DE10150873B4 - Device for the collective delivery of information - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for the tariff-bound, paid delivery of information offered in packets from a provider to a user via a selectable connection contained in a communication network, the sequence of information delivery stored in a switching unit consisting of individual sequence elements which are executed in succession, the sequence elements comprising the following: starting a connection (start); Providing selectable information offers for a user (info); User selecting an operator (interaction); Control of an operator (connection target); at least one further of the process elements being able to arrange a tariff point in order to carry out a tariff change at a specific process point.

Description

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

In communication networks, information providers can offer services (information) in the form of voice and data. The information offers are either on the platforms of the network operators or on platforms of the information providers.

Such information is often provided in a Premium Rate Service (PRS), the z. Z. is handled by the numbers 0190-x.

The US 5 003 584 A discloses a costing method and apparatus in which a sponsor realizes services in real time and thereby reduces costs.

US 5,822,411 A discloses a method in which the telephone connection is monitored and recorded in order to then detect charges.

WO 97/40634 A2 , The procedure allows the flexible billing of services provided via telecommunication networks. The aim is a variable price agreement between service providers and service users within a predefinable framework whose compliance is checked by an independent verification system.

Out EP 0 905 960 A1 According to the invention, the connection charges calculated for the charge display in a network node are included in a charge data record which is used for later charging of charges. This eliminates the need for consistent tariff data maintenance between the charge meter calculation bureau and the VST external billing system for billing.

The flow logic of an information offer is described with a call flow. It consists of building blocks called Call Flow Elements (CFE) or Service Independent Building Blocks (SIBBs). Due to their arrangement and their individual functions, the caller is gradually controlled by the structure of the information offered.

• • Start
• • Info
• • MFV(Mehrfrequenzverfahren)-Interaktion
• • Verbindungsziel
• • Ende

The call flows are generated with a producer environment for call flows. Completed call flows must be passed to the system where they will be executed in a switch. Example of call flow elements are:

• • Begin
• • Info
• • DTMF (multi-frequency) interaction
• • Connection destination
• • The End

The description model of an information offer in the form of a simple announcement service shows 1 ,

The caller (user) hereby has the option of successively selecting different information offers (info) within an existing connection (MEV interaction) and listening or directly controlling an operator (connection destination). The program logic becomes clear through the announcement texts according to Table 1. CFE OGM Info A If you want to get to know our spring offer, please press the "1", for the summer offer please the "2", for the autumn offer please the "3" and for the winter offer please the "4". If you want to be connected with our customer service, please press the "5". Info 1 You are now hearing our offer for the spring. Another announcement text ... Info 2 You are now listening to our offer for the summer. Another announcement text ... Info 3 You are now listening to our offer for fall. Another announcement text ... Info 4 You are now listening to our offer for the winter. Another announcement text ... Info R Either you have hesitated too long with your input or you have entered an invalid number. Table 1

• • Informationsanbieter können Tarife für ihre Angebote nicht selbst einstellen.
• • Tarifwechsel während einer Verbindung sind nicht möglich.
• • Neue Tarife können nur durch den Netzbetreiber bereitgestellt werden.
• • Die Bereitstellung neuer Tarife erfordert Maßnahmen im Billing System des Netzbetreibers.
• • Die Bereitstellung neuer Tarife erfordert das Einbringen neuer Preisansagen in das Netz.
• • Durch die Verwendung von Charge Band-Nummern ist die Zahl der im Netz signalisierbaren Tarife begrenzt.

With regard to the tariff classification for the fee to be paid for the supply of information, the existing information services are subject to the following restrictions:

• • Information providers can not set rates for their offers.
• • Tariff changes during a connection are not possible.
• • New tariffs can only be provided by the network operator.
• • The provision of new tariffs requires action in the network operator's billing system.
• • The provision of new tariffs requires the introduction of new price announcements in the network.
• • The use of batch band numbers limits the number of tariffs that can be signaled in the network.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a device for tariff-bound paid delivery of packet-shaped information from a provider to a user via a dial-up connection contained in a communication network, wherein the flow of an information delivery stored in a switching unit consists of individual elements which are consecutive be executed, which allows the information provider an unlimited realization of its tariff requirements.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the inventive device will become apparent from the dependent claims.

• • Die Festlegung der Preise von Informationsangeboten kann durch die Informationsanbieter selbst erfolgen.
• • Es sind die Tarifkomponenten Blocktarif und Zeittarif möglich.
• • Bei Zeittarifen sind unterschiedliche Abrechnungstakte möglich.
• • Tarifänderungen sind jederzeit schnell möglich.
• • Tarifansagen sind für jeden beliebigen Tarif verfügbar.
• • Das Einholen von Tarifbestätigungen durch den Anrufer ist auf beliebige Grenzwerte einstellbar.
• • Es gibt keine Beschränkungen auf eine Anzahl nutzbarer Tarife.
• • Tarifwechsel während der Verbindung sind möglich (auch mehrfach).
• • Die Verwendung von APM-Nachrichten im AOC99 macht es möglich, alle Tarife an der Endeinrichtung des Anrufers anzuzeigen.
• • Für jeden Gesprächsabschnitt wird eineigener Eintrag in einem bepreisten Kommunikationsdatensatz (KDS) erzeugt. Damit können detaillierte Rechnungen für den Anrufer erstellt werden.
• • Tarifeinstellungen und -wechsel können als Ereignisse dem Informationsanbieter durch den Netzbetreiber in Rechnung gestellt werden.

The fact that at least one of the flow elements represents a tariff point through which any tariff change can be carried out at desired times makes it possible to achieve the following improvements:

• • The pricing of information offers may be determined by the information providers themselves.
• • The tariff components Block Tariff and Time Tariff are possible.
• • With time rates, different billing cycles are possible.
• • Tariff changes are possible at any time.
• • Rate announcements are available for any rate.
• • Collecting tariff confirmations by the caller can be set to any limit values.
• • There are no restrictions on a number of usable tariffs.
• • Tariff changes during the connection are possible (also several times).
• • The use of APM messages in the AOC99 makes it possible to display all tariffs at the caller's terminal.
• • For each section of the conversation, a separate entry is created in a priced communication record (KDS). This allows you to create detailed invoices for the caller.
• • Tariff settings and changes can be charged as events to the information provider by the network operator.

• • Es werden nur Datensätze über ganze Gespräche aufgezeichnet.
• • Datensätze zu einzelnen Gesprächsabschnitten werden nicht aufgezeichnet.
• • Statistische Auswertungen über den Gesprächsverlauf sind nicht möglich.

As far as the collection of statistical data is concerned, information services are currently subject to the following restrictions:

• • Only records for whole calls are recorded.
• • Records for individual conversation sections are not recorded.
• • Statistical evaluations over the course of the conversation are not possible.

• • Mit Hilfe von Statistikpunkten können Statistikdatensätze an beliebigen Stellen eines Call Flows geschrieben werden.
• • Die quantitative und qualitative Gestaltung der Statistiken hat der Informationsanbieter durch die Plazierung der Statistikpunkte selbst in der Hand.
• • Es sind Aussagen über das Verhalten von Anrufern im Gesprächsverlauf möglich.
• • Es sind Aussagen über das Verhalten von Anrufern in einzelnen Gesprächsabschnitten möglich.
• • Im Zusammenwirken mit den Tarifpunkten ist eine abgestimmte Inhalts- und Preisgestaltung von Informationsangeboten möglich.

In order to remedy these limitations, the device according to the invention may be designed such that at least one of the flow elements represents a statistical point by which statistical data records can be written via a statistical evaluation of information deliveries carried out. This gives the following advantages.

• • Statistic points can be used to write statistics records anywhere in a call flow.
• • The information provider has the quantitative and qualitative structure of the statistics in his own hands by placing the statistics points.
• • Statements about the behavior of callers in the course of the conversation are possible.
• • Statements about the behavior of callers in individual sections of the conversation are possible.
• • In conjunction with the tariff points, a coordinated content and pricing of information offers is possible.

The function of these two new flow elements (call flow elements) can thus be defined in principle such that tariff points initiate a tariff change procedure, while statistics points trigger the writing of an additional statistical data set. Tariff and statistics points can be set arbitrarily between the other elements of a flow logic.

A drainage element can also be designed in such a way that it combines the functions of a tariff point and a statistical point.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in FIGS. Show it:

1 the sequence model of an announcement service according to the prior art,

2 the sequence model of an announcement service according to an embodiment of the invention, and

3 the schematic representation of a tariff change procedure.

The process model after 2 differs from the one after 1 in that, by way of example, tariff points (TP) and statistical points (SP) are inserted whose number and positioning is completely optional.

Each information offer is in 2 assigned a separate TP, which means that each offer can be assigned a different price. The TPO sets the initial rate.

At the tariff points also a statistic dataset is written.

By arranging the SP, additional statistical data records can be written at arbitrary locations, which allow a detailed analysis of the use of the call flow.

A tariff point initiates a tariff change procedure or sets the first tariff after dialing the service.

The processing of a tariff change is divided into two phases, the initialization of the tariff change and the completion of the tariff change (see 3 ).

The initialization of tariff change procedures takes place where tariff points are located in the call flow. Closing takes place at the latest in the next element, if the availability of the resource used for the call segment of the call flow to be tariffed has been proven.

• • Prüfung, ob ein Tarifwechsel überhaupt notwendig ist (siehe unten).
• • Vorbereitung eines Statistikdatensatzes. Der vorbereitete Datensatz enthält bereits alle Informationen mit Ausnahme des Ausgangs des Tarifwechsels. Zeitstempel im vorbereiteten Datensatz beziehen sich auf das Erreichen des Tarifpunktes im Call Flow. Damit entspricht der Datensatz dem an einem Statistikpunkt geschriebenen (siehe Tabelle 4).
• • Vorbereiten eines Eintrags in einem bepreisten KDS, mit dem das Ereignis des Tarifwechsels als solches dem Informationsanbieter berechnet werden kann.
• • Abschließen eines evtl. offenen Gesprächsabschnitts mit Berechnung des darin aufgelaufenen Entgelts und Schreiben eines bepreisten KDS-Eintrags für die Abrechnung mit dem Anrufer.

When initializing a fare change take place:

• • Checking whether a tariff change is necessary at all (see below).
• • Preparation of a statistical data set. The prepared data record already contains all the information with the exception of the departure of the tariff change. Timestamps in the prepared dataset refer to reaching the tariff point in the call flow. Thus, the data set corresponds to the one written at a statistical point (see Table 4).
• • Preparing an entry in a priced KDS that allows the fare change event to be charged to the information provider as such.
• • Completing a possibly open discussion section with calculation of the accrued remuneration and writing a priced KDS entry for billing with the caller.

• • Prüfung des Vorhandenseins der für den nächsten Gesprächabschnitt notwendigen Ressourcen.
• • Fehlt eine notwendige Ressource, wird eine Fehlerbehandlung angestossen. Diese kann die Tarifwechselprozedur beenden, den Prozess löschen und eine diesbezügliche Ansage abspielen sowie die Verbindung beenden.
• • Sind alle Ressourcen verfügbar, wird die zum neuen Tarif gehörende Tarifansage angelegt. Diese ist für den Anrufer kostenlos. Bei Überschreiten eines Grenzwertes wird eine Tarifbestätigung mittels Tastatureingabe vom Anrufer eingefordert.
• • Die Grenzwerte für Zeit- und Blocktarife, ab denen Bestätigungen eingeholt werden, sind konfigurierbar.
• • Während der Tarifansage ist keine Sprachverständigung zwischen dem Anrufer und dem Informationsanbieter möglich. Eine erwartete Tarifbestätigung des Anrufers über Tastatureingabe ist deshalb durch den Informationsanbieter nicht manipulierbar.
• • Bei erfolgter Bestätigung oder wenn keine Bestätigung notwendig war: Öffnen eines anschließenden, neuen Gesprächsabschnitts, Aussenden einer Signalisierung zur Anzeige des neuen Tarifs (AOC99) und Ausführen der für das jeweilige Call Flow-Element typischen Aktion.
• • Fehlt eine erforderliche Tarifbestätigung, wird nach Ablauf eines konfigurierbaren Zeitintervalls eine dementsprechende Fehlerbehandlung gestartet.
• • Schreiben eines vorbereiteten Statistikdatensatzes.

At the conclusion of a tariff change procedure takes place:

• • Checking for the presence of the resources needed for the next session.
• • If a necessary resource is missing, an error handling is triggered. This can terminate the tariff change procedure, delete the process and play a corresponding announcement and terminate the connection.
• • If all resources are available, the tariff announcement belonging to the new tariff will be created. This is free for the caller. If a limit value is exceeded, a tariff confirmation is requested by the caller via keyboard input.
• • The time and block tariff limits from which acknowledgments are obtained are configurable.
• • During the rate announcement voice communication between the caller and the information provider is not possible. An expected tariff confirmation of the caller via keyboard input is therefore not manipulatable by the information provider.
• • On confirmation or when confirmation was not required: opening a subsequent new conversation, sending a signal to display the new tariff (AOC99) and performing the action typical of the particular call flow element.
• • If a required rate confirmation is missing, a corresponding error handling is started after a configurable time interval.
• • Writing a prepared statistical data set.

If a predetermined max. Number of permitted call segments in the connection has been exceeded, the tariff change procedure will not be continued. Instead, a corresponding system announcement is created, the connection is triggered and the call flow is ended in a controlled manner.

Table 2 describes the rate information contained in a tariff point. The billing cycle allows time billing in arbitrarily fine grids, z. B. seconds, accurate to the second, accurate to the minute. field content bt Block rate, one time when the tariff point is reached (after announcement and, if necessary, acknowledgment) the billable amount in currency units. zt Timetable, minute rate of the following conversation section in currency units per minute. At Billing cycle, time of billing of the time tariff Table 2

A fare change occurs if the tariff specified in the tariff point deviates from the current tariff. The necessary activities are performed by the platform on which the call flow is executed. To detect such a deviation, all tariff points in a call flow carry a unique identification (tid).

The need for a tariff change is recognized according to the rules defined in Table 3. An optional KDS entry for the calculation of a tariff change event for the information provider may only be written if a tariff change actually takes place at a tariff point. Tid (old) = Tid (new) Bt (old) = Bt (new) Zt (old) = Zt (new) At (old) = At (new) Yes X (yes or no) X X no fare change No yes, Bt (old) = 0 Yes Yes no fare change No Yes X X tariff change No No X X tariff change No X No X tariff change No X X No tariff change Table 3

• • Schreiben eines Statistikdatensatzes (ein Tarifpunkt impliziert einen Statistikpunkt).
• • Öffnen eines Gesprächabschnitts und Aussenden einer Signalisierung (AOC99) mit dem neuen Tarif.
• • Tarifierungsprozeduren laufen, wie oben für Sprachanwendungen beschrieben, ab. Allerdings entfallen Tarifansagen und Tarifbestätigungen.

Tariff points for data applications do not make announcements and do not require confirmation. Other tasks and features are:

• • Writing a statistic dataset (a tariff point implies a statistical point).
• • Opening a call segment and sending a signaling (AOC99) with the new tariff.
• • Classification procedures are performed as described above for voice applications. However, tariff announcements and tariff confirmations are omitted.

Other call flow elements that implicitly trigger the writing of a statistics record are start, end, tariff point and connection destination.

In addition, the setting of statistics points can be used to initiate the writing of additional statistics records.

By arranging statistical points in the call flow, it is possible to draw statistical conclusions about the use of a call flow and its elements. By arranging statistical points, the depth of detail of possible statistical evaluations can be controlled.

The basis of all statistical evaluations are statistics records. Table 4 shows the most important fields of a statistical data record. key content Primary Calling Party ID, A-phone number Primary Dialed number, dialed number Primary Start of the call (date / time) Primary Current timestamp (date / time) Call Flow element that wrote the record; Values: Start, End, Connection destination, Tariff point, Statistics point Status of the tariff receipt; Values: not required (zero), acknowledged, not acknowledged, resource shortage. Termination reason for selected connection destination, otherwise zero. Further information elements Table 4

• • Durch Ordnen dieser Datensätze nach dem aktuellen Zeitstempel lässt sich der Verlauf eines Anrufs detailliert zurückverfolgen.
• • Durch Filtern auf die CFE = ”Start” oder ”Ende” können die Grunddaten jedes Calls erfasst werden.
• • Durch Filtern auf das CFE = ”Tarifpunkt” kann der Quittierungsstatus zu jedem Tarifwechsel innerhalb einer Verbindung nachvollzogen werden.
• • Durch Filtern auf die Calling Party ID lassen sich Auswertungen auf Regionen begrenzen und Strukturanalysen erstellen.

All statistics records that belong to a call are identified by the calling party ID, the dialed number and the beginning of the call. Sorting and selection for specific field contents are the prerequisites for the generation of operational and customer statistics:

• • Ordering these records according to the current timestamp retraces the history of a call in detail.
• • By filtering on the CFE = "Start" or "End" the basic data of each call can be recorded.
• • By filtering on the CFE = "Tariff point", the acknowledgment status can be traced to every tariff change within a connection.
• • By filtering on the Calling Party ID, evaluations can be limited to regions and structural analyzes can be created.

• • Beliebige Tarife sind sofort realisierbar. Sie sind unmittelbar mit den dazugehörenden Tarifansagen und Signalisierungen verknüpft.
• • Neue Tarife machen hinsichtlich Ansagen, Quittungen und Signalisierungen keine Massnahmen mehr im Netz erforderlich.
• • Es sind mehrere Gesprächsabschnitte mit unterschiedlichen Tarifen möglich.
• • Das Gebührenaufkommen wird an den Endstellen (mit Gebührenanzeiger) der Anrufer angezeigt (AOC99).
• • Es werden bepreiste KDS erzeugt, die nicht nur die Verbindungsdaten, sondern auch den Preis des Gesprächs bzw. die Preise der Gesprächsabschnitte enthalten.
• • Der tarifierungstechnische Ablauf einer Einzelverbindung ist bei Bedarf (Beschwerdemanagement) detailliert darstellbar.
• • Die Bepreisung der Gespräche durch eine Nachverarbeitung in einem Billingsystem entfällt. Neue Tarife erfordern dort keine Massnahmen.

In summary, it should be noted that with regard to the conception of the TP:

• • Any tariffs are immediately realizable. They are directly linked to the associated tariff announcements and signaling.
• • New rates no longer require any action on the network regarding announcements, acknowledgments and signaling.
• • Several segments of different rates are possible.
• • The charge volume is displayed at the terminals (with charge indicator) of the caller (AOC99).
• • Priced KDS are generated, which contain not only the connection data, but also the price of the call or the prices of the call sections.
• • The tariff-technical procedure of a single connection can be represented in detail (complaint management) in detail.
• • There is no longer any need to price conversations by postprocessing in a billing system. New tariffs do not require any action there.

• • Der mögliche Detaillierungsgrad der Statistiken kann durch wahlfreies Setzen von SP bestimmt werden.
• • Es kann die Akzeptanz des Informationsangebotes durch die Anrufer gemessen werden. Auswertungen erlauben Aussagen zu einzelnen Gesprächsabschnitten im Produkt und lassen in interaktiven Informationsprogrammen Rückschlüsse auf die Nutzung der einzelnen Teile zu.
• • Es kann eine Inhalts- und Preisgestaltung aufgrund der aus der Statistik gewonnenen Erkenntnisse zur Akzeptanz und Nachfrage vorgenommen werden.
• • Es können auch Rohdaten-Subsets bereitgestellt werden. Das sind sämtliche Statistikdatensätze zu einer beliebigen Zahl von Anrufen in anonymisierter Form. Auf Basis dieser Daten können einzelne Gesprächsverläufe im Detail analysiert werden.
• • Die Statistikauswertungen können einen einmaligen oder periodischen (täglich, wöchentlich, monatlich) Bezug haben und können für die Einzelheiten Stunde, Tag, Woche und Monat ausgewertet werden.
• • Neben dem zeitlichen Bezug ist auch ein regionaler Bezug (Auswahl eines Einzugsbereiches) möglich.

Furthermore, with regard to the conception of the SP:

• • The possible level of detail of the statistics can be determined by randomly setting SP.
• • The acceptance of the information offered by the caller can be measured. Evaluations allow statements about individual sections of the conversation in the product and allow in interactive information programs conclusions about the use of the individual parts.
• • Content and pricing can be made based on statistics on acceptance and demand.
• • Raw data subsets can also be provided. These are all statistics records for any number of calls anonymously. Based on this data, individual call histories can be analyzed in detail.
• • Statistical evaluations can have a one-time or periodic (daily, weekly, monthly) reference and can be evaluated for hour, day, week and month details.
• • In addition to the temporal reference, a regional reference (selection of a catchment area) is also possible.

Claims (11)

A device for tariff-bound delivery of packet-wise offered information from a provider to a user via a dial-up connection contained in a communication network, wherein the flow of an information delivery stored in a switching unit consists of individual flow elements that are successively executed, the flow elements comprising: Starting a connection (start); Providing selectable information offers for a user (info); Selecting an operator by the user (interaction); Driving an operator (connection destination); in which at least one further of the flow elements represents a tariff point that can be arranged at a determinable point in the flow to perform a tariff change at a certain expiration point. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the information provided is voice information. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the information supplied is data. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tariff change can be determined by the provider. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tariff change only takes place when a target to be controlled in the next drainage element is also available. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fare type and / or the tariff is variable in a tariff change. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a tariff change during the delivery of an information packet is feasible. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the tariff change by means of a display device is displayed to the user. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the tariff change can be confirmed before it is carried out by the user. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one further flow element represents a statistical point, which can be arranged at a determinable point in the flow, can be written by the statistical data sets on a statistical evaluation of information supplied. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that an element combines functions of a tariff point and a statistical point.

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