Method and telecommunications network utilizing more than one online charging system for a given user
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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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:
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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.
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16. A system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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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:
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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.
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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.
- 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;
Specification