Method and apparatus for charging operations in a communication network supporting service sessions for direct end users

• US 10,271,186 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2018
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Senarath, Nimal Gamini, Zhang, Hang
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Mahendra
• Application Number:
  US15/880,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20180220277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 455406, 705 34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/59 based on real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8027 based on network load situation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for supporting customer charging in 5G networks are provided. Monitoring functions are instantiated at selected network locations for tracking access to network services. The monitoring functions provide charging information for use in customer billing. A customer can enter a service level agreement with a particular customized method of charging for service usage, and the monitoring functions can be customized to provide charging information according to the service level agreement. Charging can vary based on factors such as time of day, network congestion, service traffic characteristics, and geographic location.

Claims

1. A method for collecting network usage information, comprising:

transmitting an instruction to instantiate a monitoring function at a location in a communication network, the location selected to allow monitoring of traffic flows associated with usage, by a UE, of a network slice instantiated in the network, the monitoring function configured to monitor the traffic flows, wherein the UE uses the network slice for accessing a service delivered by an over-the-top service provider via the communication network, the over-the-top service provider separate from both a customer entity responsible for the UE and an operator of the network slice;

establishing an on-demand communication session for the UE using the network slice, the on-demand communication session for delivery of the service from the over-the-top service provider to the UE;

receiving, from the monitoring function, network slice usage information based on the traffic flows; and

charging the over-the-top service provider for usage of the network slice for delivery of the service to the UE, based on the network slice usage information for the on-demand communication session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer entity responsible for the UE does not have a prior contractual relationship with the over-the-top service provider.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the UE to access the service based on a predetermined policy and successful authentication of credentials provided by the UE, and blocking the UE from accessing the service otherwise.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the credentials include an identity of the over-the-top service provider, and wherein said authentication of credentials comprises verifying that the over-the-top service provider is responsible for paying for usage, by the UE, of the service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring of the traffic flows comprises monitoring one or more of:

type of service provided using the traffic flows;

duration of service provided using the traffic flows;

traffic flow type;

traffic flow duration;

traffic volume per service type;

traffic volume per traffic flow type;

network resource usage;

number of traffic flows per service; and

number of sessions per service.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, to an entity responsible for the UE or to the over-the-top service provider, information indicative of charging rates for usage of the service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring function is further configured to monitor performance of a session used for delivering the service to the UE.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the service is limited to accessing a service portfolio provided by the over-the-top service provider.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the service includes a connectivity service supporting communication between the UE and the over-the-top service provider.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a database indicative of services being offered by one or more mobile network operators including an operator of the communication network, one or more service providers providing a set of services including the service, or a combination thereof, the database accessible to end users including an end user responsible for the UE.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying performance parameters for providing the service according to one or more of:

current network conditions;

preferences of an end user responsible for the UE; and

preferences of the over-the-top service provider.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the service comprises creating an instance of the service, the instance provided using resources of the network slice, and wherein the network slice is a new network slice or an existing network slice.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining a customer service instance descriptor for the service and creating or modifying a network slice descriptor for the network slice, and using the customer service instance descriptor and the network slice descriptor to direct operation of the monitoring function.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a charging control function for generating charging information based on the network slice usage information and according to a negotiated agreement with the over-the-top service provider.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the charging control function comprises determining a location in the communication network for the charging control function, and instantiating the charging control function in the determined location.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the location for the charging control function is within the network slice.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising configuring the charging control function to generate the charging information based on one or more of:

an amount of data provided according to the service;

a data rate of the service;

a bandwidth used for providing the service;

geographic locations of the UE;

quality of service (QoS) metrics for data provided according to the service;

a number of identifiable interactions between the UE and the service;

an amount of resources used in providing the service;

satisfaction of key performance indicators described in a negotiated agreement for providing the service; and

times of access to the service.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring function is configured to monitor operations in the communication network and generate one or more of:

an amount of data provided according to the service;

a data rate of the service;

a bandwidth used for providing the service;

geographic locations of the UE;

quality of service (QoS) metrics for data provided according to the service;

a number of identifiable interactions between the UE and the service;

an amount of resources used in providing the service;

satisfaction of key performance indicators described in a negotiated agreement for providing the service; and

times of access to the service.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a feedback mechanism configured to indicate, to the over-the-top service provider, one or more of:

violations of QoS metrics for data provided according to the service;

dynamic variations in a charging policy according to a negotiated agreement for providing the service; and

charging related messages.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the service is provided directly to the UE, and the service comprises a single connectivity session provided in response to a request for the service.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer entity responsible for the UE does not have a prior contractual relationship with the operator of the network slice.

21. An electronic device in a network, the electronic device comprising a processor, a network interface and a memory and configured to:

instantiate or operate a monitoring function at a location in a communication network, the location selected to allow monitoring of traffic flows associated with usage, by a UE, of a network slice instantiated in the network, the monitoring function configured to;

monitor the traffic flows, wherein the UE uses the network slice for accessing a service delivered by an over-the-top service provider via the communication network, the over-the-top service provider separate from both a customer entity responsible for the UE and an operator of the network slice, and wherein an on-demand communication session is established for the UE using the network slice, the on-demand communication session for delivery of the service from the over-the-top service provider to the UE;

generate network slice usage information based on the traffic flows; and

charge the over-the-top service provider for usage of the network slice for delivery of the service to the UE, based on the network slice usage information for the on-demand communication session.