MVNE - technical question about billing systems

[robr]

I'm trying to learn the process flow of a cell phone call and where the MVNE inserts itself into that process. I've found a number of flow diagrams but none of them appear to include any sort of billing system integration... ie, check billing system for available minutes or text messages before setting up call.

Does anybody know where I can find this sort of info?

Thanks much.

[Pabster]

There are a plethora of different billing systems and mechanisms, sold by many different companies and vendors.

Google up 'GSM real time billing' and start reading.

[robr]

There are a plethora of different billing systems and mechanisms, sold by many different companies and vendors.

Google up 'GSM real time billing' and start reading.

Thanks, I'm sure there are many, but they likely all integrate themselves into a cell call workflow in a similar manner.

IE, for example, prepaid phone registers with local tower
customer initiates call
MNO that owns tower then needs to check ESN of the handset with MVNE to verify calling minutes are available
if yes, complete call, notify MVNE of # of minutes of call time
MVNE debits balance of minutes off that account

I just made that all up, I'm sure there's far more to it than that, which is what I'm trying to learn.

[robr]

Some decent info here about prepaid if anybody else stumbles upon this post and is curious:

http://www.simsurprise.co.uk/payg-billing/

o what actually happens when you make a call?

You dial the phone number you wish to call;
Your phone connects to the pre-paid switching system - sometimes referred to as a platform or gateway;
The pre-paid switching system detects your phone number as well as the phone number you are calling and sends your account information to the real-time billing system;
The real-time billing system authenticates your account and determines your current balance in minutes applicable to the call you are making using the tariff that you are on, and determines the maximum duration permitted for the call;
The information in step 4 above is sent to the pre-paid gateway;
If there is sufficient credit, the call is connected. If there is insufficient credit available in step 4 above, the call is denied;
When the call is over the pre-paid gateway sends the call duration to the pre-paid billing system which calculates the actual cost of your call and updates your account balance. Your credit will be reduced accordingly
Once the maximum duration of the call is determined in step 4 above:

If the call lasts for less than this maximum duration – all is fine – you will have some credit left over at the end of the call.
If the duration of the call approaches the maximum duration permitted, the system may or may not give you a warning that your credit is running low.

If the duration of your call reaches the maximum permitted duration, your call will be terminated and you will have to top-up with more credit before being able to make another call, send another text, or browse the Internet.

Some pre-paid systems (platforms or gateways), offer a variation on the above description of events, by using a “Reserve” amount from your overall credit available.

For example if you have £20.00p credit an amount, for example £5.00p, will be used as a “mini” balance or reserve.

Your initial balance will, at this stage, be temporarily reduced to £15.00p.

The call will proceed as per the above steps, based on the example reserve of £5.00p – if the call is still in progress when the £5.00p reserve is about to run out, a further £5.00p reserve will be deducted temporarily from your balance. The first £5.00p will be now permanently deducted from your initial balance.

This will continue until either you end your call, or your total credit runs out.

If your call ended before the first £5.00p (or during any subsequent) reserve was used up, for example your call cost £4.00p (out of the £5.00p reserve) – only £4.00p will be deducted from your credit balance.

When you send a text, you have written the text, entered the phone number you wish to send the text to, and pressed send.

The system above will do the same as per a phone call:

Ascertain your account balance, the cost of the text is determined, and then the system will determine if there is enough credit to send the text – if there is sufficient credit your text will be sent, if not enough credit is available the text will not be sent.

If the text is sent, details of the cost of sending the text is then sent to be deducted from your balance and your balance is updated accordingly.