CN1620016A

CN1620016A - Method of realizing multimeding broadcasting/group broadcasting service business charging

Info

Publication number: CN1620016A
Application number: CN 200310116610
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张海
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-11-19
Filing date: 2003-11-19
Publication date: 2005-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-19
Also published as: CN100346600C

Abstract

This invention discloses a charging method for multimedia broadcasting/multicast business, which contains (a), the SGSN and GGSN respectively self generating MBMS.UE content corresponding activated MBMS business containing charging mark and property, (b), SGSN and GGSN generating calling detail record (CDR) to each MBMS.UE content according to relative information and transmitting CDR to CGF to be treated, then generating actual charging information to charging system and making charging to each MBMS.UE content. Said invention can charge for GPRS.

Description

A kind of method that realizes the multimedia broadcasting multicast service charging

Technical field

The present invention relates to the charging treatment technology, espespecially a kind of method that realizes the multimedia broadcasting multicast service charging.

Background technology

Development along with the 3G (Third Generation) Moblie technology, 3G (Third Generation) Moblie can provide than the more service of high data rate of Generation Mobile Telecommunication System, thereby support the multiple business form, such as: the services such as Internet network are downloaded, browsed at a high speed to visual telephone, picture. Wherein, have the characteristics of a class business to be: can be simultaneously to customized in the wireless network should business all users send, such as: send weather forecast, news film, sports tournament collection of choice specimens etc. The characteristics of utilizing these business to send simultaneously, 3G (Third Generation) Moblie has been introduced the concept of multicast/broadcast, so-called multicast refers to: source node carries out the list footpath with the data that will send and transmits, namely send to a downstream node, receive that data that the downstream node of data will transmit copy many parts according to the nodes that self downstream expectation receives these data, distribute the node that the expectation of self downstream receives these data, by that analogy, the node that receives data copies, distributes; Broadcasting refers to that the data that source node will send send to all downstream nodes. The transmission principle figure of multicast as shown in Figure 1, node 1 is source node, node 1 sends to the data that will send the downstream node 2 of self; After node 2 is received data, be two parts with data Replica, be distributed to the

downstream node

20 and 21 of self; After node 20 is received data, be two parts with data Replica again, be distributed to the

downstream node

201 and 202 of self, by that analogy.

Fig. 2 is for supporting the wireless network architecture schematic diagram of multicast/broadcast business, as shown in Figure 2, under existing third generation partner program (3GPP) framework, support that the wireless network architecture of multicast/broadcast business is broadcast/multicast service center (BM-SC) 201, BM-SC 201 is by Gmb interface or Gi interface and critical point GPRS Support Node (GGSN, Gateway GPRS Support Node) 202 link to each other, and a BM-SC 201 can link to each other with a plurality of GGSN 202; GGSN 202 links to each other by Gn/Gp interface and Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN, Serving GPRS Support Node) 203, and a GGSN 202 can link to each other with a plurality of SGSN 203; SGSN 203 can link to each other with UMTS (UMTS) land radio access web (UTRAN) 204 by the Iu interface, then UTRAN 204 links to each other with user terminal (UE) 207 by the Uu interface, SGSN 203 also can strengthen wireless access network (GERAN) 205 by Iu/Gb interface and global system for mobile communications (GSM) and link to each other, and then GERAN 205 links to each other with UE 206 by Um Interface.

The benefit that adopts broadcasting and multicast to carry out transfer of data is: broadcasting and multicast packet only transmit once on each link of cordless communication network. For example: service GPRS support node (SGSN) only sends the data to radio network controller (RNC) once, and the expectation of (Node B) and user terminal (UE) receives these data and do not consider that what base stations are arranged. Especially for wave point, for several UEs that belong to a multicast/broadcast business, when these UEs belong to a residential quarter, can adopt DSCH Downlink Shared Channel to send data to these UEs simultaneously, avoid setting up independently wireless channel to each UE, thereby reduce taking of Radio Resource, avoid stopping up air interface with identical data the capacity of Effective Raise air interface.

Have many benefits just because of adopt broadcasting and multicast to carry out transfer of data, so multimedia broadcast/multicast service in 3-G (Generation Three mobile communication system) (MBMS) business develops by leaps and bounds and popularizes, and supports that the wireless network frame structure of MBMS business realizing is identical with structure shown in Figure 2. In order to improve the manageability of network, just need in network design, consider the billing function to each user, therefore, with existing GPRS protocol class seemingly, when the 3GPP core net is carried out Frame Design to the MBMS business, also there is the recorded information about every kind of MBMS business of each customization, that is: MBMS UE context.

Described MBMS UE context comprises customizing messages that UE has added, a specific MBMS carrying, and MBMS carrying of the every adding of UE just has a MBMS UE context. When UE adds a MBMS carrying, will there be a MBMS UE context to be created at UE, SGSN, GGSN, on UE and SGSN, MBMS UE context is saved as the contextual part of mobile management (MM) of UE; On GGSN, MBMS UE context is preserved separately. Wherein, the MM context is the mobile management for each UE, and SGSN is that each UE that belongs to oneself creates and preservation MM context, and the MM context for oneself is also arranged among the UE, and the MM context exists for each UE. The contextual specifying information structure of MBMS UE is as shown in Table 1:

Parameter	Describe	UE	SGSN	GGSN	RNC	BM-SC
Parameter	Describe	UE	SGSN	GGSN	RNC	BM-SC	IP multicast address	Identify the MBMS carrying that a UE has added	X	X	X	X	Do not determine
APN	The APN that corresponding IP multicast address has been defined	X	X	X	X		IP multicast address	Identify the MBMS carrying that a UE has added	X	X	X	X
APN		X	X	X	X	TMGI	Distribute to the Temporary Mobile Group Identity of MBMS carrying	X
Linked NSAPI	Removed to carry the NSAPI of the PDP Context of IGMP/MLD signaling by UE	X	X			TMGI		X
Linked NSAPI		X	X			IMSI	Be used for identifying user			X

Table one

In the table one, " X " is illustrated on the corresponding network entity, on UE or SGSN or GGSN, stores this information.

Owing to be by packet data protocol (PDP) context record related service information in the present GPRS (GPRS), so the charging that existing GPRS billing mechanism is only carried out for PDP Context is not also for the contextual billing mechanism of MBMS UE. The network architecture of carrying out charging for PDP Context now, as shown in Figure 3, between GGSN, GGSN and charge system (BS, Billing System), a charging critical point functional entity (CGF) is set, for only having a logic interfacing between this CGF of each operator and the BS. This CGF is used for the charge information of SGSN and GGSN node is sent to the charge system that Virtual network operator is selected, be exactly specifically: GPRS support node (GSNs) is from producing call details record (CDRs, Call Detail Record) GPRS node is collected GPRS CDRs, the row cache of going forward side by side; Then transmit the CDR data to charge system. Wherein, to same chargeable session, i.e. PDP Context, SGSN are each MS collecting charging information that uses wireless network resource, and GGSN is MS collecting charging information of each use outer data network.

Here, GSNs will collect the information relevant with charging and produce actual charge information, and general, the information relevant with charging mainly contains six kinds: the 1. behaviour in service of wave point; 2. service time from the PDP context activation to the deexcitation; 3. the behaviour in service of GPRS network resource is such as mobile management function etc.; 4. the data source and the data endpoint information that provide PDP Context to use; 5. the data amount information of receiving and sending out from outer data network; 6. the positional information of travelling carriage (MS).

Each PDP Context is only distributed unique charging identifier number, unique reference of collecting as the relevant information that same PDP Context is produced a plurality of records. Usually, the unique charging identifier of described each PDP Context is that PDP Context produces at GGSN when being activated, and, this charging identifier is sent to the current SGSN that service is provided by the Routing Area Update response message from GGSN, therefore, all CDRs that create for the PDP Context of each activation have identical charging identifier.

The charging characteristic of each PDP Context is specific, and which kind of charging way is so-called charging characteristic stipulate to adopt exactly, such as: can adopt normal billing, prepayment service, unified expense charging, hot charging etc. charging way. Certainly, the charging characteristic of each PDP Context can be set, and also can not set. In SGSN, if set PDP Context charging characteristic, just carry out charging by the charging characteristic that sets; If do not set but have " subscriber's charging characteristic ", then use " subscriber's charging characteristic " to carry out charging, " subscriber's charging characteristic " described here set for each user, is placed in the MM context.

As can be seen from the above analysis, in GPRS, billing mechanism for PDP Context is comparatively perfect, but not yet proposes the contextual billing scheme for MBMS UE, but in the MBMS business, every kind of MBMS bearer service of each user uses MBMS UE context, so, want the service charging to MBMS, just must carry content to MBMS and carry out charging, that is to say, be very important and necessary to the contextual charging problem of MBMS UE in the current solution MBMS business.

Summary of the invention

In view of this, main purpose of the present invention is to provide a kind of method that realizes the multimedia broadcasting multicast service charging, can be to the charging of MBMS business realizing in GPRS.

For achieving the above object, technical scheme of the present invention is achieved in that

A kind of method that realizes multimedia broadcast/multicast service MBMS service billing, the method may further comprise the steps:

A. after a MBMS business was activated, SGSN and GGSN contained MBMS UE context charging identifier and charging characteristic, the corresponding MBMS business that activates self generating respectively;

B.SGSN and GGSN are respectively according to self creating the information relevant with charging in the MBMS UE context, each MBMS UE context is produced call details record CDR, and the CDR that produces is processed the charge information that generates reality via CGF deliver to charge system, each MBMS UE context is carried out charging.

Wherein, the contextual generation of MBMS UE that contains charge information described in the step a further comprises:

A1.SGSN creates the MBMS UE context of the current initiation of self correspondence MBMS business, obtain the charging characteristic of the UE of current initiation MBMS business, and the charging characteristic of obtaining is positioned in the MBMS UE context that creates, then the charging characteristic of obtaining is carried on to create in the MBMS context request and sends to GGSN;

After a2.GGSN receives and creates the MBMS context request, charging characteristic in the record request, produce the charging identifier of corresponding current initiation MBMS business, and create the MBMS UE context of the corresponding current initiation MBMS business of self, the charging characteristic of record and the charging identifier of generation are positioned over the MBMS UE context that creates, then the charging identifier that produces are sent to SGSN by creating the MBMS context response;

After a3.SGSN receives and creates the MBMS context response, the charging identifier in the response is placed in the MBMS UE context that step a1 creates.

Here, the described charging characteristic of obtaining of step a1 is: obtain the attaching position register HLR of SGSN under the UE of current initiation MBMS business. Charging identifier is produced at random by GGSN described in the step a2.

The CDR of generation described in the step b processes the generation charge information to CGF and specifically comprises:

B1.SGSN and GGSN produce CDR according to the information relevant with charging of preserving in the MBMS UE context respectively, and with the CDR that produces by sending to CGF in the data record transmission request separately;

After b2.CGF receives data record transmission request, preserve the metering data of receiving, and different CDR are processed with the charging characteristic according to the charging identifier among each CDR, the actual charge information that produces is sent to BS, afterwards, CGF sends the data record transmission response for respectively corresponding GGSN or SGSN;

After b3.GGSN or SGSN receive the data record transmission response, delete self corresponding CDR.

Therefore, the method of realization multimedia broadcasting multicast service provided by the present invention charging, owing in existing MBMS UE context, increased the relevant charging characteristic and the charging identifier information that are used for charging, thereby realized that employing MBMS carries out in the professional transmission course, to the billing function of each UE the transmission of data. And the present invention has at utmost used for reference the existing professional transfer process of GPRS network, when realizing that right MBMS UE context carries out charging, guarantees the modification of existing network minimum.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the transmission principle schematic diagram of multicast service;

Fig. 2 is for supporting the wireless network architecture schematic diagram of multicast/broadcast business;

The charging frame structure schematic diagram of Fig. 3 among the existing GPRS PDP Context being carried out charging;

Fig. 4 is the schematic flow sheet of the inventive method specific implementation;

Fig. 5 is the specific implementation schematic flow sheet that creates charging identifier in the inventive method;

Fig. 6 is the specific implementation schematic flow sheet that produces charge information in the inventive method.

The specific embodiment

The present invention is further described in more detail below in conjunction with drawings and the specific embodiments.

In order to realize the contextual charging to MBMS UE, just need to increase the information relevant with charging at original MBMS UE context, and in corresponding handling process, by message the correlometer charge information that increases is transmitted between network entity, thereby support is to the billing function of MBMS business.

The prerequisite that the inventive method realizes is exactly: existing MBMS UE context is made amendment, newly-increased two information relevant with charging--charging identifier and charging characteristic, amended MBMS UE context format as shown in Table 2:

Parameter

Describe

UE

SGSN

GGSN

RNC

BM-SC

IP multicast address	Identify the MBMS carrying that a UE has added	X	X	X	X	To be studied
IP multicast address	Identify the MBMS carrying that a UE has added	X	X	X	X		APN	The APN that corresponding IP multicast address has been defined	X	X	X	X
TMGI	Distribute to the Temporary Mobile Group Identity of MBMS carrying	X					APN		X	X	X	X
TMGI		X					Linked NSAPI	Removed to carry the NSAPI of the PDP Context of IGMP/MLD signaling by UE	X	X
IMSI	Be used for identifying user			X			Linked NSAPI		X	X
IMSI	Be used for identifying user			X			Charging identifier	Charging identifier, the station message recording that sign SGSN and GGSN produce		X	X
MBMS UE context charging characteristic	The contextual charging characteristic of this MBMS UE, for example: normal billing, pre-payment, flat rate and/or hot charging.		X	X			Charging identifier			X	X

Table two

Equally, " X " is illustrated on the corresponding network entity in the table two, on UE or SGSN or GGSN, stores this information.

Based on the contextual setting of MBMS UE that provides above, the method that the present invention's realization is carried out charging to the MBMS business as shown in Figure 4, mainly comprises following two steps:

Step 401～402: when activating a MBMS when professional, SGSN and GGSN contain MBMS UE context charging identifier and charging characteristic, the corresponding MBMS business that activates self generating respectively;

Step 403～404: in carrying out normal MBMS business procedure, SGSN and GGSN are according to the information relevant with charging in the MBMS UE context that self creates, produce CDR for each MBMS UE context, SGSN and GGSN send to CGF with the CDRs that produces, CGF processes the CDRs that receives, produce actual charge information, and the charge information that produces is delivered to charge system, each MBMS UE context is carried out charging.

Wherein, for the contextual generation of MBMS UE that contains charge information as shown in Figure 5, further may further comprise the steps in the step 402:

After step 501～502: one MBMS business are activated, SGSN create self, to MBMS UE context that should the MBMS business, and obtain the charging characteristic of the UE of current initiation MBMS business. Described charging characteristic actual conditions have multiple acquiring way, normally obtain the charging characteristic of this UE the attaching position register (HLR) under the UE of current initiation MBMS business, this charging characteristic is determined when the user registers business, and is stored among the HLR as CAMEL-Subscription-Information. After SGSN obtains the charging characteristic of UE of this MBMS business of current initiation, the charging characteristic that obtains is placed in the MBMS UE context, and the charging characteristic that will obtain sends to GGSN by establishment MBMS context request.

After step 503～504:GGSN receives the establishment MBMS context request that SGSN sends, extract and record charging characteristic information, and the charging identifier of the corresponding current initiation of generation MBMS business, then create self, the MBMS UE context of corresponding current initiation MBMS business, charging characteristic, these two billing parameters of charging identifier and other parameters are placed in the MBMS UE context together; Then, GGSN sends to SGSN and creates the MBMS context response, carries the charging identifier of this MBMS business of current UE initiation that generate to some extent, corresponding in this response. Here, charging identifier can produce at random, but will guarantee the uniformity of charging identifier among GGSN and the SGSN.

After step 505:SGSN receives and creates the MBMS context response, extract and record charging identifier wherein, and the charging identifier that extracts is positioned in the MBMS UE context that creates in the step 501.

As shown in Figure 6, step 403,404 further comprises according to MBMS carrying generation charge information:

Step 601～602:GGSN and SGSN are MBMS corresponding to particular UE MBMS transmission UE context when professional, and SGSN and GGSN are respectively according to the information generation CDRs relevant with charging that preserves in the MBMS UE context. The charging identifier of a plurality of CDRs that produce for same MBMS UE context is identical; And CDRs produces according to corresponding charging characteristic. Then, the CDRs that respectively self produced of GGSN and SGSN is carried in separately the data record transmission request and sends to CGF. Wherein, the information relevant with the charging six kinds of information and charging characteristic and the charging identifier that refer to that the GSN described in the background technology will collect.

The charging characteristic of preserving in the charging characteristic among the GGSN and the MBMS UE context here, is consistent; Charging characteristic among the SGSN is through selection, and concrete selection mode is: judge in the current MBMS UE context whether have " MBMS UE context charging characteristic ", if exist, then use the charging characteristic in the MBMS UE context to carry out charging; Otherwise, judge in the corresponding MM context of UE of current initiation MBMS business whether have " subscriber's charging characteristic ", if exist, then use " subscriber's charging characteristic " to carry out charging, otherwise, charging failure.

Step 603～604:CGF preserves the metering data of receiving after receiving data record transmission request, and this metering data is from GGSN or SGSN; CGF processes different CDRs with the charging characteristic according to the charging identifier among each CDR, and the actual charge information that will produce sends to BS; Then, CGF sends respectively the data record transmission response for corresponding GGSN or SGSN, represents that corresponding data accept.

After step 605:GGSN or SGSN receive the data record transmission response, know correctly receive data of CGF, then delete self corresponding CDRs, can indicate it is response to which CDRs in the response.

In the said process, the operation between CGF and GGSN and the SGSN is carried out respectively, do not exist between GGSN and the SGSN mutual, actual above-mentioned process implementation based on network structure and Fig. 3 similar.

In actual application, may relate to the renewal of charging identifier or charging characteristic, such as: for providing the SGSN of service, current UE changes, in this case, UE carries out in the process of Routing Area Update between SGSN, old SGSN can be forwarded to MBMS UE context among the new SGSN, wherein will carry the corresponding information relevant with charging.

The above is preferred embodiment of the present invention only, is not for limiting protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1, a kind of method that realizes multimedia broadcast/multicast service MBMS service billing is characterized in that the method may further comprise the steps:

2, method according to claim 1 is characterized in that, the contextual generation of MBMS UE that contains charge information described in the step a further comprises:

3, method according to claim 2 is characterized in that, the described charging characteristic of obtaining of step a1 is: obtain the attaching position register HLR of SGSN under the UE of current initiation MBMS business.

4, method according to claim 2 is characterized in that, charging identifier is produced at random by GGSN described in the step a2.

5, method according to claim 1 is characterized in that, the CDR of generation described in the step b processes the generation charge information to CGF and specifically comprises: