Method and telecommunications network utilizing more than one online charging system for a given user

• US 9,485,105 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2012
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Inventors: Chitre, Vikrant, Lopez Nieto, Ana Maria, Voehringer, Gerrit
• Primary Examiner(s): Sabouri, Mazda
• Application Number:
  US14/358,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20150038111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/64 On-line charging system [OCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method for enhanced policy and charging control when a telecommunications network is used by a User Equipment corresponding to a subscriber includes a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function and a first Online Charging System, configured to communicate via an online charging interface. The telecommunications network further includes a second Online Charging System being configured to communicate via an online charging interface. The method includes: communicating, by an interworking credit control function of the telecommunications network, relative to the subscriber of the telecommunications network and with regard to the same or overlapping traffic of the subscriber via a first online charging interface with the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, via a second online charging interface with the first Online Charging System, and via a third online charging interface with the second Online Charging System.

Claims

1. A method for enhanced policy and charging control when a telecommunications network is used by a User Equipment corresponding to a subscriber, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, a first Online Charging System, and a second Online Charging System, the method comprising:

communicating, by an interworking credit control function of the telecommunications network, with regard to the same or overlapping traffic of the subscriber, via a first online charging interface with the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, via a second online charging interface with the first Online Charging System, and via a third online charging interface with the second Online Charging System;

wherein the communicating includes communicating with the first Online Charging System regarding a network usage quota granted by the first Online Charging System, communicating with the second Online Charging System regarding a network usage quota granted by the second Online Charging System, and communicating with the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function with regard to an allocated quota based on the network usage quotas granted by the first and second Online Charging Systems.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interworking credit control function receives a first message via the first online charging interface from the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, the first message being at least one of the group consisting of:

a Credit Control initiate Request message;

a Credit Control update Request message, and a Credit Control terminate Request message; and

wherein the interworking credit control function sends a second message, as a function of the first message, via the second online charging interface to the first Online Charging System and/or a third message, as a function of the first message, via the third online charging interface to the second Online Charging System, the second and/or third message being at least one out of the group consisting of;

a Credit Control initiate Request message;

a Credit Control update Request message; and

a Credit Control terminate Request message.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the interworking credit control function receives a fourth message via the second online charging interface from the first Online Charging System and/or a fifth message via the third online charging interface from the second Online Charging System, the fourth and/or fifth message being at least one out of the group consisting of:

a Credit Control initiate Answer message;

a Credit Control update Answer message; and

a Credit Control terminate Answer message; and

wherein the interworking credit control function sends a sixth message, as a function of the fourth and/or fifth message via the first online charging interface to the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, the sixth message being at least one out of the group consisting of;

a Credit Control initiate Answer message;

a Credit Control update Answer message; and

a Credit Control terminate Answer message.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first to sixth messages are related to the User Equipment by way of a subscriber identifier, the subscriber identifier being at least one out of the group consisting of:

a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN) of the User Equipment;

an International Mobile Subscriber Identification (IMSI) of the User Equipment;

a Mobile Station Identifier (MSID) of the User Equipment; and

a Mobile Identification Number (MIN) of the User Equipment.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the sixth message depends from the fourth and the fifth messages such that in case of differing first and second usage limits communicated by the fourth and fifth messages, the sixth message comprises the lower usage limits of the first and second usage limits.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the sixth message comprises a decision, applied by the interworking credit control function and based on a plurality of rules, the plurality of rules determining a plurality of credit control actions regarding the quantum of quota to be granted and/or the denial of quota.

7. A method for enhanced policy and charging control when a telecommunications network and a further telecommunications network is used by a User Equipment corresponding to a subscriber of the telecommunications network and/or of the further telecommunications network, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function and a first Online Charging System, wherein the further telecommunications network comprises a second Online Charging System, the method comprising:

communicating, by an interworking credit control function of the telecommunications network, with regard to the same or overlapping traffic of the subscriber, via a first online charging interface with the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, via a second online charging interface with the first Online Charging System, and via a third online charging interface with the second Online Charging System;

wherein the communicating includes communicating with the first Online Charging System regarding a network usage quota granted by the first Online Charging System, communicating with the second Online Charging System regarding a network usage quota granted by the second Online Charging System, and communicating with the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function with regard to an allocated quota based on the network usage quotas granted by the first and second Online Charging Systems.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the interworking credit control function receives a first message via the first online charging interface from the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, the first message being at least one of the group consisting of:

a Credit Control initiate Request message;

a Credit Control update Request message, and a Credit Control terminate Request message; and

wherein the interworking credit control function sends a second message, as a function of the first message, via the second online charging interface to the first Online Charging System and/or a third message, as a function of the first message, via the third online charging interface to the second Online Charging System, the second and/or third message being at least one out of the group consisting of;

a Credit Control initiate Request message;

a Credit Control update Request message; and

a Credit Control terminate Request message.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the interworking credit control function receives a fourth message via the second online charging interface from the first Online Charging System and/or a fifth message via the third online charging interface from the second Online Charging System, the fourth and/or fifth message being at least one out of the group consisting of:

a Credit Control initiate Answer message;

a Credit Control update Answer message; and

a Credit Control terminate Answer message; and

wherein the interworking credit control function sends a sixth message, as a function of the fourth and/or fifth message via the first online charging interface to the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, the sixth message being at least one out of the group consisting of;

a Credit Control initiate Answer message;

a Credit Control update Answer message; and

a Credit Control terminate Answer message.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first to sixth messages are related to the User Equipment by way of a subscriber identifier, the subscriber identifier being at least one out of the group consisting of:

a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN) of the User Equipment;

an International Mobile Subscriber Identification (IMSI) of the User Equipment;

a Mobile Station Identifier (MSID) of the User Equipment; and

a Mobile Identification Number (MIN) of the User Equipment.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the sixth message depends from the fourth and the fifth messages such that in case of differing first and second usage limits communicated by the fourth and fifth messages, the sixth message comprises the lower usage limits of the first and second usage limits.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the sixth message comprises a decision, applied by the interworking credit control function and based on a plurality of rules, the plurality of rules determining a plurality of credit control actions regarding the quantum of quota to be granted and/or the denial of quota.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein the telecommunications network is a Public Land Mobile Network, and wherein the further telecommunications network is a virtual network using the telecommunications network.

14. The method according to claim 7, wherein the telecommunications network is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication system, and wherein the further telecommunications network is a virtual network using the telecommunications network.

15. A telecommunications network, wherein the telecommunications network is a core network of a mobile communication network, for enhanced policy and charging control, the telecommunications network being configured to be used by a User Equipment corresponding to a subscriber, the telecommunications network comprising:

a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function;

a first Online Charging System;

a second Online Charging System; and

an interworking credit control function;

wherein the interworking credit control function is configured to communicate, with regard to the same or overlapping traffic of the subscriber, via a first online charging interface with the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, via a second online charging interface with the first Online Charging System, and via a third online charging interface with the second Online Charging System;

wherein the communications includes communication with the first Online Charging System regarding a network usage quota granted by the first Online Charging System, communication with the second Online Charging System regarding a network usage quota granted by the second Online Charging System, and communication with the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function with regard to an allocated quota based on the network usage quotas granted by the first and second Online Charging Systems.

16. A system comprising:

a telecommunications network; and

a further telecommunications network;

wherein the telecommunications network is a core network of a mobile communication network, for enhanced policy and charging control;

wherein the telecommunications network is configured to be used by a User Equipment together with the further telecommunications network, the User Equipment corresponding to a subscriber of the telecommunications network and/or of the further telecommunications network;

wherein the telecommunications network comprises;

a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function;

a first Online Charging System; and

an interworking credit control function;

wherein the further telecommunications network comprises;

a second Online Charging System;

wherein the interworking credit control function is configured to communicate, with regard to the same or overlapping traffic of the subscriber, via a first online charging interface with the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, via a second online charging interface with the first Online Charging System, and via a third online charging interface with the second Online Charging System;

wherein the communications includes communication with the first Online Charging System regarding a network usage quota granted by the first Online Charging System, communication with the second Online Charging System regarding a network usage quota granted by the second Online Charging System, and communication with the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function with regard to an allocated quota based on the network usage quotas granted by the first and second Online Charging Systems.

17. The telecommunications network of claim 16, wherein the telecommunications network is a Public Land Mobile Network and the further telecommunications network is a virtual network using the telecommunications network.

18. The telecommunications network of claim 16, wherein the telecommunications network is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication system, and wherein the further telecommunications network is a virtual network using the telecommunications network.

19. A non-transitory processor-readable medium having processor-executable instructions stored thereon for enhanced policy and charging control when a telecommunications network is used by a User Equipment corresponding to a subscriber, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, a first Online Charging System, and a second Online Charging System, the processor-executable instructions, when executed by a processor, causing the following to be performed:

communicating, by an interworking credit control function of the telecommunications network, with regard to the same or overlapping traffic of the subscriber, via a first online charging interface with the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, via a second online charging interface with the first Online Charging System, and via a third online charging interface with the second Online Charging System;

wherein the communicating includes communicating with the first Online Charging System regarding a network usage quota granted by the first Online Charging System, communicating with the second Online Charging System regarding a network usage quota granted by the second Online Charging System, and communicating with the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function with regard to an allocated quota based on the network usage quotas granted by the first and second Online Charging Systems.

20. A non-transitory processor-readable medium having processor-executable instructions stored thereon for enhanced policy and charging control when a telecommunications network and a further telecommunications network is used by a User Equipment corresponding to a subscriber of the telecommunications network and/or of the further telecommunications network, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function and a first Online Charging System;

wherein the further telecommunications network comprises a second Online Charging System, the processor-executable instructions, when executed by a processor, causing the following to be performed;

communicating, by an interworking credit control function of the telecommunications network, with regard to the same or overlapping traffic of the subscriber, via a first online charging interface with the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, via a second online charging interface with the first Online Charging System, and via a third online charging interface with the second Online Charging System;

wherein the communicating includes communicating with the first Online Charging System regarding a network usage quota granted by the first Online Charging System, communicating with the second Online Charging System regarding a network usage quota granted by the second Online Charging System, and communicating with the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function with regard to an allocated quota based on the network usage quotas granted by the first and second Online Charging Systems.