Accounting system in a network

• US 6,377,982 B1
• Filed: 08/24/1998
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Rai, Girish, Chuah, Mooi, Parsons, Philip M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/138,682
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/200, 709/201, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 455/432, 455/422, 455/403, 455/405, 370/338, 370/352, 370/420
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2212/00 Encapsulation of packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/164 Adaptation or special uses of UDP protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/168 specially adapted for link layer protocols, e.g. asynchronous transfer mode [ATM], synchronous optical network [SONET] or point-to-point protocol [PPP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/169 Special adaptations of TCP, UDP or IP for interworking of IP based networks with other networks protocols for interworking, protocol conversion H04L69/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/31 Distributed metering or calculation of charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0038 of security context information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 : Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 : Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A coupled data network with an accounting system is disclosed. The coupled data network includes a foreign network and a home network. The foreign network includes a base station with an access hub and a foreign mobile switching center with a serving registration server, the access hub including a serving inter-working function, the serving inter-working function including a foreign accounting collection module. The home network includes a home mobile switching center with a home inter-working function, the home inter-working function including a home accounting collection module. An end system is a subscriber to the wireless data network and coupleable to the foreign access hub. The home and serving accounting collection modules collect accounting data on message traffic transported between the end system and a communications server through the home inter-working function and through the serving inter-working function.

Claims

1. A coupled data network comprising:

a foreign network that includes a base station with an access hub and a foreign mobile switching center with a serving registration server, the access hub including a serving inter-working function, the serving inter-working function including a foreign accounting collection module;

a home network that includes a home mobile switching center with a home inter-working function, the home inter-working function including a home accounting collection module; and

an end system subscribed to the home network and coupleable to the foreign access hub, the home and foreign accounting collection modules collecting accounting data on message traffic transported between the end system and a communications server through the home inter-working function and through the serving inter-working function.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported from the end system through the home inter-working function to the communications server.

3. The network of claim 1, wherein:

the foreign mobile switching center includes a foreign accounting server; and

the foreign accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein:

the home mobile switching center includes a home accounting server;

the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the home accounting server.

5. The network of claim 4, wherein:

the home network further includes a home billing processor; and

the home accounting server includes a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the home accounting server.

6. The network of claim 5, wherein:

the foreign network further includes a foreign accounting server and a foreign billing processor;

the foreign accounting collection module includes a sub-module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first serving inter-working function, the foreign accounting collection module further including a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server, the foreign accounting server including a module to send accounting reports to the foreign billing processor, the foreign billing processor including a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the foreign billing processor.

7. The network of claim 1, wherein:

the foreign network further includes a foreign accounting server and a foreign billing processor;

the foreign accounting collection module includes a submodule to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first serving inter-working function, the foreign accounting collection module further including a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server, the foreign accounting server including a module to send accounting reports to the foreign billing processor, the foreign billing processor including a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the foreign billing processor.

8. The network of claim 1, wherein:

the foreign mobile switching center includes a foreign accounting server;

the home mobile switching center includes a home accounting server;

the foreign accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to a foreign accounting server; and

the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to a home accounting server.

9. The network of claim 8, wherein

the access hub includes a proxy registration agent,

the home mobile switching center includes a home registration server;

and

the end system including an end registration agent, the end registration agent being coupled to the proxy registration agent, the proxy registration agent being coupled to the serving registration server, the serving registration server being coupled to the home registration server.

10. The network of claim 9, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the foreign network is authorized to host the end system.

11. The network of claim 9, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the end system is authorized to receive services of the home network.

12. The network of claim 9, wherein the serving registration server includes a module to authenticate that the end system is a subscriber of the home network.

13. The network of claim 9, wherein:

the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the foreign network is authorized to host the end system;

the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the end system is authorized to receive services of the home network; and

the serving registration server includes a module to authenticate that the end system is a subscriber of the home network.

14. The network of claim 1, wherein

the home mobile switching center includes a home registration server and a plurality of unassigned home inter-working functions;

and

the end system including an end registration agent to form a registration request, the end registration agent sending the registration request through the serving registration server to the home registration server, the home registration server including a module to select an active home inter-working function from the plurality of unassigned home inter-working functions based on the registration request.

15. The network of claim 14, wherein:

the serving inter-working function is regarded as an active serving inter-working function;

the foreign network further includes a plurality of serving inter-working functions; and

the serving registration server includes a module to select the active serving inter-working function from the plurality of serving inter-working functions based on the registration request.

16. The network of claim 14, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the foreign network is authorized to host the end system.

17. The network of claim 14, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the end system is authorized to receive services of the home network.

18. The network of claim 14, wherein the serving registration server includes a module to authenticate that the end system is a subscriber of the home network.

19. The network of claim 14, wherein:

the registration request includes service type information; and

the home registration server includes a module to control the selection of the active home inter-working function based on the service type information.

20. The network of claim 19, wherein the service type information specifies a request for one of public internet service and private intranet service.

21. The network of claim 19, wherein the service type information specifies a request for one of mobile service and fixed service.

22. The network of claim 14, wherein:

the registration request includes quality of service information; and

the home registration server includes a module to control the selection of the active home inter-working function based on the quality of service information.

23. The network of claim 22, wherein the quality of service information specifies a request for one of constant bit rate service, real time variable bit rate service, non-real time variable bit rate service, unspecified bit rate service and available bit rate service.

24. A data network coupled to a foreign network that includes a base station with an access hub and a foreign mobile switching center with a serving registration server, the access hub including a serving inter-working function, the serving inter-working function including a serving accounting collection module, the data network comprising:

a home network that includes a home mobile switching center with a home inter-working function, the home inter-working function including a home accounting collection module; and

an end system subscribed to the home network and coupleable to the foreign access hub, the home and serving accounting collection-modules collecting accounting data on message traffic transported between the end system and a communications server through the home inter-working function and through the serving inter-working function.

25. The network of claim 24, wherein the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported from the end system through the home inter-working function to the communications server.

26. The network of claim 24, wherein:

the home mobile switching center includes a home accounting server;

the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the home accounting server.

27. The network of claim 26, wherein:

the home network further includes a home billing processor; and

the home accounting server includes a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the home accounting server.

28. The network of claim 27, wherein:

the foreign network further includes a foreign accounting server and a foreign billing processor;

the foreign accounting collection module includes a sub-module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first serving inter-working function, the foreign accounting collection module further including a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server, the foreign accounting server including a module to send accounting reports to the foreign billing processor, the foreign billing processor including a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the foreign billing processor.

29. The network of claim 24, wherein:

the foreign network further includes a foreign accounting server and a foreign billing processor;

the foreign accounting collection module includes a sub-module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first serving inter-working function, the foreign accounting collection module further including a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server, the foreign accounting server including a module to send accounting reports to the foreign billing processor, the foreign billing processor including a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the foreign billing processor.

30. The network of claim 24, wherein:

the foreign mobile switching center includes a foreign accounting server;

the home mobile switching center includes a home accounting server;

the foreign accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to a foreign accounting server; and

the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to a home accounting server.

31. The network of claim 30, wherein the access hub including a proxy registration agent,

the home mobile switching center with a home registration server, and

the end system includes an end registration agent, the end registration agent being coupled to the proxy registration agent, the proxy registration agent being coupled to the serving registration server, the serving registration server being coupled to the home registration server.

32. The network of claim 31, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the foreign network is authorized to host the end system.

33. The network of claim 31, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the end system is authorized to receive services of the home network.

34. The network of claim 24, wherein

the home mobile switching center includes a home registration server and a plurality of unassigned home inter-working functions, and

the end system includes an end registration agent to form a registration request, the end registration agent sending the registration request through the serving registration server to the home registration server, the home registration server including a module to select an active home inter-working function from the plurality of unassigned home inter-working functions based on the registration request.

35. The network of claim 34, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the foreign network is authorized to host the end system.

36. The network of claim 34, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the end system is authorized to receive services of the home network.

37. The network of claim 34, wherein:

the registration request includes service type information; and

the home registration server includes a module to control the selection of the active home inter-working function based on the service type information.

38. The network of claim 37, wherein the service type information specifies a request for one of public internet service and private intranet service.

39. The network of claim 37, wherein the service type information specifies a request for one of mobile service and fixed service.

40. The network of claim 34, wherein:

the registration request includes quality of service information; and

the home registration server includes a module to control the selection of the active home inter-working function based on the quality of service information.

41. The network of claim 40, wherein the quality of service information specifies a request for one of constant bit rate service, real time variable bit rate service, non-real time variable bit rate service, unspecified bit rate service and available bit rate service.

49. The end system of claim 24, wherein said end system further comprises:

an end registration agent to form a registration request, the end registration agent sending the registration request through the serving registration server to the home registration server, the home registration server including a module to select an active home inter-working function from the plurality of unassigned home inter-working functions based on the registration request.

42. A home network for use in a data network coupled to a foreign network that includes a base station with an access hub and a foreign mobile switching center with a serving registration server, the access hub including a serving inter-working function, the serving inter-working function including a serving accounting collection module, and an end system subscribed to the home network and coupleable to a foreign access hub, the home network comprising:

a home mobile switching center with a home inter-working function, the home inter-working function including a home accounting collection module; and

wherein the home and serving accounting collection modules collecting accounting data on message traffic transported between the end system and a communications server through the home inter-working function and through the serving inter-working function.

43. The network of claim 42, wherein the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported from the end system through the home inter-working function to the communications server.

44. The network of claim 42, wherein:

the home mobile switching center includes a home accounting server;

the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the home accounting server.

45. The network of claim 44, wherein:

the home network further includes a home billing processor; and

the home accounting server includes a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the home accounting server.

46. A foreign network for use in a data network coupled to a home network that includes a home mobile switching center with a home inter-working function, the home inter-working function including a home accounting collection module, and an end system subscribed to the home network and coupleable to a foreign access hub, the foreign network comprising:

a base station with an access hub, the access hub including a serving inter-working function, the serving inter-working function including a serving accounting collection module;

a foreign mobile switching center with a serving registration server;

wherein the home and serving accounting collection modules collecting accounting data on message traffic transported between the end system and a communications server through the home inter-working function and through the serving inter-working function.

47. The network of claim 46, wherein:

the foreign network further includes a foreign accounting server and a foreign billing processor;

the foreign accounting collection module includes a sub-module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first serving inter-working function, the foreign accounting collection module further including a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server, the foreign accounting server including a module to send accounting reports to the foreign billing processor, the foreign billing processor including a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the foreign billing processor.

48. An end system for use in a data network coupled to a foreign network that includes a base station with an access hub and a foreign mobile switching center with a serving registration server, the access hub including a serving inter-working function, the serving inter-working function including a serving accounting collection module, a home network including a home registration server and a plurality of unassigned home inter-working functions and a home accounting collection module, the end system comprising:

the end system being subscribed to the home network and coupleable to the foreign access hub, the home and serving accounting collection modules collecting accounting data on message traffic transported between the end system and a communications server through the home inter-working function and through the serving inter-working function.