Intelligent network charging edge
First Claim
1. A method for managing charging and billing for services on a network having one or more network elements providing billable services and one or more charging elements;
- the method comprising;
receiving charging events at a network charging edge comprising one or more bridge modules logically coupled between the network elements and the charging elements; and
managing charging transactions between the network elements and their respective charging elements via the one or more bridge modules through the application of rules to the charging transaction initiated by corresponding charging events.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for managing charging and billing for services on a network, where the network includes network elements that provide billable services, and charging elements that perform various charging and billing functions. Charging event are received at a network charging edge that isolates the network elements and charging elements. The network charging edge includes one or more bridge modules that are logically coupled between the network elements and the charging elements. Charging transactions between the network elements and their respective charging elements are managed via the bridge modules, by applying rules to the charging transaction initiated by corresponding charging events.
105 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method for managing charging and billing for services on a network having one or more network elements providing billable services and one or more charging elements;
- the method comprising;
receiving charging events at a network charging edge comprising one or more bridge modules logically coupled between the network elements and the charging elements; and
managing charging transactions between the network elements and their respective charging elements via the one or more bridge modules through the application of rules to the charging transaction initiated by corresponding charging events. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- the method comprising;
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25. A system for facilitating charging for services available via a network, comprising:
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at least one network charging element to perform service charging functions;
at least one network service element to provide at least one service subject to use charges; and
a network charging edge comprising at least one charging bridge logically coupled between the network service element and the network charging element to mediate communications between the network service element and the network charging element. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A bridging apparatus for mediating charging transactions between at least one network service element and at least one network charging element on a network, comprising:
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a transformation module to receive a charging event from the network service element and to transform the charging event to a format comprehensible by the network charging element;
a business rule module coupled to the transformation module to provide predefined business rules to govern transformations performed by the transformation module;
an interface object module comprising a plurality of interface objects for communicating with a respective plurality of the network charging elements;
an interface object management module coupled to the transformation module to receive transformed charging events; and
an object configuration rule module coupled to the interface object management module to instruct the interface object management module to direct the transformed charging events to the interface objects of the charging elements for which the transformed charging events are destined. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A system for managing charging and billing for services on a network having one or more network elements providing billable services and one or more charging elements, the system comprising:
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means for receiving charging events at a network charging edge comprising one or more bridging means logically coupled between the network elements and the charging elements; and
means for managing charging transactions between the network elements and their respective charging elements via the one or more bridging means through the application of rules to the charging transaction initiated by corresponding charging events. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for managing charging and billing for services on a network having one or more network elements providing billable services and one or more charging elements, the computer-executable instructions performing steps comprising:
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receiving charging events at a network charging edge comprising one or more bridge modules logically coupled between the network elements and the charging elements; and
managing charging transactions between the network elements and their respective charging elements via the one or more bridge modules through the application of rules to the charging transaction initiated by corresponding charging events.
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41. A method for managing charging and billing for services on a network having one or more network elements providing billable services and one or more charging elements;
- the method comprising;
receiving a plurality of charging information records generated by a plurality of network elements at a network charging edge, wherein the plurality of charging information records are associated with a user session involving each of the plurality of network elements;
coordinating the charging information records into a user-session charging transaction at one or more bridge modules of the network charging edge logically coupled between the plurality of network elements and the charging elements, wherein coordinating the charging information records into a user-session charging transaction is governed by first predetermined rules applied at the one or more bridge modules; and
executing the user-session charging transaction at the one or more bridge modules of the network charging edge according to second predetermined rules. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
- the method comprising;
Specification