Aggregation of user usage data for accounting systems in dynamically configured networks
First Claim
1. A method for accounting for network usage comprising:
- obtaining accounting start-stop event data from two or more accounting servers via an information bus, wherein the information bus contains the accounting start-stop event data published by the two or more accounting servers;
obtaining network flow data independent from said accounting start-stop event data from two or more routers within a network through intermediary netflow collectors, said network flow data including a number and type of packets for a flow, wherein the network flow data also includes a protocol type, a source and destination Internet protocol (IP) address, a next hop address, and a first and last timestamp of packets in the flow; and
correlating said accounting start-stop event data and said network flow data into a subscriber specific call detail record unique to said user by matching said accounting start-stop event data associated with said user with said network flow data associated with said user, and wherein the call detail record is reformatted to identify a quality of service for the flow, and a priority designated for the flow.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing an aggregated account metering system to a computer network service provider resulting in comprehensive detailed subscriber accounting records. Accounting start-stop event data is retrieved from accounting servers. The accounting records are parsed to a first adapter where they are then published on an active information bus. Network flow data is collected from routers throughout the packet switch network environment by network flow collectors. The collectors serve to aggregate and, optionally, filter the flow data. The network flow data is parsed to a second adapter where it is then published on an active information bus. An integrating accounting adapter subscribes to and collects accounting event data and network flow data and correlates this data into a detailed call record that is formatted as desired.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for accounting for network usage comprising:
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obtaining accounting start-stop event data from two or more accounting servers via an information bus, wherein the information bus contains the accounting start-stop event data published by the two or more accounting servers; obtaining network flow data independent from said accounting start-stop event data from two or more routers within a network through intermediary netflow collectors, said network flow data including a number and type of packets for a flow, wherein the network flow data also includes a protocol type, a source and destination Internet protocol (IP) address, a next hop address, and a first and last timestamp of packets in the flow; and correlating said accounting start-stop event data and said network flow data into a subscriber specific call detail record unique to said user by matching said accounting start-stop event data associated with said user with said network flow data associated with said user, and wherein the call detail record is reformatted to identify a quality of service for the flow, and a priority designated for the flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for accounting for network usage comprising:
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parsing accounting start-stop event data from an accounting server on a prescribed time interval; publishing said accounting start-stop event data on an information bus; collecting network flow data independent from said accounting start-stop event data from a network router and forwarding said network flow data to a network flow collector, said network flow data including a number and type of packets for a flow, wherein the network flow data also includes a protocol type, a source and destination Internet protocol (IP) address, a next hop address, and a first and last timestamp of packets in the flow; aggregating said network flow data according to a prescribed aggregation scheme; parsing said network flow data from said network flow collector; publishing said network flow data on an information bus; collecting said accounting start-stop event data and said network flow data at a target device that subscribes to said accounting start-stop event data and said network flow data along with accounting start-stop event data from a different accounting server and network flow data from a different router; and correlating said accounting start-stop event data and said network flow data into a subscriber specific call detail record unique to said user by matching said accounting start-stop event data associated with said user with said network flow data associated with said user, and wherein the call detail record is reformatted to identify a quality of service for the flow, and a priority designated for the flow.
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13. An apparatus for accounting for network usage comprising:
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a means for obtaining accounting start-stop event data from two or more accounting servers via an information bus, wherein the information bus contains the accounting start-stop event data published by the two or more accounting servers; a means for obtaining network flow data independent from said accounting start-stop event data from two or more routers within a network through intermediary netflow collectors, said network flow data including a number and type of packets for a flow, wherein the network flow data also includes a protocol type, a source and destination Internet protocol (IP) address, a next hop address, and a first and last timestamp of packets in the flow; and a means for correlating said accounting start-stop event data and said network flow data into a subscriber specific call detail record unique to said user by matching said accounting start-stop event data associated with said user with said network flow data associated with said user, and wherein the call detail record is reformatted to identify a quality of service for the flow, and a priority designated for the flow. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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14. An apparatus for accounting for network usage comprising:
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means for parsing accounting start-stop event data from an accounting server on a prescribed time interval; means for publishing said accounting start-stop event data on an information bus; means for collecting network flow data independent from said accounting start-stop event data from a network router and forwarding said network flow data to a network flow collector, said network flow data including a number and type of packets for a flow, wherein the network flow data also includes a protocol type, a source and destination Internet protocol (IP) address, a next hop address, and a first and last timestamp of packets in the flow; means for aggregating said network flow data according to a prescribed aggregation scheme; means for parsing said network flow data from said network flow collector; means for publishing said network flow data on an information bus; means for collecting said accounting start-stop event data and said network flow data at a target device that subscribes to said accounting start-stop event data and said network flow data along with accounting start-stop event data from a different accounting server and network flow data from a different router; and means for correlating said accounting start-stop event data and said network flow data into a subscriber specific call detail record unique to said user by matching said accounting start-stop event data associated with said user with said network flow data associated with said user, and wherein the call detail record is reformatted to identify a quality of service for the flow, and a priority designated for the flow. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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15. A program storage device readable by a machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for accounting for network usage, said method comprising:
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obtaining accounting start-stop event data from two or more accounting servers via an information bus, wherein the information bus contains the accounting start-stop event data published by the two or more accounting servers; obtaining network flow data independent from said accounting start-stop event data from two or more routers within a network through intermediary netflow collectors, said network flow data including a number and type of packets for a flow, wherein the network flow data also includes a protocol type, a source and destination Internet protocol (IP) address, a next hop address, and a first and last timestamp of packets in the flow; correlating said accounting start-stop event data and said network flow data into a subscriber specific call detail record unique to said user by matching said accounting start-stop event data associated with said user with said network flow data associated with said user, and wherein the call detail record is reformatted to identify a quality of service for the flow, and a priority designated for the flow.
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Specification