MXPA98007784A - Systems of charge for services in communication - Google Patents

Abstract

In a charge system for cellular communications, the client is offered real-time prices for new connections. Real-time prices take into account both prevalent and historical traffic patterns, along with the probability that the customer will move from their current cell to a neighboring cell. The cells of the network are monitored in groups. If a customer is located in a particular cell, the price offered for that customer will take into account the probability of transfer to a neighboring cell during the connection and may also take into account the probability of neighboring cells during the connection. To allow this list pricing, the system stores and can also update historical data

Description

SYSTEMS OF CHARGE FOR SERVICES IN COMMUNICATIONS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The ? Another invention relates to charge systems for use in communications. A fundamental pro mot to provide a communications network infrastructure is the peak-to-average demand radius. The network infrastructure must be dimensioned to address the peak demand. This means that resources are not used profitably when demand falls below this peak. In cellular communication systems, or er. Mobile communications systems, demand can be a significant problem. The number of clients has increased extremely fast. In the United Kingdom, there were around one million customers in 1990. But in 1996, there were more than six million connections to mobile networks. Mobile cellular communications networks have been established in the decade of the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. There are several types, including analog and digital signaling versions. Technical information about networks has been published for example on "Mobile Radio Telephones in the United Kingdom" by Dr. RCV Macario, published in the United Kingdom by Glentop Press Ltd in 1988, at British Telecom Technology Jouinal, Volume 8, No. 1, January 1990, and in the British Telecom Technology Journal, volume 14, No. 3, July 1996. Two articles in the last reference cited that could be of particular interest are "Mobile Network Design and Optimization" by Butt. , J et al., Pages 29 to 46, and "Global System for Mobile Communications - What's in Store?" By Holley, KA, at pages 47 to 54. Referring to Figure 1, a mobile network operator provides a group of signal transmitters 2 to communicate, usually by radio, with a mobile unit carried by the client 10. The signal transmitters 2 are connected to the switching units 3 of a ground-based network, for example the Network of Telecommunication Switching P Republic (PSTN), in which the contract operator mobile network capacity. All traffic from the place of distance is usually carried by the fixed network. Mainly the customer's access links, provided by the transmitters of Sef ??. 1? are Jos ue (i ri n the movi lity. "" • • <Jdas "of a cell network):; In the fi rst manner, the client receives signals from the network of any one of a plurality of signal transmitters.In the known networks of this type, the client receives signals from a transmitter. providing the strongest signal, this is usually, but not necessarily, the closest transmitter.The plurality of transmitters therefore effectively creates cells, the limit of each cell being the point at which the transmitter of the cell "lo It is not essential that the transmitters of signals are permanently fixed locations, for example, it is possible to use a mobile transmitter still under control. mobile phone as a signal transmitter to a mobile phone, that is, while it is not in use as a telephone, a mobile phone can be like a "mobile repeater" for another mobile phone. You can install a Qo to operate as a base station of H signs, even inside a vehicle such as a bus. In each cell, there are several factors that affect the availability of the communications band to the user. These will include planned facilities, such as the capacity of available carriers, together with the load of traffic that is already carried in a cell. Therefore, in Britain the capacity available to users driving on the M25 motorway can be very low, particularly at certain times of the day, despite the high capacity transmitters that are available. Then the cells on each side of the M25 motorway will be very lowAlthough transmitters may have much lower bandwidth specifications, the available capacity may be relatively aita due to the population held by users in those adjacent cells. It is possible to provide information of the real time price to a user and a system is established to do so in relation to a fixed network in the specification of the International Patent Application co-pending No. W094 / 28683. However, as the user moves from cell to cell of a mobile network, the real-time price information may become out of date, quickly and / or may be inappropriate. In accordance with a description of the present invention, a charge control system is provided for use in a cellular communications network infrastructure, where local charges may be modified in response to the charge of; current local traffic, the system comprising:::. ) monitoring means to monitor the current traffic load on the network; ? i) a storage of data to store "historical traffic data related to network cells; lii) data processing means to generate a parameter related to local traffic, which depends on the current traffic load and the data of historical traffic, iv) means to establish cargo, to establish a regime in which traffic is loaded by the network in a local area of the same, the regime established by the means of fixing historical cargo controlled at least partly because of the parameter related to local traffic.

The 111 (- 1 of the intion can be applied to the seatpost 1 and 11 by adding an additional structure, based on the area, which could therefore be described as cellular However, there is a likelihood of more relevance to the fact that they are designed at least in part to be used by mobile devices such as the mobile network c • < - J u 1.4 i forecasted in the Kingdom In the case of historical traffic data, the usual data include data of assignment, which refers to the historical transfer patterns between cells, because the fixing of cargo depends at least in part In the case of historical traffic data, it is possible to introduce a learning behavior in the way loads are set in. The load setting can be carried out in a form zone, for example, it is rc < to define a field in a record of If, during the call set-up, we love a charging regime applicable to the use of the call. In the contiguous Cellnet mobile network, specific information for a user is usually stored in the Visitor or Domestic Location Registries. The use of the information, which will be billed to a particular user, is collected in the form of a collection receipt. A particularly convenient way to collect the billing information in modalities of the present information, so that the charging rate for a call is maintained throughout the duration of a call, including cross-cell limits, can be, set a field on the collection ticket, in the call setting, which indicates a charge band. This field only needs to be modified later under extraordinary circumstances, or perhaps with the agreement of the user. A charge band can be one of, for example, 100 continuous charge bands to give sufficient flexibility in the price structure. E 1 traffic will be carried, and loaded in different ways. One purpose to be able to establish a charge regime is to influence the use of finite resources in a network. Depending on the access technology used, the "finite resource" can be frequency channels of time intervals available, in the Multiple Code Division Access (CDMA), simply the number of users that communicate in a common geographical area. .

H.H (It should be noted that although the lyrics in the present tense to "calls" would be painful to take as the meaning of any connection, using an ID that can be expected to be charged. data, telemetry and ultimedia for example, without necessarily involving voice). The embodiments of the invention will find particular relevance in cellular mobile networks. Preferably, the charge control system further comprises reporting means for reporting current charge rate information to the u uario team. For example, you can transmit current local charge regimes to all user equipment that is powered on. However, the approach uses a relatively high level of • apacity. Up charge status report can be triggered by a user's input, such as a request "specifically putting your equipment in the" off-hook "condition to transmit the report just to the user. A third alternative, the best one, is that the reporting medium sends charges of charge to each user whose equipment is turned on, in turn, using such a: a c a n a? of existing control, digital links, a space of t or loc lizado ci c 1 c nal connection. The charge regime report may include a charge chain, each relevant to a different type of communication in which the user may be interested, such as charge regimes of single and multiple channels. The current charge rate information can be used by the user to decide whether or not to make a call. PreferablyAlso, the charge control system will comprise means for classifying a local charge regime during a connection established by a user.This can be mentioned as mentioned before, during the call setting.The classification preferably remains even if the The user can move to a different cell, alternatively, the system can notify any current user and prevent changes to the cargo handling, users could make a decision to terminate or postpone a connection, this alternative can only be used in unusual circumstances such as heavy construction of traffic in a cell during the download of data by a user, since it will probably be preferred by the user that an IV connection is continued to i i q i ni n fi n once started. The systems constructed in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention can control e-regimes 1 so that they take into account not only the resources available in the client's current location, but also the resources available to them. one or more potential locations for that client.Preferably, the data processing means, generates a charge regime for a cell, which calls the traffic load data for that cell and for its neighbors and applies an algorithm which includes terms for traffic load data at the current location of the customer and at one or more potential locations for that customer.Measures of data processing may call data transfer using at least a relative plurality of assignment of each of neighboring cells and use these relative probabilities to weigh the importance given to the traffic data for each of the neighboring cells in order to generate a local charge regime.

Alternatively, or in accordance with the arrangements according to the embodiments of the present invention, the load of t may be taken into account. expected current and future root in a cell, eg view of the traffic that can be expected q u < between a and cel, recently emerging the same and see coming out of the cell. Jna suitable form of algorithm could be used to generate the parameter related to the local traffic by calculating a value that takes into account the available resources, expressed as free bandwidth (FB), in the following way: FBW = (total capacity of a cell A) S (assignment test of cell k in cell A) * (call in progress in cell k). number of calls received during a period of time in cell A (The symbol "*" is used here to indicate multiplication) The sum in the previous one is generally given on all neighboring cells k = 1,2,3 ... Usualmen In the known cellular networks, for example, of the type provided by the United Kingdom, there will be six neighborhood cells. However, in some cases the probability of assignment to an I? neighbor call could be so read what? < I could be totally ignored. For example, this would be the case for lanes adjacent to the M 25 that are plotted in the fields. To take into account 11 days from cell A, an additional term may be added. This will be a value weighted by the term: (assignment to call termination test during a period of time) * (calls in progress). The current load regime will certainly be a fuse; FBW ion and it could simply be an inverse relationship. However, it is extremely useful to be able to introduce a more complex relationship. This is due to the coupling between the charging regimes notified to the users and the admission regime, in addition to which the users choose to establish a call. Preferably, the data processing means applies a selected function to FBW to generate the current charge rates that are taken out. Of course, preferably this selected function can be modified by pure axis, in view of the experience to patterns of behavior change.

The algorithm can also be modified, as will be leverit or later. In particular, it can be graded * up t eimino that avoids the elevation of FB by ai i iba de J u bral, the threshold being controlled by the o Ida ecin with the current relation between the available capacity and probability to receive the assignment of cell A Although the charge regime can be for a unit of connection time, it could be established in different ways. The charge regime is simply for recourse of communications. Alternatively, for example, it could be a unit of bandwidth as a number of characters transmitted in a variable character regime. The embodiments of the present invention provide a practical mechanism, of substantially real time, of control, which not only controls the network load mechanism but can also be used by the infrastructure fork of the network to influence the de anda so that it is better optimized through the network rather than simply in the single-cell address of the mobile network. Demand is influenced by the provision of price information to the customer in advance so that the customer decides to make the call. They may decide to wait until they arrive at a low and high grade. This optimizes the de nda d or b i rj o that the cheaper calls will be, .- ay: - More or <; i available capacity. It will also be possible to notify the client of the locations where the price will be lower and thus encourage him directly to wait, or instead to decide to move to that location. The advantage of the modalities of the present invention is that, because the available capacity of adjacent cells is taken into account, the client can be effectively warned of a call block if an adjacent cell is fully charged. If only the current cell of the client is taken into account: When a call is first established, the call can be blocked later to be followed to a neighboring cell. The embodiments of the present invention can reduce the occurrence of this happening, at least between a neighboring pair of cells.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The embodiments of the invention or rhythm will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the following figures in which: Figure 1 schematically shows a cellular network infrastructure arrangement to which the embodiments of the present invention will be relevant; Figure 2 schematically shows the management structure for cells of a cellular network; Figure 3 shows a schematic arrangement of a particular geographical scenario in which the modalities of invention will be applied; Figure 4 shows an example of bandwidth location in the use of an embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 shows a family of curves that can be applied to establish a charging regime in response to the current local traffic load in the use of one embodiment of the present invention; J 6 Figure 6 shows an alternative curve mile for Figure 5; Figures 7 and 8 show the values used to generate families of curves according to those of Figures L > and 6; Figure 9 shows a schematic network architecture with a charge control system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figures 10, 11 and 12 show flow diagrams of the passages in use of the charge control system as shown in Figure 9. (Figures 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 also show an extra inadvertent vertical line These clearly do not claim to be part of any of the figures involved and should be ignored). Referring to Figure 1, a cellular communication network so called because communications are provided to a mobile user 10 of the transmitters 2 that are distributed through the space in which the user can move, for example along the way 11. Each transmitter effectively creates cells 6, 7, 8 within which user 10 will receive communications from that transmitter 2. As user 10 moves, i 7 however, it probably moves to a different transmitter 2 ast epi e, at some point the signal of the transmitter diJrente1. > e returns stronger than the original transmitter. At this point, user 10 moves and moves to m < n t. e on? na ce- Ida different 6, 7, 8 now served by the different transmitter 2 instead of the original transmitter. This is known: as "assignment". The transmitter 2 can provide the entire communication path between a user 10 and an end connection port. However, for long distance traffic, the transmitter 2 will probably only provide a link from the mobile user 10 to a fixed communication network 1 such as the Telecommunication Network of Public Switching. L_ja fixed network (broadband) 1 is the main long distance traffic vehicle and is represented for the purposes of this example consisting only of the Digital Main Switching Units (DMSUs) 3 are completely interconnected. It is assumed that the homes 4, offices 5 and other buildings etc., are connected in a known manner to a node appropriate to the fixed network 1.

J 8 In which a mobile telephone is connected, a 1-year-old, 1-year-old, and 1-year-old system of billing and < rgo.The operator of a mobile network contracts the ability of the r ed t ija 1 pi ral to take the length section of the connectors between mobile users. The network operator is contracted to the mobile network operator in the same way as for any other customer of contracted capacity, however, the traffic at the end of the fixed network will be monitored and billed according to the agreement between the two network operators. In the known cellular network, large macrocells 6 (approximately 10 km in diameter) and small microcells 7 (approximately 500m in diameter) are provided.The primes provide wide coverage throughout the country but a bandwidth low, and the last ones service the "local points" with a No higher banking available. The pation services are available through a much larger width and candela, small peak cells 8 and iiorrrally; 0 through a few meters. These are located in the lobbies 5 and at special location points such as garages, railway stations, service stations, roads, commercial centers, etc. (All adio 2 cell transmitters are connected in the known way in their local fixed network mode). Referring to Figure 2, (in o? A 1 the ceXlas 22 are shown in a stylized icon without showing the different sizes of cells) for handling purposes the cells are agglomerated. Although in Figure 2, the groupings are only 5 and 6 cells, the groupings only- use groups of 7 cells per group. Each cell has a base transceiver station 2 and each cluster is handled by a base station controller (BSC) 20. The management structure is hierarchical and above the BSCs are the mobile switching centers SC) 25. (Apr o: -: there are half a dozen of these in the Cellnet networks in the UK network). The network has a billing system 23 of the known type, which is accessed by the MSC 25 and one or more location registers 24 and a visitor location register 26, also of the known type. The location registers i or ni '; t i o o s and '11 vi itante are used for the i ucal i; ar < , - 1 c mu o < i canos 20 for a J call q? < Ont a to a mobile user who could be in any < e J d ri? 2 in any grouping in the re d. Pur Jo minus some of the M S < "2!" Are connected for exchanges (not shown) of a fixed network 1 carrying long distance traffic between mobile users. Referring to Figure 3, a specific dynamic loading example according to a modality of the invention can be the same: average number of calls received in a period of time = 2, call number in central cells = 6 total capacity of each cell = 16 In this specific case a group of cells present in the crossing a path r ri cipal 32 and a minor path 33. The probabilities a to the movement of the neighboring cells in the central a (A) are obtained from geograr Blissful cession of assignment, together with the love of L i.informed in progress in the CLCs.

The number of calls in favor in each neighbor and the probability of assigning to cell A is as follows: (a) 8 calls in progress - assignment probability 0.20, (b) 3 calls in progress - probability of assignment 0.00 (c) 6 calls in progress - probability of assignment 0.02, (d) 10 calls in progress - probability of assignment 0.20; (e) 10 calls in progress - assignment probability 0.00: (f) 5 calls in progress - probability of assignment 0.02. The FBW for the cell of interest, cell A, can be calculated as follows: FBW = total capacity of cell A - calls in progress S (cell assignment test cell A) * (calls in progress in cell k ) average number of calls received in cell A over a period of time. The sum of the above is on all the neighboring k cells = (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f). Therefore in this case we have: FBW in cell A = 16-6- (8 * 0.2 + 3 * 0 + 6 * 0.02 + 10 * 0.2 + 10 * 0 + 5 * 0.02) -2 = 4.18 Therefore the bandwidth is located as shown in Figure 4. That is: 6 ca 40 for calls in progress 3.82 channels 41 for separating assignments 2 channels 42 for inputs 4.18 channels 43 for free bandwidth (Although this result is mathematical , used to establish a price, one should think that in the "real world" the number of localized channels could probably be a whole number, therefore, 4 channels can be located to separate the assignments and 4 channels can be located for the free bandwidth The probability of assignments from one cell to another can be calculated in different ways, for example, the expected number of assignments for each cell could be calculated in one of three ways: (i) store information in the number of assignments between cells and use the average over a certain interval of mpo for a number of assignments is erado. (ii) store infe r. ation on the call priority * - in cell mode on each neighboring cell, then: expected number of ce i e; n y s i i r a b i i i i i i i i i i i n i n i n n - r or d t > 1 Lunadas; (iii) use positioning information and speed information to construct a list of calls that will likely result in handling to the cell of interest. The number of calls in this list is then the number of special operations. In systems such as the System of Global Positioning (GSM) based on satellites are already known which can provide location information to an accuracy of perhaps a few meters. This is easily enough to support at least a list of calls that will likely result in the handling of a macrocell 6 or a microcell 7, simply by monitoring the position information at selected intervals, another positioning system is known as "Datatrak. " In a CDMA system, a "soft assignment" where a call can be received at more than one base station simultaneously. A call that is established in the soft decline legion could be offered to the prediction of Ja en 1 stronger than what is being received. Alternatively, the calls that are handled in the smoothest cession region could be more expensive since in elect the resources n use more than one cell at the same time. Note that there are additional potential modifications of the free bandwidth formula. For example, depending on the interval between the FBW calculations and the variance of assignment and call termination values, the loss of calls that are in progress at the beginning of a period of time can be taken into account. To do this, some weight may be added to the term: (call processing or termination in a period of time) * (1 call in progress) If the time interval between the FEW calculations (and therefore - re-evaluations of prices) then, assuming that all the calls -in progress at the beginning of the last period of time during the duration of the period of time, we are ob-re-restricting the bandwidth available. A similar situation arises if we have a main route, for example where the connection between the two is located. G? nei .ilment e a t ravo; - and I t) s regimes d • I ei mi l, of 11 a m a a c e s i n e s i n e i l i n e i l i n e i l l i l > I'm not enough. pegiu-iiu or anera q? and i, c) it is necessary to use e; you time. You can also impose the restriction of the neighboring cells k = 1 .... 6 This prevents more calls being made in the cell than the cell would be able to handle. However, this term will not normally be necessary when; or each cell left enough space to "handle entries". The price is determined from FBW using a cost function. The exact cost function can be redefined by using the customer's answer at different prices, these data as they affect the prices, the probability of customers making a call can be stored in the base station and they must be updated at intervals. Although the strategy of fixing current prices will be determined dynamically according to the client's response, the scale of Junctions and costs could be represented by curves of the form shown in Figures 5 and 6. Referring first to the Figure 5, the cost function could be of the form: cost = k * (1-Xg) + Cl where: X is FBW; Cl is the cost of the cheapest call, when the free bandwidth is the total number of channels because there are no calls in progress in the cell or its neighbors and no incoming calls are expected, g is a parameter to establish the shape of the curve, the different curves 50 of Figure 5 having different values of "g"; "k + Cl" is the maximum cost to initiate a call, when the free bandwidth tends to zero. Referring to Figure 6, alternatively the cost function could be exponential having the general expression: cost = k Exp (-a FBW) + b where: b is the charge of a call as FBW tends to infinity; kbe the maximum cost for initial a ll ma a, ce no (n 1 (previous expression "I." f '] ", and end with the same as the curve. It can be seen that even at 1 (channels l, the cost approaches "b".) whereby the values: cost = k Exp (- 16 a) + b Referring to Figures 7 and 8 values used to generate a family of curves according to Figures 5 and 6 can be stored in Figure 7"k" and "Cl" (expressed as "d" in Figure 7) give the values of 5 and 0.25 Respectively, the family of curves are shown for the values of "g" from 0.25 to 2.75, and Figure 8, "k" and "b" give the values ae and 0.25 respectively. it is shown by the values of "a" from 0.1 to 0. 5. The cost is chosen so that together with the consumer's response values, a certain proportion of the bandwidth IX can be expected to be used to initiate calls. in this p time. The real proportion could be a compromise between maximizing the use of the bandwidth and cushioning the effects or prices that have been introduced for the price. The function used to derive costs d -1 width of available offers of course can be chosen to adapt the circumstances. J, a Jorma of the upper curve 51 in Figure 5 for example can be found to have a damping aspect as the available bandwidth becomes lower due to the early cost accelerations in terms of the available bandwidth and will begin to inhibit users from establishing new connections available at a significant remaining batch width. In the specific case described above, where the free bandwidth in cell A is 4.18, we have selected the cost curve 61 of Figure 6, then the corresponding price offered to users waiting to initiate calls in the central cell is Of units. The above cost formulas work from: the free access to a current cell for a user, modified by the amount of traffic that enters which can be expected from the neighboring cells and from the new calls that originate. It is possible to use a formula which starts instead of free capacity of the course of the ceda with current cells, but modified with respect to a real user to move in a cell with different available capacity. This can be formulated in the following way: The price information is based on a charge regime for the user's c c t c cs, depending on the free capacity in the current cell, weighed in relation to the free capacity in cells adjacent. The cost of a connection establishment based on the load regime will be set to the length of the connection in general, charge rate times are selected (just as in the previous examples). It can be established arithmetically in the following way: P = C + F (Co) + S Wn * F (Cn n = l where P = Price per unit time C = Change of basic cell F (Co) = function of "F" of the free capacity in the current cell W n * l'XCn) = weight factor for adjacent cell n tiled by a function of the libic capacity in the adjacent bank n The cost of the connection established in time Tl and disconnected in time T2, by the client, then it will be from Px (T2-T1). The basic cell charge "C" can be set for all cells in a network and can also be the same for all cells. However, it can also be controlled to modify the price information in a global way, for example, it can be achieved in peak traffic times in a network. Therefore, "C" can be used to influence traffic according to global factors rather than local factors to a single cell and its intermediate neighbors. The function of the free capacity in the current cell, F (Co), will be selected outside the network operator to influence the demand appropriately. Of course it will normally be a negative inverse function, so that "p" increases as free capacity decreases. The functions of the free capacities in the neighboring cells, "F (Cn)", in practice can root J s is s functions q? Epila cr ida ac ul, pe io ca to cell neighborhood is localized as a 1 actor of that "Wn" selected according to lpi bb i i d that the client will move in that cell during the progress of a connection. In Jointerior, it has been assumed that there are six cells adjacent to the current cell, to maintain a weight factor. It is possible to take into account the probability of the call assignment to only selected adjacent cells, for example, one of two particular adjacent cells. For example, if the user is traveling on the M25 road, the call to only two adjacent cells is extremely likely. Therefore, the price will be determined in practice by the basic charge of the current cell, a function of its free capacity in the weight functions to only the adjacent cells. The weight takers can be selected in any appropriate way. However, it may be particularly useful to use historical demand factors to assign weight factors that accurately reflect the likelihood that a customer will move in a particular direction and therefore the likelihood that each neighboring cell will receive a loan. assignment. Pe > s d e 1 u e ti t - s t o: t r a r e c ized c; or 11 the time in cur o. It is possible to use the weight factor to reserve the capacity in a neighboring cell. This is possible because the high weight factor will indicate the high probability of assignment. Therefore, it will be possible to establish a threshold for the weight factors, above which the capacity is automatically reserved in the relevant neighbor cell. In the equation for earlier data there are no weight factors given for the function of the liter capacity in the current cell, "F (Co)". There is no reason for a weight factor, "Wo" should not be used for the current cell and this also provides more flexibility in the algorithm. The charge information could be quantified in time to simplify the billing information. For example, the charge is set for the next minute. All established calls, ie between 12:00 and 12:01 are charged at a fixed price. There may be a different price for calls established between 12:02 and 12:03. This can be applied through a cell, a group of cells or a group of cells such as that controlled by a Mobile Switching Center (SC). In general, each cell could have its charge regime in bands, that is, lp to lOOp or 100 charge bands. Alternatively there can be no limits higher than the one established in a way that allows inflation. As described above, the charge regime obviously applies to the cost per unit time of a single channel call. Nevertheless, the network is likely to be able to provide connections to multiple channels such as a linked type time interval or multiple access codes. This could be charged to a multiple of the single-channel regime, whose multiple may or may not be an integer. Due to the. Management of connections that use multiple channels as a priority incur in low efficiency, it may be reasonable to charge a premium for such connections. That is, how to reserve a multi-channel connection and calculate the impact on traffic is probably more uncomfortable than carrying out the same operations for users with single-channel connections. For multi-channel calls, it is possible that the number of channels may change while the call is in progress. This change can be initiated by the network due to the o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o w o w or e can initiate by t 1 user wishing a bio e 11 <; 1 width of i > ,. i, d a proví st,? . I- possible r e q i; t i r e > 1 total number of 'n them ut i l iz two through d < i a dina acjon of a J the miada and eJ cargo to the user accordingly. For the changes in bandwidth initiated by the user, there must be limitations, such as not allowing bandwidth that is sufficiently large (to affect the frequency of the channel) T The dynamic charge can also be used in a packet-switched network where the user sends a variable information regime Using the terminology of the Asynchronous Transfer Mode (IATIX), the cost to the user could be equivalent to the cost of the "effective bandwidth". of average required data and variability and ensures that certain quality of service parameters are met over all calls In the same way as in multi-channel locations, the value of the effective band anchor will be related to some multiples of the value In ATM, although it would not be possible to predict the regime to which the user will send information, the calo report provided to them, for example for a single channel, I could still 1.1 pi to a relative Christ indicator, X user for that o or J d (? particular and load from 11 to t i c o current. Dynamic cadence can also be used for asymmetric services, where the uplink and downlink data regimes are not necessary for it. An example of this could be using a worldwide network of a computer, or X 1. Most of the c transfer of files is by rrXace descending, ie from the base station to the mobile computer. In the dynamic charge, it could be loaded for the total number of channels used regardless of whether it is a downlink or a downlink. Alternatively, the two addresses could be loaded at different rates, depending on the relative number of channels. The price information could be supplied to the clients by means of known J1 anteric 1: ad as a message service -CIK .IIO (^ ¡r 9- n the G S L L or D channel in ISDN.

Installation Architecture The arithmetic calculation of price or unit of time "p" that will be notified to the mobile client, can be done by any convenient means. However, nowadays it is usually modalized in software and is also done in relation to the network at a point where it can receive information about free capacity in the cells of the network, at least in the cell where the attempt is made to a call and in its neighboring cells. The dynamic price regime requires that a cell be notified of the traffic load in neighboring cells. Since most cellular networks are hierarchical in their management structure, like the structure shown in Figure 2, it would be better for the price application to be distributed through the network so that when a boundary between the areas, controlled by nodes in the lower level are found, the information request is passed to a higher level node that responds to a large area. Alternatively, the network can be designed so that it limits the alignment of hard geographic boundaries or even discrete dynamic pricing environments located across the network at high demand. Referring to Figures 2 and 9, in a network with a management infrastructure in which the groupings of baee transceiver stations (BT?) 2 are handled by a baee station controller (BSC) 20, the price within of the group can obviously be handled by the BSC 20. Therefore, this is the place where the charge control system 91 can be used in the embodiments of the present invention. Within the limits of the groupings, the processes for setting a price may be carried out with reference to the mobile switching center (MSC) 25, or on line 97 between the BSC 20. Similarly at the MSC limits, the link 98 between the MSC 25 allows to send information change such as traffic or price information. Once the charge scheme has been calculated and established for a user connection, in a transaction involving call recording, it will be expelled by a billing system 23 of known type for registration in the appropriate call register. The systems of í. i or 1 u i < i or i or 11: with J s rede cel ul ares, iisualnu nt o: < IJ 1 'j c i 1, i 11 • i e J level of M C. on i < ! erence to l Figure 9, the level more. . n í < a network, which usually has 1 s C t os do 1 J ri of traffic necessary to provide uri cargo control system 91 is in the base station controller 20. This is a small switch and with power of Reasonable calculation that controls the frequency location and assignments between the base 2 parking stations or their cont rol. It is the control point of the radio interface and consequently it can be a good point er. which store data of economic transfer to produce variable data of time to feed a price formation. Other suitable points where you can get the software, or at least get the necessary information, is usually different for different networks, and for operators and different r eds or for the manufacture of different equipment. However, networks will generally be provided with traffic monitoring capabilities at the carrier level since it is important to plan upgrades to real capacity. The modalities of the present invention simply simulate this capacity of monit oreo d t r a 1 i o i > exi t ent e. He .' i t t t control control control 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 To monitor your cell in your cluster as a CM data processor to generate a rate of earning on the basis of current and high data, rj. storage of data XJ, 96 for maintaining the data. current traffic data e-historical and charge means 93 to expose a charge regime generated by the data processor 94. The charge regime can be exposed just to the user or users and a billing system 23, depending on the mechanism of charge that will be applied. The charge control systems 91 can be connected to the BSC level and to the MSC level in the network, as shown, or can only receive the MC level, the charge control seventh residing at the BSC level for example. or being : -eiipiazados:. Simply by monitoring methods 2. When a user in a cell 22 wants to establish a connection in the mobile network, he enters his mobile phone set on the hooked connection. This sends a signal, using a can I of cont i X common to the controller of the cell 20 p ri rri l.101 upaci ón of the cell i e 1 or v a n t e. tL f) r a 1 me n t o, < •! checked! cié < st. ation () could assign a vacancy (or a request at a frequency or time interval) from the BTS 2 to the mobile device and subsequently establish an appropriate connection to the call destination. This includes the activation of a bill for the duration of the call, whose collection receipt is subsequently stored in the house or visitor's location records 24, 26 subsequently in the customer's billing. In the embodiments of the present invention, this signaling in a control channel n is the setting of the call to trigger the supply of price information to the user. This price information is provided by the charge control system 91 and can be supplied to the user by means of the common control channel. Then a connection to the call destination is not established until the user has confirmed that they want to continue. In addition, the price information can be administered to. < user through a channel designated by the B C 20. As mentioned above, a communication in this step s < You can do by 1 or more convenient means in which the control channel assigned for example, will be set to 1 Ib with the two-way control format, or it can be the same. simple message service or for the ISDN channel. The base station counter, alert (i charge control system '> 1 when receiving the initial contact via a user control channel. The charge control system 91 operates an application in the data processor 94 for determine the current charge rate for cells 22 where the user is located.The application is used for the selected algorithm in order to calculate the FBW (as described above) and is applied to a selected cost function to arrive at a price The data for the algorithm and cost function are applied to two locations in the data store 95, 96. One of these stores the current traffic data and the other stores historical traffic data for the cell, which usually it will incorporate a time-dependent factor such as day time.The charge control system 91 will therefore also require time information- in order to apply coi i ect amonl (the data oli f i <: < > 11 i s t or i i c c > . 1 'r e 1 or r i b 1 e c 111 < , you will get the information from a 1 or t or t 1 n. X i r. a d in l i t d, to avoid any discrepancies between groupings of cells or geographic areas. The charge control system 91 will now display a unit price which the BSC 20 sends i user. If the user proceeds at that price, the charge control system 91 is operated to send the unit price data to the location register er. the home or visitor 24, 26 for the user, where a gold ballot field is captured for the connection, for subsequent use in the user's billing. (As described above, the user may pay directly for the call or the use of a billing fee field as described above and optionally, however, the charge control number 91 will display the unit price directly. proper carqo mechanism). As shown in Figure 9, the flow of information with respect to the service price information as described, needs to be partially two-way. There will be information. . It is inserted upwards by the transmitters of the signaling system, and it is endowed with the system of information and information of ovi lity. Usually, the past infor mation from BSC 0 to C 25 will be a rela tive re la tion to the r e d as a t ode. The general information that appears below will generally contain charge information for the user. There also needs to be some transmission information between the elements at the same network level. This will be presented, for example, when the user is located in a cell on the edge of a cluster. Data for more than one grouping will be necessary before a charge control system has sufficient information on which a charge calculation is based. The BSC 20 / or MSC 25 will have to exchange current traffic load and information between itself. The embodiments in the invention may be used for non-real-time services such as e-mail while the voice telephony is maintained at a fixed rate. This is because users may not care much when the non-time time services are delivered and this would take place in a period of low demand >; n the net when the skin is moving < 11 .1 ri s celd s with capacity 1 i b r < . A subject such as M0N DE X can be used to collect the payment. Therefore, invoices will not have to be produced. The billing information could be collected in the mobile user's equipment and / or in the network. Referring to Figure 10, next to Figures 2 and 9, a flow chart that establishes steps in the operation of a system according to a "centralized" mode of the present invention, in which the control system is responsible for co le or 91 settled .-. The level of SC in the network is as follows: STEP 100: Monitoring means 92 for each BSC 20 substantially increases the real-time traffic information for each cell 22 provided by relevant BTS 2 at regular time intervals of 15 weeks; STEP 105: Monitoring requirements to 2 for each MSC 25 will monitor traffic information specifically for each accepation of or, f > r o v i s t a s v the BSC 20 rel evant e di chos i ntervalos ri o t t i me regular.

STEP 110: The traffic information provided by the monitoring edits of the BSC .10 and the MSC 25 are transmitted to the current traffic data store 95 in the load control system 91 of the MSC 25; STEP 115: The traffic information is transferred to the miaceña by the current traffic data store 95 of the MSC 25 at a time slot rate; STEP 120: The data pi 94 in the Carao 91 control system of the MSC 25 takes the inputs of its current and historical traffic data warehouses 95, 96 and stores the data for storage where the data belongs if there is a missing cell with respect to each of its neighbors. When necessary, the data processor 94 will trigger a request for current traffic data and the X's of a neighbor MC 5 with cells on the edge of the attic that lie on the edge of the same. ejión to where rl MSC 25 has tiirigido the data; STEP 125: The data processor 94 calculates a data rate per charge 22,. according to an algorithm to evaluate the FBW as described above, together a cost function, again such as described above; STEP 130: The means to set the charge 93 show a charging regime for each cell 22 in two locations, this being BSC 20 for any current user (ie, a user with his mobile device turned on) and the location register of Home and / or visitor 24, 26 for any current user, STEP 135: Each i -. 'C 20 of the charge régime transmits the information, only charge to each current user via his PTS 2 and one or n < • .1 appropriate, such as by a common control channel or by a dedicated time interval in its signaling channel for example. The regime d. I will be notified to any user who has not established a connection channel. (As well as this - you will be notified, for example, of a communication screen on your computer even if you have a connection channel but that does not affect the charge rate of any call in progress except under exceptional circumstances predetermined by the network or service operator agreed in advance); Y STEP 140: The registries of location in the home and / or visit 24, 26 receiving the information of charge regime, store the information.

The reason that a user who has established a connection channel does not suffer a change in the charge regime, although the location records in the home and / or visit store an updated régime, it may be because the régi in The connection for a connection is established in the call establishment, using the information dr- charge regime stored in the register of home location and / or visit at that time. It is to say, that record was read and the information was received and the action was not taken, and charges were to be applied differently., for example by deducting the MONDEX credit in real time, or the like, it may be necessary for the charge control system 91 to set up a poem bar to change the charge regime information in the location register in the hraar and / or visit to users when the connection is already in progress. However, this is relatively simple so that the MSC 25 control for MSC 25 location will have relevant real-time traffic data, since they are stored in their data store 95, so that only updated data can be sent to current users with connections in progress. Alternatively, this can be done at the level of BSC 20, or indeed in the own location region of the home and / or neighbor. Haci'i, X reference to Figures 11 and 12, together with XI Figures 2 and 9, the flow chart is equivalent to the previous one, for the centralized mode of the invention shown in Figure 9 in which there is a system of charge control 91 in each BSC 20 as well as in each MSC 25, is as in the rest: h / X'C 1100: Monitoring Meters X 'for each BSC 20 monitors their real-time information traffic information for each cell 22 provided by relevant BTS 2 at regular time intervals of 15 seconds.; SO 1105: The monitoring means 92 for each MSC 25 substantially monitors the real-time traffic information for each group of cells, provided that the relevant BSC 20 was provided at said regular intervals.

FASO 1110: The traffic information provided by the monitoring means of the BSC 20 and the MSC 25 transmits to the current traffic data stores 91 to • the seven mains of "charge control 91 of the MSC 25 and the neighboring BSC 20 with its monitoring means 92 not by naming the relevant traffic; STEP 1115: Traffic information is collected in I C S stores or current traffic data; 95 for the MSC 25 and - s BSC 20; STEP 1120: The charge control rule 91 of the MSC 25 signals any neighboring MSC 25 to which the current traffic data will be relevant and the neighboring MSCs 25 are stored in the current traffic data store 95 of their charge control system 91; STEP 1125: The data processors 94 of the charge control systems 91 of the MSC 25 and the BSC 20 enter from their associated current and historical traffic stores 95, 96. If the data of any cell is missing, due to the data of the neighboring cells are maintained by a neighboring BSC 20 or SC 25, and then the data processors 94 will combine the appropriate BSC 20 or the SC 25 to complete their data groups when necessary; STEP 1130: The processors of ii.it m; 94 calculate a qo-by-cell regimen 22, with a 1-q or i-way to evaluate FBW-1, above, along with a new cost function, as described above; 1 A S O 1135: The means to fix the charge 93 of the B? C 20 and hiben a regime of c rgo for each cell 22 l home location and / or location regietro 24.26; P SO 1140: If there is already an 11 a m a d a (connection in progress), it will not be changed in the home and / or visitor's location register 24, 26 for the relevant user but in some way the charge regime is stored; F SO 11 5: The hatreds to fix the charge 93 of 'each BSC 20 transmits the information to each current user via their BTS 2 and an appropriate channel, such as via a channel < i < common control or via a time interval in your signaling channel. This c rate will be notified to any user who has not established a connection channel c u. (Again, it may be noted, via a panel or display on your computer, to a user who has already established a connection channel but will not affect the charge rate of any call in progress except under normal circumstances. pre-determined by the network or service operator already prearranged e-CJ nelusuarioi .. The aforementioned system implies a duplication of processing capacity but there is less data transfer in the network and there is less resilience in the case that It may be preferred in the second seventh that the charge control system 91 for each MSC 25 only calculates a charge regime for cells on the edge of the groupings that are in the same area the relevant MSC 25. This could reduce the total processing capacity provided.In an alternative system, the processing capacity only needs to be provided at the level of BSC 20. When the information for the next neighborhoods f l for a p. S < '20 p < In most of the circumstances, information can be obtained directly from the BSC 20 neighbor re Kv nte. The ability to update historical traffic data will be important, as usage patterns will change over time. This can be done using the current traffic data and monitoring it for a significant period. For example, the daily traffic pattern can be monitored for a period of time of six months in a weekly cycle. It would be a significant change in that period, then the historical traffic data that is being used can be updated. This provides a teaching mechanism for the seventh. A time interval of 15 seconds was mentioned earlier as the repetition rate for monitoring current traffic data. This is not mandatory but is only selected as a time interval that gives the user a reasonable time in which a decision can be made to establish a connection. In practice, it may be preferred to reduce the time interval and update the user more frequently, or to increase the interval of t i e m o and to eliminate the processing load and the caption of the data used to transfer data. The data can be transmitted to users individually, rather than by a dissemination mechanism, to reduce network traffic. This also allows the data to be co-o nted for each user, for example by providing common information.

Claims (9)

1. A control system can be used in cellular communications infrastructure, where local caches can be modified in response to the current local traffic load, the system includes: i) monitoring means to monitor the current traffic load in the network; ii) a data warehouse for storing historical traffic data linked to the cells of the network; iii) data processing means arranged in operation to generate a parameter related to the current traffic, depending at least part of a current traffic load in a local area of the network and the historical traffic data pertaining to the local area; iv) means to set charges arranged in operation to set the regime to which the traffic is loaded by the network in said local area thereof, the regime established by the means of fixing the charge being controlled at least in part by the related parameter with the local traffic.

2. I '. I system according to Jav vindication 1, in which fixed means the eompionden store data, or access to a data source in which a purely update q is loaded, applying it to the parameter Relating to Jocal traffic in order to generate the C axis regime established by the crash fixation means.

3. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the network at least in part is a mobile network and the historical traffic data comprise, at least in part, transfer data, referring to historic transfer patterns between the cellular of the network.

4. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the monitoring means are devices in operation for monitoring local traffic load acitve 1 with respect to groupings of cells, each grouping of cells comprising a central-cell together with the neighboring cells from which the central cell could receive the assignment, the monitoring means in operation, storing or removing data groups, each group of data referring to the other days of grouping the cells.

5. The system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprises means for monitoring the regime established by the edios de; Provision of charge to the user's equipment connected to the network.

6. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the network is provided by a management infrastructure based on the area comprising base station controllers to control the assignment between cells of each cluster, the monitoring means being provided by the base station controllers.

7. The system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprises means for updating the charging regime established by the system at regular and medium intervals to maintain a single charging regime applied by a billing system to any connection to which it is subject. can take over and is already read in the network before the end of one of the i or ei va 1 os.

8. I'L! system according to the i X vindication 7, where the: modios to maintain a single charge regime comprises me ios pra establish a field of c go regime in a call log for the connection to which the charge is made , which means that it is activated by the connection establishment.

9. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the monitoring means has a data warehouse output for historical traffic data and the historical traffic data is periodically updated to go was that • '. The system has learning, or adaptive capacity. SUMMARY In a charge system for cellular communications, the client is offered real-time prices for new connections. Real-time prices take into account both prevalent and historical traffic patterns, along with the probability that the client will move from their current cell to a neighboring cell. The cells of the network are monitored in groups. If a customer is located in a particular cell, the price offered for that customer will take into account the probability of transfer to a neighboring cell during the connection and can also take into account the probability of neighboring cells during the connection. To allow this list pricing, the system stores and can also update historical data.