Method for accounting information handling in an interworking

• US 8,762,232 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2010
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Futurewei Technologies Incorporated (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Futurewei Technologies Incorporated (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ahmed, Hanan
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Application Number:
  US12/690,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20110178904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,616 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/67 Transmitting arrangements for sending billing related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method for accounting information handling in an interworking is provided. A method for processing accounting information by a gateway device includes sending an accounting request message to a first electronic device, and receiving a response message from a first electronic device, the response message responsive to the accounting request message. The accounting request message is related to a communications device attached to the first network. The method also includes processing accounting information. The processing is based on the response message, the gateway device and the first electronic device are part of the first network, the communications device is accessing a second network through the first network, and the communications device has a subscription only with the second network.

Claims

1. In a gateway device in an access network, a method for processing accounting information, the method comprising:

sending, by the gateway device in the access network, an accounting request message to a proxy device in the access network, wherein the accounting request message is related to a mobile that accesses a second network through the access network, the second network being different than the access network;

receiving, by the gateway device, a response message from the proxy device, the response message responsive to the accounting request message, wherein the response message comprises an indicator indicating that accounting should be turned off; and

in accordance with the indicator in the response message, discontinuing, by the gateway device, accounting of the mobile which continues to access the second network through the access network after the gateway device discontinues accounting of the mobile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises an integer value of eight.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein discontinuing accounting comprises ceasing generation of accounting information related to the mobile by the gateway device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the mobile has at least two connections, wherein at least one connection is with the second network through the access network, and wherein stopping a generation of accounting information comprises stopping a generation of accounting information for the at least one connection with the second network through the access network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the proxy device comprises an authentication device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the access network comprises a WiMAX compliant network, and wherein the second network comprises a 3GPP EPC compliant network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile communicates data traffic to the second network via the access network after the gateway device discontinues accounting for the mobile, the data traffic being different than control information.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein accounting information related to the mobile is not generated by any device in the access network after the gateway device discontinues accounting for the mobile.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein accounting information generated by the gateway device located in the access network is duplicative of accounting information generated by a device in the second network.

7. In an authentication device in an access network a method for processing accounting information, the method comprising:

receiving, by the authentication device in the access network, an accounting request message from a gateway device in the access network, wherein the accounting request message is related to a mobile that accesses a second network through the access network; and

sending, by the authentication device, a response message responsive to the accounting request message to the gateway device,

wherein the response message comprises an indicator indicating that accounting should be turned off, the indicator configured to prompt the gateway to stop generating accounting information pertaining to the mobile, which continues to access the second network through the access network after the gateway device stops generating accounting information pertaining to the mobile.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the indicator comprises an integer value of eight.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising discarding, by the authentication device, accounting information received from the gateway device, wherein the accounting information is related to the mobile.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the mobile communicates data traffic to the second network via the access network after the gateway device stops generating accounting information pertaining to the mobile, the data traffic being different than control information.

14. A gateway device comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to;

generate accounting information pertaining to a mobile that accesses a second network through the access network, wherein the gateway device is located within the access network, and wherein the access network is distinct from the second network;

receive an indication to stop generating the accounting information, wherein the indication is received from a proxy device located within the access network; and

in accordance with the indication, stop generating the accounting information pertaining to the mobile which continues to access the second network through the access network after the gateway device stops generating the accounting information.

15. The gateway device of claim 14, wherein the accounting information generated by the gateway device is redundant with accounting information generated by a device in the second network.

16. The gateway device of claim 14, wherein the mobile communicates data traffic to the second network via the access network after the gateway device stops generating accounting information pertaining to the mobile, the data traffic being different than control information.

17. An authentication device in an access network, the authentication device comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to;

determine that a device in a second network is accounting for a mobile that accesses the second network through the access network, wherein the authentication device is located in the access network; and

send, to a gateway device located within the access network, an indication to prompt the gateway device to stop generating accounting information for the mobile which continues to access the second network through the access network after the gateway device stops generating the accounting information.

18. The authentication device of claim 17, wherein the accounting information generated by the gateway device is redundant with accounting information generated by the device in the second network.

19. The gateway device of claim 17, wherein the mobile communicates data traffic to the second network via the access network after the gateway device stops generating accounting information pertaining to the mobile, the data traffic being different than control information.