Control server for supporting the charging of services

Abstract

The invention concerns a Process and a control server for supporting the charging of services that are provided to a service user by a service server. A service request message from a terminal of the service user, requesting a service, is transmitted via a communication network to the service server. The service request message and one or more replies from the service server sent out on the service request message are routed via a control server. The control server carries out a procedure for the authentication of the service user and, using the result of the procedure, determines whether or not the charging of services requested by the service user is supported by the control server. The control server checks whether the reply from the service server contains an identification code, that classifies the requested service as chargeable. The control server prevents the provision of the requested service if the requested service is classified as chargeable and the control server has not determined that it supports the charging of services requested by the service user.

1 . A method for supporting the charging of services that are provided to a service user by a service server, wherein a service request message for requesting a service is transmitted by a terminal of the service user via a communication network to the service server, wherein the service request message and one or more replies of the service server sent out on the service request message are routed via a control server, the control server carries out a procedure for the authentication of the service user and, using the result of the procedure, determines whether or not the charging of services requested by the service user is supported by the control server, the control server checks whether the reply of the service server contains an identification code that classifies the requested service as chargeable, and the control server prevents the provision of the requested service if the requested service is classified as chargeable and the control server has not determined that it supports the charging of services that are requested by the service user.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein during the procedure for the authentication of the service user, the control server also checks the authorisation by a charging system, and only in the case of positive authorisation, determines that the charging of services requested by the service user is supported by the control server.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein during the checking of the authorisation by a charging system, the control server accesses a server of the of the charging system.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein in the event of positive authorisation by another control server, the control server determines that the charging of services requested by the service user is supported by the control server.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determination as to whether or not the charging of services requested by the service user is supported by the control server, is made at each request for a service.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determination as to whether or not the charging of services requested by the service user is supported by the control server, is valid for the request for two or more services.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the service request message and one or more of the replies of the service user sent out on the service request message are routed via a control server assigned to the service operator of the requested service.  
     
     
         8 . Control server for supporting the charging of services that are provided to a service user by a service server, wherein the control server is provided with a control unit that is configured in such a way that it carries out a procedure for the authentication of service users and, using the result of the procedure, determines whether or not the charging of services requested by a service user is supported by the control server, that the control unit is further configured in such a way that it checks whether the reply of a service server to a service request message of a service user contains an identification code that classifies the requested service as chargeable, and the control unit is further configured in such a way that it prevents the provision of a service requested by a service user, if the requested service is classified as chargeable and said control unit has not determined that the control server supports the charging of services requested by this service user.  
     
     
         9 . Control server according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured in such a way that it prevents the provision of a service requested by a service user if the service user is not entitled to its use, or the service user does not authorise the payment required for use.  
     
     
         10 . Control server according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured in such a way that it forwards a service request message received by a terminal of a service user to a service server.  
     
     
         11 . Control server according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured in such a way that it carries out the procedure for the authentication of service users if the reply from a service server to a service request message of a service user contains an identification code, that classifies the requested service as chargeable.  
     
     
         12 . Control server according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured in such a way that it determines an authorisation code for a service user if it determines that the charging of services requested by the service user is supported by the control server, and that it transmits the authorisation code to the terminal of the service user.  
     
     
         13 . Control server according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured in such a way that it requests the service server to determine an authorisation code for a service user, if it determines that the charging of services requested by the service user is supported by the control server.  
     
     
         14 . Control server according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured in such a way that it determines a session code for a service user, if it determines that the charging of services requested by the service user is supported by the control server, and that it transmits the session code to the terminal of the service user, and that the control unit is further configured in such a way that it does not carry out the procedure for the authentication of service users if the reply from a service server to a service request message contains the session code.  
     
     
         15 . Control server according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured in such a way that it determines for a service user a data record with service user-specific data, in particular a cookie, and transmits it to the terminal of the service user.  
     
     
         16 . Control server according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured in such a way that it prevents the provision of a service requested by a service user, so that it does not forward a reply from the service server to a service request message to the terminal of the service user.