Method and entity for monitoring traffic

• US 20060056307A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Karlsson, Julius, Hellgren, Vesa, Peltomaki, Arto
• Application Number:
  US11/043,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20060056307A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

This invention relates to a method of monitoring traffic comprising the steps of creating a traffic flow on receipt of data; determining if further data is received within a predetermined time; and terminating said traffic flow when no further data is received in said predetermined time.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring communication traffic comprising the steps of:

creating a traffic flow on receipt of data;

determining if further data is received within a predetermined time; and

terminating said traffic flow when no further data is received in said predetermined time.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of recording an event when said traffic flow is created.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of sending information indicating at least one event to a charging node.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting said predetermined time.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said predetermined time is selected based on a type of said traffic or a type of service associated with said traffic.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining step comprises using time stamp information contained in said data.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said determining step further comprises subtracting the time stamp information from current time information.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said traffic flow is an IP traffic flow.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said traffic flow is a dynamic traffic flow.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data comprises packet data.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining step comprises determining if said further data is associated with the created traffic flow.

12. An entity for monitoring communication traffic comprising:

means for creating a traffic flow on receipt of data;

means for determining if further data is received within a predetermined time; and

means for terminating said traffic flow when no further data is received in said predetermined time.

13. An entity as claimed in claim 12, further comprising means for recording an event when a traffic flow is created.

14. An entity as claimed in claim 13, further comprising means for sending information indicating events to a charging node.

15. An entity as claimed in claim 12, wherein said determining means is configured to select different predetermined times.

16. An entity as claimed in claim 15, wherein said predetermined time is selected by said determining means according to one of the type of said traffic, a type of service associated with said traffic, or in response to an external signal.

17. An entity as claimed in claim 12, wherein said determining means is configured to check time stamp information contained in said data to determine if said data is received within the predetermined time.

18. An entity as claimed in claim 17, wherein said determining means is configured to subtract the time stamp information from current time information.

19. An entity as claimed in claim 12, wherein said determining means is configured to determine if said further data is associated with the created traffic flow.

20. An entity as claimed in claim 12, wherein said entity further comprises a GPRS gateway support node.

21. A system in which communication traffic is monitored comprising:

means for creating a traffic flow on receipt of data;

means for determining if further data is received within a predetermined time; and

means for terminating said traffic flow when no further data is received in said predetermined time.

22. A system in which communication traffic is monitored comprising:

user equipment and an entity between which a communication pathway is established, said entity being configured to create a traffic flow on receipt of data, determine if further data is received in a predetermined time and to terminate said traffic flow if no further data related to said data flow is received in said predetermined time.

23. An entity for monitoring communication traffic comprising:

a traffic flow block configured to create a traffic flow on receipt of data; and

a timer configured to determine if further data is received within a predetermined time and to terminate said traffic flow when no further data is received in said predetermined time.

24. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having thereon computer program code which when said program is loaded to make a computer execute a procedure to create a traffic flow on receipt of data, determine if further data is received within a predetermined time, and terminate said traffic flow when no further data is received in said predetermined time.