Reverse charging service

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for facilitating mobile communication between a calling party and a called party. Aspects of the present invention include establishing, via a service node, mobile communications upon receiving a response, from the called party, to a mobile communication request made by the calling party to the service node, and further include facilitating, via the service node, charging the called party for the established mobile communications.

1 . A method for facilitating mobile communication between a calling party and a called party, the calling party making a request for mobile communication with the called party to a service node, the calling party having a calling party number and the called party having a called party number, the method comprising:
 establishing, via the service node, mobile communication between the calling party and the called party upon receiving a response to the request from the called party; and   facilitating, via the service node, charging the called party for the established mobile communication.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the response is an approval from the called party to accept charges for the established mobile communication. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, if the response is a rejection, the service node notifies the calling party of the rejection. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calling party makes the request by sending the called party number using an interface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the interface is one of an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) interface, a Short Message Service (SMS) interface and an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) interface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile communication is established by initiating a first Mobile Originated (MO) call by the service node to the calling party and a second MO call by the service node to the called party. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first MO call is established prior to the second MO call. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second MO call is established prior to the first MO call. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first MO call and the second MO call are established simultaneously. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first MO call and the second MO call are bridged by the service node via an ISDN User Part (ISUP) loop back. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , the service node sending a Calling Line Identification (CLI) to the calling party, the CLI including one of a short code of service node and the called party number. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6 , the calling party having a number, the service node sending a Calling Line Identification (CLI) to the called party, the CLI including one of a short code of the service node and the calling party number. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, upon detecting an early call forwarding status activated for the called party, the service node aborts the establishing of the mobile communication. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the service node notifies the calling party of aborting the establishing of the mobile communication. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request for mobile communication further comprises:
 a request for sending a SMS.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein sending the SMS further comprises:
 receiving, at the service node, a Mobile Originated (MO) SMS from the calling party with a prefixed destination number, wherein the prefixed destination number is the called party number; and   verifying, via the service node, a validity of the calling party to submit the SMS.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein sending the SMS further comprises:
 receiving, at the service node, a USSD request message from the calling party, wherein the USSD request message includes the called party number;   initiating by the gateway, a USSD message to the calling party, wherein the calling party sends message content of the SMS in reply to the USSD message; and   verifying by the service node, validity of the calling party to submit the SMS.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calling party and the called party are associated with same operator. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service node interacts with a billing system to facilitate charging the called party for the established mobile communication. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service node maintains a blacklist including a Visited Public Mobile Network (VPMN) that charges airtime for a Mobile Terminated (MT) call to the calling party. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service node maintains a blacklist including the calling party that has a blocked or rejected request for mobile communication by the called party. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service node maintains a white list including the calling party that has mobile communication established without approval from the called party. 
     
     
         25 . A system for facilitating mobile communication between a calling party and a called party, the calling party making a request for mobile communication with the called party to a service node, the system comprising:
 an establishing module for establishing, via the service node, mobile communication between the calling party and the called party upon receiving a response to the request from the called party; and   a charging module for charging, via the service node, the called party for the established mobile communication.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the service node is deployed in a HPMN of the calling party. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the calling party is present in at least one of an HPMN and a VPMN. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the service node maintains a blacklist including a Visited Public Mobile Network (VPMN) that charges airtime for a Mobile Terminated (MT) call to the calling party. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the service node maintains a blacklist including the calling party that has a blocked or rejected request for mobile communication by the called party. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the service node maintains a white list including the calling party that has mobile communication established without approval from the called party. 
     
     
         31 . A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to facilitate mobile communication between a calling party and a called party, the calling party making a request for mobile communication with the called party to a service node, the control logic comprising:
 first computer readable program code means for establishing, via the service node, mobile communication between the calling party and the called party upon receiving a response to the request from the called party; and   second computer readable program code means for charging, via the service node, the called party for the established mobile communication.