Method, system and computer program product for online charging in a communications network

• US 20070041532A1
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comptel Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comptel Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Romppanen, Antti, Salonen, Matti
• Granted Patent: US 7,391,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1432 Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1467 involving prepayment

Abstract

The invention is intended to create a online charging method for an end user session comprising at least one first charging session and at least one second charging session. The invention is based on using a combination pricing plan as response to a number of different charging requests, and determining the charging by said combination pricing plan, by using during the end user session different proxy components to identify service requests according to different service identification request rules, each proxy component using individual service identification rules.

Claims

1. Method for managing online charging in communications networks, the method comprising:

receiving at least one first charging request relating to a service of at least one first charging session in a first network element,

receiving at least one second charging request relating to a service of at least one charging session in at least one second network element, and

setting charging model for the first and second charging sessions,

characterized by following steps performed online during an end user session comprising at least one first charging session and at least one second charging session,

identifying a common user of the at least one first charging session, and the at least one second charging session,

determining the authorization of the user to the services during the end user session,

and for authorized users

using at least one combination pricing plan for setting charging for the end user session,

using the combination pricing plan as response to the first and the second received charging requests,

determining the charging by said combination pricing plan, the charging being different from the charge determined by the first charging request(s) and the second charging request(s) added together, and

determining being carried through by using during the end user session different proxy components to identify service requests according to different service identification request rules, each proxy component using individual service identification rules, and

including a method for creating charging model in communications network, comprising the steps of

receiving at least one charging request from the network layer including a subscriber identifier, information of whether the user has been authenticated or not, a service identifier referring either access data, service session or a piece of content service, and

checking whether the system includes a pricing plan for the received charging request(s).

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized by including a step of checking whether the system withholds an active charging session for the end user in question.

3. A method according to claim 1, characterized by including a step of creating a charging session for combining at least two charging requests under a single pricing plan.

4. A method according to claim 1, characterized by including a step of checking whether the identified pricing plan includes service identification activation rules.

5. A method according to claim 1, characterized by including a step of provisioning the said service identification rules to network elements, if the pricing plan indicates that provisioning is required.

6. A method according to claim 1, characterized by including a step of updating a charging rule within the charging session whenever the pricing plan indicates that the rule should be changed.

7. A method according to claim 1, characterized by the said step of checking a pricing plan for the incoming charging request further comprising at least one of the steps of

Checking whether the request is originated by a certain protocol defined in the request identification ruling,

checking whether the request includes a specific id or keyword defined in the request identification ruling,

checking whether the request is originated by a certain request method defined in the request identification ruling,

checking whether the request includes certain header information defined in the request identification ruling,

checking whether the request includes certain URL defined in the request identification ruling, and

checking whether the request includes some combination of the above said steps.

8. A method according to claim 3, characterized by the step of creating and maintaining charging session further comprising at least one of the steps of

reserving a configurable amount of monetary units for charging according to charging rules, and

withholding a charging rule and updating it according to pricing plan definitions.

9. A method according to claim 4, characterized by the said step of provisioning request identification ruling further comprising at least one of the steps of

activation of request permissions for certain bearer volume,

activation of request permissions for certain service type, and

activation of request permission for certain download message or download transaction.

10. A method according to claim 1, characterized by at least one first network element being a proxy component or proxy application and at least one second network element being a proxy component or application to identify service requests according to different service identification request rules, each proxy component using individual service identification rules.

11. A method according to claim 1, characterized by being performed in a online mediation environment.

12. A method according to claim 1, characterized by combining and managing access, media and service level charging under a pricing plan mechanism which enables the changing of charging rules within an active charging session.

13. A method according to claim 1, characterized by provisioning service identification rules to the network layer control nodes or proxy applications.

14. A method according to claim 1, characterized by a core operating by accepting online charging requests from the controlling nodes.

15. A method according to claim 1, characterized by the communication between core and the control nodes being interactive, providing a request-response method of communicating.

16. A method according to claim 1, characterized by the control nodes requesting permission and authorization for a transaction from the core.

17. A method according to claim 16, characterized by the requesting being request permission for certain bearer volume with certain service type or request permission for certain message or download transaction.

18. A method according to claim 1, characterized by the control nodes performing the initial traffic classification into service types, and performing elementary data aggregation.

19. A method according to claim 18, characterized by using the classification to help to reduce the traffic required between the control nodes and the system.

20. A method according to claim 1, characterized by the information received from control nodes notifying that the user is now roaming.

21. A method according to claim 1, characterized by providing online different protocol adaptations between the different control nodes, and the internal representation of charging transactions.

22. A method according to claim 1, characterized by control node interfaces layer hiding the different control nodes from the core.

23. Method for setting identification criteria for online charging in communications networks, the method comprising:

receiving service or identification request, and

provisioning the identification rules according to a charging model including at least one of the following aspects;

which of the charging sessions including access/bearer, media and/or service sessions, the operator want to use for charging;

what kind of charging model the operator want to use within each session, subscription based, volume based, time based, event based and/or combination of previous models;

which network element is responsible for charging of which services;

characterized by editing rules and taking into account if the charging of the service in one network element affect to the charging in at least one other network element.

24. A method according to claim 23, characterized in that the provisioning is made from online mediation layer to control logic layer.

25. A method according to claim 23, characterized by checking if the particular charging model contains some request identification rules.

26. A method according to claim 23 characterized in that in response of charging model including service request activation rules, the system is triggered to provision them to correct locations.

27. A method according to claim 23 characterized in that the charging model contains at least one of the following items:

Price source location, Price types, Tariff class, Calculation rules.

28. A method according to claim 23 characterized in that the provisioning is made for a specific end user or user group.

29. A method according to claim 23 characterized in that the provisioning is made for a specific service or service group.

30. A method according to claim 23 characterized in that user sessions are controlled by RADIUS or Diameter or CAMEL3 protocol.

31. A method according to claim 23, characterized in that charging transactions from one or several sources in a session are synchronised.

32. A method according to claim 23, characterized in that request identification rules include one or several entities or any type of combination of them.

33. A method according to claim 23, characterized by using dynamic request identification rules, which are not provisioned straight to the proxy applications but they are activated upon a service request.

34. Method for setting identification criteria for online charging in communications networks, the method comprising:

receiving charging rule management request, and

provisioning the identification rules according to a charging model including at least one of the following aspects;

which of the charging sessions including access/bearer, media and/or service sessions, the operator want to use for charging;

what kind of charging model the operator want to use within each session, subscription based, volume based, time based, event based and/or combination of previous models;

which network element is responsible for charging of which services;

characterized by editing rules and taking into account if the charging of the service in one network element affect to the charging in at least one other network element.

35. A method according to claim 34, characterized in that the provisioning is made from online mediation layer to control logic layer.

36. A method according to claim 34 characterized in that in response of charging model including service request activation rules, the system is triggered to provision them to correct locations.

37. A method according to claim 34 characterized in that the charging model contains at least one of the following items:

Price source location, Price types, Tariff class, Calculation rules.

38. A method according to claim 34 characterized in that the provisioning is made for a specific end user or user group.

39. A method according to claim 34 characterized in that the provisioning is made for a specific service or service group.

40. A method according to claim 34 characterized in that user sessions are controlled by RADIUS or Diameter or CAMEL3 protocol.

41. A method according to claim 34, characterized in that charging transactions in a session are synchronised.

42. A method according to claim 34, characterized in that request identification rules include one or several entities or any type of combination of them.

43. A method according to claim 34, characterized in that the charging rule management request is one of the following operations:

add, search, remove, modify, display.

44-67. -67. (canceled)

68. Method for setting charging rule cache, characterized by founding an end user session and changing or setting charging cache rules according to the valid pricing model, and editing rules taking into account if the charging of the service in one proxy component, affect to the charging of at least one other proxy component.

69. A method according to claim 68, characterized by a user charging session, which is opened as response to a user creating a data session.

70. A method according to claim 68 characterized by opening resulting initial balance reservation to authorize the session creation.

71. A method according to claim 68 characterized by charging transactions being synchronized to enable realization of also complicated charging models.

72. A method according to claim 71 characterized by synchronization being performed by business logic and charging model synchronization layer.

73. A method according to claim 68 characterized by the business logic returning an updated charging rule cache to the session layer.

74. A method according to claim 68 characterized by charging session being opened and closed even immediately as soon as the event delivery is confirmed by the control node.

75. (canceled)

76. (canceled)

77. Means for managing online charging in communications networks, the means comprising:

means for receiving at least one first charging request relating to a service of at least one first charging session in a first network element,

means for receiving at least one second charging request relating to a service of at least one charging session in at least one second network element, and

means for setting charging model for the first and second charging sessions,

characterized by means for operating following means online during an end user session comprising at least one first charging session and at least one second charging session,

means for identifying a common user of the at least one first charging session, and the at least one second charging session,

means for determining the authorization of the user to the services during the end user session,

and for authorized users

means for using at least one combination pricing plan for setting charging for the end user session,

means for using the combination pricing plan as response to the first and the second received charging requests,

means for determining the charging by said combination pricing plan, the charging being different from the charge determined by the first charging request(s) and the second charging request(s) added together, and

means for determining being carried through by using during the end user session different proxy components to identify service requests according to different service identification request rules, each proxy component using individual service identification rules.

78. Means according to claim 77, characterized including at least one first network element being a proxy component or proxy application and at least one second network element being a proxy component or application to identify service requests according to different service identification request rules, each proxy component using individual service identification rules.

79. Means according to claim 77, characterized by including means for operating in a online mediation environment.

80. Means according to claim 77 characterized by including means for combining and managing access, media and service level charging under a pricing plan mechanism which enables the changing of charging rules within an active charging session.

81. Means according to claim 77 characterized by including means for provisioning service identification rules to the network layer control nodes or proxy applications.

82. Means according to claim 77, characterized by including means for a core to operate by accepting online charging requests from the controlling nodes.

83. Means according to claim 77, characterized by including the means for interactive communication between core and the control nodes, providing a request-response means for communicating.

84. Means according to claim 77, characterized by including means for the control nodes to request permission and authorization for a transaction from the core.

85. Means according to claim 84, characterized by means for to request permission including means for requesting permission for certain bearer volume with certain service type or request permission for certain message or download transaction.

86. Means according to claim 77, characterized by means for the control nodes to perform the initial traffic classification into service types, and perform elementary data aggregation.

87. Means according to claim 86, characterized by means for using the classification to help to reduce the traffic required between the control nodes and the system.

88. Means according to claim 77, characterized by means for the information received from control nodes notifying that the user is now roaming.

89. Means according to claim 77, characterized by providing means for online different protocol adaptation between the different control nodes, and the internal representation of charging transactions.

90. Means according to claim 77, characterized by means for control node interfaces layer hiding the different control nodes from the core.

91. Means according to claim 77, characterized by including a means for creating charging model in communications network, comprising:

means for receiving at least one charging request from the network layer including a subscriber identifier, information of whether the user has been authenticated or not, a service identifier referring either access data, service session or a piece of content service, and

means for checking whether the system includes a pricing plan for the received charging request(s).

92. Means according to claim 91, characterized by including means for checking whether the system withholds an active charging session for the end user in question.

93. Means according to claim 77, characterized by including means for creating a charging session for combining at least two charging requests under a single pricing plan.

94. Means according to claim 77, characterized by including means for checking whether the identified pricing plan includes service identification activation rules.

95. Means according to claim 77, characterized by including means for provisioning the said service identification rules to network elements, if the pricing plan indicates that provisioning is required.

96. Means according to claim 77, characterized by including means for updating a charging rule within the charging session whenever the pricing plan indicates that the rule should be changed.

97. Means according to claim 77, characterized by the means for checking a pricing plan for the incoming charging request further comprising at least one of the following

means for checking whether the request is originated by a certain protocol defined in the request identification ruling,

means for checking whether the request includes a specific id or keyword defined in the request identification ruling,

means for checking whether the request is originated by a certain request method defined in the request identification ruling,

means for checking whether the request includes certain header information defined in the request identification ruling,

means for checking whether the request includes certain URL defined in the request identification ruling, and

means for checking whether the request includes some combination of the above said steps.

98. Means according to claim 77, characterized by including means for creating and maintaining charging session further comprising at least one of the following:

means for reserving a configurable amount of monetary units for charging according to charging rules, and

means for withholding a charging rule and updating it according to pricing plan definitions.

99. Means according to claim 77, characterized by including means for the said step of provisioning request identification ruling further comprising at least one of the following:

means for activating request permissions for certain bearer volume,

means for activating request permissions for certain service type, and

means for activating request permission for certain download message or download transaction.

100. Means for setting identification criteria for online charging in communications networks, the method comprising:

means for receiving identification request, and

means for provisioning the identification rules according to a charging model including at least one of the following aspects;

which of the charging sessions including bearer, media and/or service sessions, the operator want to use for charging;

what kind of charging model the operator want to use within each session, subscription based, volume based, time based, event based and/or combination of previous models; and

which network element is responsible for charging of which services.

characterized by including means for editing rules and taking into account if the charging of the service in one network element affect to the charging in at least one other network element.

101. Means for setting charging rule cache, characterized by including means for founding an end user session and changing or setting charging cache rules according to the valid pricing model, and editing rules taking into account if the charging of the service in one proxy component, affect to the charging of at least one other proxy component.

102. Means according to claim 101, characterized by including means for a user charging session, which is opened as response to a user creating a data session.

103. Means according to claim 102, characterized by including means for opening resulting initial balance reservation to authorize the session creation.

104. Means according to claim 101, characterized by including means for charging transactions to be synchronized to enable realization of also complicated charging models.

105. Means according to claim 104, characterized by including means for synchronization to be performed by business logic and charging model synchronization layer.

106. Means according to claim 101, characterized by including means for the business logic to return an updated charging rule cache to the session layer.

107. Means according to claim 101, characterized by including means for charging session to be opened and closed even immediately as soon as the event delivery is confirmed by the control node.

108. (canceled)

109. (canceled)

110. (canceled)