CN110740430B

CN110740430B - Resource charging method and system, AF (automatic frequency control) and policy and charging function entity

Info

Publication number: CN110740430B
Application number: CN201810806689.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 康艳超
Original assignee: Vivo Mobile Communication Co Ltd
Current assignee: Vivo Mobile Communication Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-07-20
Filing date: 2018-07-20
Publication date: 2020-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 2038-07-20
Also published as: CN110740430A

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a resource charging method and a system, AF and a strategy and charging function entity, wherein the resource charging method is applied to a wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function, and the resource charging method comprises the following steps: the AF and policy and charging function entity appoints charging policies corresponding to applications consuming preset resources; the AF counts computing resources and/or storage resources consumed by providing services for the UE according to a preset agreed charging strategy, and sends the computing resources and/or the storage resources and the current charging object identification to the strategy and charging function entity; and the policy and charging functional entity charges the computing resource and/or the storage resource based on a pre-agreed charging policy, and adds a charging result to the charging corresponding to the charging object identifier. The resource charging method provided by the embodiment of the invention can be used for timely and accurately charging the computing resources and/or the storage resources consumed by providing services for the UE.

Description

Resource charging method and system, AF (automatic frequency control) and policy and charging function entity

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a resource charging method and system, an AF, and a policy and charging function entity.

Background

Neither 5G networks nor 4G networks will introduce MEC (Mobile Edge Computing) to detonate new application innovation mechanisms. The MEC effectively integrates the wireless network technology and the internet technology, adds functions of calculation, storage, processing and the like on the wireless network side, constructs an open platform to implant application, opens information interaction between the wireless network and a service server through a wireless API, integrates the wireless network and the service, and upgrades the traditional wireless base station into an intelligent base station. The MEC oriented to the service level can provide customized and differentiated services for the industry, and further improves the network utilization efficiency and value-added value. Meanwhile, the deployment strategy of the MEC can realize the advantages of low delay and high bandwidth, and the MEC can also acquire wireless network information and more accurate position information in real time to provide more accurate service for users.

With the deployment of MECs into wireless mobile communication systems, user equipment may not only use communication resources of the wireless mobile communication network for data transmission, but also use computing resources or storage resources in the wireless mobile communication network. However, the charging method in the existing wireless mobile communication systems, such as 4G and 5G, usually only charges for data traffic, communication duration, number of data packets, and the like, and cannot charge for computing resources or storage resources consumed by the user equipment.

Disclosure of Invention

The technical problems which are urgently solved by the technical personnel in the field are as follows: a computing resource or storage resource billing method is provided that is suitable for a wireless mobile communication system in which MECs are deployed.

The embodiment of the invention provides a resource charging method and a resource charging system, which aim to solve the problem that the computing resources or the storage resources consumed by user equipment cannot be charged in the prior art.

In order to solve the technical problem, the invention is realized as follows:

in a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a resource charging method, which is applied to an AF in a wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function, where the method includes: the policy and charging function entity appoints a charging policy corresponding to each application consuming preset resources; wherein the AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources; calculating the calculation resources and/or storage resources consumed by providing services for the UE according to a preset agreed charging strategy; and sending the computing resource and/or the storage resource and the current charging object identifier to the policy and charging function entity.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a resource calculation method, which is applied to a policy and charging function entity in a wireless mobile communication system deployed with an MEC function, where the method includes: appointing a charging strategy corresponding to each application consuming the preset resources with the AF; wherein the AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources; receiving computing resources and/or storage resources sent by the AF and a charging object identifier; charging the computing resource and/or the storage resource based on a pre-agreed charging strategy, and adding a charging result to the charging corresponding to the charging object identifier

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a resource charging method, where the method is applied to a wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function, and the method includes: the AF and policy and charging function entity appoints charging policies corresponding to applications consuming preset resources; wherein the AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources; the AF counts computing resources and/or storage resources consumed by providing services for the UE according to a preset agreed charging strategy, and sends the computing resources and/or the storage resources and the current charging object identification to the strategy and charging function entity; and the policy and charging functional entity charges the computing resource and/or the storage resource based on a pre-agreed charging policy, and adds a charging result to the charging corresponding to the charging object identifier.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides an AF applied to a wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function, where the AF includes: the first appointment module is used for appointing a charging strategy corresponding to each application consuming the preset resources with the strategy and charging function entity; wherein the AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources; the statistical module is used for statistically calculating the computing resources and/or the storage resources consumed by providing services for the UE according to a preset agreed charging strategy; and the sending module is used for sending the computing resource and/or the storage resource and the current charging object identifier to the policy and charging function entity.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a policy and charging function entity, which is applied to a wireless mobile communication system deployed with an MEC function, where the policy and charging function entity includes: the second agreement module is used for agreeing the charging strategy corresponding to each application consuming the preset resources with the AF; wherein the AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources; a second receiving module, configured to receive the computing resource and/or storage resource sent by the AF and the charging object identifier; and the charging module is used for charging the computing resource and/or the storage resource based on a pre-agreed charging strategy and adding a charging result to the charging corresponding to the charging object identifier.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a resource charging system, where the system is a wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function, and the system includes any one of the AFs described above and any one of the policy and charging function entities described above.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, where the apparatus includes: a memory, a processor and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, the computer program when executed by the processor being operable to perform the steps of any of the above methods of resource charging.

In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium, where the computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and the computer program, when executed by a processor, may implement the steps in any one of the resource charging methods described above.

The method and system for charging resources, the AF and the policy and charging function entity provided in the embodiments of the present invention agree on a charging policy corresponding to each application consuming a preset resource in a wireless mobile communication system deployed with an MEC function, the AF statistically calculates, according to the pre-agreed charging policy, a calculation resource and/or a storage resource consumed by providing a service for a User Equipment (UE), and sends the calculation resource and/or the storage resource, and a current charging object identifier to the policy and charging function entity, and the policy and charging function entity charges the calculation resource and/or the storage resource based on the pre-agreed charging policy, and can timely and accurately charge the calculation resource and/or the storage resource consumed by providing the service for the UE in this time through this manner.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings needed to be used in the description of the embodiments of the present invention will be briefly introduced below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art that other drawings can be obtained according to these drawings without inventive exercise.

Fig. 1 is a flowchart of a resource charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a flowchart of a resource charging method according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a flowchart of a resource charging method according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a flowchart of a resource charging method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a flowchart of a resource charging method according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an interactive diagram illustrating resource charging among network elements in the 5G system;

fig. 7 is a flowchart of a resource charging method according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an interactive diagram illustrating resource charging among network elements in a 4G system;

fig. 9 is a block diagram of an AF according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a block diagram of a policy and charging function entity according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 11 is a block diagram of a terminal according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 12 is a block diagram of a device according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are some, not all, embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Example one

Referring to fig. 1, a flowchart illustrating steps of a resource charging method according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a resource charging method for a wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function deployed is described from an AF side, where the resource charging method includes the following steps:

step 101: and the policy and charging function entity makes an agreement on the charging policy corresponding to each application consuming the preset resources.

The resource charging method provided by the embodiment of the invention is applied to an AF (Application Function) in a wireless mobile communication system with an MEC (media access control) Function. The AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources include: storage resources and/or computing resources. Charging may be for a certain UE, a certain application, or a certain class of devices, i.e. a group of devices. The AF may provide computing services for the UE and may also provide storage services for the UE. Among them, the computing services that the AF can provide for the UE may include, but are not limited to: image processing, video processing, and the like under applications such as AR, VR, and the like. The storage service that the AF can provide for the UE is mainly to store application data generated by the UE. In order to facilitate the subsequent statistics of the charging of the preset resources consumed by the UE, the AF and the policy charging function entity need to make an agreement on the charging policy corresponding to each application in advance.

Step 102, calculating the computing resource and/or the storage resource consumed by providing the service for the UE according to the preset agreed charging strategy.

Specifically, if the UE is provided with both computing service and storage service, the computing resources and storage resources consumed for providing service for the UE can be obtained by statistics; if the calculation service is provided for the UE, calculating resources consumed by the calculation service provided for the UE can be obtained through statistics; if the storage service is provided only for the UE, the storage resources consumed for providing the storage service for the UE can be obtained statistically.

Step 103: and sending the computing resource and/or the storage resource and the charging object identifier to a policy and charging function entity.

The charging resource may be a product of a unit calculation resource and a calculation duration, and the storage resource may be an amount of storage consumed by application data generated by the UE.

The charging object identifier may be at least one of a user equipment identifier, an application identifier, and an equipment group identifier. In particular, the charging object identifier may be a user equipment identifier or an application identifier or a device group identifier. The charging object identifier may also be a combination of a user equipment identifier and an application identifier, a combination of an application identifier and an equipment group identifier, or a combination of a user equipment identifier, an application identifier, and an equipment group identifier.

After the calculation resource and/or the storage resource and the current charging object identifier are sent to the policy and charging function entity, the policy and charging function entity can charge the calculation resource and/or the storage resource based on the pre-agreed charging policy, and add the charging result to the charging corresponding to the current charging object identifier, thereby completing the charging of the current resource.

In the resource charging method provided by the embodiment of the invention, in a wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function, an AF and policy and charging function entity appoints a charging policy corresponding to each application consuming preset resources, the AF counts calculation resources and/or storage resources consumed by providing services for UE according to the preset appointed charging policy, and sends the calculation resources and/or storage resources and the current charging object identifier to the policy and charging function entity, so that the policy and charging function entity charges the calculation resources and/or the storage resources based on the preset charging policy, and the preset resources consumed by providing services for the UE at this time can be timely and accurately charged by the mode.

Example two

Referring to fig. 2, a flowchart illustrating steps of a resource charging method according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a resource charging method is still described from an AF side, and the resource charging method includes the following steps:

step 201: and the policy and charging function entity makes an agreement on the charging policy corresponding to each application consuming the preset resources.

The resource charging method provided by the embodiment of the invention is suitable for a 4G wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function and is also suitable for a 5G wireless mobile communication system with the MEC function. In the 5G system, the data Plane functional entity includes a UPF (User Plane Function) and/or an SMF (session management Function), and the policy and charging functional entity is a PCF; in the 4G system, the data plane functional entity is a PGW (PDN GateWay), i.e. a packet data GateWay, and the Policy and Charging functional entity is a PCRF (Policy and Charging rules function).

Wherein, the AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources.

Specifically, in the 5G system, the AF and PCF agree on a charging policy corresponding to each application that consumes the preset resource. In the 4G system, the AF and the PCRF agree on a charging policy corresponding to each application that consumes the preset resource.

Step 202: and receiving the application data sent by the data plane functional entity.

The application data is sent to the data plane functional entity through a data session established between the data plane functional entity and the UE.

In the specific implementation process, the UE establishes a data session with the data plane functional entity, the UE sends application data to the AF through the data session with the data plane functional entity, and the AF performs calculation resource and/or storage resource statistics when serving the UE. It should be noted that the agreement of the charging policy between the AF and the policy charging functional entity may be performed before the UE establishes the data session with the data plane functional entity, or may be performed during the process of establishing the data session between the UE and the data plane functional entity. Charging policy commitment occurs before data session establishment for charging of applications and charging for certain types of devices. For UE charging, the charging policy engagement may occur before the data session is established or during the data session.

When UE establishes a Data session with a Data plane functional entity in a 5G system, the UE sends a PDU (Packet Data Unit) session request with AF to SMF; after SMF sends a request to PCF to acquire a QoS strategy corresponding to session establishment, SMF sends a PDU session establishment instruction to UPF; the UPF establishes a PDU session with the UE in response to the PDU session establishment instruction.

When UE establishes a Data session with a Data plane functional entity in a 5G system, the UE sends a PDN (Packet Data Network) connection request between the UE and AF to a PGW; after the PGW sends a request to the PCRF to acquire the QoS strategy corresponding to the PDN connection, the PDN connection is established between the PGW and the UE, and therefore the data session between the UE and the PGW is established and completed.

Step 203: and calculating the computing resources and/or the storage resources consumed by providing the service for the UE according to a preset agreed charging strategy.

The charging object identifier may be at least one of a user equipment identifier, an application identifier, and an equipment group identifier. And if the charging main bodies corresponding to the application data used by the UE are different, the types of the charging object identifications are different. Specifically, when the charging subject is a certain UE, the charging object identifier corresponding to the charging subject is a user equipment identifier; when the charging subject is an application platform, the corresponding charging object identifier is an application identifier; and when the charging main body is a certain equipment group, the corresponding charging object identifier is the equipment group identifier.

The charging resource is the product of unit calculation resource and calculation duration, and the storage resource is the storage amount consumed by the application data generated by the UE.

Step 204: and sending the computing resource and/or the storage resource and the charging object identifier to a policy and charging function entity.

In the 5G system, the AF sends the computing resources and/or storage resources and the charging object identifier to the PCF, and the PCF interacts with a CHF (charging Function) in the 5G system to complete the charging.

In the 4G System, the AF sends the calculation resource and/or the storage resource and the Charging object identifier to the PCRF, and the PCRF interacts with an OCS (Online Charging System) in the 4G System to complete Charging.

EXAMPLE III

Referring to fig. 3, a flowchart illustrating a step of a resource charging method according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a resource charging method of a wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function is described from a policy and charging function entity side, where the resource charging method includes the following steps:

step 301: and the AF makes an agreement on the charging strategy corresponding to each application consuming the preset resources.

The resource charging method provided by the embodiment of the invention is applied to a strategy and charging function entity in a wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function. Charging may be for a certain UE, a certain application, or a certain class of devices, i.e. a group of devices. The AF may provide a computing service for the UE and may also provide a storage service for the UE, so that in order to perform statistics on subsequent charging of the preset resources consumed by the UE, agreement on charging policies corresponding to respective applications needs to be performed in advance between the policy charging function entity and the AF.

It should be noted that the resource charging method provided in the embodiment of the present invention is applicable to both a 4G wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function and a 5G wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function. In the 5G system, a data plane functional entity comprises a UPF and/or an SMF, and a policy and charging functional entity is a PCF; the data plane functional entity in the 4G system is a PGW, and the policy and charging functional entity is a PCRF.

Step 302: and receiving the calculation resource and/or the storage resource sent by the AF and the charging object identification.

In the specific implementation process, the UE establishes a data session with the data plane functional entity, the UE sends application data to the AF through the data session with the data plane functional entity, the AF performs calculation resource and/or storage resource statistics when serving the UE, and sends the calculation resource and/or storage resource obtained by the statistics and the charging object identifier to the data plane functional entity. And the data plane functional entity receives the calculation resources and/or the storage resources sent by the AF and the charging object identifier.

The charging resource may be a product of a unit calculation resource and a calculation duration, and the storage resource may be an amount of storage consumed by application data generated by the UE. The charging object identification may be at least one of a user equipment identification, an application identification and a device group identification.

Step 303: and charging the computing resources and/or the storage resources based on the prearranged charging strategy, and adding the charging result to the charging corresponding to the charging object identifier.

And the PCF in the 5G system and the CHF in the 5G system are interacted to finish the charging. And the PCRF interacts with the OCS in the 4G system to complete charging.

Example four

Referring to fig. 4, a flowchart of steps of a resource charging method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown.

In the embodiment of the present invention, a resource charging method is described from the interaction angle of an AF and a policy and charging function entity, where the resource charging method includes the following steps:

step 401: and the AF and policy and charging function entity makes an agreement on the charging policy corresponding to each application consuming the preset resources.

The resource charging method provided by the embodiment of the invention is applied to a wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function. AF has an MEC function. The preset resources include: storage resources and/or computing resources. Charging may be for a certain UE, a certain application, or a certain class of devices, i.e. a group of devices. The AF may provide computing services for the UE and may also provide storage services for the UE. Among them, the computing services that the AF can provide for the UE may include, but are not limited to: image processing, video processing, and the like under applications such as AR, VR, and the like. The storage service that the AF can provide for the UE is mainly to store application data generated by the UE. In order to facilitate the subsequent statistics of the charging of the preset resources consumed by the UE, the AF and the policy charging function entity need to make an agreement on the charging policy corresponding to each application in advance.

In the specific implementation process, the UE establishes a data session with the data plane functional entity, the UE sends application data to the AF through the data session with the data plane functional entity, and the AF performs calculation resource and/or storage resource statistics when serving the UE. It should be noted that the agreement of the charging policy between the AF and the policy charging functional entity may be performed before the UE establishes the data session with the data plane functional entity, or may be performed during the process of establishing the data session between the UE and the data plane functional entity.

In particular, charging for applications and charging for certain types of devices, charging policy commitment occurs prior to data session establishment. For UE charging, the charging policy engagement may occur before the data session is established or during the data session.

Step 402: and the AF counts the computing resources and/or the storage resources consumed by providing the service for the UE according to a preset agreed charging strategy, and sends the computing resources and/or the storage resources and the current charging object identification to the strategy and charging function entity.

Step 403: and the strategy and charging functional entity charges the computing resources and/or the storage resources based on the prearranged charging strategy and adds the charging result to the charging corresponding to the charging object identification.

The charging object identifier may be any one of a user equipment identifier, an application identifier, and an equipment group identifier.

Along with different charging main bodies corresponding to the application used by the UE, different charging object identification types are corresponding to the UE. Specifically, when the charging subject is a certain UE, the charging object identifier corresponding to the charging subject is a user equipment identifier; when the charging subject is an application platform, the corresponding charging object identifier is an application identifier; and when the charging main body is a certain equipment group, the corresponding charging object identifier is the equipment group identifier.

The resource charging method provided by the embodiment of the invention is characterized in that an AF and policy and charging function entity in a wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function appoints a charging policy of a UE for consuming resources by using an application, the AF counts computing resources and/or storage resources consumed by providing services for the UE according to a preset appointed charging policy, and sends the computing resources and/or storage resources and a current charging object identifier to the policy and charging function entity, and the policy and charging function entity charges the computing resources and/or storage resources based on the preset appointed charging policy, so that the preset resources consumed by providing the services for the UE can be timely and accurately charged.

EXAMPLE five

Referring to fig. 5, a flowchart of steps of a resource charging method according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown.

In the embodiment of the invention, the wireless mobile communication system is a 5G system, and the system comprises a user plane functional entity, UE, AF and a policy and charging functional entity. Specifically, the data plane functional entity includes a UPF and an SMF, and the policy and charging functional entity is a PCF. The resource charging method of the embodiment of the invention comprises the following steps:

step 501: the AF and PCF make an agreement on the charging strategy corresponding to each application consuming the preset resources.

The AF has an MEC function, the preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources, and the UE uses the charging strategy corresponding to the certain application to comprise a computing resource charging strategy and/or a storage resource charging strategy. In the specific implementation process, if a certain application only provides computing service for the UE, only a corresponding computing resource charging strategy is agreed; if a certain application only provides storage service for the UE, only a corresponding storage resource charging strategy is appointed; correspondingly, if an application provides storage service for the UE as well as storage service for the UE, the corresponding computing resource charging policy and storage resource charging policy need to be agreed.

In the embodiment of the invention, the AF has the MEC function, so the AF can provide calculation service for the application data of the UE, and not only can the AF provide storage service for the application data of the UE, but also the UE can request to store the related application data after sending the application data to the AF without consuming the self storage resource storage data, and the storage load of the UE can be reduced.

Step 502: and the UE establishes a data session with the data plane functional entity and sends the application data to the AF through the data session with the user plane functional entity.

In the 5G system, the data plane functional entities comprise UPF and SMF. When UE establishes a Data session with a Data plane functional entity, UE sends a PDU (Packet Data Unit) session request with AF to SMF; after SMF sends a request to PCF to acquire a QoS strategy corresponding to session establishment, SMF sends a PDU session establishment instruction to UPF; the UPF establishes a PDU session with the UE in response to the PDU session establishment instruction. The two entities, namely the UPF and the SMF, are existing functional entities of the 5G system.

Step 503: the AF calculates, according to a preset agreed charging Policy, computing resources and/or storage resources consumed for providing services for the UE, and sends the computing resources and/or storage resources, and the current charging object identifier to a PCF (Policy and charging function).

The charging object identifier may be any one of a user equipment identifier, an application identifier, and an equipment group identifier. And if the charging main bodies corresponding to the application data used by the UE are different, the types of the charging object identifications are different.

And sending the computing resource, the storage resource and the charging object identifier to the PCF so that the PCF charges the computing resource and the storage resource consumed by providing service for the application data.

Step 504: PCF charges the calculation resource and/or storage resource consumed by providing service for UE based on prearranged charging strategy, and adds the charging result to the charging corresponding to the charging object identification.

Specifically, the PCF interacts with a CHF (charging Function) in the 5G system to complete the charging.

The following describes an interaction flow between network elements when a 5G system performs resource charging with reference to fig. 6.

As shown in fig. 6, the network element participating in resource charging in the 5G system includes: UE, UPF, SMF, PCF, CHF, and AF, wherein the AF has MEC functionality. When resource charging is performed, the specific interaction among the network elements is as follows:

s1: the AF and PCF make an agreement on the charging strategy corresponding to each application consuming the preset resources.

The preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources. Charging may be for a certain UE, a certain application, or a certain class of devices, i.e. a group of devices. The AF may provide computing services for the UE and may also provide storage services for the UE.

S2: the UE sends a PDU session request with the AF to the SMF.

S3: SMF sends request to PCF to obtain QoS strategy corresponding to PDU conversation.

S4: the SMF sends a PDU session establishment instruction to the UPF.

After receiving a QoS strategy corresponding to a PDU session sent by a PCF, the SMF generates a PDU session establishment instruction, wherein the PDU session establishment instruction carries information of the QoS strategy corresponding to the PDU session.

S5: the UPF establishes a PDU session with the UE in response to the PDU session establishment instruction.

It should be noted that the agreement of the charging policy between the AF and the PCF may be performed before the UE establishes the PDU session with the UPF, or during the PDU session between the UE and the UPF.

S6: and the UE sends the application data to the AF through the PDU session established with the UPF.

S7: and the AF counts the computing resources and/or the storage resources consumed by providing the service for the UE according to a preset agreed charging strategy, and sends the computing resources and/or the storage resources and the current charging object identification to the PCF.

S8: and the PCF and the CHF are interacted to complete the charging.

The resource charging method provided by the embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the AF and the PCF in the wireless mobile communication system with the MEC function agree on the charging strategy corresponding to each application consuming the preset resource, the AF counts the calculation resource and/or the storage resource consumed by providing the service for the UE according to the preset agreed charging strategy, and sends the calculation resource and/or the storage resource and the current charging object identifier to the PCF, and the PCF charges the calculation resource and/or the storage resource based on the preset agreed charging strategy, so that the preset resource consumed by providing the current service for the UE can be timely and accurately charged.

EXAMPLE six

Referring to fig. 7, a flowchart illustrating steps of a resource charging method according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention is shown.

The embodiment of the invention adopts a wireless mobile communication system as a 4G system, which comprises UE, a data plane functional entity, AF and a policy and charging functional entity, wherein the data plane functional entity is PGW (packet data gateway), and the policy and charging functional entity is a PCRF (policy and charging rules function) entity. The resource charging method of the embodiment of the invention comprises the following steps:

step 601: and the AF and the PCRF appoint charging strategies corresponding to each application consuming preset resources.

Wherein, the AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources may include but are not limited to: computing resources and/or storage resources.

In the embodiment of the invention, the AF has the MEC function, so the AF can provide calculation service for the application data of the UE, and not only can the AF provide storage service for the application data of the UE, but also the UE can request to store the application data after sending the application data to the AF without consuming self storage resource storage data, and the storage load of the UE can be reduced.

The PCRF is a policy and charging control policy decision point for service data flow and IP bearer resources, selects and provides available policy and charging control decisions for a PCEF (policy and charging enforcement function), and mainly performs dynamic policy/charging control on IP-CAN user plane behaviors. The AF function is to provide elements of application services that require dynamic policy and charging control. The AF transmits dynamic session information required by the PCRF through the Rx reference point, and receives specific information of an IP connection access network (IP-CAN) and confirmation of an IP-CAN bearer layer event.

Step 602: and the UE establishes PDN connection with the PGW, and sends the application data to be calculated to the AF through the PDN connection with the PGW.

Specifically, when the UE establishes a data session with the PGW, the UE sends a PDN (Packet data network) connection request with the AF to the PGW; after the PGW sends a request to the PCRF to acquire the QoS strategy corresponding to the PDN connection, the PDN connection is established between the PGW and the UE, and therefore the data session between the UE and the PGW is established and completed.

The agreement of the charging policy between the AF and the PCRF may be performed before the UE establishes the PDN connection with the PGW, or may be performed during the process of establishing the PDN connection between the UE and the PGW.

In particular, charging policy commitment occurs before PDN connection establishment for charging of applications and for charging of certain types of devices. For UE charging, the charging policy engagement may occur before PDN connection establishment or during PDN connection establishment.

Step 603: and the AF counts the computing resources and/or the storage resources consumed by providing the service for the UE according to a preset agreed charging strategy, and sends the computing resources and/or the storage resources and the current charging object identifier to the PCRF.

Step 604: and the PCRF charges the calculation resources and/or the storage resources reported by the AF based on the prearranged charging strategy and adds the charging result to the charging corresponding to the charging object identification.

Specifically, the PCRF interacts with an OCS (Online Charging System) to complete Charging. The OCS may provide credit control functions based on the subscriber and traffic data flows. The system mainly comprises modules of online acquisition, charging control, pricing, balance management and the like, realizes an online charging function, and is matched with other charging network element equipment to carry out real-time telephone traffic control.

The following describes an interaction flow between network elements when the 4G system performs resource charging with reference to fig. 8.

As shown in fig. 8, the network element participating in resource charging in the 4G system includes: the UE, the PGW, the PCRF and the OCS adopt AF, wherein the AF has an MEC function. When resource charging is performed, the specific interaction among the network elements is as follows:

s1: and the AF and the PCRF appoint charging strategies corresponding to each application consuming preset resources.

S2: and the UE sends a PDN connection request between the UE and the AF to the PGW.

S3: and the PGW sends a request to the PCRF to acquire the QoS strategy corresponding to the PDN connection establishment.

And after the PGW acquires the QoS strategy corresponding to the returned PDN connection, the UE is established to establish the PDN connection based on the QoS strategy.

S4: the PGW establishes a PDN connection with the UE.

It should be noted that the agreement on the charging policy between the AF and the PCRF may be performed before the UE establishes the PDN session with the PGE, or may be performed during the process of establishing the PDN connection between the UE and the PCRF.

S5: and the UE sends the application data to the AF through the PDN connection established with the PGW.

S6: and the AF counts the computing resources and/or the storage resources consumed by providing the service for the UE according to a preset agreed charging strategy, and sends the computing resources and/or the storage resources and the current charging object identifier to the PCRF.

S7: and the PCRF and the OCS interact to complete the charging.

The resource charging method provided by the embodiment of the invention is characterized in that AF and PCRF in a wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function are arranged to appoint charging strategies corresponding to each application consuming preset resources, the AF provides calculation resources and/or storage resources consumed by service for UE according to the preset appointed charging strategies, the calculation resources and/or storage resources and the current charging object identification are sent to the PCRF, the PCRF charges the calculation resources and/or storage resources based on the preset appointed charging strategies, and the preset resources consumed by the current service provision for the UE can be timely and accurately charged by the mode. Seventh embodiment referring to fig. 9, a schematic structural diagram of an AF according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention is shown.

The AF provided by the embodiment of the invention is applied to a wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function, wherein the AF comprises the following steps: a first agreement module 701, configured to agree with a charging policy corresponding to each application that consumes a preset resource by a policy and charging function entity; wherein the AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources; a counting module 702, configured to count, according to a preset agreed charging policy, computing resources and/or storage resources consumed for providing a service for the UE; a sending module 703, configured to send the computing resource and/or the storage resource, and the current charging object identifier to the policy and charging function entity.

Optionally, the AF further comprises: a first receiving module 704, configured to receive application data sent by a data plane functional entity before the counting module 702 counts, according to a preset agreed charging policy, computing resources and/or storage resources consumed for providing a service for the UE; and the application data is sent to the data plane functional entity through a data session established between the data plane functional entity and the UE.

Optionally, the wireless mobile communication system is a 5G system, the data plane functional entity includes a UPF and/or an SMF, and the policy and charging functional entity is a PCF.

Optionally, the charging resource is a product of a unit calculation resource and a calculation duration, and the storage resource is a storage amount consumed by application data generated by the UE.

The AF provided by the embodiment of the present invention makes an agreement with a charging policy corresponding to each application consuming a preset resource in a wireless mobile communication system deployed with an MEC function, statistically calculates a calculation resource and/or a storage resource consumed for providing a service for a UE according to the preset agreed charging policy, and sends the calculation resource and/or the storage resource and the current charging object identifier to the policy and charging function entity, so that the policy and charging function entity charges the calculation resource and/or the storage resource based on the pre-agreed charging policy, and can timely and accurately charge the calculation resource and/or the storage resource consumed for the current service provided for the UE.

Example eight

Referring to fig. 10, a schematic structural diagram of a policy and charging function entity in an eighth embodiment of the present invention is shown.

The policy and charging function entity provided by the embodiment of the invention is applied to a wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function, and comprises: a second agreement module 801, configured to agree with a charging policy corresponding to each application that consumes the preset resource by the AF; wherein the AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources; a second receiving module 802, configured to receive a computing resource and/or a storage resource sent by the AF, and a charging object identifier; the charging module 803 is configured to charge the computing resource and/or the storage resource based on a pre-agreed charging policy, and add a charging result to the charging corresponding to the charging object identifier.

The policy and charging function entity provided by the embodiment of the present invention, in a wireless mobile communication system deployed with an MEC function, makes an appointment with an AF for a charging policy corresponding to each application consuming a preset resource, receives a computing resource and/or a storage resource and a charging object identifier sent by the AF, charges the computing resource and/or the storage resource based on the pre-agreed charging policy, and can timely and accurately charge the computing resource and/or the storage resource consumed by the service provided for the UE this time.

The embodiment of the invention also provides a resource charging system, which is a wireless mobile communication system with an MEC function, and comprises any AF and any policy and charging function entity.

Example nine

Referring to fig. 11, a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention is shown.

Fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a device in an embodiment of the present invention, where the device in the embodiment of the present invention may execute the resource charging method shown above. The apparatus, which may vary widely in configuration or performance, may include one or more processors 901 (e.g., one or more processors) and one or more storage media 904 in memory 905 for storing data. Memory 905 and storage media 904 may be, among other things, transient storage or persistent storage. The program stored in the storage medium 904 may include one or more modules (not shown), each of which may include a sequence of instructions operating on the device. Still further, the processor 901 may be configured to communicate with the storage medium 904 to execute a series of instruction operations in the storage medium 904 on the device.

The terminal may also include one or more power supplies 902, one or more network interfaces 907, and one or more input transceiving units 906. The terminal also comprises a bus 903 for establishing data transmission between the modules.

The instructions in the storage medium, when executed by a processor of a terminal, enable the terminal to perform a resource charging method, the method comprising: the policy and charging function entity appoints a charging policy corresponding to each application consuming preset resources; wherein the AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources; calculating the calculation resources and/or storage resources consumed by providing services for the UE according to a preset agreed charging strategy; and sending the computing resource and/or the storage resource and the current charging object identifier to the policy and charging function entity through the transceiving unit 906.

Optionally, the transceiver unit may further receive application data sent by the data plane functional entity before the processor 901 statistically calculates, according to a preset agreed charging policy, a calculation resource and/or a storage resource consumed for providing a service for the UE; and the application data is sent to the data plane functional entity through a data session established between the data plane functional entity and the UE.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where a computer program is stored on the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the computer program implements each process of the above-mentioned resource charging method embodiment, and can achieve the same technical effect, and in order to avoid repetition, details are not repeated here.

Example ten

Referring to fig. 12, a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention is shown.

Fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a device in an embodiment of the present invention, where the device in the embodiment of the present invention may execute the resource charging method shown above. The apparatus, which may vary widely in configuration or performance, may include one or more processors 1001 (e.g., one or more processors) and memory 1005, one or more storage mediums 1004 for storing data. Memory 1005 and storage medium 1004 may be, among other things, transient or persistent storage. The program stored in the storage medium 1004 may include one or more modules (not shown), each of which may include a sequence of instructions operating on the device. Still further, the processor 1001 may be configured to communicate with the storage medium 1004 to execute a series of instruction operations in the storage medium 1004 on the device.

The terminal may also include one or more power supplies 1002, one or more network interfaces 1007, and one or more input transceiving units 1006. The terminal also includes a bus 1003 for establishing data transmission between the modules.

The instructions in the storage medium, when executed by a processor of a terminal, enable the terminal to perform a resource charging method, the method comprising: appointing a charging strategy corresponding to each application consuming the preset resources with the AF; wherein the AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources; receiving computing resources and/or storage resources sent by the AF and a charging object identifier; and charging the computing resources and/or the storage resources based on a pre-agreed charging strategy, and adding a charging result to the charging corresponding to the charging object identifier.

The computer-readable storage medium may be a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising an … …" does not exclude the presence of other like elements in a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art will clearly understand that the method of the above embodiments can be implemented by software plus a necessary general hardware platform, and certainly can also be implemented by hardware, but in many cases, the former is a better implementation manner. Based on such understanding, the technical solutions of the present invention may be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium (such as ROM/RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk) and includes instructions for enabling a device (such as a mobile phone, a computer, a server, an air conditioner, or a network device) to execute the method according to the embodiments of the present invention.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, which are illustrative and not restrictive, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A resource charging method is applied to an Application Function (AF) in a wireless mobile communication system with a Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) function, and is characterized by comprising the following steps:

the policy and charging function entity appoints a charging policy corresponding to each application consuming preset resources; wherein the AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources; the computing resource is the product of unit computing resource and computing duration, and the storage resource is the storage amount consumed by application data generated by User Equipment (UE);

counting the computing resources and/or storage resources consumed for providing services for the UE according to a preset agreed charging strategy;

and sending the computing resource and/or the storage resource and the current charging object identifier to the policy and charging function entity.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein before the step of counting the computing resources and/or storage resources consumed for providing the UE with services according to the pre-agreed charging policy, the method further comprises:

receiving application data sent by a data plane functional entity; and the application data is sent to the data plane functional entity through a data session established between the data plane functional entity and the UE.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the wireless mobile communication system is a 5G system, the data plane function entity comprises a user plane function UPF and/or a session management function SMF, and the policy and charging function entity is a policy and charging function PCF.

4. A resource calculation method is applied to a policy and charging function entity in a wireless mobile communication system with a Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) function, and is characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:

the method comprises the steps that a charging strategy corresponding to each application consuming preset resources is agreed with an Application Function (AF); wherein the AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources; the computing resource is the product of unit computing resource and computing duration, and the storage resource is the storage amount consumed by application data generated by User Equipment (UE);

receiving computing resources and/or storage resources sent by the AF and a charging object identifier;

and charging the computing resources and/or the storage resources based on a pre-agreed charging strategy, and adding a charging result to the charging corresponding to the charging object identifier.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the wireless mobile communication system is a 5G system, the data plane function entity in the 5G system comprises a user plane function UPF and/or a session management function SMF, and the policy and charging function entity is a policy and charging function PCF.

6. A resource charging method is applied to a wireless mobile communication system with a Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) function, and is characterized by comprising the following steps:

an Application Function (AF) and a policy and charging function entity make an agreement on a charging policy corresponding to each application consuming preset resources; wherein the AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources; the computing resource is the product of unit computing resource and computing duration, and the storage resource is the storage amount consumed by application data generated by User Equipment (UE);

the AF counts computing resources and/or storage resources consumed by providing services for the UE according to a preset agreed charging strategy, and sends the computing resources and/or the storage resources and the current charging object identification to the strategy and charging function entity;

and the policy and charging functional entity charges the computing resource and/or the storage resource based on a pre-agreed charging policy, and adds a charging result to the charging corresponding to the charging object identifier.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein before the step of the AF counting the computing resources and/or storage resources consumed for providing services to the UE according to the preset agreed charging policy, the method further comprises:

the UE establishes a data session with a data plane functional entity;

and the UE sends the application data to the AF through a data session between the UE and the data plane functional entity.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the wireless mobile communication system is a 5G system, the data plane function entity comprises a user plane function UPF and/or a session management function SMF, and the policy and charging function entity is a policy and charging function PCF.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the wireless mobile communication system is a 4G system, wherein the data plane function is a packet data gateway (PGW), and wherein the policy and charging function is a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF).

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the charging object identifier is at least one of a UE identifier, an application identifier, and a device group identifier.

11. An Application Function (AF) applied to a wireless mobile communication system with a Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) function, the AF comprising:

the first appointment module is used for appointing a charging strategy corresponding to each application consuming the preset resources with the strategy and charging function entity; wherein the AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources; the computing resource is the product of unit computing resource and computing duration, and the storage resource is the storage amount consumed by application data generated by User Equipment (UE);

the statistical module is used for counting the computing resources and/or the storage resources consumed by providing services for the UE according to a preset agreed charging strategy;

and the sending module is used for sending the computing resource and/or the storage resource and the current charging object identifier to the policy and charging function entity.

12. The AF of claim 11, further comprising:

the first receiving module is used for receiving the application data sent by the data plane functional entity before the counting module counts the computing resources and/or the storage resources consumed by providing the service for the UE according to the preset agreed charging strategy; and the application data is sent to the data plane functional entity through a data session established between the data plane functional entity and the UE.

13. The AF of claim 12, wherein the wireless mobile communication system is a 5G system, wherein the data plane function comprises a user plane function UPF and/or a session management function SMF, and wherein the policy and charging function is a policy and charging function PCF.

14. A policy and charging function entity, applied to a wireless mobile communication system deployed with a mobile edge computing MEC function, comprising:

the second agreement module is used for agreeing the charging strategy corresponding to each application consuming the preset resources with the application function AF; wherein the AF has an MEC function, and the preset resources comprise computing resources and/or storage resources; the computing resource is the product of unit computing resource and computing duration, and the storage resource is the storage amount consumed by application data generated by User Equipment (UE);

a second receiving module, configured to receive the computing resource and/or storage resource sent by the AF and the charging object identifier;

and the charging module is used for charging the computing resource and/or the storage resource based on a pre-agreed charging strategy and adding a charging result to the charging corresponding to the charging object identifier.

15. The entity according to claim 14, wherein the wireless mobile communication system is a 5G system, the data plane function entity in the 5G system comprises a user plane function UPF and/or a session management function SMF, and the policy and charging function entity is a policy and charging function PCF.

16. A resource charging system, the system being a wireless mobile communication system deployed with a mobile edge computing, MEC, function, the system comprising an application function, AF, according to any of claims 11-13 and a policy and charging function entity according to any of claims 14-15.

17. A communication device, comprising: memory, processor and computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, which computer program, when executed by the processor, carries out the steps of the resource charging method according to any of claims 1 to 3.

18. A computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon a computer program which, when being executed by a processor, carries out the steps of the method for charging for resources according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

19. A communication device, comprising: memory, processor and computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, which computer program, when executed by the processor, carries out the steps of the resource charging method according to any of claims 4-5.

20. A computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon a computer program which, when being executed by a processor, carries out the steps of the method for charging for resources according to any one of claims 4-5.