Charging in a communication system
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving at a communications network charging entity a charging identity identifying a connection initiated by a communication terminal, the connection being supported by a first connection support entity and a second connection support entity;
receiving at the communications network charging entity a first charging message from the first connection support entity, the first charging message specifying a first tariff and including the charging identity;
receiving at the communications network charging entity a second charging message from the second connection support entity, the second charging message specifying a second tariff and including the charging identity;
storing in the communications network charging entity the first tariff and the second tariff;
the communications network charging entity performing the steps ofdetermining according to the first stored tariff a first charge for the support of the connection by the first connection support entity;
determining according to the second stored tariff a second charge for the support of the connection by the second connection support entity; and
periodically estimating a charge for the connection according to the first and second charges and comparing the estimated charge with the balance of an account to which the connection is to be charged; and
dividing a total estimate charge into at least two portions and comparing one of those portions to a first account and the second of those portions to a second account.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for charging for services in a communication system comprises a charging entity and at least two connection support entities for providing resources to support a connection in the communication system. Various steps include detecting initiation of a connection by the connection support entities; generating a charging identity for identifying the connection; determining a first charge for supporting the connection by the first connection support entity; determining a second charge for the support of the connection by the second connection support entity; transmitting a first charging message from the first connection support entity to the charging entity, the message specifying the first charge and including the charging identity; and transmitting a second charging message from the second connection support entity to the charging entity, the second charging message specifying the second charge and including the charging identity.
33 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving at a communications network charging entity a charging identity identifying a connection initiated by a communication terminal, the connection being supported by a first connection support entity and a second connection support entity; receiving at the communications network charging entity a first charging message from the first connection support entity, the first charging message specifying a first tariff and including the charging identity; receiving at the communications network charging entity a second charging message from the second connection support entity, the second charging message specifying a second tariff and including the charging identity; storing in the communications network charging entity the first tariff and the second tariff; the communications network charging entity performing the steps of determining according to the first stored tariff a first charge for the support of the connection by the first connection support entity; determining according to the second stored tariff a second charge for the support of the connection by the second connection support entity; and periodically estimating a charge for the connection according to the first and second charges and comparing the estimated charge with the balance of an account to which the connection is to be charged; and dividing a total estimate charge into at least two portions and comparing one of those portions to a first account and the second of those portions to a second account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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at a connection support entity in a communication system, detecting initiation of a connection with a communication terminal; generating at the connection support entity a unique charging identity for identifying the connection to another connection support entity located in a different network and to a communications network charging entity, wherein the unique charging identity is also assigned for use by the another connection support entity in forming a combined charge for the connection; making available the charging identity to the another connection support entity and to the communications network charging entity; determining according to a tariff stored in the connection support entity a charge for supporting the connection by the connection support entity; transmitting a charging message to the communications network charging entity, the charging message specifying the charge and including the charging identity; and periodically estimating a charge for the connection according to a first charge received from the connection support entity and a second charge received from the another connection support entity and comparing the estimated charge with a balance of an account. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method comprising:
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at a communications network charging entity, receiving a charging identity from a first connection support entity that identifies a connection to a communication terminal, the connection supported by the first connection support entity and a second connection support entity; receiving a first charging message from the first connection support entity, the message specifying a first charge and including the charging identity; receiving a second charging message from the second connection support entity, the second charging message specifying a second charge and including the charging identity; adding the first and second charging messages to a transaction to form a total value for the transaction; debiting the total value of the transaction from an account indicated in the first or second charging message; periodically estimating a charge for the connection according to the first and second charges and comparing the estimated charge with the balance of the account. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. An apparatus comprising:
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a charging entity configured to operate in a communication system and to receive a charging identity identifying a connection initiated by a communication terminal, the connection being supported by a first connection support entity and a second connection support entity; the charging entity configured to receive a first charging message from the first connection support entity, the first charging message specifying a first tariff and including the charging identity; the charging entity configured to receive a second charging message from the second connection support entity, the second charging message specifying a second tariff and including the charging identity; the charging entity configured to store the first tariff and the second tariff and configured to determine according to the first stored tariff a first charge for the support of the connection by the first connection support entity, determine according to the second stored tariff a second charge for the support of the connection by the second connection support entity; and periodically estimate a charge for the connection according to the first and second charges and comparing the estimated charge with a balance of an account to which the connection is to be charged; the charging entity configured to divide a total estimate charge into at least two portions and comparing one of those portions to a first account and the second of those portions to a second account.
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Specification