Method and apparatus for accounting in a mobile data packet network

• US 8,155,620 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2008
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Jun, Tinnakornsrisuphap, Peerapol, Hsu, Raymond Tah-Sheng, Ulupinar, Fatih
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US12/136,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20080310335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 455/410, 455/411, 370/241, 370/310, 370/328, 370/352, 705/34, 705/40
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/29099 Material
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00013 Fully indexed content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/65 Off-line charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/204 UMTS; GPRS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

In a converged communication network, IP data packet services are provided by a core network to access terminals via radio access nodes (RAN). By positioning accounting report triggering closer to the usage, accuracy and comprehensive of accounting is achieved, which can also reduce overhead burdens on the core network. Additional responsibility is given to an access gateway (AGW) between an enhanced base station (eBS) of the RAN and the core network that can reduce the volume and increase the accuracy of accounting message traffic to an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server of the core network. The AGW informs the eBS of accounting rules to be used in making air link records that are merged and formatted in accordance with an accounting protocol for sending to the AAA server, to address duration and volume based accounting needs, postpaid and prepaid accounting types, and user, service and flow based accounting categories.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a usage data record for data packet services to a wireless access terminal, comprising:

providing data packet communication services via an access gateway from a core network to a base station for the access terminal;

sending accounting rules from the access gateway to the base station when the base station becomes a data attachment point for the access terminal or during access authentication and authorization, wherein the accounting rules include rules for postpaid charging;

receiving air link records from the base station at the access gateway in accordance with the accounting rules based upon usage data of the access terminal;

merging the air link records at the access gateway into a usage data record formatted in accordance with an accounting protocol; and

transmitting the usage data record from the access gateway to an accounting component of the core network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending accounting rules for prepaid charging to the base station.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining a size of the prepaid charging and adjusting an air link reporting interval for the base station in relation to the size.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an interim usage data record from the base station to the access gateway or from the access gateway to the accounting component.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating the access terminal adding a second base station to a route set; and

merging air link records based on air link messages comprised of an accounting request start record from the first base station and a stop record from the second base station.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating the access terminal adding a second base station to a route set; and

merging air link records based on air link messages comprised of an accounting request start record and a stop record from the first base station.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving air link record from the base station comprising a user identifier, infrastructure identifiers, common session activity data, and flow activity data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the user identifier comprises a network access identifier, the infrastructure identifiers comprise an anonymous identifier, the common session activity data comprises event time and total active connection time, and the flow activity data comprises event time, reservation label, packet filters, data octet count for origination, data octet count for termination, granted quality of service (QoS), and reservation used time.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising merging air link records into a usage data record comprising user identifiers, infrastructure identifiers, common session activity, and access node record.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user identifiers comprise network access identifier and Internet Protocol (IP) IP address, infrastructure identifiers comprise carrier identifier, access gateway address, foreign agent (FA) address, and home agent (HA) address, the common session activity comprises event time, total data session time, inbound common management information protocol (CMIP) signaling octet count, outbound CMIP signaling octet count, filtered octet count at origination, and filtered octet count at termination, and the access node record comprises an anonymous identifier and a flow activity comprising an event time, reservation label, packet filters, data octet count at origination, data octet count at termination, granted quality of service, and reservation used time.

11. At least one processor for preparing usage data record for data packet services to a wireless access terminal, comprising:

a first module for providing data packet communication services via an access gateway from a core network to a base station for the access terminal;

a second module for sending accounting rules from the access gateway to the base station when the base station becomes a data attachment point for the access terminal, wherein the accounting rules include rules for postpaid charging;

a third module for receiving air link records from the base station at the access gateway in accordance with the accounting rules based upon usage data of the access terminal;

a fourth module for merging the air link records at the access gateway into a usage data record formatted in accordance with an accounting protocol; and

a fifth module for transmitting the usage data record from the access gateway to an accounting component of the core network.

12. A computer program product for preparing usage data record for data packet services to a wireless access terminal, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to provide data packet communication services via an access gateway from a core network to a base station for the access terminal;

a second set of codes for causing the computer to send accounting rules from the access gateway to the base station when the base station becomes a data attachment point for the access terminal, wherein the accounting rules include rules for postpaid charging;

a third set of codes for causing the computer to receive air link records from the base station at the access gateway in accordance with the accounting rules based upon usage data of the access terminal;

a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to merge the air link records at the access gateway into a usage data record formatted in accordance with an accounting protocol; and

a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to transmit the usage data record from the access gateway to an accounting component of the core network.

13. An apparatus for preparing a usage data record for data packet services to a wireless access terminal, comprising:

means for providing data packet communication services via an access gateway from a core network to a base station for the access terminal;

means for sending accounting rules from the access gateway to the base station when the base station becomes a data attachment point for the access terminal, wherein the accounting rules include rules for postpaid charging;

means for receiving air link records from the base station at the access gateway in accordance with the accounting rules based upon usage data of the access terminal;

means for merging the air link records at the access gateway into a usage data record formatted in accordance with an accounting protocol; and

means for transmitting the usage data record from the access gateway to an accounting component of the core network.

14. An access gateway for preparing a usage data record for data packet services to a wireless access terminal, comprising:

a communication component configured to provide data packet communication services from a core network to a base station for an access terminal;

a processor configured to send accounting rules to the base station via the communication component when the base station becomes a data attachment point for the access terminal, wherein the accounting rules include rules for postpaid charging;

a memory configured to store air link records from the base station created in accordance with the accounting rules based upon usage data of the access terminal;

the processor further configured to merge the air link records into a usage data record formatted in accordance with an accounting protocol; and

the communication component further configured to transmit the usage data record to an accounting component of the core network.

15. The access gateway of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to send accounting rules for prepaid charging to the base station.

16. The access gateway of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a size of the prepaid charging and to adjust an air link reporting interval for the base station in relation to the size.

17. The access gateway of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit an interim usage data record from the access gateway to the accounting component.

18. The access gateway of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to:

facilitate the access terminal adding a second base station to a route set; and

merge air link records based on air link messages comprised of an accounting request start record from the first base station and a stop record from the second base station.

19. The access gateway of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to:

facilitate the access terminal adding a second base station to a route set; and

merge air link records based on air link messages comprised of an accounting request start record and a stop record from the first base station.

20. The access gateway of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to receive air link records from the base station comprising a user identifier, infrastructure identifiers, common session activity data, and flow activity data.

21. The access gateway of claim 20, wherein the user identifier comprises a network access identifier, the infrastructure identifiers comprise an anonymous identifier, the common session activity data comprises event time and total active connection time, and the flow activity data comprises event time, reservation label, packet filters, data octet count for origination, data octet count for termination, granted quality of service (QoS), and reservation used time.

22. The access gateway of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to merge air link records into a usage data record comprising user identifiers, infrastructure identifiers, common session activity, and access node record.

23. The access gateway of claim 22, wherein the user identifiers comprise network access identifier and Internet Protocol (IP) IP address, infrastructure identifiers comprise carrier identifier, access gateway address, foreign agent (FA) address, and home agent (HA) address, the common session activity comprises event time, total data session time, inbound common management information protocol (CMIP) signaling octet count, outbound CMIP signaling octet count, filtered octet count at origination, and filtered octet count at termination, and the access node record comprises an anonymous identifier and a flow activity comprising an event time, reservation label, packet filters, data octet count at origination, data octet count at termination, granted quality of service, and reservation used time.