Determining capability to provide dynamic local time updates in a prepaid terminating call
A method and system for setting a charging rate for a terminating call to a prepaid mobile subscriber in a telecommunications network is provided. A query from a GMSC to a mobile subscriber's HLR returns information from a VMSC where the mobile subscriber is registered, including local time information for the MSC where the mobile subscriber is registered. The local time information can be included in an Initial Detection Point at call setup so that a peak or off-peak rate for the call can be set. Additional messaging between the GMSC and the VMSC/VLR can determine the capability of the VMSC/VLR to provide updated local time information for the duration of the call.
1. A method for determining a capability to provide dynamic local time updates for a call using a system including a visiting location register, the method comprising:
in response to an indication of a preference to receive dynamic updates of information received in a first message received from a mobile switching center, sending a requesting message, by a home location register to said visiting location register, requesting information of a capability of said visiting location register to dynamically provide, during a call, a most recent time information associated with a mobile subscriber engaged in the call, the most recent time information including at least one of a most recent local time and a most recent time zone associated with the mobile subscriber; and
receiving, at said home location register, a message from said visiting location register indicating said capability of said visiting location register to dynamically provide, during the call, said most recent time information;
transmitting to the mobile switching center, a message from said home location register, indicative of said capability of said visiting location register, said message being one of a message indicative of presence of a capability to dynamically provide, during the call, said most recent time information and a message indicative of an absence of a capability to dynamically provide said most recent time information,
wherein the capability includes periodically providing during the call, after a terminating party answers and prior to disconnection of the call, the most recent time information associated with the mobile subscriber engaged in the call.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting the first message by the mobile switching center to said home location register.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile subscriber is a prepaid mobile subscriber in the telecommunications network.
4. A method comprising:
selectively configuring a switching center to dynamically update information associated with a prepaid mobile subscriber, the selectively configuring being in response to a call request to the prepaid mobile subscriber and at least partially based on a capability of a visiting location register associated with the prepaid mobile subscriber to dynamically provide the information during a call,
wherein the information includes at least one of location and local time information associated with the prepaid mobile subscriber;
sending a first message from the switching center to a home location register associated with the prepaid mobile subscriber, the message requesting capability information regarding the capability of the visiting location register to dynamically provide the information during the call, the requesting being in response to an indication of a preference of a mobile switching center to receive dynamic updates of information;
receiving by the home location register, from the visiting location register, information indicative of said capability of the location register in response to a request from the home location register; and
sending, by the home location register, a message to the switching center indicative of said capability of said visiting location register, said message being one of a message indicative of presence of a capability to dynamically provide, during the call, said most recent time information and a message indicative of an absence of a capability to dynamically provide said most recent time information,
wherein the capability includes periodically providing during the call, after a terminating party answers and prior to disconnection of the call, the most recent time information associated with the prepaid mobile subscriber engaged in the call.
5. The method as recited in claim 4 , further comprising:
reporting the information associated with the prepaid mobile subscriber to a service control point by the switching center in response to an expiration of a time period when the switching center is configured to dynamically update information associated with the prepaid mobile subscriber; and
charging a rate for the call at least partially based on the information associated with the prepaid mobile subscriber.
6. An apparatus comprising:
a visiting location register comprising a processor, the visiting location register being configured to provide to a home location register, in response to receiving a capability inquiry, an indicator of capability of the visiting location register to dynamically update, during a call, information associated with a prepaid mobile subscriber, in response to a call request to the prepaid mobile subscriber,
wherein the information includes at least one of location and local time information associated with the prepaid mobile subscriber, and
wherein the capability includes periodically providing during the call, after a terminating party answers and prior to disconnection of the call, the most recent time information associated with the prepaid mobile subscriber engaged in the call,
wherein the capability inquiry is received by the visiting location register from the home location register in response to a first message from the switching center to a home location register associated with the prepaid mobile subscriber,
the message indicating a preference of the switching center to receive dynamic updates of information,
the capability inquiry requesting capability information regarding the capability of the visiting location register to dynamically provide the information.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 ,
wherein the switching center is configured to provide to the service control point information dynamically updated by the visiting location register in response to an event associated with a call to the prepaid mobile subscriber.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , further comprising:
the home location register configured to send the capability inquiry to the visiting location register in response to the first message, the capability inquiry requesting capability information regarding the capability of the visiting location register to dynamically provide the information.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:
a service control point configured to receive the information associated with the prepaid mobile subscriber from the switching center in response to an expiration of a time period when the switching center is configured to dynamically update information associated with a prepaid mobile subscriber,
wherein the service control point is configured to determine a charging limit for the call at least partially based on the information associated with the prepaid mobile subscriber.