Application server billing
First Claim
1. An Application Server for use in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, comprising:
- a first interface arranged to enable communication between said application server and a telecommunications server of the IMS network;
a second interface arranged to enable communication between said application server and an application;
a processor comprising;
processing resources for implementing a service provided by said application and providing said service to users of the IMS network via said first interface; and
control logic arranged to;
inspect signaling information received from the application via said second interface in the form of Extensible Markup Language (XML);
compare said received signaling information with stored rule data which specifies a relationship between an element in said signaling information and an action that should be taken including when charging information should be generated; and
generate charging information on the basis of the comparison; and
an output arranged to package the charging information into an output format compatible with either a Charging Data Function (CDF) or Online Charging System (OCS) in the IMS network.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An Application Server entity in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network comprises an interface for interfacing with an application and control logic which is arranged to inspect signalling information received from the application via the interface in the form of Extensible Markup Language (XML). The received signalling information is compared with stored rule data which specifies a relationship between an element in the signalling information and an action that should be taken and output data is generated based on the comparison. The Application Server can output operational measurements and/or charging information which more accurately reflect usage made of the Application Server resources. The need for a separate OSA/Parlay-X gateway can be avoided.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An Application Server for use in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, comprising:
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a first interface arranged to enable communication between said application server and a telecommunications server of the IMS network; a second interface arranged to enable communication between said application server and an application; a processor comprising; processing resources for implementing a service provided by said application and providing said service to users of the IMS network via said first interface; and control logic arranged to; inspect signaling information received from the application via said second interface in the form of Extensible Markup Language (XML); compare said received signaling information with stored rule data which specifies a relationship between an element in said signaling information and an action that should be taken including when charging information should be generated; and generate charging information on the basis of the comparison; and an output arranged to package the charging information into an output format compatible with either a Charging Data Function (CDF) or Online Charging System (OCS) in the IMS network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6)
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3. An Application Server for use in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, comprising:
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a first interface arranged to enable communication between said application server and a telecommunications server of the IMS network; a second interface arranged to enable communication between said application server and an application; and a processor comprising; processing resources for implementing a service provided by said application and providing said service to users of the IMS network via said first interface; and control logic arranged to; inspect signaling information received from the application via said second interface in the form of Extensible Markup Language (XML); compare said received signaling information with stored rule data which specifies a relationship between an element in said, signaling information and an action that should be taken including when charging information should be generated; collate charging information during the process of comparing the received signaling information with stored rule data; generate charging information on the basis of the comparison; and output the collated charging information.
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7. A method of generating charging information in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, the method comprising:
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connecting users of the IMS network to an application server via a first interface arranged to enable communication between said application server and a telecommunications server of the IMS network; receiving signaling information via a second interface arranged to enable communication between said application server and an application, the second interface being part of said application server; implementing a service provided by said application and providing said service to users of the IMS network via said first interface; inspecting the received signaling information in the form of Extensible Markup Language (XML); comparing the received signaling information with stored rule data which specifies a relationship between an element in the signaling information and an action that should be taken including when charging information should be generated; generating charging information on the basis of the comparison; and packaging the charging information into an output format compatible with either a Charging Data Function (CDF) or Online Charging System (OCS) in the IMS network. - View Dependent Claims (8, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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9. A method of generating charging information in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, the method comprising:
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connecting users of the IMS network to an application server via a first interface arranged to enable communication between said application server and a telecommunications server of the IMS network; receiving signaling information via a second interface arranged to enable communication between said application server and an application, the second interface being part of said application server; implementing a service provided by said application and providing said service to users of the IMS network via said first interface; inspecting the received signaling information in the form of Extensible Markup Language (XML); comparing the received signaling information with stored rule data which specifies a relationship between an element in the signaling information and an action that should be taken including when charging information should be generated; collating the charging information during the process of comparing the received signaling information with stored rule data, generating charging information on the basis of the comparison, and outputting the collated charging information.
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Specification