the said isolated digital data access rights and said payload stored, while each other via said key Relationship be brought. This variant has the advantage inter alia, that the digital data of the access rights to any time before can be purchased and stored the emergence of useful data.

In one embodiment, the digital data in question are of access rights and said user data with the aid of said key stored together. This variant has inter alia the advantage that the described method even in systems that do not etc. SIM card may know to apply.

At this point it should be noted that the present Invention, in addition to the inventive method also to a system for Carrying out this method. Further, it is not limited to the said system and method, but also relates to a computer program product for realizing the inventive method.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention described by way of examples. The examples of the embodiments are illustrated by the following attached figures:<sl><li>1 shows schematically a prepaid system of the prior Technology.</li><li>Figure 2 schematically illustrates a system for carrying out the invention Process.</li></sl>

Figure 1 illustrates schematically an architecture of the prior Technology. In this embodiment, a mobile telephone device 10 is shown, in which a prepaid SIM card is used 12. Over the radio can be the Telephone device 10 connect to the wireless network 14th The Communications network 14 includes for example a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) or a UMTS network (Universal Mobile Telephone System), or a satellite-based mobile radio network, and / or one or more Landlines, for example, the public switched telephone network, the worldwide Internet or a suitable LAN (Local Area Network) or WAN (Wide Area Network). In particular, it can also ISDN and XDSL connections include. This network is in turn in data exchange connection with the MSC (Mobile Switching Center) 16 are the network and the MSC according to the GSM standard (Global System for Mobile Communication) built up. The desired telephone subscriber, the mobile phone 10 should be dialed, is designated by the 18th This device may be, to a fixed telephone, a mobile phone or to any other telecommunications unit act (eg a fax).

The MSC is a provider 20 (PROV) is a provider database 22 in conjunction, since the fees to leading prepaid accounts a corresponding accounts authority must be present. This is in the database 22. The data in question prepaid account are stored in the database 22 and there in activating the Subscriber account tracked.

The expiration of the connection establishment, which includes the evaluation of eligibility (Signature) and account monitoring and management includes, is generally known and will not be described in detail.

Fig. 2 now shows schematically the construction of an inventive System. Elements and components which in Figs. 1 and 2, the same or another are similar, the same reference characters.

located on the SIM card 12 in addition a data and Field of certification 11, the digital data of the access rights (such as DRM data (DRM: Digital Rights Management)) in encrypted form, preferably in digitally encoded form contains. Here the area is 11 preferably physically from the rest of the memory array of the SIM 12 separated. When charging the SIM chip, for example of a for this Purpose furnished recharge card or by a bank credit card, will the subscriber addition by the provider 20 via the server 16 a certificate transmitted, which together in the certificate section 11 of the SIM Identikationsmoduls is stored with encrypted account data. The SIM module given the mobile phone the right calls under certain conditions of use (Eg destination, duration) to be provided with the certificate, ie, encrypt and / or sign. The user data can be stored eg (For example, SMS (Short Message Service), MMS (Multimedia Message Service), MP3 Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), etc.) and / or stored, such as a data stream and / or voice data etc.

During a telephone conversation with the unit 10, the sound data and / or User data associated with the certificate, that is, the digital data of the access rights, encrypted and / or signed and / or are differently combined appropriately, transmitted to the MSC 16 and further to the Trust Center 24th The Trust Center may be part of the MSC 16 and provides the access control unit of the inventive system. The Trust Center 24, which at the the present invention for the construction and operation of a telecommunication link no provider connection required, decrypts the received data and / or verified signature, but does not check any digital data access rights (such as the account balance etc.). Then, the trust center 24, provided that the signature is valid, the User data (eg Voice Data, SMS, MMS, MP3, etc.) for transmission to the second subscriber 18 free. During transmission, the interest incurred Fees, which, as usual, a function of several parameters (duration, Distance, time of day, type of device 18), from the data token 11 debited. When the prepaid amount, the data on the SIM module are stored, is used up, the associated certificate is annulled, and the transfer is canceled, possibly after appropriate warning. The warning data are also in Data area 11 are stored and retrieved from there.

Before charging again the data storage with registration and certificates No further transmission or only certain limited Transmissions (emergency, top up codes) possible.

From the above it is apparent that the invention provides a possibility manages to the phone account with prepaid operating directly on the mobile phone lead and to avoid having to go through a provider account. It is the Skilled in the art that the inventive concept and the resulting share, herein claimed method also with other devices and system units can be realized.