CHARGING ENABLER
First Claim
1. A method for charging for services on a communication network, the method comprising:
- receiving a request to perform a charging function from an application via a northbound interface of a charging enabler, the northbound interface providing an abstract interface for invoking one or more of a plurality of charging functions; and
requesting the charging function from a network resource via a southbound interface of the charging enabler, the southbound interface providing an interface specific to the network resource.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for providing charging functions. According to one embodiment, a method of charging for services on a communication network can comprise receiving a request to perform a charging function from an application via a northbound interface of a charging enabler. The northbound interface can provide an abstract interface for invoking one or more of a plurality of charging functions. The charging function can be requested from a network resource via a southbound interface of the charging enabler. The southbound interface can provide an interface specific to the network resource. Results of the charging function can be received from the network resource via the southbound interface of the charging enabler and returned to the application via the northbound interface of the charging enabler.
160 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for charging for services on a communication network, the method comprising:
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receiving a request to perform a charging function from an application via a northbound interface of a charging enabler, the northbound interface providing an abstract interface for invoking one or more of a plurality of charging functions; and requesting the charging function from a network resource via a southbound interface of the charging enabler, the southbound interface providing an interface specific to the network resource. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A charging enabler comprising:
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an abstraction layer including one or more northbound interfaces providing an abstract interface for providing notification of network events and invoking one or more of a plurality of charging functions of a first network resource; and one or more enabler instances, each of the one or more enabler instances providing a southbound interface providing an interface specific to the first network resource. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A system comprising:
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a communication network; a first network resource communicatively coupled with the communication network, the first network resource providing a plurality of charging functions; an application communicatively coupled with the communications network and adapted to provide one or more services via the communications network; and a charging enabler communicatively coupled with the communication network and the application, the charging enabler comprising an abstraction layer including one or more northbound interfaces providing an abstract interface for providing notification of network events and invoking one or more of the plurality of charging functions of the first network resource and one or more enabler instances, each of the one or more enabler instances providing a southbound interface providing an interface specific to the first network resource. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification