The invention relates to a method for charging for a communication link which is set up from a first communication terminal to a destination communication terminal via a packet-switched communication network, the destination communication terminal having set up forwarding to at least one further communication device.
For some years, it has been possible to see a clear trend in telecommunication, leading away from conventional telephony toward universal data-network-based communication services. A fundamental driving force for this development is the opportunity to be able to provide added-value services beyond conventional, purely voice-based telephony. Examples which may be mentioned in this regard are video telephony, which is possible only inadequately in the conventional telephone network on account of a lack of data bandwidth, what are known as presence and availability services, which make it possible to indicate whether and how a called subscriber can be reached, and also other communication services, such as newsletters. The provision of these added-value services is becoming increasingly popular on the Internet. Providers of conventional telecommunication services are therefore anxious to provide their customers with these added-value services in their systems too. The introduction of these services has been unsuccessful to date not so much on account of the technical circumstances of the infrastructure but rather primarily on account of the demands on the charging. Connection- or line-dependent charging is no longer or only restrictedly possible in data networks, such as the Internet, since the data lines are used jointly by a large number of users and explicit association is therefore no longer possible. Normally, this involves charging on the basis of data transfer volume instead of time/zone-dependent charging.
However, known charging mechanisms are already found to be inadequate when it is necessary to account correctly for the charges incurred for transmitting voice information between a calling subscriber and a called subscriber who has set up call redirection. For a diverted call for which it is known that the called subscriber would need to be charged at least in part in the event of a call diversion, existing approaches to a solution involve the calling subscriber being called upon even though the redirection was generally not his intention. This problem situation arises not only for call diversion but also for announcements and added-value services, for example, on a general basis. It is exacerbated particularly when an added-value service is retrieved from a packet-based communication network, for example using the known “added-value telephone numbers” in the form 0190xxx or 0900xxxo. A packet-based communication network does not have explicit line and subscriber identification association, such as provided by the telephone number in a conventional telecommunication network. It may therefore arise that the communication subscriber is encumbered by charges with abusive intent as a result of the aforementioned inadequate charging mechanisms.
The present invention is discloses a method for charging for a communication link which is set up from a calling communication terminal to at least one destination communication terminal via a packet-switched communication network such that the first communication appliance is not encumbered by charges which are caused by forwarding which has been set up by a called destination communication terminal.
As a result of a central idea of the invention, a response signaling message in which the forwarding is indicated is returned to the packet-switched communication network by a called destination communication terminal, having received a signaling message from the calling communication terminal, and is used by a billing system for correct charge allocation.
In one embodiment, the forwarding is marked in the response signaling message through the incorporation of an additional information field. This allows controlling units in the network, for example SIP proxy or H.323 gatekeeper, to register this forwarding and therefore mark it such that the initiator of the message, that is to say the forwarding destination communication terminal, is entered in the signaling message as needing to be charged. A billing system evaluates this additional information and ensures correct charging.
In another embodiment of the invention, the response signaling message is routed back to the first communication terminal, the path not necessarily needing to be routed via a controlling network unit. That is, the called communication terminal is thus set up for direct sending. Following receipt of the response signaling message, the forwarding is indicated in the calling first communication terminal by an indicator device. Forwarding to the at least one further communication device takes place if the calling communication terminal is used to input a piece of confirmation information which a calling subscriber uses to indicate to the billing system that he agrees to accept the charges for forwarding.
In still another embodiment of the invention, a destination communication terminal more or less “regularly” directs its call redirection (forwarding) to the controlling unit (for example SIP proxy) and this unit then ensures correct charging. Advantageously, the calling first communication terminal does not need to be informed about this redirection, since no additional charges are incurred for this (calling) subscriber. In this embodiment of the invention, the calling first communication terminal device is therefore not aware of the diversion. Possible abuse of the charging is prevented by the combination with the second embodiment of the invention in that, in the case of forwarding which cannot be marked by the controlling unit, explicit active (for example by pressing a key or the like) or passive (e.g. predefined list) confirmation is requested.
For the execution of the method, it is preferable if the first communication terminal is a multimedia terminal which has a graphical user interface. This allows the forwarding to be indicated and allows a user to react to it accordingly.
It is a simple matter for the indicator device to be formed by a pop-up window in the graphical user interface. This means that the confirmation information can easily be input by the calling subscriber using a dialog box.
It may also be advantageous if the first communication terminal device is formed by an IP telephone. This makes it a simple matter for the confirmation information to be input by pressing a confirmation key on this IP telephone.
In respect of user friendliness, it may be beneficial if the confirmation is requested by inputting a piece of voice information.
It is advantageous if the information field is incorporated into the message header of a message packet.
It may also be advantageous if the identity of a called subscriber associated with a destination communication terminal is indicated on the graphical user interface of the first, calling communication terminal device.
The controlling network unit is advantageously formed by an SIP proxy or by an H.323 gatekeeper.
The invention is explained in more detail below by way of example with reference to the appended figures, in which:
As already illustrated above, a particularly advantageous refinement of the invention is obtained by combining the method steps explained in
The “confirmation” 7 which the calling subscriber inputs on his communication terminal device A in line with the schematic illustration in
It is also possible for the indication of the call redirection to be implemented on the appliance A in different ways, for example by a pop-up window on a graphical interface or on a PC-based software telephone. In the case of a hardware-based Internet telephone, the call redirection can be effected audibly or can be implemented by an appropriate indicator on a display.
It is also conceivable for the calling subscriber to define what is known as a black list or a white list. These lists indicate whether redirection requests from particular communication subscribers are to be accepted always (white list) or never (black list). In this case, the diverted messages do not need to be marked by the control unit, since the call is redirected by the calling subscriber himself.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2005 033 236.6 | Jul 2005 | DE | national |
This application is a national stage application of PCT/EP2006/062662, filed May 29, 2006, which claims the benefit of priority to German Application No. 10 2005 033 236.6, filed Jul. 15, 2005, the contents of which hereby incorporated by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP2006/062662 | 5/29/2006 | WO | 00 | 3/28/2008 |