Abstract: An administratively optimized process and/or system for metering communication tariffs which—with the aid of a flat-rate-calculating computer, which is connected to an associated exchange for customer terminals—carries out automatic administratively optimized metering of communication tariffs. Such automatic, administratively optimized metering of communication tariffs is suitable both for digitized, as well as for analog communication networks, implemented as wire-bound, radio-based or laser-assisted, terrestrial or satellite networks. Each terminal is connected to a communication meter which is sealed or otherwise protected against manipulation and can be read off using telemetry or, when prompted, by the customer using a special meter-reading card. The flat-rate-calculating computer processes the information pertaining to consumed volumes of information in three ways.

Abstract: A dynamic communications rate setting apparatus, system and/or method is applicable to digitized and analog communications networks. This dynamic communications rate setting apparatus, system and/or method concerns the load carried by the network at the time the call attempt is made. The loads may be continuously measured on all lines above the subscriber line level, for instance, with the aid of load measuring groups. The load measuring groups may be composed of a traffic measurement unit, connected to the trunks or trunk groups and a rate calculator, or pre-calculator, which dynamically determines the rate weight, passing it on to the corresponding exchange at a higher level of the hierarchy. The rate payable for a particular call may be indicated to the calling subscriber.