Method and Arrangement for Gathering Data from a Communication Network

Abstract

An arrangement for gathering data from a communication network ( 101 ) includes a server device ( 102 ) connected to the communication network. The arrangement includes in user terminal devices ( 107,108 ) an interface application arranged to transmit to the server device first data related to telecommunication services provided by the communication network. The server device is arranged to produce second data, e.g. fees payable due to the usage of the telecommunication services, at least partly on the basis of the first data and to make the second data accessible to users ( 109,110 ) of the user terminal devices. The user terminal devices are utilised in gathering data from the communication network and thus the data is automatically gathered from those locations of the communication network in which the network and the telecommunication services are being used and thus no separate devices for gathering data are needed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for use in a communication network, comprising:
 establishing a communication link with a user terminal device in said communication network;   gathering, in said user terminal device, first data regarding communications with the user terminal device in said communication network;   sending data corresponding to said first data from said user terminal device to a network-connected server in said communication network;   determining, in said network-connected server, an indicator based at least on said first data; and   controlling a communication function of said user terminal device based at least on said indicator.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , said step of gathering first data comprising gathering first data regarding quality of operation of said communications with said user terminal device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , said step of determining of the indicator comprising determining a service quality indicator. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , said step of controlling the communication function of said user terminal device comprising controlling the communication function of said user terminal device based at least on said service quality indicator. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 establishing communication links with a plurality of user terminal devices in said communication network;   gathering, at each of said plurality of user terminal devices, respective first data regarding respective communications with each of said plurality of user terminal devices;   sending data corresponding to said gathered first data from each of said plurality of user terminal devices to said network-connected server in said communication network;   determining, in said network-connected server, an indicator based at least on said first data from said plurality of user terminal devices; and   controlling a communication function of said plurality of user terminal devices based at least on said indicator.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , said steps involving the plurality of user terminal devices carried out while said plurality of user terminal devices are each at different respective locations within the field of said communication network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , said first data comprising data regarding a quality of communication service to said user terminal device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , said first data comprising data regarding a quantity of communication service to said user terminal device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , said step of controlling a communication function comprising:
 determining at least one alternative pricing model for said communications with said user terminal device; and   causing said user terminal device to change said communication function based at least on said determined alternative pricing model.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , said step of controlling a communication function comprising forcing said user terminal device to switch to a different transmission network than a default transmission network of said user terminal device. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for controlling communications with a user terminal device in a communication network, the apparatus comprising a server operably coupled over a communication network to a first user terminal device; wherein
 said server is configured and arranged to receive from said first user terminal device first data indicative of an aspect of communications with the first user terminal device;   said server is further configured to determine an indicator based at least on said first data received from said first user terminal device; and   said server is further configured to control a communication function of said first user terminal device based at least in part on said determined indicator.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said server is operably coupled over said communication network to a second user terminal device;   said server is configured and arranged to receive from said second user terminal device additional first data indicative of an aspect of communications with the second user terminal device;   said server is configured to determine the indicator based at least on said first data received from each of said first and second user terminal devices; and   said server configured to control a communication function of said second user terminal device based at least in part on said determined indicator.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , said server being configured to determine a service quality indicator based at least on said first data received from said first user terminal device. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , said server being configured to control the communication function of said first user terminal device based at least in part on said determined service quality indicator. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , said server being configured to determine a service quality indicator based at least on said first data received from each of said first and second user terminal devices. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , said server being configured to control the communication function of said first and second user terminal devices based at least in part on said determined service quality indicator.