Flexible rating rules and calender rules implemented in a real-time charging system for a telecommunications network

US8195783B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Intellectual Ventures II LLC · US

Inventors

• Joseph Crimi · Tinton Falls, US
• Alan Hopson · Long Branch, US
• Jeff Hsu · Metuchen, US
• Robert A. Johnson · Pottstown, US
• Cathryn S. McMahon · Red Bank, US
• Amanullah Mir · Carbondale, US
• Dinesh Nettar · New Providence, US
• Glenn Silverstein · New Providence, US
• Arvind Gupla · Chennai, IN
• Richard Stilborn · Bernardsville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 25, 2007
• Grant date: Jun 5, 2012
• Expiry date: Oct 7, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04M2215/74
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

By coupling a rating engine with call processing, rating rules are generated that enable a flexible interface between call process and call rating without necessitating that fixed data be passed between them. The real time charging system (RCS) provides a process that creates a generic entity, called a bucket, and uses it to keep track of account information and/or to count types of usage. The bucket allows an operator to define accounts and usage counters and how they are used as part of the rating rules. Use of these buckets is defined in rating rules, thus turning control over subscriber account and usage counters to the network operator. Further, the RCS provides a calendar option for limiting times during which calls to general telephone numbers can be made or received.