Abstract: A method configures billing processes in the network elements of data path for the transmission of packet data in a communications system. According to said method, network elements that are located between a first and a second element of the data path are configured and the packet data transmission that is associated with a terminal is carried out between the first network element and the second network element via the data path. The terminal transmits or receives the associated packet data transmission via the second network element. In a central third network element, which is not assigned to the data path, a stored billing control function generates a configuration message, which is used to configure the network elements. The configuration message is transmitted to the network elements of the data path, said network elements at least partially evaluating the configuration message for initialization and configuration purposes.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing users with access to services is described. Access requests received from users are monitored by a gateway and, where appropriate, user credentials for a service that is being accessed are inserted by the gateway. The gateway monitors packets of data in order to check user credentials. The gateway is also able to modify packets of data to insert user credentials, if necessary.

Abstract: Controlling setting-up a connection in a mobile communication system includes storing, in at least one subscriber database, subscriber-oriented data for a subscriber registered in a home mobile radio network, entering the subscriber-oriented data in a subscriber database when the subscriber moves, and setting-up a connection for the subscriber with a mobile station using a mobile switching center coupled to the subscriber database.

Abstract: A system generates service-oriented call-charge data for at least one service in a communication network, the system having in at least one first area (charge metering domain), network elements for charge metering—metering points—and in at least one second area (charging domain), network elements for charging—charging points. The system has a policy function which controls both the metering points and the charging points by using predefined rules.

Abstract: A method configures billing processes in the network elements of data path for the transmission of packet data in a communications system. According to said method, network elements that are located between a first and a second element of the data path are configured and the packet data transmission that is associated with a terminal is carried out between the first network element and the second network element via the data path. The terminal transmits or receives the associated packet data transmission via the second network element. In a central third network element, which is not assigned to the data path, a stored billing control function generates a configuration message, which is used to configure the network elements. The configuration message is transmitted to the network elements of the data path, said network elements at least partially evaluating the configuration message for initialization and configuration purposes.

Abstract: A control protocol using mechanisms of a transport protocol is used to distribute control messages containing specific dedicated information for each charging process involved in the performance of a service or application to each charging process required in the performance of the service or application.

Abstract: An efficient monitoring of non-real time data connection contexts is simply and efficiently achieved by a method permitting the monitoring of a non-real time data connection context of a user of a cellular mobile radio network for an interruption, characterized in that a signaling context for the user is established as a real-time signaling context with the mobile radio network and, in the case of a determined interruption of the real-time signaling context for the user are assumed.

Abstract: Data transfer between a first subscriber having a first IP address and a second subscriber having a second IP address via a tariff-reduced data connection in a data mobile radio network is controlled by a functional unit in the data mobile radio network examining the authorization of the subscribers using the IP addresses of the subscribers involved in the data transfer.

Abstract: To bill traffic data in a simple and efficient manner, a separate virtual transmission channel for the transmission of traffic data is provided between a network unit and a Gateway GPRS Support Node by Gateway GPRS Support Nodes for traffic data and billing is carried out for said virtual transmission channel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in a Gateway General Packet Radio Service Support Node (GGSN) located in a mobile network for processing subscriber services, and subscriber service charging data (SSCD), comprises gathering the subscriber service charging data (SSCD) in the Gateway General Packet Radio Service Support Node (GGSN), distributing the subscriber services and subscriber service charging data (SSCD) to a subsidiary system which processes the gathered subscriber services and subscriber service charging data (SSCD) and then in turn the processed subscriber service charging data (SSCD) is transmitted to a network element. Preferably, the method distributes the subscriber services and subscriber service charging data (SSCD) by relating each one of the plurality of subscribers to the gathered subscriber service and subscriber service charging data (SSCD) with a parameter transmitted with the subscriber service charging data (SSCD).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring and controlling a number of available decentralized IP budgets of a subscriber in a packet-based communications network during an online assessment of charges for data transmissions. According to the invention, the number of available IP budgets are each allocated in a data flow-specific manner to a data flow in a context that can be assigned to the subscriber, and a higher-order control function is provided in a network node of the communications network. Said higher-order control function charges the data flow-specific IP budget according to a resource use of a data flow based on charge assessment specifications issued by a charge assessing computer during a resource use of the data flow in a context that can be assigned to the subscriber, and effects a partial or complete transmission of the IP budget between selected data flows in a case-related manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring and controlling a central IP budget of a subscriber in a packet-based communication network during online charge assessment with the monitoring a maximum limit of data transmissions. The control function is provided in a network node of the communication network, administrated by the IP centre budget allocated by a charge computer and charges the central IP budget according to the assessment charges specified said charge computer during the use of resources for transmitting several data streams in a context which can be assigned to the subscriber by the central IP budget, the level of the charge being defined by a specific datastream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for call billing a communication link established between a first communication terminal of a first packet-switched communication network and a second communication terminal of a second packet-switched communication network. A request message for establishing the communication link is conveyed from the first communication terminal or from the second communication terminal to a transition node arranged between the first and the second communication network. The request message is conveyed again from the transition node to an evaluation and control unit, said evaluation and control unit evaluating the request message with respect to the origin thereof and normally determining whether the communication connection which is to be established is billed or is treated without billing and call billing is carried out in a manner corresponding to a call charge computer.

Abstract: A method for billing charges in a communications network with point-to-point connections. The method includes transmitting a message from a service-receiving end point to a service-switching network node which buffers the message, transmitting service-related data from a service providing end point directly to the service receiving end point, transmitting a message from the service-providing end point) to the service-switching network node, comparing the received messages by the service-switching network node and transmitting a charge credit to the service-providing end point depending on the result of the comparison. The invention also includes a device for executing the above method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating IP packets which can be allocated to specific groups in a packet-based mobile radio network. All IP packets entering into the mobile radio network are tested in a first authorized network element of the mobile radio network with respect to allocation to at least one group. A group-specific marking is produced, at least for IP packets which can be allocated to a specific group, in a field of a header of at least one packet, especially one of said IP packets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for billing a communications link (KV) that is established via the internet (INET) between a first communications terminal (KEG) and a mobile target communications terminal (ZKEG) of a packet-oriented mobile radio network (MFN). According to the inventive method, from a first communications terminal (KEG), a request message (AF) relating to the communications link (KV) is guided via the internet (INET) to a node (GW) of the mobile radio network (MFN), the node determines a call charge computer (GS1) in which billing data are stored (M1), the node (GW) transmits a billing request (GA) regarding the communications link to the call charge computer (GS1), the latter checks if, on the communications terminal (KEG) end, the charges for the complete communications link are borne, and if the result of this check is positive, the communications link (KV) to the target communications terminal (ZKEG) is established in the mobile radio network (MFN).

Abstract: A terminal is assigned to a home radio access network and the access node of the data network is assigned to a second radio access network. An access control function of the access node receives from the terminal a first message containing an authentication code. The access control function of the access node identifies the home radio access network associated with the terminal from the authentication code. The access control function then sends an inquiry message including the authentication code to an access control function of the home radio access network associated with the terminal. From the authentication code, the home radio access network identifies the user as a subscriber of the relevant home radio access network. This is done e.g. by interrogating data from the HLR (Home Location Register) or the HSS (Home Subscriber Server).

Abstract: On the basis of the fact that short messages are sent by a communication terminal of a mobile subscriber into a mobile radio network and are routed to a switching facility responsible for the mobile subscriber, the short message together with an address which identifies a service facility responsible for dealing with the short message service for the mobile subscriber is received by the switching facility. The short messages are routed for temporary storage in the service facility and for transmission to a communication terminal of another subscriber if the received address is contained in an address table of the switching facility.

Abstract: On the basis of the fact that short messages are sent by a communication terminal of a mobile subscriber into a mobile radio network and are routed to a switching facility responsible for the mobile subscriber, the short message together with an address which identifies a service facility responsible for dealing with the short message service for the mobile subscriber is received by the switching facility. The short messages are routed for temporary storage in the service facility and for transmission to a communication terminal of another subscriber if the received address is contained in an address table of the switching facility.