JP6484917B2 - Server system, network system, system management method, and system management program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a server system, a network system, a system management method, and a system management program for realizing an online billing system including a plurality of servers. In particular, the present invention relates to a server system, a network system, a system management method, and a system management program applied to an online charging system for a policy / charging control network to be introduced into a communication business.

  A policy / billing control network (hereinafter referred to as a PCC network) is introduced to a communication carrier for the purpose of controlling service quality such as a communication band provided to an end user (PCC: Policy Charging Control). In a PCC network, network resources can be centrally managed by a policy control technique that can change a service provided in accordance with a usage form of a subscriber. According to the PCC network, the allocated amount of network resources such as data communication amount, communication time, bandwidth, etc. provided according to the usage status of a plurality of subscribers is controlled, and usage-based charging is performed according to the usage status of each subscriber. It becomes possible to do. A general PCC network includes an online charging system, a subscriber database, a policy charging rule function, a policy charging application function, and the like.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a policy execution method, apparatus, and computer program for a related session in consideration of a total use allocation amount for related users. In Patent Document 1, a method of determining an allocation amount to a user in consideration of a usage amount that has been allocated to each user but has not been reported for use with respect to a total usage amount that can be used by a plurality of users. I'm taking it. According to the technique of Patent Literature 1, it is possible to share the allocation amount between the connection identification information sets related to the user so that the user does not exceed the allocation amount.

  In a general PCC network on-line billing system, the amount of usable data such as data communication amount, communication time, and bandwidth for each subscriber identifier and the actual usage amount are managed. Then, when the actual usage amount exceeds the usable amount, the policy charging rule function or the policy charging application function is notified. An online charging system constructed in a large-scale communication business is often implemented on a plurality of servers in order to scale out the system.

  Further, as a service realized in the PCC network, not only the usable amount is managed in units of subscriber identifiers, but the usable amount may be shared among a plurality of subscriber identifiers. The sharing of the usable amount is realized by integrating and managing the usable amount of a plurality of subscriber identifiers by an online charging system. When managing the usable amount of multiple subscriber identifiers in an integrated manner, the online billing system is implemented to be distributed to multiple physical servers (online billing servers), and the subscriber identifiers that share the usable amount are different. May be managed by other online billing servers. In this case, integrated management of the usable amount shared by the plurality of subscriber identifiers is realized by synchronizing the shared usable amount reflecting the actual used amount in each charging server between different charging servers.

Japanese Patent No. 5044063

  According to the method of Patent Document 1, it is possible to assign usable amounts to a plurality of users. However, the technique of Patent Document 1 cannot be applied to the usage amount allocation in an online charging system configured with a plurality of charging servers.

  In a general PCC network, the remaining amount of the shared usable amount frequently changes depending on the network usage status of each subscriber. For this reason, there is a problem in that the amount of communication between servers increases in the mechanism in which the accounting servers synchronize each time the usage status of each subscriber occurs. This problem becomes an important problem when constructing a large-scale PCC network because the influence increases as the number of accounting servers increases.

  The objective of this invention is providing the server system which solves the subject mentioned above.

  The server system of the present invention includes a plurality of servers that accommodates an identifier in charge among a plurality of identifiers constituting a group and allocates its own network resources to the identifier in charge, and manages network resources among the plurality of servers The server set as the management server manages the shared available amount of network resources allocated to the group, and can use network resources allocated to multiple servers that accommodate identifiers in response to requests for allocation of network resources to identifiers. The amount is calculated, and the calculated usable amount of the network resource is secured in a plurality of servers that accommodate the identifier.

  The network system according to the present invention includes a server system having a plurality of servers that accommodates an identifier in charge among a plurality of identifiers constituting a group and allocates its own network resources to the identifier in charge, A policy accounting application unit that performs policy control using the server, and a server set as a management server that manages network resources among a plurality of servers manages a shared usable amount of network resources allocated to the group, and an identifier In response to a request to allocate network resources to the network, the usable amount of network resources to be allocated to a plurality of servers accommodating identifiers is calculated, and the calculated usable amount of network resources is secured to the plurality of servers accommodating identifiers. .

  The system management method according to the present invention includes a server system that includes a plurality of servers that accommodates an assigned identifier among a plurality of identifiers constituting a group and allocates its own network resources to the assigned identifier. A server set as a management server that manages resources manages the shared usable amount of network resources allocated to the group, and allocates the identifiers to a plurality of servers that accommodate the identifiers in response to a network resource allocation request to the identifiers. The usable amount of the network resource is calculated, and the calculated usable amount of the network resource is secured in a plurality of servers that accommodate the identifier.

  The system management program according to the present invention includes a server system that includes a plurality of servers that accommodates an identifier in charge among a plurality of identifiers constituting a group and allocates its own network resources to the identifier in charge. The server set as the management server that manages the resources is used to manage the shared usable amount of the network resources allocated to the group, and to a plurality of servers that accommodate the identifiers in response to the network resource allocation request to the identifiers. A process of calculating the usable amount of the network resource to be allocated and a process of securing the calculated usable amount of the network resource in a plurality of servers accommodating the identifier are executed.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a server system capable of reducing a communication load between servers when a network resource is shared by a plurality of grouped identifiers in a server system constituted by a plurality of servers. Is possible.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing a system architecture of an online charging network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the server group which comprises the online billing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the calculation means of the server which comprises the online charging system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the calculation means when the server which comprises the online charging system which concerns on embodiment of this invention functions as a management server. It is a conceptual diagram regarding the online billing network system of Example 1 of this invention. It is a data communication possible quantity management table used with the online billing network system of Example 1 of this invention. It is a data accommodation subscriber number identifier number management table used with the online charging network system of Example 1 of this invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the online billing network system of Example 1 of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the state after allocation of the share available amount to the server in the online billing network system of Example 1 of this invention. It is a data communication possible quantity management table after the initial allocation of the shareable usage-amount to a server in the online billing network system of Example 1 of this invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the online billing network system of Example 1 of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the state after the reassignment of the share available amount to a server in the online billing network system of Example 1 of this invention. It is a data communication possible quantity management table after reallocation of the shareable usage amount to the server in the online charging network system of Example 1 of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the state after allocation of the share available amount to the server in the online billing network system of Example 2 of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the state after allocation of the share available amount to the server in the online billing network system of Example 3 of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram regarding a general online charging network system.

  EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated using drawing. However, the preferred embodiments described below are technically preferable for carrying out the present invention, but the scope of the invention is not limited to the following.

(Policy / Billing control network)
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a system architecture of a policy / charging control network (hereinafter, PCC network 1) (PCC: Policy Charging Control) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The PCC network 1 is also called a network system.

  The policy is a set value in access control, QoS control, or the like (QoS: Quality of Service). Generally, in PCC policy control, the policy / charging rule function permits / determines access control for user IP flows and policies for QoS parameter values (IP: Internet Protocol). Then, according to the permitted policy, the policy / billing adaptation function performs QoS control corresponding to access control for the user IP flow.

  The policy control method includes a policy control method using a static policy set in advance in the policy / charging adaptation function, and a dynamic policy on the subscriber terminal using the policy / charging rule function. There is a method of performing policy control by using. In the present embodiment, a method (static policy control) for performing policy control using a static policy set in advance in the policy / charging adaptation function will be described. In the embodiment, a method (dynamic policy control) of performing policy control using a dynamic policy at a subscriber terminal or the like using the policy / charge rule function will be described.

  The PCC network 1 according to the present embodiment includes an online charging system (hereinafter referred to as a server system 2) having a plurality of charging servers (hereinafter referred to as servers 10) and a policy / charging application means (hereinafter referred to as PCEF 3). The server system 2 is used by a plurality of terminals 4 via the PCEF 3.

  The server system 2 according to the present embodiment includes a setting of a subscriber management server (hereinafter referred to as a management server) that manages a shared usable amount of a plurality of subscriber identifiers (subscriber groups) that needs to be shared, and charging It is characterized by a mechanism for pre-reserving subscriber group usable amount between servers.

  At least one of the servers 10 is set as a management server. The management server has a role as a representative of the server 10, and a different server 10 can be in charge of each subscriber group. Therefore, by setting different servers 10 as management servers for each subscriber group, it is possible to avoid load concentration on a specific online charging server. The management server is preferably a single server. However, when a large number of subscriber identifiers are to be managed or when the management function is made redundant, a plurality of servers 10 are managed as management servers. May be set.

  Note that the decision logic of the management server is outside the scope of this embodiment, and any server 10 can be set as the management server. Generally, a management subscriber identifier for adding / deleting a subscriber identifier to the subscriber group and managing a payment method is set in the subscriber group. Therefore, for example, the server 10 that accommodates the management subscriber identifier may be set as the management server of the corresponding subscriber group. The logic of the subscriber group management server is independent of the logic of the online charging system. Therefore, in a system in which a subscriber database is prepared, the logic of the subscriber group management server may be implemented in the subscriber database.

  When the PCEF 3 receives a session establishment request from each terminal 4, the PCEF 3 transmits a usable amount allocation request for the subscriber identifier to the corresponding server 10. And PCEF3 will transmit a session establishment response to each terminal 4 which respond | corresponds, if the use amount allocation response is received from the corresponding server 10. FIG.

  The PCEF 3 operates as a policy execution point for executing a policy / charging rule function and an instruction of an online charging system. PCEF3 detects the service data flow based on the service data flow defined by the PCC rules, identifies subscribers by supplementing and analyzing arbitrary subscribers and signaling traffic, and is used by the subscribers Supplement the service details. The PCFE communicates detailed information on the service used by the subscriber to the server system 2 and the like via the interface. Further, the PCEF performs QoS control according to QoS approved by the policy charging rule function. For example, the PCEF 3 is functionally arranged between an access gateway (not shown) and an application gateway. Note that the physical arrangement of the PCEF 3 varies depending on the network form, and is not particularly limited in the present embodiment.

  Each terminal 4 transmits a session establishment request to the PCEF 3 and receives a corresponding session establishment response from the PCEF 3. The terminal 4 is a terminal that performs data communication such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a notebook PC, a desktop PC, and a tablet PC (PC: Personal Computer). Further, the terminal 4 may be a device that performs various data communication including image data and audio data, such as television and image communication.

  Each terminal 4 is managed for each group (subscriber group) by the subscriber identifier set in each terminal 4. The example of FIG. 1 shows a state in which a plurality of terminals 4 are grouped into one group. In the actual provision of the online charging service, the plurality of terminals 4 are grouped as a group having the same usage form. Although only a single group is shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of groups actually use the server system 2.

  In the example of FIG. 1, the subscriber identifier of terminal 4A is accommodated in server A (hereinafter referred to as server 10A), the subscriber identifier of terminal 4B is accommodated in server B (hereinafter referred to as server 10B), and the subscriber identifier of terminal 4Z. Is accommodated in the server Z (hereinafter referred to as the server 10Z). In each server 10, the accommodated subscriber identifier is assigned a usage amount.

  Next, the internal configuration of each server 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, each server 10 includes an input / output unit 11, a management unit 12, a calculation unit 13, and a communication unit 14. Note that the internal configuration of the server 10 in FIG. 2 is an example, and as long as an online charging system constructed by the server system 2 can be realized, additions and changes may be added as appropriate.

  The input / output unit 11 inputs a session establishment request from each terminal 4 via the PCEF 3 and outputs a session establishment response to each terminal 4. The input / output means 11 can be realized by an external interface / communication control device connected to the PCEF 3.

  The management means 12 manages the subscriber identifier of each terminal 4 in charge. In addition to the identifier such as the IP address of the terminal 4, the management unit 12 preferably manages information such as a service provided to the terminal 4 in which the identifier is set and a network resource allocation amount.

  The management means 12 of the server 10 serving as a management server manages a data communication capacity management table for managing the shared data communication capacity and unallocated communication capacity for each subscriber group, and the number of accommodated subscriber identifiers for each server 10. To manage a managed subscriber identifier number management table. The data communication capacity management table is also referred to as an available capacity management table, and the accommodated subscriber identifier number management table is also referred to as an identifier number management table.

  The management unit 12 can be realized by a main storage device or an auxiliary storage device of the server 10, for example.

  The calculating means 13 calculates the available amount allocation from the allocated shared available amount to each subscriber identifier.

  When receiving the usage amount allocation request, the calculation means 13 of the server 10 serving as the management server calculates the allocation of the usage amount to the server 10 accommodating each subscriber identifier from the shared usage amount of each subscriber group. .

  As shown in FIG. 3, the calculation means 13 includes a usable amount calculation function 15 that calculates a usable amount allocation from the allocated shared usable amount to each subscriber identifier. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the calculation means 13 of the server 10 serving as the management server adds to the server 10 that accommodates each subscriber identifier from the shared available amount of each subscriber group, in addition to the available amount calculation function 15. The allocation amount calculation function 16 for calculating the allocation of the available amount is included. The quota calculation function 16 is a part of the calculation function of the calculation means 13 and is a part of the function included in the calculation means 13 of all the servers 10. The quota calculation function 16 is a function that is manifested when the server 10 is set as a management server. The calculation means 13 can be realized by a calculation function of the central processing unit of the server 10, for example.

  The communication unit 14 performs communication processing between the servers 10. The communication means 14 of the server 10 serving as the management server transmits a usable amount allocation response to the PCEF 3 and the server 10 that have transmitted the usable amount allocation request. When the communication means 14 of each server 10 that is not the management server receives the available amount allocation request from the PCEF 3, the communication means 14 transmits the available amount allocation request regarding the own server to the server 10 that is the management server, and the corresponding available amount allocation response. Receive. The communication means 14 can be realized by an external interface / communication control device connected to a network accessible to another server 10.

  In the server system 2 according to the present embodiment, the usable amount that can be shared by the subscriber identifiers belonging to the subscriber group is collectively managed by the management server. The management server divides and allocates the shared usable amount to all the servers 10 in which the subscriber identifiers belonging to the corresponding subscriber group are accommodated according to the number of accommodated subscriber identifiers. At this time, it is not necessary to allocate all the remaining amount of the shared usable amount, but a value sufficiently larger than the actual usage amount report threshold value of each subscriber identifier unit is allocated.

  Each server 10 to which the usable amount is assigned receives an actual usage amount report and a request for paying out the usable amount from the subscriber identifier accommodated in the own server. Then, each server 10 to which the available amount is assigned subtracts the actual used amount from the shared available amount assigned to the own server, and the next available amount within the range of the remaining shared available amount after the subtraction. Make a withdrawal.

  When the allocated shared available amount is insufficient, the server 10 requests the management server to reallocate.

  According to such a shared available amount reassignment method, it is not necessary to synchronize information between online charging servers each time an actual usage amount report from each subscriber identifier and a usable amount payout request are received. Therefore, it is possible to finish the allocation process in each server 10 during normal times.

  When the management server receives a request for reallocating the usable amount, it reallocates from the remaining usable amount of the shared usable amount. When there is no remaining usable amount in the allocation unit, it is also possible to effectively allocate the usable amount by collecting information on the remaining usable amount from each allocated online billing server and reassigning it again. .

  As described above, in the PCC network according to the embodiment of the present invention, communication between online charging servers can be significantly reduced by adopting the idea of the subscriber group management server.

  In a general online billing system, it is necessary to synchronize an unallocated shared usable amount between online billing servers each time an actual usage amount is reported from the PCEF. Synchronization between online charging servers is required between all online charging servers that accommodate subscriber identifiers belonging to the same subscriber group. For this reason, when the online charging servers are synchronized with each other by mesh connection, the amount of communication rapidly increases as the number of online charging servers (number of subscriber identifiers) increases.

  According to the system of the embodiment of the present invention, communication between online charging servers can be omitted within the range of the shared available amount allocated to each online charging server. As a result, the amount of communication between online billing servers can be greatly reduced.

  In general, the report threshold for reporting the actual usage from the PCEF is set small in order to perform detailed service control and reduce the risk of information loss when a failure occurs. Therefore, it can be said that the method of the embodiment of the present invention is effective even in consideration of actual service operation conditions.

  That is, according to the server system according to the embodiment of the present invention, when a network resource is shared by a plurality of grouped identifiers in a server system constituted by a plurality of servers, the communication load between the servers is reduced. Can do.

  Next, specific examples for realizing the network system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Example 1
(Constitution)
FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the PCC network of the first embodiment.

  In the first embodiment, two servers, an online charging server 20A (hereinafter referred to as online charging server A) and an online charging server 20B (hereinafter referred to as online charging server B) are present on the network as servers for implementing the online charging system. Show. In the first embodiment, the online charging server A is in charge of the subscriber group management server of the subscriber group 1.

  In the first embodiment, there are subscribers A, B, and C who are owners of terminals having subscriber identifiers. The subscriber identifiers a, i, and c constitute a subscriber group 1 and share one usable amount.

  It is assumed that the allocation of the subscriber group management server is completed in advance, and the data communication possible amount 9 Gbytes is already set in the online charging server A as the shared usable amount for group 1.

  FIG. 6 shows a data communication capacity management table 21 for managing the data communication capacity. The data communication capacity management table 21 records the shared data communication capacity and unallocated communication capacity for each subscriber group. FIG. 6 shows an initial state of the online charging system of the first embodiment, and shows that all the shared data communicable amount (9 GB) set for the group 1 is unallocated.

  The online charging server A, which is a subscriber group management server, manages how many subscriber identifiers of the subscriber group 1 are accommodated by each online charging server. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the information on how many subscriber identifiers of each online charging server accommodate subscriber group 1 is set in the online charging server A when the service order is entered.

  FIG. 7 shows a accommodated subscriber identifier number management table 25 for managing the number of subscriber identifiers accommodated in the subscriber group management server. The accommodated subscriber identifier number management table 25 records the accommodated subscriber identifier number for each online charging server.

  Each online charging server accommodates the subscriber identifier of the terminal in charge via the PCEF 30. The PCEF 30 may exist as a separate server for each subscriber identifier, or may accommodate all subscriber identifiers as one server. Actually, there are other nodes between the PCEF 30 and the terminal accommodating each subscriber identifier, but they are omitted in the description of this embodiment.

(Assignment action)
Next, an operation example of sharing available amount allocation at the time of session establishment in the online charging system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. The sequence diagram of FIG. 8 shows an example in which a session establishment request for subscriber identifier A follows a session establishment request for subscriber identifier A.

  First, in FIG. 8, the terminal with the subscriber identifier a transmits a session establishment request to the PCEF 30 (step S1).

  The PCEF 30 that has received the session establishment request requests the online charging server A that manages the subscriber identifiers to allocate a usable amount (step S2).

  When receiving the usage amount allocation request, the online charging server A allocates the usable amount from the shared available amount of the subscriber group 1 to the online charging server A (step S3). That is, the online charging server A operates as a subscriber group management server for the subscriber group 1 to which the subscriber identifier a belongs.

  In this embodiment, it is assumed that the logic of allocating 1 GB of data communication possible amount per subscriber identifier according to the number of subscriber identifiers accommodated in each online charging server is implemented. Therefore, the online charging server A refers to the accommodated subscriber identifier number management table 25 in FIG. 7 and allocates 1 GB of data communication possible amount to the online charging server A.

  Next, the online charging server A calculates the available amount allocation from the allocated shared available amount to the subscriber identifier (step S4). That is, the online charging server A operates as an online charging server that accommodates the subscriber identifier a.

  In this embodiment, it is assumed that the usable amount for each subscriber identifier is not set other than the shared usable amount. Further, although details of the calculation method of the available amount allocation to the subscriber identifier are omitted, for example, an available amount sufficiently smaller than the shared available amount allocated to the server A can be allocated. .

  Next, the online charging server A responds to the PCEF 30 with the calculated usable amount of the subscriber identifier (step S5).

  The PCEF 30 responds to the subscriber identifier “a” to complete the session establishment (step S6).

  The terminal with the subscriber identifier A transmits a session establishment request to the PCEF 30 (step S7).

  The PCEF 30 that has received the session establishment request requests the online charging server B that manages the subscriber identifier A to allocate the usable amount (step S8).

  Here, in the online billing server B that has received the usable amount allocation request, the shared usable amount of the subscriber group 1 to which the subscriber identifier a belongs is not allocated. For this reason, the online charging server B transmits an available amount allocation request to the online charging server A, which is a subscriber group management server (step 9).

  When the online charging server A receives the shared available amount allocation request from the online charging server B, the online charging server B stores the number of subscriber identifiers with reference to the accommodated subscriber identifier number management table 25 in FIG. Confirm whether to do. According to the accommodated subscriber identifier number management table 25 of FIG. 7, the online charging server B accommodates two subscriber identifiers. Therefore, the online billing server A calculates by assigning a data communication capacity of 2 GB to the online billing server B (step 10).

  The online charging server A responds to the online charging server B with a 2 GB data communication possible amount, which is the calculated shared usable amount (step S11).

  When the online charging server B receives the allocation of the shared usable amount, the online charging server B calculates the usable amount of the subscriber identifier A (step S12). As in step S4, the description of the calculation of the usable amount for the subscriber identifier is omitted, but in the first embodiment, it is assumed to be sufficiently smaller than the allocated shared usable amount.

  The online billing server B responds to the PCEF 30 with the calculated usable amount of the subscriber identifier A (step S13).

  The PCEF 30 responds to the subscriber identifier a to the completion of session establishment (step S14).

  Through the procedure up to step S14, the subscriber identifiers a and i can communicate within the allocated usable amount.

  FIG. 9 shows a state image of the system at the time when step S14 is completed, and FIG. 10 shows the shared usage amount management table 21. FIG. 9 shows a state in which 1 GB is allocated to the online charging server A and 2 GB is allocated to the online charging server B. The shared usage amount management table 21 of FIG. 10 records that the unallocated communication possible amount is 6 GB because 3 GB is allocated to the online charging servers A and B in total.

  In the state of FIG. 9, the shared usable amount has already been allocated to the online charging server B. Therefore, when the subscriber identifier C requests to establish a session following the subscriber identifier A, Steps S9-11 are omitted, and Steps S12-14 are performed on the subscriber identifier C after Steps S7-8. It will be.

  Thereafter, no communication occurs between the online charging servers A and B until the shared available amount allocated to each online charging server is used up. Therefore, communication is closed between each terminal and the PCEF 30, and between the PCFE 30 and each online charging server.

(Reassignment operation)
Next, an operation example when the usable amount is reassigned because the shared usable amount is used up by the online charging server B will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

  First, in FIG. 11, it is assumed that the subscriber identifier A continues data communication through the PCEF 30 (step S15). Here, it is assumed that the request from the subscriber identifier A to the PCEF 30 is not made, and the PCEF 30 is monitoring the data communication amount of the subscriber identifier A.

  The PCEF 30 monitoring the data traffic of the subscriber identifier A detects that the data traffic of the subscriber identifier A exceeds the traffic report threshold for the online charging server B. Then, the PCEF 30 reports the actual data communication volume so far to the online charging server B, and requests the online charging server B to allocate (reallocate) the usable amount (data communication possible amount) again (step S16). .

  When the online billing server B receives the actual data traffic report and the reallocation request, the online billing server B subtracts the received actual data traffic from the allocated shared available amount to the subscriber group 1 and uses the remaining shared usage. Calculate the possible amount. Then, the online charging server B calculates a usable amount to be reassigned to the subscriber identifier A from the remaining shared usable amount (step S17). In the present embodiment, since there is no remaining allocated shared available amount at the time of subtracting the current report, it is determined that the shared available amount needs to be reassigned.

  Since the allocated shared usable amount has been lost, the online charging server B transmits a shared usable amount reassignment request to the online charging server A, which is the subscriber group management server of the subscriber group 1 (step S18). ).

  When the online charging server A receives a request for reallocating the shared usable amount from the online charging server B, the online charging server A refers to the data communication capacity management table 21 in FIG. The reallocation amount is calculated (step S19).

  It is possible to change the calculation logic of the reallocation amount from the calculation logic of the initial allocation in consideration of the unallocated amount. However, in this operation example, the data communication possible amount of 2 GB is set as the same logic as the initial allocation. Decide to assign.

  The online charging server A responds to the online charging server B with a 2 GB data communication possible amount, which is the calculated shared usable amount (step S20).

  When the online charging server B receives the allocation of the shared usable amount, the online charging server B calculates the usable amount of the subscriber identifier A in the same manner as when the initial allocation is received (step S21).

  The online billing server B responds to the PCEF 30 with the calculated usable amount of the subscriber identifier A (step S22).

  Even after step S22, data communication of the subscriber identifier A continues (step S23). At this time, if the data communication conditions between the PCEF 30 and the subscriber identifier i are not changed, new communication may not occur between the PCEF 30 and the subscriber identifier a.

  FIG. 12 shows a state image of the system at the time when step S23 is completed, and FIG. 13 shows the data communication capacity management table 21. FIG. 12 shows a state in which 2 GB is allocated to the online charging server B as a result of reallocating the available amount because the shared available amount is used up by the online charging server B. In FIG. 12, since the GB is newly allocated for the online charging server B, the allocation for the online charging server B is increased to 4 GB and the remaining usable amount is shown. In the data communication capacity management table 21 in FIG. 13, it is recorded that the unallocated communication capacity becomes 4 GB as a result of the total allocation of 5 GB because 2 GB is newly allocated to the online charging server B. Is done.

(Example 2)
Next, the PCC network of Example 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The PCC network according to the second embodiment has a policy charging rule function (hereinafter, PCRF 40) (PCRF: Policy and Charging Rules Function) in addition to the online charging server 20 and the PCEF 30.

  The PCRF 40 has a functional configuration including a policy control decision and a charge control function based on a flow, which combines a policy decision function and a charge rule function. The PCRF 40 has functions, configurations, operations, and the like of a general PCRF, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Since the operation of the PCC network of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the dynamic policy control in the second embodiment, the PCEF 30 determines a PCC rule using a subscriber identifier, and performs policy control of the IP session for each subscriber identifier by linking the PCRF 40. The PCC rule is configured by information for detecting an IP flow of a terminal device in which a subscriber identifier is set, and performing policy control and charging. For example, permitted QoS parameters and charging methods (online, offline, non-charging) are set as PCC rules.

  According to the PCC network of the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the PCC network of the first embodiment can be obtained, and dynamic policy control in which PCEF and PERF are linked can be performed.

(Example 3)
Next, the PCC network of Example 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The PCC network of the third embodiment includes a subscriber database 50 as shown in FIG. The PCRC 40 described in the second embodiment may be added to the PCC network of the third embodiment.

  The subscriber database 50 is constructed as a database of subscriber information. The subscriber identifier information is stored in each online charging server in the first and second embodiments, but is stored in the subscriber database 50 in the third embodiment. The subscriber database 50 may be independent of each online charging server 20 as shown in FIG. 15 or may be included in each online charging server 20. If the configuration includes the PCRF 40, the subscriber database 50 may be configured inside the PCRF 40.

  In the PCC network of the third embodiment, the role of the subscriber group management server is not arranged in one of the online charging servers but in the subscriber database 50. Therefore, each online billing server 20 leaves the function as a subscriber group management server to the subscriber database 50.

  In the PCC network of the third embodiment, the subscriber database 50 receives an available amount allocation request from the PCEF 30 and sends a usable amount allocation response to each online charging server 20. Therefore, the subscriber database 50 preferably has the same functional configuration as the online charging server 10 of FIG. In other words, one of the online charging servers 20 may be operated as the subscriber database 50.

  The operation of the PCC network of the third embodiment is the same as the operation of the PCC network of the first embodiment except that the subscriber database 50 assumes the role of the subscriber group management server, and detailed description thereof is omitted. To do.

  According to the PCC network of the third embodiment, the same effect as that of the PCC network of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, according to the PCC network of the third embodiment, communication between the online charging servers 20 can be omitted.

(PCC network)
Here, a general example is shown about a PCC network provided with a some online billing server (FIG. 16). The PCC network in FIG. 16 includes an online charging system having an online charging server A (hereinafter, charging server 200A) and an online charging server B (hereinafter, charging server 200B). Further, the PCC network of FIG. 16 includes a charging application function (hereinafter, PCEF 300) (PCEF: Policy and Charging Enforcement Function Function).

  The online charging system of FIG. 16 is used by subscribers A, B, and C belonging to the same subscriber group (group 1). In the example of FIG. 16, the identifier of subscriber A is accommodated in charging server 200A, and the identifiers of subscribers A and C are accommodated in charging server 200B. An actual PCC network includes a policy charging rule function and the like, which are omitted in FIG.

  In a general online charging system, the shared usable amount of the charging server 200 that accommodates the identifiers of the subscribers is set in units of groups. In the example of FIG. 16, the area of the accounting server 200A is allocated to the identifier of the subscriber A and the area of the accounting server 200B is allocated to the identifier of the subscriber A and C in the shared usable amount of the online charging system. It is done. Each user will receive a service using the allocated area. Therefore, when the identifiers of the subscribers are accommodated in different charging servers 200, it is necessary to synchronize the shared usable amount of the group between the charging servers 200. As the number of charging servers 200 increases, the amount of communication between charging servers 200 increases. Therefore, when a large-scale PCC network is constructed, a communication load in synchronization between accounting servers becomes a problem.

  On the other hand, in the network system according to the embodiment of the present invention, even in an online charging system including a plurality of charging servers, it is not necessary to share the shared usable amount among all the charging servers. There is no need to take. As a result, an increase in communication load accompanying synchronization between billing servers is eliminated.

  The processing method in the server system and the network system according to the present embodiment described above is included in the scope of the present invention as long as the method of the present embodiment is applied, even if realized by an apparatus having a configuration different from the above. . A program for causing a computer to execute the method according to this embodiment is also included in the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, a program recording medium on which the program according to the present embodiment is recorded is also included in the present invention.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments and examples, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

1 PCC network 2 Server system 3 PCEF
4 Terminal 10 Server 11 Input / output unit 12 Management unit 13 Calculation unit 14 Communication unit 15 Usable amount calculation function 16 Allocation amount calculation function 20 Online charging server 30 PCEF
40 PCRF
50 database

Claims (10)

Accommodating a plurality of identifiers in charge of a plurality of identifiers constituting a group, and comprising a plurality of servers that allocate their network resources to the identifiers in charge;
A server set as a management server that manages the network resource among the plurality of servers,
Managing the shared usable amount of the network resource allocated to the group, and determining the usable amount of the network resource to be allocated to the plurality of servers accommodating the identifier in response to a request to allocate the network resource to the identifier. A server system for calculating and securing the calculated usable amount of the network resource in the plurality of servers accommodating the identifier. The server system according to claim 1 applies a policy of a policy / charging application means having a policy / charging application function for performing policy control using a policy set in advance,
A server different from the management server among the plurality of servers is
When the network resource allocation request for the identifier related to the session establishment request transmitted from the terminal in which the identifier is set is received from the policy / billing application unit, the network resource allocation request is transmitted to the management server,
The management server
In response to the received allocation request, the server system calculates an allocation amount of the network resource allocated to the plurality of servers accommodating the identifier. The plurality of servers are:
Input / output means for inputting the session establishment request from the policy / charge adaptation means and outputting a session establishment response to the session establishment request to the policy / charge adaptation means;
Management means for managing the identifier;
A calculation means including a usable amount calculation function for calculating a usable amount that can be allocated to the identifier from a usable amount of the network resource allocated to the server;
Communication means for performing communication processing between the plurality of servers,
The management server
The server system according to claim 2, wherein an allocation amount calculation function for calculating an available amount allocated to the plurality of servers accommodating the identifier is caused to appear in the calculation unit. The management means of the management server includes:
A usable amount management table that manages the shared usable amount and the usable amount that is not yet allocated among the shared usable amount;
Managing an identifier number management table for managing the number of identifiers accommodated by each of the plurality of servers;
The management server
Calculating an allocation amount of the network resource to be allocated to the plurality of servers with reference to the identifier number management table;
4. The server system according to claim 3, wherein a usable amount that has not yet been allocated among the shared usable amounts of the group is confirmed with reference to the usable amount management table. The plurality of servers are:
When the network resource actual usage amount and the network resource reallocation request are received from the policy / billing application unit, the identifier is used based on the network resource and the actual usage amount allocated to the identifier. Determining whether or not the network resource is insufficient;
If it is determined that the network resource is insufficient, the management server is requested to reallocate the network resource for the identifier,
The management server
In response to the reallocation request, the usable amount of the network resource that can be allocated to the identifier that is short of the network resource is calculated, and the usable amount of the network resource that can be allocated to the calculated identifier The server system as described in any one of Claims 2 thru | or 4 transmitted to these servers in which the said identifier is accommodated. A server system having a plurality of servers for accommodating the identifiers in charge among a plurality of identifiers constituting a group and allocating its own network resources to the identifiers in charge;
Policy charging application means for performing policy control using a preset policy,
Among the plurality of servers, a server set as a management server that manages the network resource,
Managing the shared usable amount of the network resource allocated to the group, and the usable amount of the network resource allocated to the plurality of servers that accommodate the identifier in response to a request to allocate the network resource to the identifier A network system that secures the calculated usable amount of the network resource in the plurality of servers that accommodate the identifier. A policy and charging rule means having a policy and charging rule function including a policy control decision and a charging control function based on the flow;
The network system according to claim 6, wherein the policy charging application unit and the policy / charging rule unit are linked to perform dynamic policy control. Causing at least one of the plurality of servers to function as a database;
The network system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a server functioning as the database is provided with the function of the management server. In a server system comprising a plurality of servers for accommodating the identifiers in charge among a plurality of identifiers constituting a group and allocating its own network resources to the identifiers in charge,
A server set as a management server that manages the network resource among the plurality of servers,
Managing the shared available amount of the network resources allocated to the group;
In response to a request to allocate the network resource to the identifier, the usable amount of the network resource to be allocated to the plurality of servers accommodating the identifier is calculated.
A system management method for securing the calculated usable amount of the network resource in the plurality of servers accommodating the identifier. In a server system comprising a plurality of servers for accommodating the identifiers in charge among a plurality of identifiers constituting a group and allocating its own network resources to the identifiers in charge,
By a server set as a management server that manages the network resource among the plurality of servers,
A process for managing a shared usable amount of the network resource allocated to the group;
A process of calculating an available amount of the network resource to be allocated to the plurality of servers accommodating the identifier in response to a request to allocate the network resource to the identifier;
A system management program for executing processing for securing the calculated usable amount of the network resource in the plurality of servers accommodating the identifier.

Images