CN101364881A - Method and apparatus realizing hot charging in PCC architecture - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for achieving hot charging in a PCC architecture. The method mainly comprises the following steps: determining whether or not to execute hot charging operation for a current service by a charging policy control function PCRF entity, determining hot charging parameters corresponding to the current service when the hot charging operation for the current service is determined to be executed, and notifying a charging policy execution function PCEF entity to execute hot charging operation for the current service according to the hot charging parameters. Accordingly, various decision-making entities for the hot charging are centralized on the same decision-making point, thereby solving the problem of the prior art such as dispersed decision-making points and facilitating the management and the maintenance of the hot charging process. The method and the apparatus can also solve the problem in achieving hot charging of service stream, thereby achieving different charging of different services on the same bearing.

Description

Realize the method and apparatus that heat is chargeed in the PCC framework

Technical field

The present invention relates to communication technical field, relate in particular to the billing technology in a kind of communication system.

Background technology

In the process of all-IP evolution, in order to solve problems such as QoS (service quality) and charging, 3GPP has defined PCC (strategy and the control of chargeing) framework, can satisfy different QoS control and charging demand by this framework at communication network.

The framework of PCC specifically can comprise following functional entity as shown in Figure 1 in the PCC framework:

PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function, strategy and charging regulation function entity), be mainly used in finish the strategy decision-making and based on stream functions such as charging control.

PCEF (Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, the strategy and the execution entity that charges), be mainly used in the execution of the detection of finishing business data flow, strategy, based on the functions such as charging of stream, comprise and carry out that PCRF issues or the strategy of appointment;

SPR (Subscription Profile Repository, user signing contract information database), this functional entity is used for providing user contracting data to PCRF;

AF (Application Function, Application Function), this functional entity is used for dynamically providing to PCRF the session information of application layer business, so that PCRF formulates corresponding strategy;

OCS (Online Charging System, Online Charging System) functional entity is used for receiving in real time the charging event that is produced by charge information, authorizes the adequate resources utilization;

OFCS (Offline Charging System, off-line accounting system) functional entity, be used to handle the charge information of the CU Internet resources situation of collecting, produce CDR (charging datarecord, and send the BD (Billing Domain, accounts territory) of operator to charging data record),, OFCS provides resource for the user earlier, clearing charge again.

Wherein, the logical construction of OFCS comprises as shown in Figure 2: CTF (Charging TriggerFunction, charging triggering function), CDF (Charging Data Function, charging data function) and CGF (Charging Gateway Function, Charging Gateway Functionality) form.Described CTF is used to collect the charge information that the user uses resource, and gives CDF and handle; CDF produces the ticket CDR that is used for the clearing between subscriber's account and operator according to charging event, and sends ticket CDR to CGF; After CGF handles the ticket CDR that receives, constitute the CDR file and send to BD.

At present, in order to generate ticket CDR fast, in the PCC framework, provide a kind of hot charging implementation at the postpaid service user among the OFCS.

In the PCC framework, be bearing technology with GPRS (GPRS), then the heat charging only limits to the sign in Charging Characteristics (charging feature) parameter, and as shown in Figure 3, concrete charging processing procedure comprises:

(1) SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) or the GGSN (GGSN) as PCEF obtains Charging Characteristics parameter;

Concrete obtain manner can for: from the CAMEL-Subscription-Information that HLR (attaching position register) sends, obtain Charging Characteristics parameter, as the step 1 among Fig. 3 and 2; Perhaps, when HLR did not provide Charging Characteristics parameter, SGSN or GGSN can use pre-configured default value to obtain corresponding C harging Characteristics, as the situation of the step 3 among Fig. 3 and 4.

(2) SGSN or GGSN carry out different charge mode (comprise and carry out hot charging way) according to the sign in the Charging Characteristics parameter to carrying, realize corresponding hot billing operation, produce hot charging bill.

(3) contain the ticket of Charging Characteristics parameter, send to the node (as CGF or BD) of handling CDR by the Ga reference point, handle the node of CDR and determine priority and the route that CDR handles, as the step 5 among Fig. 3 (only being example) with GGSN according to the ChargingCharacteristics parameter.

In the implementation that above-mentioned heat is chargeed, specifically be to determine whether to adopt heat to charge by the mode that policy execution entity (as SGSN or GGSN etc.) disposes by user signing contract information or operator, and the charging of decision heat produces the speed of ticket, therefore, in realizing process of the present invention, the inventor finds to exist at least in the prior art problem that the decision point dispersion is not easy to safeguard.

Summary of the invention

Embodiments of the invention provide and have realized the method and apparatus that heat is chargeed in a kind of PCC framework, disperse and safeguard the problem of inconvenience to overcome decision point, and the implementation procedure that makes heat charge is more easy and reasonable.

The embodiment of the invention provides and has realized the method that heat is chargeed in a kind of PCC framework, comprising:

Charging policy controlled function PCRF entity judges whether current business is carried out hot billing operation;

After determining that current business carried out hot billing operation, thermotropism charges and carries out the hot billing parameter that entity issues the current business correspondence, and notice heat is chargeed and carried out entity and according to described hot billing parameter current business is carried out hot billing operation.

The embodiment of the invention provides a kind of equipment, comprising:

Hot charging decision package is used to judge whether current business is carried out hot billing operation, if determine current business is carried out hot billing operation, then determines the hot billing parameter of current business correspondence;

Hot charging task issues the unit, is used for that the hot billing parameter that described hot charging decision package is determined is handed down to hot the charging and carries out entity, and the charging of notice heat is carried out entity current business is carried out hot billing operation.

The embodiment of the invention provides and has realized the system that heat is chargeed in a kind of PCC framework, comprising:

The PCRF entity is used to judge whether current business is carried out hot billing operation, and after determining to carry out hot billing operation to current business, determines and issue the hot billing parameter of current business correspondence;

Heat is chargeed and is carried out entity, is used to receive the hot billing parameter that the PCRF entity issues, and according to the hot billing parameter that the PCRF entity issues current business is carried out hot billing operation.

The technical scheme that is provided by the embodiment of the invention described above as can be seen, owing to be the decision-making treatment process that heat is chargeed to be chosen in PCRF go up realization in the embodiment of the invention, thereby make and all concentrate on same decision point at each tactful decision-making treatment, overcome the problem that decision point that prior art exists is disperseed, and then be more convenient for management maintenance of the processing procedure that makes heat charge.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the structural representation of PCC framework in the prior art;

Fig. 2 is the logical framework schematic diagram of OFCS of the prior art;

Fig. 3 realizes the processing procedure schematic diagram that heat is chargeed in the prior art;

Fig. 4 is a process schematic diagram one of realizing hot billing operation in the embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a process schematic diagram two of realizing hot billing operation in the embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is the processing procedure schematic diagram of the embodiment of the invention one;

Fig. 7 is the processing procedure schematic diagram of the embodiment of the invention two;

The structural representation of the equipment that Fig. 8 provides for the embodiment of the invention.

Embodiment

The embodiment of the invention provides a kind of and has realized the implementation that heat is chargeed by the PCC framework, has increased the policy control of PCRF to hot metering service, so that hot billing operation and other strategic decision-making operation all can concentrate on same decision point.Further, PCRF can judge whether according to pre-configured charging policy current business is carried out hot billing operation; Perhaps, PCRF can also collect user signing contract information, collect beared information, collects application message from AF from PCEF from SPR, and carries out the decision-making treatment that heat is chargeed according to the policy information that operator formulates, thereby has increased the accuracy of hot charging decision-making.In addition, in the embodiment of the invention, also be chosen in the sign (promptly carrying out the indication information of hot billing operation) that increases in the PCC rule hot metering service, and/or, increase is chargeed to heat and is produced the Control Parameter (promptly generating the speed parameter of hot charging bill) of ticket speed, so that corresponding information is handed down to PCEF, make PCEF to carry out corresponding operation according to sign of receiving and parameter control.

In the embodiment of the invention, if business is carried out in the process, application message and/or in the beared information each that PCRF obtains configuration information and/or user signing contract information and/or user's current business change, can be that current business is formulated corresponding PCC rule and is handed down to PCEF according to pre-configured strategy again then, whether need to carry out the heat charging to redefine, if need, then can in this PCC rule, comprise indication information and the hot charging Control Parameter of carrying out hot billing operation.

And the embodiment of the invention can also be carried out in the process in business, adjusts the speed parameter that generates hot charging bill by PCRF by issuing the PCC rule notice PCEF that reformulates, to adjust the frequency that generates hot charging bill in real time neatly.

Say that more specifically the PCC framework that passes through that the embodiment of the invention provides realizes that the implementation of heat charging specifically can be as shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5, it mainly can may further comprise the steps:

Step 1, the hot charging policy of configuration on PCRF;

Specifically can carry out hot charging policy configuration at scenes such as user, business, QoS, customer location, specific periods, carry out the business and the special scenes of heat charging and control the parameter that heat is chargeed with configuration on PCRF by operator;

Step 2, PCRF obtains user signing contract information from SPR;

Writing down user's charging attribute information in this user signing contract information, to determine user's hot metering service of whether having contracted, described hot metering service is meant the business that needs to carry out hot billing operation;

In subsequent step, provide the contracted processing procedure of situation of hot metering service at the user;

Step 3, PCRF obtains medium, bandwidth etc. from AF and uses relevant information, so that determine the type of current business according to the relevant information of this applications, as being speech business or video traffic or the like;

Step 4, PCRF obtains the relevant information of carrying from PCEF, with the bandwidth information of determining current carrying etc.;

Need to prove that above-mentioned steps 2,3,4 there is no the branch of sequencing, promptly these three steps can be according to order execution arbitrarily;

Step 5, the information that the comprehensive step 2 of PCRF is received to step 4, and the hot charging policy of operator configuration judges, to judge whether and need carry out heat charging at current business flow;

For example, require bandwidth greater than 2Mbps in the hot charging policy, then need to carry out hot billing operation, then in the bandwidth information of this current carrying that need obtain according to step 4 whether greater than 2Mbps, to determine whether that need carry out heat charges; Perhaps, require in the hot charging policy video traffic is carried out hot billing operation, then need determine whether that at this needs carry out heat and charge according to the relevant information of application that step 3 is obtained;

Step 6, PCRF then informs the Business Stream that PCEF needs heat to charge after determining to carry out the heat charging at current business flow, promptly issues the PCC rule and carries out hot the charging by PCEF;

Wherein, in described PCC rule, comprise the information (i.e. indication heat is chargeed and carried out the mode information that entity is carried out hot billing operation) that hot metering service is flow to line identifier, the mode information of the hot billing operation of described execution can but be not limited to comprise: carry out the indication information of hot billing operation and generate in the speed parameter of hot charging bill at least one, wherein, the indication information of carrying out hot billing operation is used to indicate PCEF to carry out hot billing operation, and the speed parameter of the hot charging bill of described generation is the requirement that the heat charging of operator's configuration produces ticket speed;

Step 7, the requirement (promptly generating the speed parameter of hot charging bill) that PCEF produces speed according to the hot charging bill in the PCC rule is carried out heat to Business Stream and is chargeed, and generates corresponding hot charging bill;

Step 8, the hot charging bill CDR that PCEF will produce sends OFCS to and does further processing.

Alternatively, in embodiments of the present invention, if PCRF changes from the information that obtains on SPR, AF, the PCEF, perhaps, the hot charging policy of the last configuration of PCRF changes, and then can whether need to carry out the judgement that heat is chargeed again to respective traffic flows, for example, carrying QoS reduces, and then may not need again this Business Stream to be carried out heat and charge, or the like; Perhaps, in carrying out hot process of chargeing, operator also can adjust the speed of heat charging generation ticket as required, with the speed (producing ticket more, still less in the unit interval as making) of adjusting the generation ticket;

At this moment, corresponding processing procedure specifically can may further comprise the steps with reference to shown in Figure 5:

Step 9 re-executes the judgment processing that heat is chargeed, and perhaps, needs to adjust hot the charging and produces the speed of ticket, and then execution in step 10:

Step 10, PCRF reformulates the PCC rule;

Step 11, PCRF issues the PCC rule of reformulating to PCEF, contains the speed of new heat charging traffic identifier and/or new generation ticket in this rule;

Step 12 after PCEF receives described PCC rule, will be carried out corresponding hot billing operation according to new PCC rule;

Specifically can comprise: stop hot billing operation, the business modification of originally not carrying out hot billing operation for carrying out corresponding hot billing operation, is continued to carry out hot billing operation and generates ticket according to the speed of new generation ticket, or the like;

Step 13, same, PCEF need send the hot charging bill CDR that produces to OFCS and do further processing;

Step 14, OFCS sends ticket CDR file to BD, finishes billing operation.

In above-mentioned processing procedure, for the ease of in transmission information between PCRF and PCEF, then need the Gx interface between PCRF and the PCEF is designed accordingly, will the Gx interface format that adopt in the embodiment of the invention be described below.

At present Gx interface protocol, it is perfect to need it is made amendment in the invention process row, so that PCRF can identify the parameter that heat is chargeed by carrying in CCA (Credit Control Answer) or RAR (re-authenticating authorization requests) message, whether indication PCEF carries out heat is chargeed; Perhaps, also can add in being handed down to the PCC rule of PCEF can be by the charge AVP (attribute value to) of the speed that produces ticket of the control of operator's dynamic-configuration heat; Perhaps, also can comprise the AVP that hot parameter of chargeing of sign and the charging of control heat produce the speed of ticket simultaneously.

(1) at first, in the Gx interface protocol, the AVP that definition sign heat is chargeed and flowed

At present, be handed down among the CCA, RAR message of PCEF at PCRF, include " Charging-Rule-Install (charging regulation installation) " AVP, it is used for activating, installs, revises a PCC rule, also include " Charging-Rule-Definition (charging regulation definition) " AVP, be used to Business Stream definition PCC rule.

Therefore, the embodiment of the invention can be chosen in increases a hot charging AVP:Hotbilling AVP among the Charging-Rule-Definition AVP; Whether this Hotbilling AVP is an enumerated value, be used for identification service stream and adopt the heat charging to handle, and is specifically as shown in table 1:

Table 1

In above-mentioned table 1, Hotbilling AVP is defined as follows:

DISABLE_HOTBILLING (0), this value is used to indicate the relevant Business Stream of PCC rule not adopt heat to charge;

ENABLE_HOTBILLING (1), this value is used to indicate charges to the relevant Business Stream employing heat of PCC rule.

(2) secondly, in the Gx interface protocol, the AVP of the hot charging bill of definition sign triggering for generating

The hot execution entity that charges of Hotbilling AVP notice (for example, PCEF, it can be SGSN or GGSN) based on the trigger condition of operator's configuration, collecting charging information can also charge for heat on PCRF and define the trigger condition that produces ticket CDR;

Still as shown in table 1, in the embodiment of the invention, the concrete parameters of selecting to define three generation control CDR generation speed are respectively:

(1) Data-Volume-Limit AVP (data traffic threshold value attribute value to), 32 unsigned types, be used to indicate the upper limit of closing the call bill data flow, promptly surpass the data traffic threshold value of setting in advance and then close an ongoing CDR, produce the collection that a new CDR proceeds charge information simultaneously; Promptly can increase the frequency that produces hot charging bill by reducing the flow of a ticket writing.

(2) Time-Duration-Limit AVP (time threshold attribute value to), 32 unsigned types, be used to indicate the upper limit of closing the ticket time, promptly surpass the time threshold of setting in advance and then close an ongoing CDR, produce the collection that a new CDR proceeds charge information simultaneously; Promptly can increase the frequency that produces hot charging bill by reducing the time of a ticket writing.

(3) Max-Num-Charging-Condition-Changes AVP (charging condition change maximum quantity attribute value to), 32 unsigned types, be used to indicate the charging condition and change the upper limit that just produces a ticket several times, promptly after QoS, rate, RAI change number of times such as (wireless access signs) reach some, then trigger PCEF and produce the CDR ticket, that is to say, surpass the change frequency of setting in advance and just close an ongoing CDR, produce the collection that a new CDR continues charge information simultaneously; Promptly can increase the frequency that produces hot charging bill by reducing the number of times that the charging condition changes.

Produce the AVP of speed for above three control tickets, the hot charging bill that can also be used to wish to slow down produces the occasion of speed.Data-Volume-Limit AVP can be by increasing the flow of a ticket writing, and slowing down produces the frequency of ticket, i.e. produce ticket still less in the unit interval; Time-Duration-Limit AVP can be by increasing the time of a ticket writing, and slowing down produces the frequency of ticket; Max-Num-Charging-Condition-Changes AVP can produce the frequency of ticket by increasing the number of times that record charging condition changes, slowing down.

Below only be a kind of specific design, in the process of the practical application embodiment of the invention, be not limited to above modification, can also adopt other forms of GX interface protocol form according to the actual demand that heat is chargeed at the GX interface.

For ease of the understanding of the present invention, be described in detail below in conjunction with the concrete application of accompanying drawing to the embodiment of the invention.

Embodiment one

This embodiment provides PCRF to determine the processing of hot metering service stream according to the application message from AF that obtains.Promptly after the user began to carry out voice call, operator carried out common charging to it.After after a while, the user switches to the Multimedia session that Carrier Requirements heat is chargeed from voice call, at this moment, PCRF collects session and media information from AF, the application of finding the user changes, need reformulate and distributing policy and charging regulation, then PCRF is stored in PCRF according to operator and goes up the hot charging policy of configured in advance and corresponding hot billing parameter (as be used to control heat charge the speed that produces ticket etc.) and formulate the PCC rule and be handed down to PCEF, to carry out hot billing operation.

As shown in Figure 6, the specific implementation process of this embodiment may further comprise the steps:

(1) user speech speech phase

Step 1, operator can carry out hot charging policy configuration at scenes such as user, business, QoS, customer location, specific periods;

Promptly configuration need be carried out business and special scenes and the hot parameter of chargeing of control that heat is chargeed on PCRF; And in this embodiment, operator's configured voice communication is not carried out heat and is chargeed, and configuration is carried out heat to Multimedia session and chargeed, and the speed that also hot charging bill is produced disposes simultaneously;

Step 2,3,4:PCRF collect user signing contract information, collect beared information, collect application message from AF from PCEF from SPR;

Step 5,6, the PCRF control of generating strategy and charge is Business Stream definition PCC rule, and is handed down to PCEF;

In step 5, the user's that PCRF obtains according to the hot charging policy of operator's configured in advance and from step 4 application message is determined not need heat to charge to user's voice.

Step 7, PCEF presses that PCC rule is set up carrying, implementation strategy control and based on the charging of stream.For user's voice communication produces common ticket.

(2) customer multi-media session stage:

Step 8,9, AF detects the business that the user carries out and becomes multimedia conversation business by speech business, then reports the situation of change of application message to PCRF;

Step 10, PCRF judges that according to the hot charging policy of operator's configuration need carry out heat at Multimedia session charges, and then reformulates the PCC rule according to hot charging policy, and identify the heat charging in the PCC rule;

Step 11, PCRF gives PCEF with the PCC rule downloading of reformulating;

Specifically can give PCEF with this PCC rule downloading by the existing message that issues the PCC rule, for example, in the PCC rule, add the AVP that can produce the speed of ticket by the control heat charging of operator's dynamic-configuration, and be handed down to PCEF, corresponding description has been carried out in conjunction with form in the form front of concrete interpolation AVP, so be not described in detail in this;

Step 12 after PCEF receives the new PCC rule that PCRF sends, then according to should new PCC rule carrying out hot billing operation, produces also heat outputting charging bill.

Embodiment two

In this embodiment, provide PCRF to determine the processing procedure of hot metering service according to the beared information that comes from PCEF that obtains.Be that operator can dispose the heat charging according to bandwidth, for example, configuration is then carried out hot billing operation when surpassing predetermined bandwidth.

Accordingly, the processing procedure that hot billing operation is determined in the variation of the carrying that PCRF sends according to PCEF specifically can may further comprise the steps as shown in Figure 7:

(1) user's QoS meets the requirement of common charging:

Step 1, operator can carry out hot charging policy configuration at scenes such as user, business, QoS, customer location, specific periods, and configuration need be carried out the business and the special scenes of heat charging and control the parameter that heat is chargeed on PCRF;

For example, operator's configured bandwidth is done heat greater than 5Mbps and is chargeed, and the speed that hot charging bill is produced disposes;

Step 2,3,4, PCRF collects user signing contract information, collects beared information, collects application message from AF from PCEF from SPR;

Step 5,6, PCRF determines that according to the hot charging policy of operator's configured in advance user bandwidth does not need heat to charge less than 5Mbps, and formulates PCC and stipulate to be handed down to PCEF;

Step 7, PCEF presses that PCC rule is set up carrying, implementation strategy control and based on the charging of stream, and produces common ticket.

(2) user's QoS meets the requirement that heat is chargeed:

Suppose that the user initiates to need to increase the request of bandwidth, PCEF reports PCRF, PCRF judges that according to the current bandwidth of user needs carry out heat and charge, then user traffic flow just is marked as hot metering service, and produces ticket according to corresponding hot billing parameter, and concrete processing procedure comprises:

Step 8, PCEF need increase the situation of change of bandwidth to the PCRF report of user;

Step 9, PCRF judges that according to the heat charging scene of operator's configuration the bandwidth of user's request need be carried out the heat charging greater than 5Mbps, then identifies heat and charge in the PCC rule, the new system of laying equal stress on phasing closes the PCC rule;

Step 10, PCRF gives PCEF with the PCC rule downloading of reformulating, and in new PCC rule, be labeled as and need carry out hot billing operation at current business, and the speed of the charging bill generation of generating heat down, so that PCEF carries out corresponding hot billing operation;

Step 11 after PCEF receives new PCC rule, is then carried out heat according to new PCC rule and is chargeed, and produce hot charging bill.

Embodiment three

In this embodiment, whether operator can roam etc. according to period, position or user, the hot charging policy of configuration on PCRF; For example, in the period 1 (morning 5 to point in evenings 10), the Business Stream that bandwidth surpasses 1Mbps need be done heat and charge and handle, and in the period 2 at 10 (in evening to 5:00 AM next day), the Business Stream that bandwidth surpasses 5Mbps need be done heat and charge and handle;

According to above-mentioned configuration at period 1 and period 2, PCRF can determine that the Business Stream of 2Mbps in the period 2 is not need to carry out hot billing operation, and in the period 1, Business Stream for 2Mbps then needs to carry out corresponding hot billing operation, promptly before the 5:00 AM clock, business at this 2Mbps does not need to carry out hot billing operation, and behind the 5:00 AM clock, the business of this 2Mbps will dynamically be adjusted into hot metering service.In a word, PCRF can determine whether needs are carried out hot billing operation at current business according to the hot charging policy of configuration, and when need determining, notice PCEF carries out hot billing operation.

Embodiment four

In this embodiment, under the user has contracted the situation of new business or owing to the reason of operator causes user's CAMEL-Subscription-Information has been carried out revising (original common call charge service is changed to hot metering service), for amended corresponding service Carrier Requirements it is carried out hot billing operation, PCRF also needs the variation according to the user signing contract information that obtains from SPR so, dispose new PCC rule, heat charging and/or hot charging Control Parameter are adjusted, for example, CAMEL-Subscription-Information according to amended user is determined corresponding hot billing parameter, and described hot billing parameter is passed through the PCC rule downloading give PCEF, so that PCEF carries out corresponding hot billing operation.

For above-mentioned each embodiment of the invention, in the process that business is carried out, can also go up configured strategy according to AF, PCEF, SPR or PCRF and change, the parameter of heat charging and control ticket speed is dynamically adjusted, to satisfy the demand of heat charging flexibly.

The embodiment of the invention also provides and has realized the charging policy controlled function equipment that heat is chargeed in a kind of PCC framework, and it is specifically as follows the PCRF entity in the PCC framework, and the specific implementation structure of this equipment mainly comprises as shown in Figure 8:

(1) hot charging decision package is used to judge whether current business is carried out hot billing operation, and when determine to need carrying out heat and charge, and determines the hot billing parameter of pre-configured current business correspondence according to pre-configured strategy;

This heat charging decision package specifically can but be not limited to comprise:

Information acquisition unit is used for obtaining charging policy, user signing contract information, the application message of current business and at least one of beared information of configuration;

PCC rule determining unit, be used to current business in pre-configured strategy, to determine corresponding PCC rule, the hot charging policy decision-making of information and executing that specifically is used for obtaining according to described information acquisition unit is slightly handled, determine pre-configured PCC rule, needing also simultaneously to judge whether to need that current business is carried out heat charges, if when determining that needing to carry out heat charges, in this PCC rule, also comprise carry out hot billing operation mode information as described hot billing parameter, the mode information of the hot billing operation of described execution comprises that carrying out indication information that heat charges and/or the speed parameter that produces hot charging bill etc. shows information how to carry out hot billing operation;

This PCC rule determining unit specifically can be according to the hot charging policy decision-making treatment of different information and executing, promptly alternatively, this unit specifically can comprise: according to the application message and/or the beared information of pre-configured charging policy and/or user signing contract information and/or current business, judge whether current business is carried out hot billing operation, for example, in equipment, set in advance the trigger condition that heat is chargeed, and can directly carry out the decision-making operation that heat is chargeed according to the current information of having known; Set in advance the trigger condition of chargeing, afterwards, just can carry out the decision-making operation that heat is chargeed according to the application message or the beared information of current business according to definite heat such as business tine or the bandwidth that takies.

(2) hot charging task issues the unit, is used for after described hot charging decision package is determined to carry out hot billing operation to current business, and notice PCEF entity is carried out hot billing operation to current business;

This unit specifically can but be not limited to by the hot charging task of PCC rule downloading, so alternatively, described hot charging task issues the unit and specifically can comprise:

Hot billing parameter acquiring unit, be used to obtain the hot billing parameter that described hot charging decision package is determined pre-configured current business correspondence, described hot billing parameter comprises the mode information of carrying out hot billing operation, and the mode information of the hot billing operation of described execution comprises the indication information of carrying out hot billing operation and/or the information such as speed parameter that generate hot charging bill;

Hot charge information issues the unit, be used for that the hot billing parameter that described hot billing parameter acquiring unit obtains is handed down to the heat charging and carry out entity, the charging of notice heat is carried out entity and according to described hot billing parameter current business is carried out hot billing operation, be that the PCC rule that entity issues the indication information that has hot billing operation and/or generates the speed parameter information of hot charging bill is carried out in the thermotropism charging, to notify heat charge to carry out entity (such as, PCEF entity) current business is carried out hot billing operation.

In the embodiment of the invention, can also adjust hot billing operation process in real time according to the development condition of business, so alternatively, this equipment can also comprise:

The change information acquiring unit is used for carrying out process in business, obtains charging policy and/or the application message of user signing contract information and/or current business and/or the situation of change of beared information of configuration;

PCC Policy Updates unit, be used to upgrade the PCC rule of current business, specifically be used for reformulating the PCC rule of current business according to the information that described change information acquiring unit obtains, and when determining that needing to carry out heat charges, in this PCC rule, comprise indication that heat charges and/or information (producing the speed parameter of hot charging bill) how to carry out hot billing operation, and issue the unit by heat charging task and be handed down to heat and charge and carry out entity.

That is to say, carry out in the process in business, can notify PCEF to adjust the speed parameter that generates hot charging bill by the mode that issues the PCC rule of reformulating,, be convenient to the implementation that operator adjusts charging neatly to upgrade the speed that generates hot charging bill among the PCEF.

Above-mentioned each embodiment of the invention is in the specific implementation process, irrelevant with the network type of using, be that each embodiment of the invention is not limited to and is applied in the GPRS network, carry out hot billing operation as long as disposed the controlling schemes that the network of PCC framework just can adopt realization that the embodiment of the invention provides that heat is chargeed, for example, go for various types of networks such as GPRS, I-WLAN (intelligent wireless local area network), WiMax (micro-wave access to global intercommunication), fixed network.

In sum, increased the charging control of PCRF in the embodiment of the invention to hot metering service, and in PCRF, formulate in the PCC procedure of rule, PCRF can also collect user signing contract information, collect beared information, collects application message from AF from PCEF from SPR, and carries out hot billing operation business according to the definite corresponding needs of policy information identification that operator formulates.Therefore, make PCRF can unify to formulate the PCC rule, wherein, comprise at all control about chargeing, afterwards, carry out described PCC rule downloading for PCEF (as the GGSN in the GPRS network etc.), promptly the hot charging policy of configuration and its trigger condition on PCRF make decision point concentrate and be convenient to and safeguard again.

And, the notion that heat is chargeed is accurate to based on the heat of stream from the charging based on carrying charges, make that the charging granularity is littler, promptly can there be difference to charge to the different business in same the carrying, as can being that heat is chargeed, thereby make that hot billing operation process is more accurate with some business in same the carrying.Be the realization of the embodiment of the invention effectively overcome exist in the prior art can not carry out the problem that heat is chargeed at Business Stream, and then make and can realize having difference to charge at the different business in same carrying.

The above; only for the preferable embodiment of the present invention, but protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and anyly is familiar with those skilled in the art in the technical scope that the present invention discloses; the variation that can expect easily or replacement all should be encompassed within protection scope of the present invention.Therefore, protection scope of the present invention should be as the criterion with the protection range of claim.

Claims (11)

1. realize the method that heat is chargeed in a PCC framework, it is characterized in that, comprising:

Charging policy controlled function PCRF entity judges whether current business is carried out hot billing operation;

After charging policy controlled function PCRF entity is determined current business carried out hot billing operation, thermotropism charges and carries out the hot billing parameter that entity issues the current business correspondence, and the charging of notice heat is carried out entity and according to described hot billing parameter current business carried out hot billing operation.

2. method according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described PCRF entity judges whether that the step of current business being carried out hot billing operation comprises:

The PCRF entity judges whether current business is carried out hot billing operation according to the application message of pre-configured charging policy, user signing contract information, current business and at least one item in the beared information.

3. method according to claim 2 is characterized in that, this method also comprises:

Carry out in the process in business, the PCRF entity obtains charging policy, user signing contract information, the application message of current business and or the multinomial situation of change of beared information of configuration, and judges whether again current business is carried out hot billing operation;

After determining to carry out hot billing operation to current business, the hot billing parameter that entity issues the current business correspondence is carried out in the thermotropism charging, and the hot execution entity that charges of notice is carried out hot billing operation according to the hot billing parameter of reformulating.

4. according to claim 1,2 or 3 described methods, it is characterized in that the step that described thermotropism charging execution entity issues the hot billing parameter of current business correspondence comprises:

Entity distributing policy and charging control PCC rule are carried out in the thermotropism charging, and comprise the mode information that indication heat charging execution entity is carried out hot billing operation in the described PCC rule.

5. method according to claim 4 is characterized in that, the mode information of the hot billing operation of described execution comprises: carry out the indication information of hot billing operation and/or generate the speed parameter of hot charging bill.

6. according to claim 1,2 or 3 described methods, it is characterized in that this method also comprises:

The PCEF entity is carried out hot billing operation according to this hot billing parameter to current business after receiving the hot billing parameter that the PCRF entity issues.

7. a charging policy controlled function equipment is characterized in that, comprising:

Hot charging decision package is used to judge whether current business is carried out hot billing operation, if determine current business is carried out hot billing operation, then determines the hot billing parameter of current business correspondence;

Hot charging task issues the unit, is used for that the hot billing parameter that described hot charging decision package is determined is handed down to hot the charging and carries out entity, and the charging of notice heat is carried out entity current business is carried out hot billing operation.

8. equipment according to claim 7 is characterized in that, described hot charging decision package specifically comprises:

Information acquisition unit is used for obtaining charging policy, user signing contract information, the application message of current business and at least one of beared information of configuration;

PCC rule determining unit, the information that is used for obtaining according to described information acquisition unit is formulated the PCC rule, if when determining that needing to carry out heat charges, in this PCC rule, also comprise carry out hot billing operation mode information as described hot billing parameter.

9. equipment according to claim 7 is characterized in that, described hot charging decision package also comprises:

The change information acquiring unit is used for carrying out process in business, obtains or multinomial situation of change in the application message of charging policy, user signing contract information, current business of configuration and the beared information;

PCC Policy Updates unit is used for reformulating the PCC rule according to the information that described change information acquiring unit obtains, and when determine to need carrying out heat and charge, in this PCC rule, comprise carry out hot billing operation mode information as described hot billing parameter.

10. according to claim 7,8 or 9 described equipment, it is characterized in that described hot charging task issues the unit and specifically comprises:

Hot billing parameter acquiring unit, be used to obtain the hot billing parameter that described hot charging decision package is determined, described hot billing parameter comprises the mode information of carrying out hot billing operation, and the mode information of the hot billing operation of described execution comprises the indication information of carrying out hot billing operation and/or the speed parameter that generates hot charging bill;

Hot charge information issues the unit, is used for that the hot billing parameter that described hot billing parameter acquiring unit obtains is handed down to the heat charging and carries out entity, and the hot execution entity that charges of notice is carried out hot billing operation according to described hot billing parameter to current business.

11. realize the system that heat is chargeed in the PCC framework, it is characterized in that, comprising:

The PCRF entity is used to judge whether current business is carried out hot billing operation, and after determining to carry out hot billing operation to current business, determines and issue the hot billing parameter of current business correspondence;

Heat is chargeed and is carried out entity, is used to receive the hot billing parameter that the PCRF entity issues, and according to the hot billing parameter that the PCRF entity issues current business is carried out hot billing operation.

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