The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 07, 2014
Filed:
Jan. 16, 2007
Marko Schuba, Aldenhoven, DE;
Raphaël Quinet, Liège, BE;
Rainer Hansen, Prüm, DE;
Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ), Stockholm, SE;
Abstract
Methods and devices for charging a user for access to a service accessible via a communication network are disclosed. At least two charging-related states are defined for the communication network. A tariff proposal entity associated with the user determines one or more tariff proposals for charging the user for accessing the service and sends the one or more tariff proposals to a rating entity. The rating entity analyzes the one or more tariff proposals in relation to a current charging-related state of the at least two charging-related states, wherein it is determined if at least one of the one or more tariff proposals complies with at least one tariff setting associated with the current charging-related state. The rating entity further selects a tariff of the at least one complying tariff proposals for charging the user for access to the service and initiates a charging of the user for access to the service according to the selected tariff.