Routing architecture for online and offline processing

• US 8,463,671 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2005
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amdocs Development Limited (Amdocs Ltd.), Amdocs Software Systems Limited (Amdocs Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Amdocs Software Systems Limited (Amdocs Ltd.)
• Inventors: Levanoni, Yishai, Shalit, Doron, Cohen, Nir
• Primary Examiner(s): Danneman, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/103,915
• Time in Patent Office: 2,983 Days
• Field of Search: 705/34
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/64 On-line charging system [OCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/65 Off-line charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/725 by the operator

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product are provided for billing purposes. Initially, a customer is associated with a policy. In use, an event is received that is associated with a customer and a category. It is then determined whether to process the event using an online charging platform or an offline charging platform based on the policy and the category. If it is determined that the event is to be processed using the online charging platform, the event is processed using the online charging platform for authorizing and/or charging the event immediately. On the other hand, if it is determined that the event is to be processed using the offline charging platform, the event is processed using the offline charging platform for billing the user at the end of a billing period.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving an event;

determining, utilizing a processor, whether to process the event using an online charging platform or an offline charging platform based on a policy and a category;

if it is determined that the event is to be processed using the online charging platform, processing the event using the online charging platform for billing a user for the event, utilizing a processor; and

if it is determined that the event is to be processed using the offline charging platform, processing the event using the offline charging platform for billing the user for the event, utilizing the processor;

wherein the event is associated with the category;

wherein each of a plurality of policies has a relation with each of a plurality of categories;

wherein each policy indicates, for each category, whether to process the event using the online charging platform or the offline charging platform;

wherein each policy allocates a minimal number of routing categories to the online charging platform, utilizing a prioritization scheme;

wherein each category that prompts processing using the online charging platform is tracked in a list;

wherein the event is related to customer usage of a service associated with a customer;

wherein the customer has one of the policies associated therewith;

wherein it is determined whether to process the event using the online charging platform or the offline charging platform based on the policy associated with the customer;

wherein the policy indicates whether the event is associated with services paid in association with a prepaid balance or services that are paid by a postpaid account, based on a plurality of parameters including at least one of customer accumulations, customer specific rating schemas, charging policies, and a customer balance;

wherein the list is maintained for a group of users associated with a group level offer;

wherein the policy is processed in real time upon receipt of the event;

wherein the policies include postpaid, postpaid with online content services, postpaid with online content and data services, postpaid with online content data messaging services, and prepaid;

wherein multiple events associated with the customer are processed differently, based on the category associated with each of the multiple events and the policy associated with the customer;

wherein the customer is assigned the policy associated with the customer according to an assigned set of services and event distribution rules;

wherein the prioritization scheme includes a prioritization of the policies;

wherein a first one of the policies that routes all events to the offline charging platform is associated with a lowest priority, and a second one of the policies that routes all events to the online charging platform is associated with a highest priority, such that when all the routing categories need to be processed by the online charging platform, the customer is associated with the highest priority policy;

wherein the customer is assigned the policy associated with the customer by identifying the routing categories to be processed by the online charging platform, finding the lowest and highest priority policy that has an online value for the identified routing categories, selecting a policy that sends a minimal number of routing categories to the online charging platform and sends the rest of the routing categories to the offline charging platform.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the categories include at least one of voice, messaging, data, and content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the categories include voice, messaging, data, and content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein an online routing platform and an offline routing platform each group events together into the categories for routing purposes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one of the policies is associated with the customer by identifying a set of the categories that are to be processed by the online charging platform, finding a highest priority policy that indicates that the set of the categories are to be routed to the online charging platform, and assigning the highest priority policy to the customer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein services included during the association of the one of the policies with the customer only include those that are effective at a date of the association of the one of the policies with the customer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the list is updated when the customer is assigned one of the policies.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the list is updated when one of the policies assigned to one of the users in the group of users changes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a spending limit prevents authorization of a service request when an amount spent is above a certain threshold, and prompts an associated event to be processed by the online charging platform.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer chooses to distribute the event from one of the event distribution rules to a prepaid pay channel when the customer is associated with the event distribution rules.

11. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for receiving an event;

computer code for determining whether to process the event using an online charging platform or an offline charging platform based on a policy and a category;

computer code for, if it is determined that the event is to be processed using the online charging platform, processing the event using the online charging platform for billing a user for the event; and

computer code for, if it is determined that the event is to be processed using the offline charging platform, processing the event using the offline charging platform for billing the user for the event;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the event is associated with the category;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that each of a plurality of policies has a relation with each of a plurality of categories;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that each policy indicates, for each category, whether to process the event using the online charging platform or the offline charging platform;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that each policy allocates a minimal number of routing categories to the online charging platform, utilizing a prioritization scheme;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that each category that prompts processing using the online charging platform is tracked in a list;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that event is related to customer usage of a service associated with a customer;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the customer has one of the policies associated therewith;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that it is determined whether to process the event using the online charging platform or the offline charging platform based on the policy associated with the customer;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the policy indicates whether the event is associated with services paid in association with a prepaid balance or services that are paid by a postpaid account, based on a plurality of parameters including at least one of customer accumulations, customer specific rating schemas, charging policies, and a customer balance;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the list is maintained for a group of users associated with a group level offer;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the policy is processed in real time upon receipt of the event;

wherein the policies include postpaid, postpaid with online content services, postpaid with online content and data services, postpaid with online content data messaging services, and prepaid;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that multiple events associated with the customer are processed differently, based on the category associated with each of the multiple events and the policy associated with the customer;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the customer is assigned the policy associated with the customer according to an assigned set of services and event distribution rules;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the prioritization scheme includes a prioritization of the policies;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that a first one of the policies that routes all events to the offline charging platform is associated with a lowest priority, and a second one of the policies that routes all events to the online charging platform is associated with a highest priority, such that when all the routing categories need to be processed by the online charging platform, the customer is associated with the highest priority policy;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the customer is assigned the policy associated with the customer by identifying the routing categories to be processed by the online charging platform, finding the lowest and highest priority policy that has an online value for the identified routing categories, selecting a policy that sends a minimal number of routing categories to the online charging platform and sends the rest of the routing categories to the offline charging platform.

12. A system, comprising:

a processor for receiving an event, and determining whether to process the event using an online charging platform or an offline charging platform based on a policy and a category;

wherein the system is operable such that, if it is determined that the event is to be processed using the online charging platform, the processor directs processing of the event using the online charging platform for billing a user for the event;

wherein the system is operable such that, if it is determined that the event is to be processed using the offline charging platform, the processor processing of the event using the offline charging platform for billing the user for the event;

wherein the system is operable such that the event is associated with the category;

wherein the system is operable such that each of a plurality of policies has a relation with each of a plurality of categories;

wherein the system is operable such that each policy indicates, for each category, whether to process the event using the online charging platform or the offline charging platform;

wherein the system is operable such that each policy allocates a minimal number of routing categories to the online charging platform, utilizing a prioritization scheme;

wherein the system is operable such that each category that prompts processing using the online charging platform is tracked in a list;

wherein the system is operable such that event is related to customer usage of a service associated with a customer;

wherein the system is operable such that the customer has one of the policies associated therewith;

wherein the system is operable such that it is determined whether to process the event using the online charging platform or the offline charging platform based on the policy associated with the customer;

wherein the system is operable such that the policy indicates whether the event is associated with services paid in association with a prepaid balance or services that are paid by a postpaid account, based on a plurality of parameters including at least one of customer accumulations, customer specific rating schemas, charging policies, and a customer balance;

wherein the system is operable such that the list is maintained for a group of users associated with a group level offer;

wherein the system is operable such that the policy is processed in real time upon receipt of the event;

wherein the policies include postpaid, postpaid with online content services, postpaid with online content and data services, postpaid with online content data messaging services, and prepaid;

wherein the system is operable such that multiple events associated with the customer are processed differently, based on the category associated with each of the multiple events and the policy associated with the customer;

wherein the system is operable such that the customer is assigned the policy associated with the customer according to an assigned set of services and event distribution rules;

wherein the system is operable such that the prioritization scheme includes a prioritization of the policies;

wherein the system is operable such that a first one of the policies that routes all events to the offline charging platform is associated with a lowest priority, and a second one of the policies that routes all events to the online charging platform is associated with a highest priority, such that when all the routing categories need to be processed by the online charging platform, the customer is associated with the highest priority policy;

wherein the system is operable such that the customer is assigned the policy associated with the customer by identifying the routing categories to be processed by the online charging platform, finding the lowest and highest priority policy that has an online value for the identified routing categories, selecting a policy that sends a minimal number of routing categories to the online charging platform and sends the rest of the routing categories to the offline charging platform.