METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BILLING FOR MEDIA DURING COMMUNICATIONS IN CHANNEL-BASED MEDIA TELECOMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS

1 . A method of providing a video ringback service, the method comprising:

receiving, at a VRBT system, a setup message from a terminal originating a call;

providing a first message from the VRBT system to a service node, wherein the first message is a message interpreted at the service node as an indication to establish a bidirectional bearer;

establishing a communication session between the terminal originating the call and the VRBT system through the bidirectional bearer;

thereafter, providing a video ringback stream from the VRBT system to the terminal originating the call;

receiving a first message from a terminal terminating the call indicating that the terminal terminating the call has answered;

providing a second message from the VRBT system to the service node, wherein the second message is interpreted at the service node as an indication to begin charging for a session; and

providing a communication path between the terminal originating the call and the terminal terminating the call.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first message comprises a modified ISUP message not normally associated with connecting a bidirectional bearer.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first message comprises at least one of an ACM or a CPG.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the first message contains an in-band information bit that is set.

5 .- 7 . (canceled)

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first message is provided to the service node in response to receiving an SIP message.

9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the SIP message includes an indication.

10 . (canceled)

11 . The method of claim 8 wherein the indication is a SIP header comprising P-Delayed-Charging.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the P-Delayed-Charging is included in a 200 OK message, a 183 SESSION PROGRESS message, or a 180 RINGING message.

13 . (canceled)

14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the second message comprises an ANM.

15 .- 28 . (canceled)

29 . A method for processing a video call from a 3G-324M-like device at a mobile switching center and allowing for a 3G-324M-like video session establishment prior to receiving an ISUP ANM message, the method comprising:

receiving an ISUP IAM at the mobile switching center;

receiving an ISUP ACM or an ISUP CPG at the mobile switching center;

interpreting the ISUP ACM or the ISUP CPG as an indication to connect a bidirectional bearer;

providing the bidirectional bearer between the 3G-324M-like device and a second 3G-324M-like device;

providing a CONNECT message to the 3G-324M-like device; and

thereafter, receiving the ISUP ANM at the mobile switching center.

30 . The method of claim 29 wherein the ISUP ANM or the ISUP CPG contain an in-band information field that is set.

31 . (canceled)

32 . The method of claim 29 wherein interpreting comprises determining that a field is set in the ISUP ACM or the ISUP CPG.

33 . The method of claim 32 wherein the field is the in-band information field of the optional backwards call indicators.

34 . The method of claim 29 wherein the 3G-324M-like device comprises a handset and the second 3G-324M-like device comprises a media gateway.

35 . (canceled)

36 . The method of claim 35 wherein the media gateway is connected to a SIP application server.

37 .- 54 . (canceled)