Host-sponsored data transmission billing system and method

Abstract

A host-sponsored data transmission billing system and method is provided to permit reduced costs to a mobile user for internet access through an internet gateway. An operator billing system is provided (either in the internet gateway itself or coupled to the internet gateway) to generate billing data for payment by the mobile user for connection requests by the mobile user through the internet gateway to private sites on the internet. However, to reduce the costs to the mobile user to encourage access to host-sponsored commercial sites, the operator billing system bills data for payment by host-sponsors for connection requests by the mobile user to the host-sponsored sites. A General Packet Radio System (GPRS) can be utilized in this arrangement as the internet gateway.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 09/455,250, filed Dec. 6, 1999 which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications/mobile phones, and more specifically to an improved system and method for mobile internet access and billing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, substantial development has occurred in systems and methods for mobile internet access. In particular, increased data transmission rates have been brought about by the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) evolution with systems such as General Packet Radio System (GPRS) and Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution (EDGE). The GPRS and EDGE systems allow for higher bit rates in wireless access enabling mobile internet. In short, the technology has now been developed to make mobile internet access readily available.

Unfortunately, an emerging problem has developed with regard to the question of who will pay for the wireless data traffic in a telecom operator's cellular network for such mobile internet access. In general, customers are accustomed to low price or free internet access. On the other hand, current systems which permit mobile internet access charge the customer for wireless access to the same internet sites which they could access either for free or at a much lower cost if they were not using mobile access. Therefore, it has become a serious concern that users will view mobile internet access as too expensive for casual web browsing. This could seriously stunt the development of mobile internet access. On the other hand, E-commerce via mobile internet access could be significantly enhanced if free or low cost access could be provided to catalogs and marketing materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved billing system and method for mobile internet access.

To achieve this and other objects, the present invention provides a host-sponsored data transmission billing system and method for mobile users. An internet gateway is provided to establish wireless connection between a mobile user and the internet. The internet gateway generates billing data for payment by the mobile user for connection requests by the mobile user through the internet gateway to private sites on the internet. On the other hand, the internet gateway also generates billing data for payment by host-sponsors for connection requests by the mobile user to host-sponsored sites on the internet. In other words, some or all of the data traffic billing that is incurred in accessing a host-sponsored site is incurred by the host that operates the site in question.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall view of a host-sponsored data transmission billing system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention using a GPRS network and a charging gateway connecting to an external billing system for a host-sponsored data transmission billing system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a log file tracing process to implement a host-sponsored data transmission billing system in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 provides an overall view of a host-sponsored data transmission billing system in accordance with the present invention. In particular, FIG. 1 shows an arrangement using a GPRS network 10 and a GPRS operator billing system 12 to permit connection of a mobile user 14 to the internet 16. As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile user can be connected via the GPRS network 10, the GPRS operator billing system 12 and the internet 16 to either a host-sponsored commercial website 18 or a private website 20. The commercial website 18 offers free data transmission (or at least reduced cost transmission) to customers when it is accessed by a mobile user. In accordance with the present invention, the GPRS operator billing system 12 will directly bill the commercial website 18 (or the company sponsoring the commercial website 18) for the access and data transmission of the mobile user 14.

When the mobile user 14 accesses the private site 20, on the other hand, the GPRS operator billing system 12 will bill the mobile user 14 directly. As such, the GPRS operator billing system 12 will generate two types of invoices, one directly to the mobile user 14 and the other to the commercial websites 18 or companies sponsoring the commercial websites 18.

It is noted at this point that packet switched radio connections such as GPRS permit for billing per use or billing per amount of data transmitted via the radio network while the connection may remain open continuously. In accordance with the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the GPRS billing system 12 is designed in such a manner that the billing incurred will be earmarked according to whether it belongs to the host-sponsor or to the consumer. Invoices are generated accordingly. It is envisioned that this will substantially increase the mobile access to commercial sites since customers will enjoy the same low cost or free access when they use mobile internet access that they obtain using conventional telephone internet access.

FIG. 2 provides a more detailed illustration of a host-sponsored data transmission billing system using a GPRS network 10 in conjunction with an operator billing system 22 which is external to the GPRS network 10. In order to provide a single access point from the GPRS network 10 to the external operator billing system 22, a charging gateway 24 is provided. For example, this can be the currently available stand alone Nokia charging gateway, specifically modified for operation with external billing systems to generate separate invoices to mobile users and host-sponsors in accordance with the present invention.

In order to interface between the GPRS network 10 and the internet, a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) 26 is provided. A security firewall 28 can also be located between the GGSN 26 and the internet. On the other hand, a Service GPRS Support Node (SGSN) 30 can be provided between the GPRS network 10 and a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 32, and a Base Station Controller (BSC) 34. A GPRS terminal 36 is coupled to the BTS 32. The BCS 34 is coupled to a Mobile Services Switching Center (MSC) 38. The MSC 38 is, in turn, coupled to a Public Switching Telephone Network (PSTN) network 40. It is noted that these elements form part of the overall network structure already manufactured by Nokia as part of the GPRS core solution.

Other elements of the Nokia GPRS network include a data network 42 which can be coupled to the GGSN 26 by way of a firewall 44. This arrangement is typically used in conjunction with a router 46 for coupling to a corporate LAN 48.

In accordance with the present invention, the standard Nokia GPRS structure noted above is modified in accordance with the present invention to generate separate billing for user access to private sites and host-sponsored sites. FIG. 2 shows operations carried out by the billing system 22 in order to generate separate invoices for the mobile user and the host-sponsor. As a first step 50, it is determined whether the access is non-price differentiated. If so, the present invention is not utilized. On the other hand, if step 52 determines that the access is price differentiated, the next step is to determine whether it is a free, host-sponsored access (step 54) or a cost incurring access for the mobile user (step 56). If it is determined in step 54 that the access is a free host-sponsored access, an invoice is generated to the host-sponsor (step 58). On the other hand, if it is determined in step 56 that the access is a cost incurring one for the mobile user, an invoice is generated to the mobile user (step 60).

FIG. 3 shows a log file tracing process which can be used to carry out the steps 54, 56, 58 and 60. In this process, a database 62 is provided of IP addresses for host-sponsored sites. In step 64, log file tracing of client (mobile user) accessed IP addresses is carried out. In the comparison step 66, a “seeking match” process is carried out to determine whether the IP addresses accessed by the client during the log file tracing operation are the same as any IP addresses stored in the database 62 of host-sponsored sites.

If a match is determined in step 68, this means that the client accessed IP address in question is to a host-sponsored site. In this case, charges are incurred to the sponsoring host (step 70). Accordingly, in step 72, an invoice is generated to the host-sponsor.

On the other hand, if no match is found between the client accessed IP address and the database 62 (as per step 74), the charging and billing is carried out in a traditional manner in step 76. In this case, an invoice is generated to the customer (step 78) in the conventional manner.

The above description assumes that the host-sponsor has agreed to cover the entire costs for mobile users to access their host-sponsored sites. However, in accordance with the present invention, the host-sponsor could agree to cover only part of the charge. In addition, different levels of sponsorship and sponsorship agreements could be provided. Thus, FIG. 3 also shows a database of the level of sponsorship and sponsorship agreements (database 80). This information is taken into account in step 70 to adjust the invoice to the host-sponsor accordingly in step 72. Of course, in this case, the remaining charges would be charged to the mobile user through steps 76 and 78.

As one example of an alternative to completely free access, the host-sponsor might agree to provide a certain amount of access (in other words, providing a limited number of bits). For example, one megabit of free access could be provided. In this case, the billing system 22 would contain a record of the number of used bits and the available bits remaining to be used by the mobile user.

Another possibility for less than complete sponsorship would be free access to predetermined pages of the website. Alternatively, when the mobile user buys something, a billing system 22 can provide a certain amount of free time or bits to be added to the presently available number of bits for the user. The amount of free time or bits could be made dependent upon the items or services purchased. For example, purchasing from a particular website page could generate bonus points.

In the event that less than complete sponsorship is provided, the step 54 in FIG. 2 will provide the user terminal ID number, the number of used bits to date (so that a determination can be made of available bits), and any purchase information which might reflect in an increase of the total number of available bits.

By virtue of the arrangements discussed above for implementing the present invention, access to commercial host-sponsored websites will be much more attractive to mobile users since they will be free to browse and download from such websites either for free or at substantially reduced costs. As such, the present invention removes, or at least reduces, the cost impediments presently faced in mobile internet access.

While the present invention has been described in detail and pictorially in the accompanying drawings, it is not limited to such details since many changes and modifications recognizable to those of ordinary skill in the art may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof.

Claims

1. A network entity for billing for Internet connections between a mobile terminal user and an Internet site, comprising:

a database storing a list of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for host-sponsored sites;

a log file tracer to provide an output indicative of the IP addresses accessed by the mobile terminal user; and

a comparator for comparing the output of the log file tracer with the IP addresses stored in the database for determining whether the IP addresses accessed by the mobile terminal user includes host-sponsored sites.

2. The network entity of claim 1, comprising:

means for generating billing data for payment by a host-sponsor of said site for connecting the mobile terminal user with said site when the determination indicates that an IP address accessed by the mobile terminal users is a host-sponsored site.

3. The network entity of claim 1, comprising:

means for generating billing data for payment by the mobile terminal user for connecting with said site when the determination indicates that an IP address accessed by the mobile terminal users is a private site.

4. The network entity of claim 1, comprising:

a cellular telecommunications interface for providing wireless connection with the mobile terminal users; and

a network interface connecting with the Internet.

5. In a system comprising at least one mobile device operated by at least one user which is wirelessly coupled to a billing system operated by a wireless operator providing connectivity to a packet data network including at least one host operated server offering data transmission to the at least one user when accessed by a user of the at least one mobile device, a method comprising:

the at least one user requesting connectivity to a server coupled to the packet data network;

determining if the at least one user requested connectivity is to at least one of the at least one host operated server; and

in response to the requested connectivity being determined to be to at least one of the at least one host operated server which has not agreed to accept full charges assigned by the billing system to the user for connectivity to the at least one host operated server, the at least one host operated server to which connectivity is requested by the at least one user provides the at least one user with free access to only a portion of the data which may be provided by the at least one host operated server to which connectivity is requested upon request from the users.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein:

the free access is to predetermined pages of a website operated by the at least one host operated server to which connectivity is requested.

7. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein:

the free access is provided upon the purchase by the at least one user of items or services.

8. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein:

the free access is provided upon the purchase by the at least one user of items or services.

9. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein:

the free access is a specified amount of free time or a specified amount of free data provided from the at least one host operated server to the at least one user.

10. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein:

the free access is a specified amount of free time or a specified amount of free data provided from the at least one host operated server to the at least one user.

11. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein:

the free access is a specified amount of free time or a specified amount of free data provided from the at least one host operated server to the at least one user.

12. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein:

the free access is a specified amount of free time or a specified amount of free data provided from the at least one host operated server to the at least one user.