Importance

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Abstract

The invention relates to the implementation of an access service in a telecommunications network comprising an access network, a network providing services, and user-operated terminals which are connected to the access network. The access service is offered by connecting the user terminal to the network providing the services through interface elements which connect the access network and the network providing the services. As a response to the access service at least one charging record is generated. The record is transferred to billing means for billing the access service subscriber for the access service. So that it would be possible to combine the access service with reliable and versatile billing in a connectionless network, the terminal is used to generate charging messages which are provided with a subscriber-specific digital signature, and the signatures generated by the terminal are verified outside of the terminal. The terminal is given access to the network providing the services, if said messages are received in an acceptable manner. The terminal sends the network data about the subscriber associated with the current user of the terminal, whereby said data are used to verify the validity of the signatures and to target the charging messages received from the terminal at the billing of the subscriber in question.

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First Claim