Application Server Billing

• US 20080082643A1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Mitchell, Julian, Storrie, John, Waters, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,484,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers

Abstract

An Application Server entity in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network comprises an interface for interfacing with an application and control logic which is arranged to inspect signalling information received from the application via the interface in the form of Extensible Markup Language (XML). The received signalling information is compared with stored rule data which specifies a relationship between an element in the signalling information and an action that should be taken and output data is generated based on the comparison. The Application Server can output operational measurements and/or charging information which more accurately reflect usage made of the Application Server resources. The need for a separate OSA/Parlay-X gateway can be avoided.

Claims

1. An Application Server entity for use in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, the Application Server comprising:

an interface for interfacing with an application; and

,

control logic arranged to;

inspect signalling information received from the application via the interface in the form of Extensible Markup Language (XML);

compare the received signalling information with stored rule data which specifies a relationship between an element in the signalling information and an action that should be taken; and

,

generate output data on the basis of the comparison.

2. An Application Server according to claim 1 wherein the stored rule data specifies when charging information should be generated;

and the control logic is arranged to generate charging information on the basis of the comparison.

3. An Application Server according to claim 2 further comprising an output arranged to package the charging information into an output format compatible with a Charging Data Function (CDF) in the IMS network.

4. An Application Server according to claim 3 wherein the output is arranged to issue charging information in the form of Accounting Requests.

5. An Application Server according to claim 2 further comprising an output arranged to package the charging information into a format compatible with an Online Charging System (OCS) in the IMS network.

6. An Application Server according to claim 2 wherein the control logic is arranged to collate charging information during the process of comparing the received signalling information with stored rule data, and to output the collated charging information.

7. An Application Server according to claim 1 wherein the control logic is arranged to access stored rule data representing at least one of:

rules of the network operator;

rules for a subscriber and rules for governance of the application.

8. An Application Server according to claim 1 wherein the Application Server is an Open Service Architecture Service Capability Server (OSA SCS).

9. An Application Server according to claim 1 wherein the interface is arranged to for interface with an application hosted externally of the IMS network.

10. A method of generating charging information in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, the method comprising, at an Application Server:

receiving signalling information via an interface from an application; and

,

inspecting the received signalling information in the form of Extensible Markup Language (XML);

comparing the received signalling information with stored rule data which specifies a relationship between an element in the signalling information and an action that should be taken; and

,

generating output data on the basis of the comparison.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the stored rule data specifies when charging information should be generated;

and the generating step generates charging information on the basis of the comparison.

12. A method according to claim 11 further comprising packaging the charging information into an output format compatible with a Charging Data Function (CDF) in the IMS network.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the output format is an Accounting Request.

14. A method according to claim 11 further comprising packaging the charging information into a format compatible with an Online Charging System (OCS) in the IMS network.

15. A method according to claim 11 further comprising collating the charging information during the process of comparing the received signalling information with stored rule data, and outputting the collated charging information.

16. A method according to claim 10 wherein the stored rule data represents at least one of:

rules of the network operator;

rules for a subscriber and rules for governance of the application.

17. A method according to claim 10 wherein the Application Server is an Open Service Architecture Service Capability Server (OSA SCS).

18. A method according to claim 10 wherein the signalling information is received from an application hosted externally of the IMS network.

19. A computer program product comprising a machine-readable medium carrying instructions for causing a processor to implement the method of claim 10.