Generating a Single Billing Record for Multiple Sessions in a Network Environment

• US 20090138295A1
• Filed: 11/27/2007
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Albert, Mark, Dixon, Walter G., Deitrich, Clarence L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,202,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1091 Recording time for administrative or management purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/10 Tax strategies
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/125 Finance or payroll

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a plurality of communication sessions of a transaction associated with a postpaid end user. The method includes associating the plurality of communication sessions with the transaction and extracting data from the plurality of communication sessions associated with the transaction. The method includes generating a single billing record after the transaction is completed, the single billing record comprising the extracted data from the plurality of communication sessions associated with the transaction.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a client services packet gateway operable to communicate with a postpaid end user in order to manage a transaction comprising a plurality of communication sessions; and

a session manager element operable to;

receive the plurality of communication sessions;

associate the plurality of communication sessions with the transaction;

extract data from the plurality of communication sessions associated with the transaction; and

generate a single billing record after the transaction is completed, the single billing record comprising the extracted data from the plurality of communication sessions associated with the transaction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow manager is further operable to monitor status of a selected communication session.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the client services packet gateway is further operable to transmit the single billing record to a billing mediation agent.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transaction is completed after all communication sessions are terminated.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transaction relates to a request by the end user for content or for a service.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication sessions comprise a plurality of underlying protocols.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a selected communication session is a UDP audio control session.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extracted data in the single billing record comprises the total number of bytes transferred by the plurality of communication sessions associated with the transaction.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the client services packet gateway is operable to provide one or more services being selected from a group of services consisting of:

a) accounting;

b) firewalling;

c) filtering;

d) wireless application protocol transformations;

e) compression;

f) optimization;

g) billing;

h) content authorization;

i) intrusion detection; and

j) intrusion prevention.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving a plurality of communication sessions of a transaction associated with a postpaid end user;

associating the plurality of communication sessions with the transaction;

extracting data from the plurality of communication sessions associated with the transaction; and

generating a single billing record after the transaction is completed, the single billing record comprising the extracted data from the plurality of communication sessions associated with the transaction.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising monitoring status of a selected communication session.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting the single billing record to a billing mediation agent.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the transaction is completed after all communication sessions are terminated.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the communication session relates to a request by the end user for content or for a service.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of communication sessions comprise a plurality of underling protocols.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein a selected communication session is a UDP audio control session.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the extracted data in the single billing record comprises the total number of bytes transferred by the plurality of communication sessions associated with the transaction.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing one or more services being selected from a group of services consisting of:

a) accounting;

b) firewalling;

c) filtering;

d) wireless application protocol transformations;

e) compression;

f) optimization;

g) billing;

h) content authorization;

i) intrusion detection; and

j) intrusion prevention.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of communication sessions of a transaction associated with a postpaid end user;

means for associating the plurality of communication sessions with the transaction;

means for extracting data from the plurality of communication sessions associated with the transaction; and

means for generating a single billing record after the transaction is completed, the single billing record comprising the extracted data from the plurality of communication sessions associated with the transaction.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising monitoring status of a selected communication session.