Telecom Pre-Answer Service Charging Deferral via IN Invocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In telecommunication networks, calling parties are charged for pre-answer services as soon as they connect to Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, even if the Intelligent Network (IN) service is invoked from a different switching node than the serving MSC, leading to unintended charging before the final connection to the destination is established.
Innovation Solution
A method where the second switching node invokes an IN service to connect the calling party to a pre-answer service, sends a pre-answer instruction, and only upon receiving a connection confirmation, sends an establish pre-answer speech path instruction to the first switching node, allowing interaction without charging the calling party until the call is completed and connected to the destination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the IN service is invoked from a switching node other than the serving MSC (e.g., via Transit MSC or GMSC), then the pre-answer service can be provided, but the calling party will be charged as soon as connection to the pre-answer service is completed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention establishes the speech path to the pre-answer service in advance (before connection confirmation), allowing the calling party to interact with the IVR without being charged yet. The charging is deferred until the actual call connection is confirmed, thus performing the useful action of providing pre-answer service beforehand without the harmful effect of premature charging
Solution Approach 2:
The invention separates the establishment of the speech path from the charging trigger condition. The speech path is established when the IN service invokes the pre-answer service, while charging is triggered only upon receiving connection confirmation from the destination. This segmentation allows independent control of service provision and billing
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the IN service instructs the MSC not to signal connection to the pre-answer service in backwards direction, then the calling party will not be charged, but no interaction will be possible between the calling party and the pre-answer service
Solution Approach 1:
The speech path is established preliminarily when the IN service invokes the pre-answer service, before connection confirmation is received. This allows bidirectional communication between the calling party and the pre-answer service to occur without triggering charging, while still enabling full interaction capability
3Device complexity
If the serving MSC starts charging when connection confirmation from the pre-answer service is received, then charging control is simple, but the calling party is charged for the pre-answer service
Solution Approach 1:
The speech path is established in advance before connection confirmation, separating the service provision phase from the charging trigger phase. This allows the system to maintain simple charging control logic (charging on connection confirmation) while avoiding the harmful effect of charging for the pre-answer service itself
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts when charging should start based on the type of connection confirmation received. Normal connection confirmations trigger charging, while connection confirmations related to pre-answer service establishment do not trigger charging, allowing flexible control of the charging trigger condition
Data Source
AI summary
Method for establishing a call from a calling party to a destination using a pre-answer service in a telecommunication network, whereby the telecommunication network may comprise a first switching node and a second switching node, the first and second switching nodes communicatively connected, the calling party communicatively connected to the first switching node, the destination communicatively connected to the second switching node. The method further comprising the steps of setting up a call between the calling party and the second switching node, invoking an IN service associated with the pre-answer service, connecting the call to the pre-answer service, charging an account of the calling party by the first switching node upon receiving a connection confirmation message relating to the call, completing the pre-answer service, disconnecting the call from the pre-answer service upon completion of the pre-answer service, connecting the call to the destination, sending a pre-answer instruction to the second switching node upon invoking the IN service, whereby the step of connecting the call to the pre-answer service is performed upon receipt of the pre-answer instruction, sending an establish pre-answer speech path instruction to the first switching node upon connection confirmation from the pre-answer service and sending a connection confirmation message to the calling party by the first switching node upon receipt of the establish pre-answer speech path instruction, whereby the step of charging the account of the calling party is performed upon completing the step of connecting the call to the destination.