Flexible Charging Mechanisms for Ip Multimedia Services

• US 20080126230A1
• Filed: 06/08/2004
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonakiebolaget M.L. Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonakiebolaget M.L. Ericsson
• Inventors: Bellora, Mauro, Nilsson, Rolf, Mattila, Leena Marjatta, Dotti, Chiara
• Application Number:
  US11/628,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20080126230A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/30 Transportation; Communications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• 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: H04M 15/57 for integrated multimedia messaging subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/82 Criteria or parameters used for performing billing operations
• 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 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2013 Fixed data network, e.g. PDN, ATM, B-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/204 UMTS; GPRS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/208 IMS, i.e. Integrated Multimedia messaging Subsystem
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/78 Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/782 Data or packet based

Abstract

A method of processing service related accounting requests at an Online Charging System of an IP Multimedia Subsystem. The method comprises receiving a service related accounting request from an IP Multimedia Subsystem Serving Element, the request containing an identification of the chargeable events measuring methods supported by the Serving Element. A charging model appropriate to the chosen service is then selected, and one or more of the supported measuring methods are selected on the basis of the selected charging model. An amount of granted service units for the or each selected measuring method are determined and an accounting response, containing the amount(s) of granted service units and an identification of the corresponding measuring method(s), sent to the Serving Element.

Claims

1-7. -7. (canceled)

8. A method of processing service related accounting requests at an Online Charging System of an IP Multimedia Subsystem, the method comprising:

receiving a service related accounting request from an IP Multimedia Subsystem Serving Element, the request containing an identification of the chargeable events measuring methods supported by the Serving Element,

selecting a charging model appropriate to the chosen service;

selecting one or more of the supported measuring methods on the basis of the selected charging model;

determining an amount of granted service units for the or each selected measuring method; and

sending to the Serving Element an accounting response containing the amount(s) of granted service units and an identification of the corresponding measuring method(s).

9. A method according to claim 8 and comprising checking the account of the subscriber associated with the request prior to sending to the Serving Element said accounting response.

10. A method according to claim 8 and comprising checking the account of the subscriber associated with the request prior to sending to the Serving Element said accounting response, wherein said steps of selecting one or more of the supported measuring methods and determining an amount of granted service units are based upon the account balance and/or the subscription type of the subscriber.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the billing measuring methods supported by the Serving Element include one or more of:

IMS service session time, service sent and/or received number of talk bursts, sent and/or received amount of talk bursts measured as time length.

12. A method according to claims 8, wherein said service is a Push-to-talk Over Cellular service, and the IP Multimedia Subsystem Serving Element is a Push-to-talk Over Cellular server.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein said accounting request and response are Diameter-Accounting-Request (ACR) and Diameter-Accounting-Answer (ACA) messages respectively.

14. A method of controlling subscriber charging at an IP Multimedia Subsystem Serving Element of an IP Multimedia Subsystem, the method comprising:

upon receipt of a service request from a subscriber, sending a service related accounting request to an Online Charging System, the request containing an identification of the chargeable events measuring methods supported by the Serving Element; and

subsequently receiving from the Online Charging System an accounting response containing an amount(s) of granted service units and an identification of the corresponding measuring method(s) selected from the measuring methods supported by the Serving Element; and

for the duration of said service, applying said measuring method(s) and monitoring the received granted service unit amount(s) whilst the service is being delivered.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the billing measuring methods supported by the Serving Element include one or more of:

IMS service session time, service sent and/or received number of talk bursts, sent and/or received amount of talk bursts measured as time length.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein said service is a Push-to-talk Over Cellular service, and the IP Multimedia Subsystem Serving Element is a Push-to-talk Over Cellular server.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein said accounting request and response are Diameter-Accounting-Request (ACR) and Diameter-Accounting-Answer (ACA) messages respectively.