COMMUNICATION METHOD AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Abstract

A communication method for at least one mobile terminal of a user, suitable for setting up data connections or call connections via at least one mobile communication network to a data terminal or to a voice terminal and suitable for the wireless communication with a host server. Thereby a) a wireless communication link is established between the host server and the mobile terminal; b) a voucher is created by the host server; c) the voucher is transmitted to the operator of the mobile communication network or to a service provider; and d) the operator of the mobile communication network or the service provider, on the basis of the voucher, debits communication costs for data connections or call connections of the mobile terminal that were registered during the time period indicated in the voucher, at least in part to an account assigned to the identifier of the host server.

Claims

1. A communication method for at least one mobile terminal of a user, which is suitable for setting up data connections or call connections via at least one mobile communication network to a data terminal or to a voice terminal and which is suitable for the wireless communication with a host server of a host, wherein a) that between the host server and the mobile terminal a wireless communication link is established, via which identification data are transferred from the mobile terminal to the host server; b) that the host server creates a voucher, in which at least the identification data and a time period is registered; c) that the voucher is transmitted to the operator of the mobile communication network or to a service provider, which prepares the statement of charges for the mobile terminal; and d) that the operator of the mobile communication network or the service provider, on the basis of the voucher, debits communication costs for data connections or call connections of the mobile terminal that were registered during the time period indicated in the voucher, at least in part to an account assigned to the identifier of the host server.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the stationary or mobile host server, in which a host-application is implemented, and the mobile terminal, in which a client-application is implemented, communicate on an application layer of a WLAN, a mobile radio network or that data are transmitted via an optical interface.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification data transmitted to the host server comprises a) an identifier associated with the mobile terminal or the user, and/or b) location data or/or a host identifier, and/or c) an identifier assigned to the service provider, and/or d) a timestamp, after whose verification or registration the voucher is created.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein radio beacons are provided, which transmit a radio beacon-identification, which is captured by the mobile terminal and/or that the mobile terminal receives GPS-signals and that the mobile terminal transmits the radio beacon-identification and/or GPS data to the host server, which uses the radio beacon-identification and/or GPS data as location data and creates the voucher, if the position of the mobile terminal is within a predetermined service area of the host.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a) that the host server transmits the vouchers individually or in batches to the operator of the mobile communication network or to the service provider, or b) that the voucher is transmitted from the host server to the mobile terminal and from the mobile terminal to the operator of the mobile communication network or to the service provider.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the host server issues the voucher after verification of the presence of an authorization, such as an electronic proof of purchase, electronically stored in the mobile terminal.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the host server issues the voucher after repeated interrogation of the identification data and/or location data.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the host server defines the time period a) according to a time period relating to a service provided, such as a time period retrieved from an administrative computer; or b) according to a time period between a login of the mobile terminal; or c) by taking into account presence times stored for the user of the mobile terminal; or d) according to a time period within which the position of the mobile terminal is located in a service area of the host.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user of the mobile terminal downloads and implements the client-application on his mobile terminal and, after establishing a connection to the host-application of the host server, makes a first login at the host server with forwarding identification data, such as the identifier assigned to the mobile terminal or assigned to the user, and the host server registers the user or the mobile terminal and issues vouchers for registered users or registered mobile terminals only.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the service provider or the operator of the mobile communication network uses an application which allows extracting the voucher from messages received from the mobile terminal.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the service provider or the operator of the mobile communication network, after receiving the voucher replaces the identity of the recipient of the bill for the communication costs for data connections or call connections of the mobile terminal, that were registered during the time period indicated in the voucher, by an identifier of a centralized host server or the identifier of the host server.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the identifier assigned to the user of the mobile terminal is converted into the identifier of the centralized host server or the identifier of the host server for the time period indicated in the voucher.

13. A communication system suitable for executing the communication method according to claim 1.

14. The communication system according to claim 13, wherein at least one mobile terminal of a user, which is suitable for setting up data connections or call connections via at least one mobile communication network to a data terminal or to a voice terminal and in which a client-application is implemented, and at least one local host server, in which a host-application is implemented, are provided, and that by means of the host-application a) identification data can be transmitted via the client-application from the mobile terminal to the host server; b) a voucher can be issued, in which at least the identification data and a time period; c) the issued voucher is transferable to the operator of the mobile communication network or to a service provider, which prepares the statement of charges the for the mobile terminal; and d) that equipment of the operator of the mobile communication network or equipment of the service provider is designed to debit costs based on the voucher for data connections or call connections of the mobile terminal, which were registered during the time period indicated in the voucher, at least in part to an account assigned to the identifier of the host server.

15. The communication system according to claim 13, wherein WLAN beacons are provided which emit a beacon-identification, which is detectable by the mobile terminal, and/or that the mobile terminal is designed for receiving GPS-signals, and that the beacon-identification and/or GPS-data are transferable from the mobile terminal to the host server, in which, based on the beacon-identification and/or the GPS-data location data, location data for the mobile terminal can be determined and a voucher can be issued based on the determined location data.

Description

[0046] Below, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Thereby shows:

[0047] FIG. 1 an inventive communication system with a cellular mobile radio network PLMN covering a geographical area in which a train TH runs with passengers using mobile terminals MT, for each of which a voucher VR is provided by a host server HS of the railway operator, which is taken into account by the network operator or the service provider when charging the communication costs;

[0048] FIG. 2a a communication system e.g. according to FIG. 1, within which vouchers VR are transmitted from the host server HS directly to the service provider SP, if necessary to a charging center CHC of the network operator;

[0049] FIG. 2b the procedure for the issuance of a voucher VR and for charging the communication costs for communication services used by a mobile terminal MT in the communication system shown in FIG. 2a;

[0050] FIG. 3a an inventive communication system located in a building HH, within which vouchers VR are transmitted from the host server HS to the mobile terminals MT and from there to the service provider SP or to the charging center CHC of the network operator;

[0051] FIG. 3b the procedure for the issuance of a voucher VR and for charging the communication costs for communication services used by a mobile terminal MT in the communication system shown in FIG. 3a;

[0052] FIG. 4a a communication system e.g. as shown in one of the figures above, in which radio beacons HB are provided, by means of which the location of the mobile terminals MT, which log on to the host server HS, can be determined; and

[0053] FIG. 4b the procedure for the issuance of a voucher VR and for charging the communication costs for communication services used by a mobile terminal MT in the communication system shown in FIG. 4a.

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a section of an inventive cellular mobile radio network PLMN with several location areas LA1, . . . , LA8, . . . , each having at least one cell LA.sub.X-Z.sub.Y. Within the section shown, several traffic routes, in particular a railway line, are running on which a railway train TH with numerous passengers is running. FIG. 1 also shows individual units of the mobile radio network PLMN, namely a mobile switching center MSC, a home location register HLR, a visitor location register VLR, transmitting and receiving stations BTS and associated control units BSC, and a charging center CHC.

[0055] Charging information or so-called toll tickets for delivered communication services are collected in the charging center CHC and charged to the relevant service provider SP, which has a billing center that normally charges the communication costs to the subscriber or user (see [4], page 575).

[0056] FIG. 1 shows further that the railway operator uses at least one host server HS within the railway train TH, which communicates wirelessly with the mobile terminals MT of the passengers and provides them with vouchers VR, which allow the mobile terminals MT to use communication services free of charge. These voucher VR are transmitted directly from the host server HS or indirectly via the mobile terminals MT to an instance of the mobile network PLMN, preferably the charging center CHC, or to the service provider SP. The costs registered for the passenger or user and assigned e.g. to his International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) are subsequently charged to the railway operator or host and preferably recorded in a central host server HSC.

[0057] For the host server HS the localization of the mobile terminals MS is of special importance. This localization can result automatically from the configuration of the communication systems. If the host server is integrated into a local network and exchanges data with a mobile terminal MT, the mobile terminal is necessarily in the area of the local network. However, if the host server HS exchanges data with the mobile terminal MT via the mobile radio network, measures are preferably taken to determine the location of the mobile terminal MT. For this purpose, the communication system of FIG. 4a uses radio beacons which periodically transmit an identifier which is received by the mobile terminals MT and which allows the host server HS to assign the location of the mobile terminal MT to the respective radio beacon. The host server HS and the mobile terminals MT can therefore be located at different locations.

[0058] FIG. 1 illustrates that processing of the voucher VR can take place at different locations within the entire process chain by replacing the IMSI of the user, which is usually used for accounting purposes, with an identifier of the railway operator. Subsequently, the accrued communication costs are charged to the railway operator using this identifier. The identifier of the railway operator can also be an International Mobile Subscriber Identity IMSI (IMSI-H), which is treated in the same way as any other IMSI within the process chain. The change can therefore be implemented in the communication system with minimal effort. The transmission of the voucher can be done in different ways and via different media.

[0059] The procedure for the issuance and use of a voucher comprises four basic steps (see also FIG. 2b, FIG. 3b or FIG. 4b): [0060] a) A wireless communication link is established between the host server HS and a mobile terminal MT, via which identification data ID are transmitted from the mobile terminal MT to the host server HS. [0061] b) After evaluation and/or verification of the identification data ID, the host server HS creates a voucher VR in which at least the identification data ID of the mobile terminal MT and a time period t.sub.VR, which determines the validity of the voucher VR, are registered. Preferably the identifier of the host server HS is also recorded. [0062] c) The created voucher VR will be transmitted directly or indirectly to the operator of the mobile communication network PLMN or to the service provider SP, which creates the statement of charges for the mobile terminal MT. [0063] d) Finally, the operator of the mobile communication network PLMN or the service provider SP charges the costs for data connections or call connections of the mobile terminal MT, which were registered during the time period t.sub.VR indicated in the voucher VR, at least partially to an account assigned to the identifier of the host server HS.

[0064] This procedure is explained in detail below with reference to different examples.

[0065] FIG. 2a shows in a first preferred embodiment the communication system of FIG. 1, within which voucher VR is transmitted from the host server HS directly to the service provider SP, possibly to a charging center CHC of the network operator.

[0066] FIG. 2a shows the mobile radio network PLM with an EDGE architecture described in [5], Bernhard Walke, Mobilfunknetze and ihre Protokolle, Band 1, B. G. Teubner Verlag, Stuttgart 2000, chapter 3.17, pages 339 to 341. The EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) architecture largely corresponds to the GPRS architecture, but uses a different modulation scheme to achieve higher data rates. The GSM packet data service GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is described in [5], pages 294 to 321. Network transition functions are described in the following pages 322 to 325. Interfaces and reference points in GPRS are described in [5], page 304. The well-known GSM network architecture (see above) is extended by three network elements for packet data service. The Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) serves as interface to external networks (IP network/Internet). The Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) is used for functional support of the mobile terminals MT. All GPRS-related data is stored in the GPRS register GR, which is a subset of the GSM-HLR. Via the radio interface Um the mobile terminals MT have access to the mobile radio network. The actual data traffic in GPRS is handled via the SGSN, the MSC is only used for signalling.

[0067] The inventive communication system additionally comprises the host server HS as well as software applications, an application or application APP-H implemented in the host server HS and an application APP-C installed in the mobile terminals MT. To receive and use the voucher VR, an application APP-SP is implemented at the service provider SP, preferably in the billing center. If the voucher VR is received by the network operator and used e.g. in the charging center CHC, an application APP-CHC is provided there.

[0068] The MT mobile terminals can be used by passengers on the train TH or in a restaurant at a station. The user's lounge can therefore be mobile or stationary. The (stationary or mobile) host server HS is therefore located in a room unit HE of the host or railway operator. Mobile terminals MT located within the room unit HE can contact and communicate wireless with the host server HS via the applications APP-C and APP-H, e.g. via a WLAN or Bluetooth.

[0069] At the beginning it was mentioned that procedures for locating a mobile terminal in a mobile radio network are known from the EP2631152A1.

[0070] It is well known that railway operators already provide applications or applications for mobile terminals MT, which can be used to retrieve timetables and purchase tickets. The inventive application APP-C is therefore preferably an additional module of such a known application. For the purchase of a ticket the user is already registered with the railway operator. Identification data of the user are therefore registered in the home location register HLR of the mobile radio network PLMN and in the database of the railway operator. For the following examples, the identity registered in the home location register HLR, namely the IMSI, is preferably used. Alternatively the identity registered with the railway operator could be used.

[0071] The host server HS can be mobile or stationary as well as central or decentralized. In addition, several host servers can be provided for example in a building or a railway train, which work individually according to the inventive procedure.

[0072] The host server can be integrated e.g. in control devices, with which the train crew checks the tickets. When checking the tickets, the identification data can be read from the mobile terminals and the vouchers can be created. With the ticket control, the allocation of free use of communication services can take place simultaneously. This offers special advantages for the railway operator and the passengers without additional effort.

[0073] During the communication between the host server HS and the mobile terminal MT a valid identity is retrieved and included in a voucher VR. Additionally a time period t.sub.VR is determined within which the voucher VR is valid. Methods for determining this time period t.sub.VR are described above.

[0074] In the embodiment described above, the HS host server is aware that the MT mobile terminals are located inside a railway carriage and are therefore entitled to receive free communication services. If the location of the mobile terminals MT is not known to the host server, which may be located in a decentralised manner, it is determined, for example, according to the procedure described below. The localisation within the mobile radio network is also possible, if it is sufficiently accurate.

[0075] The created voucher VR or a list of created vouchers VR is preferably signed by the railway operator using the private key of the Public Key Infrastructure (see FIG. 2b). By decoding the voucher VR using the private key, the service provider SP or the charging center CHC can subsequently determine whether the voucher VR are valid.

[0076] In this example, the voucher VR is transmitted either to the charging center CHC of the mobile radio network PLMN or preferably to the Billing Center of the service providers SP. A confirmation copy of the voucher VR is transmitted to the mobile terminal MT and stored there. The user can therefore check later that no charges have actually been made for the time period t.sub.VR. Within the charging center CHC or Billing Center of the service providers SP the billing address for registered communication costs, which were registered within the time period t.sub.VR for the mobile terminal MT, will be changed to the account of the host or railway operator.

[0077] FIG. 2a shows that a corresponding invoice <billHSC> is transmitted to a central host server HSC. The optional central host server HSC preferably manages the allocation, transfer and billing of the vouchers VR. The voucher VR issued by the host server HS can be transmitted to the central host server HSC. The central host server HSC then collects all vouchers VR and transmits them in an orderly manner, optionally signed with the private key, to the service provider SP, if appropriate to the charging center CHC of the mobile radio network PLMN.

[0078] To verify the delivered voucher VR, the central host server HSC preferably issues sequence numbers VRr, which the host server HS enters individually into the vouchers VR. The central host server HSC or the service provider SP, to which these sequence numbers VRr are also transmitted, can therefore check whether the vouchers VR are valid. The communication between the central host server HSC and the host server HS as well as the service provider SP can take place via any communication network, via mobile phone networks GSM/GSM-R or via the Internet.

[0079] After receipt of the voucher VR or the corresponding confirmation VR, the user of the mobile terminal MT can use the communication services of the communication network PLMN and establish data connections or voice connections to third parties DT, ST.

[0080] The corresponding charges TT are transferred from the switching center (G)MSC to the charging center CHC and transmitted by it with an invoice <charge SP> to the service provider SP or directly to the central host server HSC. In the charging center CHC or in the service provider SP the billing address is changed as described above. The service provider SP subsequently sends an invoice <bill HSC> to the central host server HSC.

[0081] FIG. 2b shows the procedure for the issuance of a voucher VR and for charging the communication costs for communication services used by a mobile terminal MT in the communication system shown in FIG. 2a.

[0082] Optionally, the central host server HSC will first transmit the sequence numbers VRr for the voucher VR to the host server HS and for verification to the service provider SP.

[0083] Subsequently, the mobile terminal MT is registered with the host server HS, e.g. according to the Bluetooth protocol or via the mobile radio network. Then data is transmitted from the mobile terminal MT to the host server HS, the identification data ID, which preferably include the IMSI, optionally the IMEI and the identification of the service provider used. Furthermore, authorizations such as the existence of an electronic ticket <eTicket> can be queried. Furthermore, location data can be transmitted or determined.

[0084] After verification of the data and permissions, a voucher VR is issued for a time period t.sub.VR, preferably signed with the private PKI key, and transmitted to the service provider SP. The time period t.sub.VR is determined by the electronic ticket <eTicket>, which shows that the passenger is travelling from Zurich to Geneva. From a timetable or timetable computer FPR it is determined that the journey time is from 15:03 to 17:45 in the afternoon. The passenger can therefore access communication services free of charge during the travel time. The journey times can be checked e.g. by the host server HS or by the central host server HSC in order to adapt the voucher VR accordingly in case of a delay.

[0085] The communication costs are subsequently reported to the charging center by means of Toll Tickets <TT>, which in turn charges the communication costs to the service provider SP by means of an invoice <charge SP>, checks the charges and the voucher VR, which are preferably decoded by means of a public PKI key, and sends an invoice <bill HSC> to the host server HS, optionally to the central host server HSC.

[0086] The registration of the mobile terminals MT in the mobile radio network PLMN and the establishment and termination of the connections are carried out according to the protocols of the mobile radio network.

[0087] FIG. 3a shows the inventive communication system of FIG. 1 installed in a building HH, within which vouchers VR are transmitted from the host server HS to the mobile terminals MT and from there to the service provider SP or to the charging center CHC of the network operator. This transmission in turn takes place according to defined protocols. Preferably, the voucher VR is integrated into the messages exchanged during the registration of the mobile terminal MT with the mobile radio network PLMN or during the establishment of connections. In this case, the voucher VR are extracted from the messages of the mobile terminal MT on the network side and used. For this purpose, the architecture of the mobile radio network PLMN preferably has an application APP-CHC, which results in a change of the billing address in the charging center CHC. Alternatively, the voucher VR is transmitted from the mobile terminal MT to the service provider SP, in which an application APP-SP is implemented. In the mobile terminal MT, an application APP-C or APP-Cn is provided for each protocol stack, the protocol stack of the WLAN and the GSM protocol stack, which permits communication via the corresponding communication network WLAN, PLMN.

[0088] The GPRS protocol stack is shown in [5], page 308. The application APP-Cn would thus be implemented in the application layer of the mobile terminal and the application APP-C in an additional application layer of the SGSN.

[0089] The vouchers VR can also be transmitted from the mobile terminal MT to the service provider SP or the charging center CHC in another way. For example, they are transmitted by e-mail or by means of short messages.

[0090] FIG. 3a also shows that the host unit HE is intended to be installed in a building HH, e.g. an office building, a public building or an official building. The invention is therefore universally applicable to any mobile or stationary host unit HE. I.e., the embodiments of the communication systems shown in FIG. 2a, FIG. 3a and FIG. 4a can be used optionally in buildings, means of transportation or public places. The invention is particularly advantageous for use in mobile host units HE, where free WLAN access often offers insufficient quality or requires complex installations.

[0091] FIG. 3b shows the procedure for the issuance of a voucher VR and for charging the communication costs for communication services used by a mobile terminal MT in the communication system shown in FIG. 3a.

[0092] A WLAN or the mobile radio network is used to exchange data between the mobile terminals MT and the host server HS. The time period t.sub.VR for the voucher VR is selected according to the duration of the reservation of a hotel room, which can be read out from a computer RS e.g. at the reception of the hotel. After checking the identification data and authorizations, e.g. of a hotel reservation <eReceipt>, the voucher VR is created and transmitted to the mobile terminal MT and from there to the mobile radio network PLMN. The time period t.sub.VR is selected according to the reservation from 25.01.2018 to the 30.01.2018. The user can therefore use communication services of his service provider SP free of charge during the period of his reservation. The corresponding costs will be charged to the hotel operator.

[0093] The voucher VR is preferably signed with the private PKI key of the hotel. However, if the users are only temporary guests in the hotel, the location of the mobile terminals MT can be determined by means of the measures described below with reference to FIG. 4a. The example of FIG. 3a shows that location data does not have to be determined in every case, e.g. if the host server HS can determine an authorization in another way, e.g. based on the reservation in the hotel. In this case, however, the registration of the mobile terminal MT is advantageous, so that the voucher VR can be created taking into account the reservation and the registration of the mobile terminal MT.

[0094] In the embodiment of the communication systems of FIG. 3a the voucher VR will be sent to the network operator, optionally to the charging center CHC. The voucher VR will be extracted by the responsible instance (G)MSC or SGSN, in which the application APP-CHC is implemented. As a consequence, the billing address is already changed during the creation of the Toll Tickets <TT> or later at the charging center CHC. Preferably the IMSI-MT of the user is replaced by the IMSI-H of the host. The invoice <charge SP> with the changed billing address will be sent to the service provider SP or directly to the host server HS. As mentioned, the voucher VR can also be processed by the service provider SP.

[0095] The voucher VR can also be transmitted directly to the service provider SP from the host server HS of the Hotels as shown in FIG. 2a and FIG. 4a. The time period t.sub.VR can be determined by the reservation or by the time of presence of the user in the hotel by means of radio beacons, as described with reference to FIG. 4a.

[0096] FIG. 4a shows a particularly advantageous embodiment of the inventive communication system, which can be implemented with very little effort, e.g. in a building HH, a railway train TH or even on public land. In this case the host server HS communicates with the mobile terminals MT on the application layer of the installed applications APP-C and APP-H via the mobile radio network PLMN.

[0097] The host server HS can therefore be installed at any location, e.g. at the headquarters of the railway operator. It is further illustrated that the users can be visitors of a building HH or passengers in a train TH. It is described below that after installation of the applications APP-C the users are preferably registered with the host server HS. Subsequently, applications for the free use of communication services are sent to the host server HS via the APP-C applications. Again, the host server checks whether the users are entitled to receive free communication services. This can be done by proving an authorisation, e.g. of an electronic ticket or by proving the location of the mobile terminal MT in the service area of the host, i.e. in the building HH or in the railway train TH.

[0098] If the mobile terminals MT hold an electronic ticket or other authorisation, the determination of the location can be dispensed with. If no other authorization is present, the location of the mobile terminals MT is determined in the building HH or in the railway train TH. This can be done by determining and transmitting GPS data or by checking the transmitting and receiving station BTS.sub.MT to which the mobile terminals MT are registered. Particularly advantageous, i.e. simple and precise, the location of the mobile terminals MT can be determined by means of radio beacons HB installed by the host in its service area, e.g. in the building HH or in the railway train TH. The radio beacons, e.g. Bluetooth or WLAN radio beacons, broadcast continuously or periodically an identity or identifier BID which is captured by the mobile terminals MT and transmitted to the host server HS. The radio beacons HB are powered by a battery, for example, and can perform their service autonomously over a long period of time without maintenance. The radio beacons HB can be mounted on the ceiling or on a wall and are hardly visible. The retrofitting of a building or of a railway train can therefore be done with minimal effort and low costs.

[0099] The host server HS has access to a register where the identity BID of the radio beacons HB is recorded. The identity BID of the radio beacons is preferably chosen according to the vehicle number of the vehicle in which the radio beacons HB are installed. The mobile terminals MT will therefore transmit with the radio beacons-identity BID a vehicle identification which is already known to the host server or which it can determine from an inventory list of the rolling stock of the railway operator. The host server contacts e.g. regularly a server of the railway network, which manages the rolling stock of the railway network, and checks with the reported identity BID the radio beacons the existence and preferably the location of the corresponding railway car.

[0100] Particularly advantageous is the localisation via GPS-data. From the EP1862593A2, methods and devices are known, which allow determining the position of a railway car with an accuracy of 1 m. The routes travelled in a railway network can therefore be precisely determined online and/or stored in a database and retrieved again. The GPS-data transmitted by mobile terminals can therefore be correlated with currently recorded or registered GPS-data of the travel routes of the railway network to determine whether the mobile terminals MT have moved along such a route. Using current trip data or timetables, the correspondence between the displacement of the mobile terminals MT and of the railway train HT can also be checked. In this way it can be determined with minimal procedural effort and without hardware costs and with certainty whether the user is using the services of the host and is entitled to use the communication services free of charge.

[0101] Therefore, according to the invention, the mobile terminals MT transmit satellite data or GPS data to the host server HS once or preferably several times and that the host server HS compares these GPS data of the mobile terminals MT [0102] a) with currently determined location data of the train, and/or [0103] b) with registered location data of the railway network

[0104] to determine whether users of the mobile terminals MT are on a railway train HT moving along a route of the railway network.

[0105] For example, it can be determined whether mobile terminals MT are moving practically in the local area and with an almost constant offset with a railway train HT, which is currently running on the railway network.

[0106] Even easier is the assignment to a currently used route, if the user enters the destination of his journey on his application APP-C and informs the host server HS accordingly. The starting point can then be determined by GPS data. Start and destination of the journey as well as the current time are thus known to the host server HS. In this way it can be verified that the user is not only travelling the route in question, but that he is also using the services of the host and not of a competitor. For example, if two rail operators X, Y offer transport from A to B at different times, the journey from A to B can be determined and the service provider X or Y can also be determined based on the time data of the journey and corresponding timetable data. According to the inventive method, the means of transport used by the user or the travel route and/or the service provider can be determined. The application APP-C of the mobile terminal MT, which continues to run in the background after the registration, can transmit GPS data according to a specified scheme or upon request of the host server HS, so that the determination of sufficient GPS data is guaranteed. If the location of the mobile terminals is stationary in the service area of a service provider for a certain time period, this can be determined precisely by means of GPS data. The free use of communication services can therefore be granted to MT mobile terminals for which the corresponding mobile or stationary location on the basis of GPS data and thus the corresponding authorisation has been verified.

[0107] By using GPS data the use of radio beacons can be avoided.

[0108] FIG. 4b shows the procedure for the issuance of a voucher VR and for charging the communication costs for communication services which can be used free of charge by a mobile terminal MT in the communication system shown in FIG. 4a during the period of stay.

[0109] With crosshatched arrows is illustrated that the mobile terminal MT and the host server HS communicate with each other via the mobile radio network PLMN. Via the mobile radio network PLMN the mobile terminal MT is registered with the host server HS. For this purpose preferably the IMSI, the IMEI and an identifier of the responsible service provider SP are transmitted.

[0110] In the building HH or the railway train TH of the host there are preferably numerous radio beacons HB installed, which cover the whole room and periodically send out signals with their identifiers BID. The mobile terminal MT receives this identifier BID or alternatively a GPS signal and transmits its identification data ID together with the identifiers BID the radio beacons and/or with GPS data to the host server HS.

[0111] The host server HS verifies the position of the mobile terminal MT on the basis of the transmitted identifiers BID of the radio beacons HB or by means of the GPS data preferably several times and generates a voucher VR for the time period t.sub.VR of the stay in a designated area, which voucher VR is transmitted to the service provider SP and in copy preferably to the mobile terminal MT. The time period t.sub.VR can again be determined according to one of the measures described above. E.g. the time period t.sub.VR ends after no identifiers BID of the radio beacons HB have been transmitted from the mobile terminal MT for a certain time, e.g. a few minutes. In addition, a pre-run and/or a post-run or a tolerance range can be provided.

[0112] It is illustrated that the registration of the mobile terminal MT with the transmission of the identifier BID takes place at 15:03 and the transmission of the identifier BID of the radio beacons HB ends at 17:45. In this example, the user travels from Zurich to Geneva at this time, as described in the example of FIG. 2a. The authorization of the user can therefore be made on the basis of the presence of the user in the train HT by processing the signals of the radio beacons HB, optionally taking into account the timetables or by checking the electronic tickets for the journey from Zurich to Geneva.

[0113] The installation of radio beacons HB, which are equipped with a battery, is particularly easy. Alternatively, the radio beacons HB can be connected to a power supply network, which can preferably be switched on or off. If the train is parked on a siding and not in use, the radio beacons HB are preferably switched off. However, if the radio beacons HB are not switched off, the host server HS can determine from the planning of the rolling stock that the corresponding railway train TH is not in service and the BID of its radio beacons HB does not indicate permission to receive free communication services. In other preferred embodiments, the radio beacons HB are preferably programmable via a wireless interface, so that BID identifiers can be changed optionally. It is also advantageous to use intelligent radio beacons HB, which are equipped with sensors and can transmit different BID codes depending on the presence of the sensor signals. E.g. radio beacons are put into a sleep mode if no optical or acoustic signals are perceived for a longer period of time. The presence of optical or acoustic signals is checked in intervals and the radio beacons are reset to active status. In this way it is possible to save energy and save the batteries.

[0114] The collected Toll Tickets TT, for communication services, which the user has used during his journey from Zurich to Geneva, are subsequently evaluated in the charging center CHC and, taking into account the voucher VR, charged to the service provider SP, which in turn charges the communication services used by the mobile terminal MT to the host server HS.