Method, system and packet data access node for prepaid quota provision

• US 20040156340A1
• Filed: 09/24/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Madour, Lila
• Application Number:
  US10/668,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20040156340A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1467 involving prepayment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8214 Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2013 Fixed data network, e.g. PDN, ATM, B-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/204 UMTS; GPRS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/782 Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method, Packet Data Access Node such as a CDMA2000 Packet Data Service Node (PDSN) and a packet data system for provisioning the PDAN with an interim prepaid quota for auxiliary service instances related to a connection with a prepaid subscriber. The prepaid terminal requests registration with the PDAN and a prepaid server returns to the PDAN an indication that the prepaid subscriber has subscribed to multiple service instances and to certain service options. Responsive thereto, the PDAN requests immediate pre-initialization of a prepaid quota for the auxiliary instances from the prepaid server, and installs the prepaid quota. When the prepaid subscriber requests the auxiliary instances during the connection with the PDAN, the prepaid quota is already installed in the PDAN, and data packets are properly routed. The PDAN may be a CDMA2000 Packet data Service Node (PDSN).

Claims

1. A method for setting up a prepaid quota for a prepaid subscriber in a Packet Data Access Node (PDAN), the method comprising the steps of:

a. receiving by the PDAN an indication from a Home Authorization, Authentication, and Accounting Prepaid Server functionality (HAAA/PPS) that a connection with the prepaid subscriber can support at least one auxiliary service instance;

b. responsive to the receipt of the indication, requesting by the PDAN from the HAAA/PPS a prepaid quota relative to the at least one auxiliary service instance;

c. receiving by the PDAN the prepaid quota from the HMA/PPS; and

d. pre-installing the prepaid quota for the at least one auxiliary service instance in the PDAN.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed responsive to a Registration request message sent from the prepaid subscriber to the PDAN.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication also specifies that a profile of the prepaid subscriber includes a subscription to one or more particular service options.

4. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein the PDAN is a CDMA2000 Packet Data Service Node (PDSN) and the prepaid subscriber is a CDMA2000 subscriber.

5. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein the one or more service options includes service option 60.

6. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein the one or more service options includes service option 61.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the PDSN receives the indication in a RADIUS Access Accept message sent by the HAAA/PPS.

8. A Packet Data Access Node (PDAN) acting to receive from a Home Authorization, Authentication, and Accounting Prepaid Server functionality (HAAA/PPS) an indication that a connection with a prepaid subscriber can support at least one auxiliary service instance and responsive to the receipt of the indication, acting to request from the HAAA/PPS a prepaid quota relative to the at least one service instance, and when receiving the prepaid quota from the HAAA/PPS, acting to preinstall the prepaid quota for the at least one auxiliary service instance relative to the prepaid subscriber.

9. The PDAN of claim 8, wherein the PDAN receives a Registration request message from the prepaid subscriber, and signals the HAAA/PPS for authenticating and authorizing the prepaid subscriber prior to receiving the indication.

10. The PDAN of claim 8, wherein the indication also specifies that a profile of the prepaid subscriber includes a subscription to one or more particular service options.

11. The PDAN claimed in claim 10, wherein the PDAN is a CDMA2000 Packet Data Service Node (PDSN) and the prepaid subscriber is a CDMA2000 subscriber.

12. The PDSN claimed in claim 11, wherein the one or more service options includes service option 60.

13. The PDSN claimed in claim 11, wherein the one or more service options includes service option 61.

14. The PDSN of claim 11, wherein the PDSN receives the indication in a RADIUS Access Accept message sent by the HAAA/PPS.

15. A packet data system comprising:

a prepaid terminal;

a Packet Data Access Node (PDAN) serving the prepaid terminal; and

a Home Authorization, Authentication, and Accounting Prepaid Server functionality (HAAA/PPS) storing a prepaid subscription and a profile of the prepaid terminal;

wherein when the PDAN receives an indication from the HAAA/PPS that a connection with the prepaid subscriber can support at least one auxiliary service instance, the PDAN requests from the HAAA/PPS a prepaid quota relative to the at least one auxiliary service instance, and when the PDAN receives the prepaid quota from the HAAA/PPS, the PDAN pre-installs the prepaid quota for the at least one auxiliary service instance.

16. The packet data system of claim 15, wherein the prepaid terminal first sends a Registration request message to the PDAN.

17. The packet data system of claim 15, wherein the indication also specifies that the profile of the prepaid subscriber includes a subscription one or more particular service options.

18. The packet data system claimed in claim 17, wherein the PDAN is a CDMA2000 Packet Data Service Node (PDSN) and the prepaid subscriber is a CDMA2000 subscriber.

19. The packet data system claimed in claim 18, wherein the one or more service options include service option 60.

20. The packet data system claimed in claim 18, wherein the one or more service options include service option 61.

21. The packet data system of claim 18, wherein the PDSN receives the indication in a RADIUS Access Accept message sent by the HAAA/PPS.