JPH04100435A - Charging system for exchange - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To find the charging values of a packet switching system and ATM exchange by providing a counting means which counts the total number of communication packets in an exchange which communicates packets through a communication channel by finding a charging value on the basis of the counted total number of communication packets. CONSTITUTION:A transmission packet from an ATM terminal 1 is supplied to a packet transmitting section 115 and transmitted to a packet exchanging (ATM) switch 130. When the packet is transmitted, the count number of a transmission packet counter 216 is increased by one. Therefore, the ended time and the total number of originating and incoming reception packets which is the sum of the count number of reception packets informed from the opposite- side ATM exchange in a call message and the count number of reception packets on its own exchange side are written on a charging table at the timing when a disconnecting (DISC) message is informed to the originating terminal 1 from an originating exchange 100. Then charging information is prepared by collecting each elemental information and each calculated result information after each information is stored in such a state that each information is correlated with each call by terminals.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a charging system in a packet switch or an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) switch. [Prior Art] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a conventional switching system, which is constructed by connecting STM exchanges 300 and 400 each accommodating an STM (synchronous transmission mode) terminal 1020 via a switching network 30. Ru. The STM exchange 300 includes a terminal interface 310 of the STM exchange 300 and a call signal line 11a. An STM terminal 10 is connected via the data line 1-2a,
For example, from the STM terminal 10 to the opposite STM exchange 400
If there is a communication request to the STM terminal 20 connected to the STM terminal 10, the call signal line 11a connected to the STM terminal 10
The terminal interface 310 inside the exchange 300 manually sends a call message to the control unit 320 via the call signal line 33, and the control unit 320 connects the trunk line interface 3, which is a route to the 57M terminal 400 via the signal line 34.
TDM (time division multiplexing) for notifying call messages to 40 and exchanging S7M data between terminal interface 310 and trunk line interface 340.
A communication channel is set on the switch 330, and the TDM line 1
8 free channels are secured and a call message is input to the opposite STM switch 400 via the switching network 30. STM
Also in the exchange 400, an empty channel of the TDM line 28 on the trunk line interface 440 side is secured,
A call message is input from trunk line interface 440 to control unit 420 . Therefore, T for the trunk line interface 440 and the STM terminal 20 on the receiving side.
A communication channel of the DM switch 430 is set, and a call message is notified to the STM terminal 20 on the called side via the call signal line 21a. After that, the configured STM terminal 1 (]
The data line +2a, 3 that I wanted to be the communication route between and 20
Data communication is performed using 536.46, 45.22a,
At the timing when the communication ends, the STM exchange 300,
From the control units 320, 420 in the charging signal line 19,
29. Notify the billing details to the billing device 50 via the switching network 40. FIG. 8 shows the STM exchange 3 in this exchange system.
This figure shows the detailed configuration of the terminal interface 310 in 00. In FIG. 8, a call message from a call signal line 11 connected to a terminal 10 is sent to a message buffer 3.
11 to the control unit 320. Also, terminal 10
The data line 12 connected to the transmitter/receiver circuit 312, TDM
TDM switch 33 via address decoder 313
0, and transmits and receives data according to the communication channel timing (TDM address) from the TDM switch 330. Here, the TDM address decoder 313 is TD
This is to analyze the M address. Note that the configuration of the terminal interface 410 in the STM exchange 400 is also similar to the configuration of the terminal interface 310 shown in FIG. FIG. 9 shows a detailed configuration of the control section 320 in the STM exchange 300. The control unit 320 includes a clock 320 that measures time, a central processing unit (CPU) 322 that controls the entire control unit 320, a memory 322 that stores data necessary for various processes in the control unit 320, and a billing device 5o that charges charges. Input/output circuit for outputting signals (Ilo
) 324 and a message buffer 325 for inputting call messages from the terminal interface 310 to a bus 326.
configured by connecting to. The call message input from the call signal line 33 is sent to C0U via the message buffer 325.
322 using the program in the memory 323 to realize the setting of the TDM switch 330 described above and message communication according to the call message communication protocol described later. In addition, this control unit 320 detects call origination and call termination timing using time 5+ 321, stores charging information based on this in memory 323, and stores it in l10324. Charging device 50 via signal line 1-9
Notify. Note that the control unit 42 in the STM exchange 400
The configuration of 0 is also similar to the configuration of the control section 320 shown in FIG. FIG. 10 shows a frame structure of a signal transmitted on a conventional TDM line 18.28. Communication data is transmitted through channels cHi (i-1 to i-n) divided into fixed transmission bands, and includes a synchronization signal for synchronizing the transmission and reception of this communication data. Next, a conventional billing information collection procedure will be explained with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14. 1-3 illustrate call message communication protocols commonly used in conventional switching systems of this type. This first
A conventional method of collecting billing information using the protocol shown in FIG. 3 will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following explanation, the STM terminal 10 is assumed to be the originating terminal, the STM exchange 300 is the originating exchange, the STM exchange 400 is the terminating exchange, and the STM terminal 2 [] is the rightmost terminal. First, at the timing when an information confirmation (CONN ACK) message indicating call connection completion is notified to the originating exchange 3 (step 161), the originating exchange 3
(,) The calling terminal 1o presents other information elements in the call message shown in FIG. - Calling terminal number - Receiving terminal number - Communication characteristic information such as incoming call charge flag and clock 321 in control unit 320
Write the communication start time from (Step) 6
3). Thereafter, at the timing when the originating exchange 400 notifies the originating terminal 10 of a disconnection (DISC) message at the end of the communication (step 163), the end time given from the clock 327- is written in the billing table in the memory 323. (Step 164). Then, the contents of the billing table are notified in the billing information frame format shown in FIG. 11 via one billing signal line and the switching network 40 to the billing device 50 realized by means such as a workstation (step 165). ). The billing device 50 calculates the difference in the communication time obtained by subtracting the start time from the end time.

[, the given charging coefficient is multiplied and the charging value is accumulated in the charging device at the originating terminal or the receiving terminal in consideration of the communication characteristics (step 166).
). [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional billing method as described above, only the call time is taken into account, so the communication packet (cell) ji, the transmission priority of the communication packet, and the required transmission bandwidth value are It has become impossible to define charges for packet switching equipment and ATM switching equipment, which impose a load on the switching equipment. The present invention aims to provide a billing system suitable for packet switching equipment and ATM switching equipment. [Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, in this invention, a communication path is established by a call setting message prior to communication, and then the total number of communication packets is counted in an exchange that communicates packets on the communication path. The present invention is characterized in that it has a counting means for calculating a charge value based on the total number of communication packets counted. That is, the present invention provides a counting means for counting the number of normally received packets (cells). Additionally, the requested transmission bandwidth value, packet transmission priority, and cumulative count of normally received packets between the communicating terminals provided in the call message are added to the billing information frame. In addition, communication time, requested transmission bandwidth value, packet transmission priority, and cumulative count of normally received packets between communicating terminals can be selectively entered manually as calculation parameters for the billing value of the billing device. In addition, by counting the transmitted packets, it is possible to determine the communication quality based on the difference between the received packets and the transmitted packets.
This will also be made an element of billing. [Function] By adding the requested transmission bandwidth value and packet transmission priority provided in the call message, and the cumulative count of regularly received packets between the communicating terminals to the billing information frame, the billing device can receive information from the packet switch or ATM switch. Load characteristics can be provided. In addition, by using communication time, requested transmission bandwidth value, packet transmission priority, and number of communication packets between communicating terminals as calculation parameters for the charging value of the charging device, the charging value of the packet switch or ATM switch can be reduced. I can do what I want. [Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of an exchange system according to the present invention. In this example, an ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) terminal 1.2 each accommodating an ATM
It is configured by connecting exchanges 100 and 200 via a switching network 30. The ATM switch 100 includes a terminal interface 110S controller 12Q, a packet switch A, and a terminal interface 110S connected to the ATM terminal 1 via a call signal line 11 and a packet line 12.
TM switch 130, trunk line interface 14
0, and an ATM switch 20 (1 is an ATM
A connected terminal interface 210 connected to the M terminal 2 via the call signal line 21 and the packet line 22;
Ia section 220, packet switching ATM switch 230, and trunk line interface 24C]. This embodiment differs from the conventional one shown in FIG. 7 in that terminals 1 and 2, exchanges 100 and 200, and trunk lines 18 and 28 are implemented using the ATM (asynchronous transmission mode) method. In principle, similarly to the STM exchanges 300 and 400 shown in the conventional example shown in FIG. 7, a communication route is secured by a call message, and data communication is performed on the route. However, in this embodiment, the form of data communication is exchange communication using fixed-length packets. Incidentally, packet switching equipment that performs high-speed packet communications also has a similar structure, so only the ATM switching equipment will be explained here. FIG. 2 shows an example of a call message used in this type of exchange. In this call message,
Compared to the call messages used in conventional STM exchange (Figure 12), ATM terminals have multiple speeds, so it is necessary to apply for the requested transmission band in advance and the priority of communication packets (cells). Keep bits have been added. That is, the other information elements in the call message shown in Fig. 2 are: ■ Calling terminal number ■ Receiving terminal number ■ Call type ■ Requested transmission band ■ Packet transmission priority ■ Terminating charge flag ■ Received packet count number ■ Transmitted packet count Contains numbers, etc. Here, the requested transmission band is used to secure a communication path in advance before transmission. Furthermore, the packet transmission priorities are determined to be discard priority and delay priority. FIG. 3 shows an example of the format structure of communication packets (cells) transmitted on the ATM line 18.28, and is usually configured as a fixed length packet of about 53 bytes. Next, an embodiment of the billing system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the billing information collection procedure of the present invention. In the following explanation, the ATM terminal 1 is referred to as an originating terminal, the STM exchange 100 is referred to as an originating exchange, and the ST
The explanation will be given assuming that the M exchange 200 is the terminating exchange and the STM terminal 2 is the terminating terminal. Also, please refer to FIG. 13 for the call message communication protocol in this embodiment. In addition, the control units 120, 21 .
The hardware configuration is the same as that of the conventional control unit 320 shown in FIG.
10, reference numerals shown in FIG. 9 will be referred to for convenience of explanation. The originating exchange 100 receives a response confirmation (CONN) from the originating terminal 1.
ACK) is notified (step 151)
), the information given in the call message, ■Calling terminal number, ■Receiving terminal number, ■Requested transmission bandwidth, ■Packet transmission priority, and ■Incoming call, is stored in the accounting table, which is the work area of the accounting information frame described later, in the memory 323 of the control unit 120. Communication characteristic information such as a billing flag and communication start time given from the clock 321 in the control unit 120 are written (step 152). Thereafter, packet (cell) communication is performed, and in the present invention, in order to control the number of communication packets, the terminal interfaces 110 and 120 are configured as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the terminal interface 11θ in the ATM switch 100. Note that the configuration of the terminal interface 210 within the ATM exchange FR 200 is also similar. In FIG. 4, a packet switching (ATV) switch 13
The packet (cell) received from C1 is input to the panorama node receiving section 1]4 via the buffer 1]7, where it undergoes processing such as serial/parallel conversion, and then is sent to the H
It is manually operated by the ECi inspection section 113. Here, is HEC in the packet error correction? This HEC can normally detect 2-bit errors, detect 1-bit errors, and perform
Only packets that are normal during inspection are transferred to packet line 1.2.
It is transmitted to the ATM terminal 1 via a. At this time, the received packet counter]12 is incremented by one. Furthermore, in this type of exchange, if the HEC test shows an abnormality, the data is simply discarded and procedures such as retransmission are not carried out. In addition, packets sent from the ATM terminal 1 are sent to the packet line 1.
2b to the packet transmitter 115, and is sent to the packet switching (ATM) switch 130 via the queue 118.
sent to. At this time, the transmission packet counter 216
is incremented by 1 count. Further, a call setting message from the ATM terminal 1 is sent to the control unit 120 via the message buffer 111, and a call setting message from the control unit 120 is sent to the AT~1# end 1 via the message buffer 111. Ru. So, for example, an outgoing exchange of $11. Outgoing terminal 1 from OO
At the timing when disconnection (DISC) is notified (step 153), the end time given by the clock and the reception time notified by the opposite ATM switch in the call message (call release message) are added to the billing table. Write the total number of incoming and outgoing packets, which is the sum of the packet count and the received packet count on the eye side. In addition, the communication quality (total number of transmitted packets - received packet exchange) - 1,000 total number of transmitted buckets is calculated from the number of transmitted packets of the call message and the total number of transmitted buckets that are accumulated from the number of transmitted packets on the eye side, and this communication quality is also written in the billing table ( Step 154). Note that the number of packets received by the other party included in the call release message is based on the received packet count value of the exchange of the other party. Here, the same effect can be achieved by writing the received packet count number in the billing information frame on both the sending and receiving sides and accumulating it in the billing device. Then, the content of the billing table is placed on the billing information frame shown in FIG. 5, and is notified to the billing device [50 realized by a workstation or the like] via the billing signal line 19 and the switching network 40 (step 155). The billing device 50 calculates the communication time (X) obtained by subtracting the start time from the end time, multiplied by a billing coefficient (α) given in advance (α×X), the total number of outgoing and received packets (y), and the packet transmission priority. The value (z) multiplied by the charging coefficient (β) given in advance by the communication quality (βXyXz÷■), the value obtained by multiplying the required transmission bandwidth value (W) by the charging coefficient (γ) given in advance (γ × w ), for example, the cumulative value (α×x+β×
y x z + v + γ In this billing information, each element information and each calculation result information are stored and collected in association with each call for each terminal. These detailed data are printed as billing details as necessary. According to the above embodiment, the number of normally received packets is the cumulative number of received packets counted on the white side (calling side) and the number of received packets on the other side (called side) during call release message. However, in order to simplify the billing system,
The number of communication packets may be calculated only from the value grasped by the calling exchange. In other words, the number of communication packets can be determined by the sum of the number of received packets counted on the white side and the number of transmitted packets counted by the transmitted packet counter 116. Furthermore, if the packet transmission priority is changed within the same call, charging may be done taking each priority into consideration. In other words, if the priority is changed from Zl to 22, the total number of incoming and outgoing packets in the Z1 state is Vl, and the total number of incoming and outgoing packets in the Z2 state is y2, the charging value is (β x y1
×Z1+V+β×y2×Z2−r−■) can be obtained. At this time, each time the priority changes, the received packet counter 112
Is it necessary to memorize and reset the count value of 5? By the way, in the above-mentioned embodiment, communication time, total number of communication packets, packet transmission priority, requested transmission bandwidth value, and communication quality were used as billing elements, but the following combinations
It is also possible to implement billing. (1) Charging based only on the total number of communication packets (2) Charging based only on the requested transmission bandwidth value (3) Charging based on at least one of packet transmission priority and communication quality in addition to communication time (4) Charging based on the total number of communication packets (5) In addition to the required transmission bandwidth value, the total number of communication packets, the communication time, the packet transmission priority, and at least the communication quality]
The choice of which of these to adopt depends on the construction of the exchange/system. For example, in the case of a system in which there is considerable deterioration in quality, the ATM system does not require delivery confirmation, so the quality of delivery/a is used as a factor in calculating charges. [Effects of the Invention] As explained above. In addition, in this invention, in addition to the communication time used for billing information in conventional switching equipment, the receiving side takes into account packet loss due to packet discard on the communication channel, which is a load on the switching equipment during packet switching and ATM switching. The total number of communication packets, which is the cumulative total excluding measured received packets,
Since the band'r transmission priority, the requested transmission path bandwidth value, and the communication quality can be used as billing parameters, A
It can be used as a billing system in a TM switch or a high-speed packet switch that uses a similar system.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a switching system to which this invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a call message used in this embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a packet (cell) used in this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the terminal interface of this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the billing information frame on the billing signal line of this embodiment. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional exchange system. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the terminal interface shown in FIG. 7. The figure is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control section shown in FIG.
Fig. 0 shows a conventional TDM line frame, Fig. 11 shows a conventional charging information frame on a charging signal line, Fig. 12 shows a conventional call message, and Fig. 13 shows conventional call message communication. FIG. 14, a sequence diagram showing the protocol, is a flowchart showing a conventional billing information collection procedure. 1.2...ATM@terminal, 10.20...-5TM terminal, 30.40...Switching network, 50...Charging device, 100
2 (10-ATM switch, 101-, 2],
O-terminal interface, 111... Message buffer, 112... Received packet counter, 113-
HE Cm inspection unit, 114...Packet reception unit, 115
-1. Packet transmitter, 116... Transmission packet counter, 117... Buffer, 118... Queue 1
．． 20,220, Control unit, 130,230, Packet switching (ATM) switch, 140,240, Trunk line interface, 300,400, ST
M exchange, 330.430...TDM...switch Fig. 2 - Fig. 5 Fig. 8 Fig. 9 Fig. 10 Fig. 11 Fig. 12 Fig. 14

Claims (10)

[Claims] (1) Prior to communication, a communication path is set up using a call setup message, and then the switching equipment that transmits packets on that communication path has a counting means for counting the total number of communication packets, and is charged based on the counted total number of communication packets. A billing method in an exchange that is characterized by calculating a value. (2) A billing system in an exchange according to claim 1, wherein the counting means calculates a cumulative value of the number of normally received packets in the exchanges on both sides of the call origination and call reception. (3) Claim (2) characterized in that the counting means counts the number of received packets transmitted in a call release message from the exchange of the calling party or the receiving party as the number of normally received packets of the calling party. Billing method for the listed exchange. (4) The billing method in an exchange according to claim 1, wherein the counting means calculates a cumulative value of the number of normally transmitted packets and the number of normally received packets in either the originating or incoming exchange. (5) A billing system in an exchange according to claim 2, wherein the counting means is located in a billing device connected to the exchange. (6) In an exchange that establishes a communication path using a call setup message prior to communication and then communicates packets on the communication path, the exchange is characterized in that a billing amount is calculated based on the requested transmission bandwidth value in the call message. Billing method. (7) Prior to communication, a communication path is set up using a call setup message, and then, in an exchange that transmits packets on that communication path, the communication time, the packet transmission priority, and the difference between the number of transmitted packets and the number of received packets are calculated. 1. A billing method in an exchange, characterized in that a billing value is calculated based on a combination of at least one communication quality. (8) The total number of communication packets counted, communication time, packet transmission priority, number of transmitted packets, and reception at an exchange that establishes a communication path using a call setup message prior to communication and then transmits packets on that communication path. A billing method in an exchange characterized in that a billing value is determined based on a combination of at least one of communication quality given by a difference between the number of packets and the number of packets. (9) Prior to communication, a communication path is set up using a call setup message, and then, in an exchange that transmits packets on that communication path, the requested transmission bandwidth value in the call message, the communication time, the total number of communication packets counted, and the packet A billing method in an exchange characterized in that a billing value is determined based on a combination of transmission priority and at least one of communication quality given by the difference between the number of transmitted packets and the number of received packets. (10) According to any one of claims (6) to (8), when a change occurs in the packet transmission priority within the same call, a subdivided charging value is calculated according to each priority. Billing method for the listed exchange.