KR100814528B1 - Method and apparatus for accounting in portable internet system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a billing apparatus and a method in a portable internet system. In a portable internet system capable of simultaneously generating a plurality of services for each subscriber station, the billing information is recorded and managed for each service flow to perform differentiated billing processing. It is characterized by being able to do it.

According to the present invention, as compared to the conventional billing method in which information services having different characteristics such as telephone, data, and video application service are all treated as one service class, a billing method differentiated for each service can be implemented. In the portable Internet system that can create a plurality of services, more reasonable billing can be made between the user and the service provider, and more efficient network operation and profit can be expected from the service provider's point of view.

WiBro, Control Station, Base Station, Billing, Service Specific

Description

Charging apparatus and method in portable internet system {Method and apparatus for accounting in portable internet system}

1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a portable Internet system.

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a portable Internet system to which a charging device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of the first charging table in FIG. 2.

3B is a diagram illustrating an example of the second charging table in FIG. 2.

4 is a view for explaining the operation of the charging device according to the present invention during handoff.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a charging method according to the present invention at the time of initial network connection.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a charging method according to the present invention when deleting a service flow and disconnecting a network by a subscriber station.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a charging method according to the present invention at handoff.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a charging method according to the present invention when a service addition and a service deletion are requested.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: subscriber station 110: base station

120: control station 130: AAA server

140: home agent 150: QM (QoS Manager)

200: charging device

210: billing processing unit 220: billing timer

230: memory unit 231: first charging table

241: second charging table 251: charging DB

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for charging in a portable internet system. In particular, in a portable internet system capable of generating a plurality of services for each user, different charging processes can be performed by recording and managing charging information for each service flow. It relates to a charging device and method that can be.

The portable Internet system is an advanced Internet system in a wireless LAN, and unlike the conventional wireless internet, a plurality of service connections can be set for each user, and the system has a characteristic of supporting various service classes for each connection setting.

In the portable Internet system as described above, since the billing data is a data that charges the user, high accuracy is required, and in particular, the billing data is accurately collected because it is used as a basis for future network expansion through traffic analysis. It is very important.

However, the billing data items and billing methods that do not meet the concept of the portable Internet system have not been defined yet, and the billing method currently used in the mobile communication system assumes that one service is activated in the terminal. It is based on a single service providing method for transmitting a C, which is difficult to apply to a mobile Internet system in which a subscriber station can simultaneously generate various types of services.

In more detail, since the conventional billing method generally processes billing using only data packet usage and service usage time for the subscriber station, all information services having different characteristics such as telephone, data, and video application service are all available. It is treated as a class of service and follows a single rate system, which causes a problem in that charging between users and service providers is not justly and reasonably made.

That is, it is not desirable to apply the charging method currently used in the mobile communication system to the portable internet system as it is, and accordingly, there is a need for introducing a charging policy suitable for the portable internet system.

In conclusion, in the portable Internet system, since various types of services may be simultaneously provided to each subscriber station, a new function for transmitting or collecting billing data for each service flow is required. There is a need for a billing instrument that can charge an appropriate fee.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a billing apparatus and method capable of performing a differentiated billing process by recording and managing billing information for each service flow in a portable Internet system capable of simultaneously generating a plurality of services for each subscriber station. .

In order to achieve the above object, a billing method according to the present invention is a billing method in a portable Internet system for providing billing information on at least one service provided to a subscriber terminal to a billing server, comprising: (a) the subscriber terminal; Generating a charging sub-session for each generated service if a service is generated between base stations; And (b) collecting charging information for each service flow of each service that is activated based on the generated charging sub-session and providing the collected charging information to the charging server.

In addition, in order to achieve the above object, a billing method according to the present invention is a billing method in a portable Internet system for providing billing information on at least one service provided to a subscriber terminal to a billing server, wherein the subscriber terminal is a hand. In the case of turning off, charging end information, base station information, and charging information up to the timing of the service flow of each service activated at the subscriber station by the source base station are collected and stored; Providing charging start information and base station information for a service flow of each service activated at the subscriber station from a target base station; Collecting and storing charging information for each service flow of each service activated by the target base station by the target base station; And adding the charging information collected and stored by the source base station and the charging information collected and stored by the target base station and providing the charging information to the charging server.

In addition, in order to achieve the above object, the billing method according to the present invention is a billing method in a portable Internet system for providing billing information on at least one service provided to a subscriber terminal to a billing server, wherein a service is requested from a network side. If so, the step of generating a service between the subscriber station and the base station according to the service request from the network side; Creating a charging sub-session for the service requested from the network side; And collecting charging information for each service flow of a service requested from the network side, based on the generated charging sub-session, and providing the collected charging information to the charging server.

On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, the billing apparatus according to the present invention is a billing apparatus in a portable Internet system that can simultaneously generate at least one or more services for each subscriber station, the service flow of each service provided to the subscriber terminal A billing processing unit for collecting billing information for each billing unit and providing the billing information to a billing server; A charging timer operated under the control of the charging processor; And a memory unit in which a billing table in which billing information is recorded for each service flow of a service provided to the subscriber station is stored.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a portable Internet system.

As shown in FIG. 1, the portable Internet system includes a portable subscriber station (PSS) 100 and a base station that performs all control functions related to access and services of the subscriber station 100. RAS (110), an access control router (ACR) 120 for controlling the base station 110, connected to an IP network, authentication, authorization verification of the subscriber station 100, and Authentication Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server 130 that performs the billing function, a Home Agent (HA) 140 for mobility of IP through an IP network, and the subscriber terminal connected to an IP network It is composed of a QM (QoS Manager) 150 that performs a QoS guarantee function for the voice, video and data services provided to the 100.

The subscriber station 100 has a portable Internet wireless access function, an IP-based service access function, an IP mobility function, a terminal / user authentication and security function, a multicast service reception function, and an interworking function with another network.

The base station 110 has a mobile Internet wireless access function, a radio resource management and control function, mobility (handoff) support function, authentication and security function, QoS provision function, multicast function, billing, statistical information generation and notification function have.

The control station 120 has an IP routing and mobility management function, an authentication and security function, a QoS providing function, an IP multicast function, a charging service providing function, an inter-base station mobility control function, a resource management and control function in the control station. .

In the above description, the subscriber station 100 and the base station 110 perform communication by using an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) scheme, and the OFDMA scheme will be briefly described as follows.

The OFDMA scheme is a multiplexing scheme that combines a frequency division scheme using a plurality of orthogonal frequency subcarriers as a plurality of subchannels and a time division scheme (TDM) scheme, and the OFDMA scheme is essentially generated in a multipath. It is a technology that can provide the mobility of the subscriber station in the portable Internet system, because it is resistant to fading and has a high data rate to obtain an optimal transmission efficiency in high-speed data transmission.

Meanwhile, in the portable Internet system configured as shown in FIG. 1, various types of services may be simultaneously generated in each subscriber station 100. Accordingly, in the present invention, the service flow of each service is described below. By collecting and managing billing data for each, it is possible to perform differentiated billing processing, and the billing apparatus and method according to the present invention will be described in more detail below.

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a portable Internet system to which a charging device according to the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 2, the billing apparatus 200 according to the present invention includes a billing processor 210 for collecting and transmitting billing data for each service flow of each service generated between the subscriber station 100 and the base station; The billing timer 220 operates under the control of the billing processing unit 210, and a memory unit 230 including a first billing table 231 in which billing information is recorded for each service flow of each service.

The charging device 200 is preferably modularized to the base station 110 that conforms to the IEEE 802.16 standard shown in FIG. 1. In the present embodiment, the charging device 200 is modularized to the base station 110 for convenience of description. It is assumed to be described.

That is, when a service flow is generated between the subscriber station 100 and the base station 110, the charging processor 210 collects charging information for each service flow of each service and records the collected charging information in the first charging table 231. The charging information about each service flow is transmitted to the control station 120 with reference to the first charging table 231 according to the timing signal of the charging timer 220.

Here, charging information is recorded for each service flow of each of the active services in the first charging table 231. Hereinafter, the first charging table 231 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3A. same.

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of the first charging table 231 in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the first billing table 231 includes a service flow ID (SF ID), a direction information (Direction) of a service, a service type (Type), a transmit / receive packet amount (Pkt), and a transmit / receive octet (Oct). Information) is recorded.

The service flow ID (SF ID) is an ID assigned from the control station 120 according to whether the corresponding service flow is a downlink service flow or an uplink service flow, and the direction information (Direction) of the service is determined by the corresponding service flow. If it is a downlink service flow, it is set to Down, and if it is an uplink service flow, it is set to UP.

The service type is information indicating a characteristic of a service provided to a terminal, and generally, a non real time polling service (nrtPS), an unsolicited grant service (UGS), and a real time polling service (rtPS) that can be provided in a portable Internet system. It may be set to one of Extended Real-time Polling Service (ERt-PS) and Best effort (BE).

That is, charging information may be collected according to the service characteristics according to the service type information. For example, in the case of a VOD streaming service belonging to rtPS, in the case of a web surfing service belonging to a BE, Billing information may be collected on an hourly basis.

The transmit / receive packet amount Pkt and transmit / receive octets indicate the number of packets transmitted and received on the wireless link and the number of octets, respectively, in the corresponding service flow.

Referring back to FIG. 2, when the subscriber station 100 is connected to the AAA server 130 through the base station 110 and the control station 120 according to the network entry procedure, the AAA server 130 is connected to the corresponding subscriber station 100. If the authentication is successful by performing the authentication for the authentication), the charging DB 251 retrieves the charging policy and the pre-contracted service information for the corresponding subscriber terminal 100, and then authenticates the retrieved charging policy and the contracted service information. The message is included in the message and transmitted to the control station 120.

Meanwhile, when the control station 120 receives the authentication success message for the subscriber station 100 from the AAA server 130, the control station 120 generates a charging session for charging the corresponding subscriber station 100, and the subscriber station 100. A service flow ID is allocated according to the pre-contracted service information of), where Down SF ID, UP SF ID, or both are assigned depending on whether the service uses a downlink service flow or an uplink service flow. .

For example, if the subscriber terminal 100 is contracted to receive a 'file transfer' service, the downlink service flow in which the subscriber terminal downloads the data and the uplink uploading the data for the 'file transfer' service. All of the service flows are required, so the control station 120 assigns both Down SF ID and UP SF ID to the 'file transfer' service.

In addition, when the control station 120 generates a service including a downlink service flow or an uplink service flow between the subscriber station 100 and the base station 110 and receives a charge start request message for the service through the base station 110. Create a billing subsession for the created service.

At this time, it is preferable that one charging sub-session is generated for one service including the downlink service flow and the uplink service flow, because the charging information of the downlink service flow and the charging information of the uplink service flow are generated. Is respectively transmitted to the AAA server 130, since the traffic of the data packet for charging is increased and traffic is concentrated on the AAA server 130, the downlink service flow and the uplink service flow based on the charging sub-session. In order to reduce the network load according to the billing message transmission by collecting the billing information of the billing information for each service and transmit it to the AAA server 130.

In addition, when the charging information for each service flow is collected and transmitted from the base station 110, the control station 120 records and manages the received charging information in the second charging table 241. Hereinafter, the second charging table 241 will be described. ) Will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3B.

3B is a diagram illustrating an example of the second charging table 241 in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the second billing table 241 includes a billing session ID (AS ID), a billing subsession ID (A-SS ID), a service ID (SV ID), and a downlink service flow ID (Down SF). ID), Uplink Service Flow ID (Up SF ID), Service Type (Down Pkt), Uplink Packet Volume (Up Pkt), Downlink Octum (Down Oct), Uplink Jade Up Oct, Billing Start Time, Billing Stop Time, Used Service Hours, Used Base Station ID (RAS ID), Paging Group ID (PAG ID), Sector ID (Sec ID), Cumulative Information such as downlink packet amount (Accu Down Pkt), cumulative uplink packet amount (Accu Up Pkt), cumulative downlink Octum (Accu Down Oct), cumulative uplink Octum (Accu Up Oct) and the like are recorded.

The billing session ID (AS ID) is an ID for identifying a billing session generated for each authenticated subscriber station 100, and the billing subsession ID (A-SS ID) is generated according to service flow generation of each service. ID for identifying the charging sub-session to be generated.

The service ID (SV ID) is an ID for identifying whether the corresponding service is a contracted service of the subscriber station 100 or a service requested in addition to the contracted service, and a detailed description thereof will be described with reference to FIG. 8. This will be explained in detail later.

The downlink service flow ID (Down SF ID) and the uplink service flow ID (Up SF ID) are downlink services used by the billing sub-session among each service flow generated between the subscriber station 100 and the base station 110. ID for indicating a flow ID and an uplink service flow ID.

The service type is the same as described with reference to FIG. 3A, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The downlink packet amount (Down Pkt) and the uplink packet amount (Up Pkt) are the number of packets provided between the subscriber station 100 and the base station in one charging reporting period in the downlink service flow and the uplink service flow. The downlink and uplink octets are shown between the subscriber station 100 and the base station 110 in one billing reporting period in the downlink service flow and the uplink service flow. Shows the number of octac provided.

The base station ID (RAS ID), paging group ID (PAG ID), sector ID (Sec ID) and the like are for identifying the access point information of the subscriber station 100, according to the access point information before and handoff After the billing information can be distinguished, it is possible to implement a rate discount function according to the access point of the terminal, such as a rate discount service in a specific region.

The cumulative downlink packet amount (Accu Down Pkt) and cumulative uplink packet amount (Accu Up Pkt) is the total cumulative provided between the subscriber station 100 and the base station 110 up to the timing in the downlink service flow and the uplink service flow. The cumulative downlink octet and the accumulating uplink octet are accumulated in the downlink service flow and the uplink service flow until the timing of the subscriber station 100 and the base station. The total cumulative octal number provided between 110 is shown, respectively.

Referring back to FIG. 2, when charging information for each service flow is received from the base station 110, the control station 120 maps the received charging information to the charging session and the charging sub-session as shown in FIG. 3B. The AAA server 130 records the billing information for each service subsession by collecting the billing information for each service flow recorded in the second billing table 241 when the billing information transmission request is made. To send.

When the AAA server 130 receives the billing information for each billing subsession from the control station 120, the AAA server 130 performs the billing processing for the billing subsession and transmits the billing processing result to the control station 120.

On the other hand, when the service flow is deleted, the base station 110 includes the charging end information for the service flow deleted through the charging processing unit 210 and the charging information up to the timing in the charging end request message to the control station 120. As a result, the control station 120 releases the service flow ID assigned to the corresponding service flow, and then transmits the charge end request message for the corresponding service flow to the AAA server 130.

The AAA server 130 receives the charging end request message from the control station 120, performs the charging end for the corresponding service flow, and then includes the charging end result in the charging response message to transmit to the control station 120.

The control station 120 receives the charging response message, checks the charging subsession information on the deleted service flow, and then deletes the charging subsession when all the service flows mapped to the charging subsession are deleted. .

On the other hand, when the network connection of the terminal is released due to the power off of the subscriber station 100, the base station 110 through the charge processing unit 210, the charging end information for all service flows that are activated in the subscriber station 100 And the charging information up to the timing is included in the charging end request message and transmitted to the control station 120. Accordingly, the control station 120 provides a service flow ID for all service flows activated in the subscriber station 100. After the release, the AAA server 130 transmits the charge termination request message.

The AAA server 130 receives the charge end request message from the control station 120, performs charge end for all service flows activated in the subscriber station 100, and then includes the charge end result in the charge response message. The control station 120 deletes all the billing subsessions for the subscriber station 100.

When all the charging subsessions for the subscriber station 100 are deleted in the control station 120 according to the above procedure, the control station 120 deletes the charging session informing the deletion of the charging session for the subscriber station 100. When the message is transmitted to the AAA server 130 and the charging session deletion response message, which is a response message, is received from the AAA server 130, the charging session of the subscriber station 100 is deleted so that no further charging is performed. do.

On the other hand, when the subscriber station 100 is handed off, in the present invention, as described below, the charging information collection is stopped at the base station (hereinafter, referred to as a "source base station") before the handoff, The charging information for each service flow can be collected by a base station (hereinafter referred to as a 'target base station'). Hereinafter, this will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4.

4 is a view for explaining the operation of the charging device according to the present invention during handoff.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the network connection of the terminal is released from the source base station 110a due to the handoff of the subscriber station 100, the source base station 110a is connected to the subscriber station 100 through the charging processor 210a. The billing termination information for all the active service flows and billing information up to the timing are included in the billing termination request message and transmitted to the control station 120. Accordingly, the control station 120 is activated in the subscriber station 100. Save current billing information for all service flows.

Next, the target base station 110b collects billing information for each service flow activated in the subscriber station 100 through the billing processor 210b and records the collected billing information in the first billing table 231b. In accordance with the timing signal of the charging timer 220b, the charging information for each service flow is transmitted to the control station 120 with reference to the first charging table 231b.

Subsequently, when the charging information for each service flow is received from the target base station 110b, the control station 120 inquires the charging subsession ID thereof, and then the charging information previously collected and stored by the source base station 110a. And the charging information collected by the target base station 110b is included in the charging report message and transferred to the AAA server 130.

On the other hand, in the above description, a procedure for collecting and transmitting billing information for each service flow has been described as an example in which a service flow of a service is generated or deleted by a user in a contracted service item of the subscriber station 100. However, VoIP Even if the sending terminal is contracted to receive VoIP service, such as a voice call service, if the receiving terminal is not subscribed to the VoIP service, that is, from the QM 150 (see FIG. 1), the receiving terminal. Even when a new service is requested, the method of collecting and processing charging information for each service flow as described above may be applied in the same manner, and a detailed description thereof will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 8.

As described above, in the subscriber station 100 of the portable Internet system, various kinds of services may be simultaneously generated in the characteristics thereof. According to the charging device of the present invention, the charging information is collected and managed for each service flow of each service. As a result, it is possible to perform a differentiated billing process, and accordingly, an appropriate fee can be charged according to various service characteristics provided to the subscriber station.

Hereinafter, a charging method in a portable internet system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a charging method according to the present invention at the time of initial network connection.

Referring to FIG. 5, first, when a subscriber station 100 is connected to an AAA server 130 through a base station 110 and a control station 120 according to a network entry procedure, the AAA server 130 may access the corresponding subscriber station 100. If the authentication is successful by performing the authentication for), the charging policy and the contracted service information for the corresponding subscriber station 100 are searched, and then the searched charging policy and the contracted service information are included in the authentication success message. Transmit to 120 (S501).

Next, the control station 120 stores the charging policy and the contracted service information received from the AAA server 130 (S502), and then transmits the charging policy information for the subscriber station 100 to the base station 110. In operation S503, the base station 110 sets a charging timer for collecting and transmitting the charging information (S504).

Next, the control station 120 generates a charging session for charging of the corresponding subscriber station 100 (S505), and allocates a service flow ID according to the previously contracted service information of the corresponding subscriber station 100 ( S506).

At this time, Down SF ID, UP SF ID, or both are allocated according to whether the corresponding service uses the downlink service flow or the uplink service flow.

Then, the service flow IDs assigned by the control station 120 are transmitted to the base station 110 (S507). Accordingly, the base station 110 receives and stores the service flow IDs (S508).

On the other hand, after the above process, if the service flow is generated between the subscriber station 100 and the base station 110 (S509), the base station 110 charges the service flow ID and the charging start information for the generated service flow It is included in the start request message and transmitted to the control station 120 (S510).

Then, when the control station 120 receives the charging start request message from the base station 110, the control station 120 according to the service flow ID and the charging start information included in the charging start request message for the service including the corresponding service flow In generating a session (S511), it is preferable that one charging sub-session is generated for one service, including the downlink service flow or the uplink service flow generated in the subscriber station 100.

That is, in the present invention, as described above, the billing information of the downlink service flow and the billing information of the uplink service flow included in the service are collected and transmitted to the AAA server 130 at the same time, thereby transmitting the billing message. To reduce the net load.

Next, the control station 120 transmits an accounting request (start) message indicating the start of charging to the AAA server 130 (S512). At this time, the accounting request (start) message is generated in the subscriber terminal 100. Billing sub-session ID information and service type information for the received service flow.

Then, the AAA server 130 receives the Accounting Request (start) message to confirm that a new billing subsession has been created, and sends an accounting answer (start), which is a billing response message, to the control station 120 ( S513).

At this time, the Accounting Answer (start) includes charging subsession ID information.

On the other hand, the base station 110 collects the billing information for each service flow of the service activated in the subscriber terminal 100 and records the collected billing information in the first billing table 231 (see Fig. 2) (S514), When the billing transmission time Interim elapses (S515), the billing information for each service flow is transferred to the control station 120 with reference to the first billing table 231 (S516).

Next, when the charging information for each service flow is received from the base station 110, the control station 120 includes the charging subsession ID and the charging information in the accounting request (Interim), which is a charging report message, to the AAA server 130. To be transmitted (S517).

Here, the charging information may be charging information in one charging reporting period or total charging information up to the timing, and preferably includes transmission / reception packet amount and octet information of the IP layer for the corresponding service.

Next, the AAA server 130 receives the billing report message and performs billing processing for the corresponding service, and then includes the billing result in Accounting Answer (Interim), which is a billing response message, and sends it to the control station 120. (S518).

That is, the base station 110 collects billing information for each service flow of each service activated in the subscriber station 100 and periodically transmits the billing information to the control station 120, and the control station 120 transmits the received billing information. The service is collected and transmitted to the AAA server 130, and the collection and transmission of billing information for each service flow is performed in the same manner for all service flows activated in the subscriber terminal 100.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a charging method according to the present invention when deleting a service flow and disconnecting a network by a subscriber station.

Referring to FIG. 6, first, when a service flow is deleted between the subscriber station 100 and the base station 110 (S601), the base station 110 controls the charging end request message requesting the end of the charging for the deleted service flow. Transfer to step 120 (S602).

At this time, it is preferable that the charging end request message includes service flow ID information about the deleted service flow, charging end information, and charging information up to the timing.

Next, the control station 120 receives the charging end request message and releases the service flow ID assigned to the corresponding service flow (S603), and then an accounting request (stop) indicating the end of charging for the service flow of the corresponding service. The message is transmitted to the AAA server 130 (S604).

At this time, the Accounting Request (Stop) message preferably includes the billing subsession ID information and the billing information for the service flow of the service.

Subsequently, the AAA server 130 receives the Accounting Request (Stop) message and performs charging termination for the service flow of the corresponding service, and then includes the charging termination result in the Accounting Answer (Stop) message that is the charging response message. It transmits to the station 120 (S605).

Then, the control station 120 receives the Accounting Answer (Stop) and checks the billing subsession information on the deleted service flow, and then if all the service flows mapped to the billing subsession are deleted, the billing sub The session is deleted (S606).

On the other hand, when the network connection of the terminal is released due to the power-off of the subscriber station 100 (S607), the base station 110, the end of the billing request to end the charging for all the service flows activated in the subscriber station 100 The request message is transmitted to the control station 120 (S608).

In this case, the charging end request message may include service flow ID information, charging end information, and charging information up to the timing of all service flows activated in the subscriber station 100.

Next, the control station 120 releases the service flow ID for all service flows activated in the subscriber station 100 (S609), and then sends an Accounting Request (stop) message indicating the end of charging for all service flows. It transmits to the AAA server 130 (S610).

At this time, the Accounting Request (Stop) message preferably includes the billing subsession ID information and the billing information for all the service flows activated in the subscriber terminal (100).

Subsequently, the AAA server 130 receives the Accounting Request (Stop) message, performs charging termination for all service flows activated in the subscriber station 100, and then charges the termination result as an accounting answer message. Included in (Stop) and transmitted to the control station 120 (S611).

Then, the control station 120 receives the Accounting Answer (Stop) and deletes the charging subsession for all service flows (S612).

Next, the control station 120 transmits an Accounting Request (Stop) message to the AAA server 130 informing the deletion of the charging session for the subscriber station 100 (S613), and the AAA server 130 responds to this. The accounting Answer (Stop) message is transmitted to the control station 120 (S614).

Then, the control station 110 receives the Accounting Answer (Stop) message and deletes the charging session for the subscriber station 100 so that no further charging is made (S615).

As described above, various types of services may be generated in the subscriber terminal 100 of the portable Internet system, and according to the charging method of the present invention, the charging is differentiated by collecting and managing charging information for each service flow of each service. Processing becomes possible.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a charging method according to the present invention during handoff.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the subscriber station is handed off (S701), the source base station 110a transmits a charging end request message for requesting termination of charge for all service flows activated at the subscriber station. Transfer to (S702).

At this time, it is preferable that the charging end request message includes service flow ID information, charging end information, base station information, and charging information up to the timing of all service flows activated in the subscriber station.

Then, the control station 120 stores the charging information collected by the source base station 110a for all service flows activated in the subscriber station (S703).

Next, the target base station 110b transmits to the control station 120 a charging start request message requesting charging start for all service flows activated in the subscriber station (S704).

At this time, the charging start request message preferably includes service flow ID information, charging start information, and base station information for all service flows activated in the subscriber station.

Next, the target base station 110b collects billing information for each service flow activated in the subscriber station 100 (S705), and when the billing transmission time Interim elapses (S706), for each collected service flow The charging information is transmitted to the control station 120 (S707).

Subsequently, when the charging information for each service flow is received from the target base station 110b, the control station 120 inquires the charging subsession ID thereof, and then the charging information previously collected and stored by the source base station 110a. And collect the billing information collected by the target base station (110b) and include it in the accounting request (Interim), which is a billing report message and delivers it to the AAA server 130 (S708 to S709).

Here, the charging information may be charging information in one charging reporting period or total charging information up to the timing, and preferably includes transmission / reception packet amount and octet information of the IP layer for the corresponding service.

Subsequently, the AAA server 130 receives the billing report message, performs billing processing for all services activated in the subscriber station 100, and then sends the billing result to the accounting answer (Interim) which is a billing response message. Included and transmitted to the control station 120 (S710).

In the above description, a procedure of collecting and transmitting billing information for each service flow of each service is described as an example in which a service flow is generated or deleted by a user in a contracted service item of the terminal. When a call is made to a receiving terminal through a service, the above-described billing processing method for each service flow may be applied in the same way even when a service is requested from a network side to a receiving terminal for a VoIP incoming service. When the service is requested, the billing process for this is explained in more detail.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a charging method according to the present invention when a service addition or deletion is requested.

First, when additional VoIP service is requested from a transmitting subscriber station (not shown), the VoIP service request is forwarded to the QM 150 which performs QoS guarantee function for the service, so that the QM 150 is provided with respect to the requested service. After allocating the service ID, the allocated service ID information, service type information, and direction of the service (Direction) are included in the service addition request message and transmitted to the control station 120 (S801).

Then, the control station 120 stores the service ID information, the service type information, and the direction information (Direction) of the service received from the QM 150 (S802), and then stores the service flow ID for the additional requested service. Assign (S803).

At this time, the control station 120 allocates a Down SF ID, an UP SF ID, or both depending on whether the additional requested service uses an uplink service flow or a downlink service flow.

Next, the control station 120 includes the service flow ID, service type information, and direction of the service (Direction) in the service addition request message and transmits it to the base station 110 (S804).

Then, when a service flow is generated between the base station 110 and the receiving subscriber station 100 according to the service addition request (S805), the base station 110 determines the service flow ID and the charging start information for the generated service flow. Is included in the charging start request message and transmitted to the control station 120 (S806).

Next, when the charging start request message is received from the base station 110, the control station 120 transmits a service addition response to the QM 150 informing that the new service has been added (S807).

Next, the control station 120 generates a charging subsession for the service flow of the corresponding service according to the service flow ID and the charging start information included in the received charging start request message (S808), and then starts charging. Notifying transmits an Accounting Request (start) message to the AAA server 130 (S809).

At this time, the Accounting Request (start) message includes the billing sub-session ID information and service type information for the service flow of the service requested from the network side.

Subsequently, the AAA server 130 receives the Accounting Request (start) message to confirm that the charging subsession for the service flow of the new service is generated, and sends an accounting answer (start), which is a charging response message, to the control station ( 120) (S810).

At this time, the Accounting Answer (start) includes charging subsession ID information.

Meanwhile, the base station 110 collects billing information for each service flow activated in the subscriber station 100 (S811), and the collection of billing information for each service flow has been described in the description related to FIG. Is omitted.

Then, when the VoIP service is terminated from the transmitting subscriber station (not shown), the service deletion request according to the termination of the VoIP service is transmitted to the QM 150, so that the QM 150 is a service for the service requested to be deleted. The ID information, the service type information, and the direction of the service (Direction) are included in the service deletion request message and transmitted to the control station 120 (S811).

Next, the control station 120 includes the service flow ID information, the service type information, and the direction of the service (Direction) of the requested service in the service deletion request message and transmits it to the base station 110 (S812). .

Next, when the service flow is deleted between the base station 110 and the receiving subscriber station 100 in response to the service deletion request (S813), the base station 110 requests the charging end request to request the end of the charging for the deleted service flow. The message is transmitted to the control station 120 (S814).

At this time, it is preferable that the charging end request message includes service flow ID information about the deleted service flow, charging end information, and charging information up to the timing.

Next, the control station 120 receives the charging end request message, releases the service flow ID assigned to the corresponding service flow (S815), and then sends an Accounting Request (stop) message indicating the end of charging for the corresponding service flow. It transmits to the AAA server 130 (S816).

At this time, it is preferable that the Accounting Request (Stop) message includes the billing subsession ID information and the billing information for the deleted service flow.

Then, the AAA server 130 receives the Accounting Request (Stop) message and performs the charging termination for the deleted service flow, and then includes the charging termination result in the Accounting Answer (Stop) message that is the charging response message. 120) (S817).

Then, the control station 120 receives the Accounting Answer (Stop) and checks the billing subsession information on the deleted service flow, and then if all the service flows mapped to the billing subsession are deleted, the billing sub The session is deleted (S818).

That is, even if a service other than the contracted service of the receiving subscriber station 100 is requested from the network side, the base station 110 collects charging information for each service flow of the requested service and transmits it to the control station 120. In addition, the control station 120 collects the received billing information for each service and transmits the collected billing information to the AAA server 130, thereby enabling the billing processing differentiated for each service.

As described above, according to the billing method of the present invention, in the portable Internet system capable of simultaneously generating a plurality of services for each subscriber station, the billing information is collected and managed for each service flow of each service to perform differentiated billing processing. In this way, it is possible to charge appropriate rates according to various service characteristics provided to the subscriber terminal.

Meanwhile, the above-described embodiments of the present invention can be written as a program that can be executed in a computer, and can be implemented in a general-purpose digital computer that operates the program using a computer-readable recording medium.

So far, the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs may be embodied in a modified form without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. It will be appreciated. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the present invention is shown in the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to implement a different charging method for each service, compared to the conventional charging method in which all information services having different characteristics such as telephone, data, and video application service are treated as one service class. Therefore, in the portable Internet system that can create multiple services for each user, more reasonable charges can be made between the user and the service provider, and the effect of more efficient network operation and profits can be expected from the service provider's perspective. have.

In addition, according to the present invention, since the billing information for all service flows activated in the subscriber terminal is collected for each service and delivered to the billing server, the billing information processing procedure is simplified while reducing the network load according to the billing message transmission. There is an effect that the charging process can be made more quickly and easily.

Claims (18)

A billing method in a portable internet system for providing billing information for at least one service provided to a subscriber terminal to a billing server, (a) generating a charging sub-session for each generated service when a service is generated between the subscriber station and the base station; And (b) collecting charging information for each service flow of each service activated based on the generated charging sub-session and providing the collected charging information to the charging server in the portable Internet system. Charging method. The method of claim 1, wherein before step (a), Receiving a charging policy and pre-contracted service information for the subscriber station from the charging server when the authentication for the subscriber station succeeds; Generating a charging session for charging the subscriber station; And And assigning a downlink service flow ID or an uplink service flow ID according to the characteristics of the pre-contracted service of the subscriber station. The method of claim 1, wherein in step (a), And generating a charging sub-session for each service flow of the generated service. The method of claim 1, wherein in step (b), Providing charging information for each service flow of each collected service based on the charging sub-session to the charging server as at least service-specific charging information including at least a downlink service flow and an uplink service flow. Charging method in portable internet system. The method of claim 1, And recording the billing information for each service flow of each of the collected services in a billing table. The method of claim 5, wherein the billing table, Billing session ID, billing subsession ID, service ID, downlink service flow ID, uplink service flow ID, service type, send / receive packet volume, transmit / receive octets, billing start time, billing end time, service usage time, base station ID, And a paging group ID, sector ID information, cumulative transmission / reception packet amount, and cumulative transmission / reception octet count. The method of claim 1, wherein when the service flow is deleted, Providing charging end information for the deleted service flow and charging information up to the timing to the charging server; And Checking the charging subsession information of the deleted service flow and deleting the corresponding charging subsession when all service flows mapped to the charging subsession are deleted; . The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein when the network connection is released due to power off of the subscriber station, Providing charging end information for the service flow of each service activated in the subscriber station and charging information up to the timing to the charging server; Deleting the charging sub-session for each service activated in the subscriber station; And And deleting the charging session for the subscriber station. A billing method in a portable internet system for providing billing information for at least one service provided to a subscriber terminal to a billing server, If the subscriber station is handed off, Collecting and storing charging end information, base station information, and charging information up to the timing of a service flow of each service activated at the subscriber station by a source base station;  Providing charging start information and base station information for a service flow of each service activated in the subscriber station from a target base station; Collecting and storing charging information for each service flow of each service activated by the target base station by the target base station; And And charging the billing information collected and stored by the source base station and the billing information collected and stored by the target base station and providing the billing information to the billing server. The method of claim 9, Providing the billing server with the billing information for each service flow of each of the collected services based on the billing sub-session of the respective services as billing information for each service including at least a downlink service flow and an uplink service flow. The charging method in the portable internet system characterized by the above-mentioned. A billing method in a portable internet system for providing billing information for at least one service provided to a subscriber terminal to a billing server, If the service is requested from the network side, Generating a service between the subscriber station and the base station according to the service request from the network side; Creating a charging sub-session for the service requested from the network side; And And charging the billing information for each service flow of the service requested from the network based on the generated billing sub-session and providing the collected billing information to the billing server. . The method of claim 11, Providing charging information for each service flow of each collected service based on the charging sub-session to the charging server as at least service-specific charging information including at least a downlink service flow and an uplink service flow. Charging method in portable internet system. The method of claim 11, If the service flow is deleted, Providing charging end information for the deleted service flow and charging information up to the timing to the charging server; And And checking the charging subsession information of the deleted service flow and deleting the corresponding charging subsession when all the service flows mapped to the charging subsession are deleted. . The method according to claim 7 or 13, And if the service flow is deleted, releasing a service flow ID for the deleted service flow. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of claim 1, 9 or 11. Claims [1] A billing apparatus in a portable internet system capable of simultaneously generating at least one service per subscriber terminal. A billing processor for collecting billing information for each service flow of each service provided to the subscriber station and providing the billing information to a billing server; A charging timer operated under the control of the charging processor; And And a memory unit storing a billing table in which billing information is recorded for each service flow of a service provided to the subscriber station. The method of claim 16, wherein the billing table, And a service flow ID, a service direction, a service type, a transmission / reception packet amount, and transmission / reception number information. 18. The charging device of claim 16, wherein the charging device is modularized in a base station conforming to the IEEE 802.16 standard.

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