WO2008089681A1

WO2008089681A1 - Method and system for charging in communication system

Info

Publication number: WO2008089681A1
Application number: PCT/CN2008/070120
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wei Zhang; Liang Gu
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-01-22
Filing date: 2008-01-16
Publication date: 2008-07-31

Abstract

A charging method in the communication system includes the steps of: a function entity for policy controlling and charging rules generates the charging policy information according to the mobile terminals' business, and sends it to a policy charging executing entity in the communication system; the policy charging executing entity in the communication system charges for the business according to the charging policy information received and the charging information obtained.

Description

Method and system for charging in a communication system

The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a method and system for charging in a communication system.

Background technique

The structure of the WiMAX system is shown in Figure 1. The WiMAX system mainly includes three parts: mobile terminal (MS, Mobile Station), service access network (ASN, Access Service Network) and connection service network (CSN). The ASN mainly includes a base station (BS, Base Station) and an access service network gateway (ASN-GW, Access Service Network Gateway), etc.; the CSN mainly includes a prepaid server (PPS, Prepaid Server) and an authentication, authorization, and accounting server. (AAA, Authentication Authorization Accounting Server) and other logical entities. The MS and the ASN are connected through the R1 interface. The MS and the CSN are connected through the R2 interface. The ASN and the CSN are connected through the R3 interface. The ASNs are connected through the R4 interface. The CSNs are connected through the R5 interface. The BS in the ASN is connected. Connected to the ASN-GW through the R6 interface. The wireless side, i.e., the R1 side, is a wireless city i or network access technology based on the IEEE, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.16 standard.

The latest quality of service (QoS, Quality of Service) of the WiMAX System Working Group (NWG) is shown in Figure 2. The MS is the user's mobile terminal, and the user interacts with the network through the MS. Service Flow Management An entity (SFM, Service Flow Manager) is used to establish a user service flow and allocate radio resources for the established service flow. The functional entity exists in the ASN; the Service Flow Authorization (SFA) is used for the service flow. Authorization, the functional entity exists in the ASN; the Policy Function (PF) is used to provide a policy for the user's service flow. The functional entity is provided by a Network Service Provider (NSP). When the user roams, There will be a visit PF (V-PF, Visited PF) and a home PF (H-PF, Home PF); Application Functional Entity (AF, Application Function) It is a functional entity that provides application services. The user's MS directly accesses the AF through the application layer protocol. The AF will notify the PF to actively create a service flow for the user. The functional entity is provided by the NSP.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the existing WiMAX NWG standard charging architecture. As shown in Figure 3, the MS is equivalent to the user in the charging, Account ing Cl ient or Account ing Agent for collecting. All billing information is provided to the AAA Proxy (AAA Proxy) or AAA Server (when the AAA Proxy does not exist); the Prepaid Client (PPC) is used to interact with the prepaid server to provide prepaid service support for the user. PPC can be combined with Account ing Cl ient or Accounting Agent. The following two are generally referred to as Account ing Cl ient or Account ing Agent; AAA Proxy is an optional intermediate device for processing received accounting information. After that, a new accounting information is generated and forwarded to the AAA server, such as the home AAA server or the visited AAA server, etc.; the home AAA server is the home AAA server, that is, the user is initially registered. The AAA server or the AAA server of the user's home location, the home AAA server stores the user's subscription information, including the charging policy, etc. The main charge processing is done in the home AAA server; visited AAA server is a user visited AAA server for billing information is recorded when the user roams to achieve transparent transmission and forwarding functions.

The existing billing reference model is shown in Figure 4, including the MS, billing point, and billing server. The user logs in, accesses, or logs out of the network through the MS according to the network requirements. The charging point automatically initiates charging information for the user service according to the user network access situation, and the charging server receives the charging information according to the calculation. The fee information generates the corresponding bill. In Figure 3, the billing client/accounting agent can act as a billing point, and the AAA Server and PPS can act as billing servers.

In a WiMAX system, based on flow charging, a packet data flow identifier is used in a charging bill to identify a packet data stream, and the charging entity generates a charging record for the packet data stream and reports to the charging entity in the WiMAX system. .

The WiMAX system provides data services to users through service data streams. One service data stream corresponds to one data service of the user, and the service data stream is composed of one or more packet data streams. In order to enable the charging entity to associate packet data streams in a service data stream, billing in WiMAX systems The service data stream identifier should be included in the bill.

In order to charge the user traffic more efficiently, the Policy and Charging Control (PCC) architecture can work together with the AAA Server as the accounting server.

PCC truss is a universal policy control and charging control framework suitable for various Internet Protocol (IP) connection access networks. The PCC framework mainly implements a certain quality of service control mechanism for the characteristics of the mobile access network. The main functions provided are: MS-based customized information implementation policy control and traffic flow-based charging control. The PCC architecture is located between the service control layer and the access/bearer layer in the mobile network, and blocks specific access/bearer layer technologies and topology information to the service control layer. The PCC architecture receives the service flow related QoS request from the service control layer, and then combines the control policy with the topology information of the mobile network to convert the QoS information of the service flow into IPQoS information, and transmits the QoS information to the relevant access/bearer layer node. And service gateway nodes, which then implement corresponding QoS control based on the received information and its own functions.

Among them, policy control includes Gateing Control and Quality of Service (QoS Control); charging control mainly refers to Flow Based Charging (FBC). FIG. 5 is a basic functional framework diagram of a PCC in the prior art, including: AF, a subscription information storage function entity (SPR), a policy control and charging rule function entity (PCRF), a policy control, and a charging execution function entity (PCEF). , Online Billing System (0CS) and Offline Billing System (0FCS).

The AF and PCRF are connected by the Rx interface. The Gx connection is used between the PCRF and the PCEF, the Gz interface is used between the PCEF and the 0FCS, and the Gy interface is used between the PCEF and the 0CS.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a current WiMAX system and a PCC architecture. As shown in FIG. 6, the PCEF is connected to a functional entity in the ASN-GW through an R3 interface, and is connected to the PCRF through a Gx interface, and the PCEF functions as a PCRF and an ASN-GW. The protocol converter between the functional entities, the PCEF can be further implemented as an implementation of the IP layer QoS policy control, that is, the PCEF converts the message from the Gx interface of the PCRF to the R3 interface and sends the message to the ASN-GW, which will come from the ASN-GW. The message of the R3 interface is converted to a message of the Gx interface and sent to the PCRF. PCEF can be specifically related to the functional entity SFA in ASN-GW, or data path Functional entities (DPF, Da ta Pa th Func t ion ), or Account ing Agents are connected; they can also be connected to SFA, DPF and billing agents respectively. The PCC rule is used to carry a service data i into an IP-connected network (IP Contec t y ty Acces s Ne twork, IP-CAN).

In Figure 6, the functions of the original 3GPP PCEF can also be decomposed and distributed in the CSN network and ASN network of the WiMAX system.

The PCEF functional entity in the CSN network, referred to herein as the access PCEF (I-PCEF), is responsible for transmitting the message exchanged between the policy charging enforcement entity and the PCRF in the ASN, and performing the mutual conversion between the R3 interface message and the Gx interface message. . If the system supports the ability of the policy charging enforcement entity in the ASN to communicate directly with the PCRF, including the interface definition and the migration of the executable, only the functional entities of the PCEF in the ASN can be retained. The policy charging enforcement entity in the ASN network is divided into anchor PCEF, which is referred to herein as A-PCEF, and service PCEF, which is referred to herein as S-PCEF. The A-PCEF is composed of a policy charging enforcement entity such as an anchor SFA and/or a charging client. As an anchor point of the PCEF in the ASN network, the A-PCEF is responsible for receiving the charging policy information sent by the CSN network and transmitting it to the S-PCEF. And receiving the S-PCEF message and uploading it to the CSN network. The S-PCEF consists of a policy charging enforcement entity such as an anchor DPF/FA, a service SFA, and/or a charging agent. S-PCEF acts as a policy charging enforcement point for PCC rules, including the functions of the SFA and/or charging agent.

In the PCC architecture, for charging, each layer is independently charged, that is, the application layer performs application layer charging, and the access network performs charging for the access network, and then uses the charging association identifier to associate the CDRs generated by each layer. .

During the establishment of the service flow, the QoS policy and the accounting policy information are sent to the PCEF by the PCRF. The PCEF collects and reports the charging information according to the requirements of the charging policy.

When the PCRF sends a PCC rule to the PCEF, each PCC rule corresponds to an application layer charging identifier and associated rate information, and a plurality of data stream information to which the PCC rule is applied. The rate information is determined by the PCRF according to the information provided by the AF, the subscription information in the AAA Server, and/or the preset information in the PCRF. When the PCEF interacts with the 0CS, the rate information is used to request the prepaid quota, and the PCEF is reported. The billing information includes the rate information. In the PCC architecture, the process of charging an application session of the service is as follows: First, the AF sends the media description information corresponding to the application session and the application layer charging identifier to the PCRF. Generally, one application session corresponds to one application layer. The fee identifier, an application session corresponds to multiple media description information, and each group of media description information may have an application layer identifier, a corresponding media type and bandwidth resource, included data flow description information, and maximum request bandwidth information.

Then, after the PCRF performs authorization processing on the application session sent by the AF, the response information is sent to the AF, which may include an access network charging entity identifier and one or more groups of access network charging identifier information.

A set of access network charging identifier information includes: an access network charging identifier and one or more sets of data stream description information corresponding to the access network charging identifier. The data flow description information includes the media description information sequence number and its internal data stream sequence number. If the data flow description information is not explicitly indicated, the access network charging identifier corresponds to all data flows in the application session.

After the PCF rules are set for the application session, the PCRF sends the PCC rules to the PCEF for execution. The PCEF performs charging according to the PCC rules, generates charging information, and performs application layer charging and access network charging corresponding to the application session through the 0CS or the 0FCS. .

If the PCC architecture is integrated with the WiMAX network, when the PCEF performs charging for the service when performing the PCC rule, the charging information should also be obtained from the charging client and/or the charging proxy in the ASN (there is no implementation yet). The program is described in detail).

Although the above solution proposes to associate the access network charging information and the application layer charging information of the same application session, it does not propose how to associate. In the above solution, the charging policy information in the PCC rule is not sent to the charging client and/or the charging proxy in the ASN, and the charging client and/or the charging proxy in the ASN report to the PCEF. In the case of fee information, the billing information is theoretically collected in the most granular and fully supported manner, and the prepaid method is not well supported, which causes waste of resources and bandwidth resources of the WiMAX system. In the above solution, the rate information is not described. The calculation of the user's tariff and the allocation of the quota are performed according to their own policies. When a new service is introduced, the policy needs to be modified, which is not conducive to the introduction of the service. go a step further, In the above solution, the change of the billing client and/or the billing proxy in the ASN due to the movement of the MS may not be considered, thereby causing a change in the reported billing information.

In addition, the foregoing solution only charges the service by the PCEF according to the PCC rule, and the entity in the WiMAX system cannot charge the service, which causes the policy charging execution entity to have less WiMAX, and when there are more services to be charged, A bottleneck effect.

In summary, there is currently no solution for integrating the PCC architecture into the WiMAX system to bill the MS traffic.

Summary of the invention

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for charging in a communication system, which enables a communication system to integrate a PCC architecture for charging.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for performing charging in a communication system, which enables a communication system to integrate a PCC architecture for charging.

According to the above objective, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention is implemented as follows:

A method for charging in a communication system, the method comprising:

The policy control and charging rule function entity generates charging policy information for the service of the mobile terminal, and sends the information to the policy charging execution entity in the communication system;

The policy charging execution entity in the communication system performs charging for the service according to the received charging policy information and the obtained charging information.

A system for performing charging in a communication system, the system comprising a policy control and charging rule function entity and a policy charging execution entity in the communication system, wherein

a policy control and charging rule function entity, configured to generate charging policy information for the service of the mobile terminal, and send the information to the policy charging execution entity;

The policy charging execution entity is configured to perform charging on the service according to the received charging policy information and the obtained charging information.

It can be seen from the foregoing solution that, in the method and system provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the policy charging generation entity sends the generated charging policy information to the determined policy charging executing entity, where the policy is calculated. The fee execution entity performs a charging process on the service of the MS according to the received charging policy information and the obtained charging information. In addition, when the charging policy information is delivered, the related charging policy information identifier is bound to be sent, so that the policy charging executing entity performs the charging information corresponding to the MS service corresponding to the charging identifier. The data flow collects the billing information, and the collected billing information is provided to the billing server for generating the bill corresponding to the billing policy information identifier and its own identifier. Therefore, the method and system provided by the embodiments of the present invention clarify the related processing of the service charging of the communication system after the communication system is integrated with the PCC architecture, which is beneficial to the promotion and application of the communication system.

DRAWINGS

1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture of a WiMAX system in the prior art;

2 is a schematic diagram of a WiMAX system network providing QoS in the prior art;

3 is a schematic diagram of a network of a WiMAX system providing charging in the prior art;

4 is a schematic diagram of a network charging structure in the prior art;

5 is a schematic diagram of a PCC architecture in the prior art;

6 is a schematic diagram of a conventional WiMAX system and a PCC architecture;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method for converging a PCC architecture in a WiMAX system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a charging policy information generated by a network side PCRF to an ASN when a service flow is created or a service flow is modified according to an embodiment of the present invention; Flowchart of the method delivered by the policy charging execution entity;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of charging policy information when a service flow is created or a service flow is modified according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A flow chart of a method for the PCRF to be sent after receiving the PCC rule request sent by the I-PCEF;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a PCC charging based method after an Anchor SFA/Accounting Client handover is performed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a system for performing charging in a WiMAX system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a processing method when charging association information is changed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description

Specific embodiments will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment of the present invention provides a method for performing charging in a communication system. When the communication system is a microwave access global interworking system, the embodiment of the present invention implements a WiMAX system fusion PCC architecture by using the schematic diagram shown in FIG. In the network, the policy charging execution entity is determined, and the generated charging policy information is sent by the PCRF to the determined policy charging executing entity by using the I-PCEF, and the policy charging executing entity is configured according to the received charging policy information. And the charging information performs a charging process for the service of the MS.

In this embodiment, the policy charging enforcement entity includes one or a combination of an I-PCEF, a charging client, and a charging proxy; the policy charging enforcement entity is located at the ASN and/or the CSN.

When the policy charging enforcement entity is located at the CSN, the policy charging enforcement entity is located in one or a combination of an HA (home agent) entity, a PCRF entity, an AAA entity, and an independent entity.

In this embodiment, the I-PCEF includes the following functional entities:

a rule distribution function entity, configured to exchange charging policy information with a policy control and charging rule function entity or other policy charging execution entity during service creation, modification, or deletion, and/or to perform charging policy information or execution Messages are converted and distributed.

The charging report function entity is configured to receive charging information of the other policy charging execution entity for performing service charging, and report the charging information and/or the charging information of the service performing charging to the 0CS or 0FCS. .

When the I-PCEF is located at the CSN, the I-PCEF is located in one or a combination of an HA entity, a PCRF entity, an AAA entity, and an independent entity.

In this embodiment, when the charging policy information is sent to the policy charging execution entity, the information about how to collect the charging information may be carried, so that when the charging information is acquired, the charging is collected according to the charging policy information. information.

In this embodiment, when the charging policy information is sent to the policy charging execution entity, the charging policy information identifier may be carried, including: an application layer charging identifier, a service identifier, etc., for charging with the policy. The identifiers assigned by the execution entity include: after the associated network charging entity identifiers are associated, the identifiers are carried when the bills are generated.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method for converging a PCC architecture charging in a WiMAX system according to an embodiment of the present invention, The specific steps are:

Step 700: The MS sends a service request to the AF by using high layer signaling.

Step 701: After the user performs the application layer authorization of the user, the AF sends a service information request to the PCRF, and the PCRF performs service authorization and establishes a bearer, authorizes the service according to the user subscription information and the operator policy, and determines the PCC corresponding to the service. Rule, the PCC rule includes the charging policy information.

In this step, the charging policy information includes one or more of a charging method, a metric, a rate information, a service identifier, a corresponding application layer charging identifier, and a corresponding stream identifier.

The charging method refers to an application mode corresponding to the charging policy information, such as online charging, offline charging, or no charging. The metric mode refers to a collection and measurement manner of the charging information corresponding to the charging policy information, such as the duration. Billing, billing, event billing, or a combination thereof. The rate information is determined by the PCRF according to the service type, media type, and QoS requirements, and the 0CS or 0FCS determines the rate corresponding to each service data stream in the service based on the rate information. The service identifier is used to describe the service data flow of the corresponding service in the PCC rule or the service type corresponding to the PCC rule, and corresponds to the application layer application identifier AF-Appl-I-I-I-ID issued by the AF. The application layer charging identifier is a charging identifier allocated by the application server for charging association with the application layer. The flow identifier is allocated by the AF, corresponding to a set of IP flows of the service, and one set of IP flows is composed of one or more IP flows; the flow identifier may also be combined with the application layer charging identifier to identify a specific IP flow in the service. As a fine-grained charging identifier, used for charging association.

The PCRF carries the PCC rule in the access authorization request message and sends it to the I-PCEF through the Gx interface, and the I-PCEF forwards it to the policy charging execution entity.

Step 702: An I-PCEF entity exists in the CSN network as an interface between the PCC framework and the ASN network, and converts the received access authorization request message into a message format supported by the WiMAX system, and uses an R3 interface message in the WiMAX system, such as a resource. The reservation request message (RR Reques t ), or the access authorization request message in the Diameter may be used to send the PCC rule to the policy charging execution entity.

In this step, the PCRF allocates a service data flow identifier and a number of packets for the data flow in the service. According to one or a combination of the flow identifiers, the service data flow identifier may be bound to the service identifier or the application layer charging identifier, or the content of the service data flow identifier is the same as the content of the service identifier or the application layer charging identifier, and the service data flow identifier It can be carried by an independent cell, or can be delivered to the I-PCEF through the service identifier or the application layer charging identifier cell, and then transmitted to the policy charging execution entity in the WiMAX system; the packet data flow identifier and the PCC rule identifier There is a mapping relationship with the flow identifier.

Or, in this step, the I-PCEF is used as an interface between the PCC architecture and the ASN network, and the I-PCEF generates one or a combination of the service data flow identifier and the packet data flow identifier for the data flow of the service, where the service data flow identifier may be Bind to the service identifier or the application layer charging identifier delivered by the PCRF, or the content of the service data stream identifier is the same as the content of the service identifier or the application layer charging identifier; the I-PCEF may be identified and/or according to the obtained PCC rule. The flow identifier generates a packet data flow identifier, and the packet data flow identifier may also be bound to the access network charging identifier, or the packet data flow identifier is the same as the access network charging identifier content. The I-PCEF sends the service data flow identity and the packet data flow identity along with the PCC rules to the policy charging enforcement entity.

The charging information generated by the policy charging execution entity according to the PCC rule, the service data flow identifier, and the packet data flow identifier includes a service data flow identifier and a packet data flow identifier, and is used for billing association of the bill.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the I-PCEF may also select itself as the execution entity of the charging policy. In this case, when the charging client in the ASN does not perform the charging policy according to the original working mode, the I-PCEF may be used by the I-PCEF. carried out.

Step 703: The policy charging execution entity collects charging information for the data flow of the service according to the received PCC rule, such as charging according to the duration or collecting the charging information according to the flow rate, according to the collected information. The fee information and the received PCC rule interact with the 0CS or the 0FCS message, and the interaction message includes the rate information of the PCC rule. If the online charging mode is used, the 0CS determines the data in the service according to the obtained rate information. The rate corresponding to the flow is allocated and the prepaid quota is allocated accordingly; or if the offline charging mode is used, the 0FCS determines the rate corresponding to the data flow in the service according to the obtained rate information and generates an offline bill. The generated bill includes one or more combinations of an application layer charging identifier, an access network charging identifier, an access network charging point address, a service data flow identifier, and a packet data stream identifier.

If I-PCEF is used as the execution entity of the charging policy, when the offline charging is used, the charging client/accounting agent in the WiMAX system reports all the collected charging information to the I-PCEF; I-PCEF The policy charging enforcement entity of the CSN maintains a mapping relationship between the charging information and the PCC rule. After receiving the charging information reported by the ASN charging client/accounting agent, the I-PCEF firstly according to the charging information. The service data flow identifier, the packet data flow identifier, the charging session identifier, or the combination is mapped to the corresponding PCC rule, and then the obtained charging information is processed twice according to the corresponding PCC rule, that is, according to the metric in the corresponding PCC rule. The method extracts the required information, such as extracting the traffic information or the duration information, and the related service identifier, the application layer charging identifier, and/or the rate information, and then according to the corresponding charging method, and the 0FCS For message interaction, 0FCS generates offline CDRs based on the obtained information.

When online charging is used, the charging client/accounting agent in the WiMAX system provides services to the user according to the obtained prepaid quota. When the quota usage reaches the threshold, the charging client/accounting agent sends the message to the I-PCEF. The pre-paid quota request, the request message includes a service data flow identifier, a packet data flow identifier, a charging session identifier, or a combination thereof; the I-PCEF maps to a corresponding PCC rule according to the identifier in the request message, and is associated with the corresponding PCC rule. The service identifier, the application layer charging identifier, and/or the rate information, and the message exchange with the 0CS according to the corresponding charging mode, where the message includes the service data flow identifier, the packet data flow identifier, the charging session identifier, the service identifier, One of the application layer charging identifiers or a combination thereof; the rate is determined by the 0CS according to the obtained rate information, and the prepaid quota is allocated for the current service of the user; the I-PCEF forwards the obtained prepaid quota to the WiMAX system. Billing client/accounting agent, the billing client/accounting agent in the WiMAX system continues to provide prepaid services for users. .

The I-PCEF may also perform the merging of the charging information reported by the charging policy enforcement entity, and the I-PCEF generates the access network charging identifier, and the access network charging identifier corresponds to one or more PCC rules, I-PCEF According to the user identifier, service data flow identifier, and number of packets in the received charging information. Collecting and combining the charging information reported by the charging policy execution entity according to the flow identifier, the charging session identifier, or a combination thereof, and using the I-PCEF identifier and the access network charging identifier allocated by the I-PCEF as the access network charging entity. The identity and the access network charging identifier communicate with the 0FCS/0CS, and the migration of the charging policy enforcement entity is blocked to the 0CS/0FCS.

The embodiments of the present invention are specifically described below.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method for actively transmitting a charging policy information by a network-side PCRF to a policy charging executing entity when a service flow is created or a service flow is modified according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the network entity involved includes a policy charging execution entity, a PCRF and an I-PCEF in the PCC architecture, and an MS and an AF, where the policy charging execution entity includes a charging client/accounting agent, which may Located at ASN and / or CSN. The specific steps are:

Step 800: The MS interacts with the AF through the high-level message, and sends a service request carrying the user identifier to the AF, requesting to establish a new service flow or modify the existing service flow.

Step 801: The AF performs service authorization according to the subscription information of the user, and determines whether the user has the right to execute the request submitted by the user terminal, that is, whether the user has the right to obtain the requested service or whether the service flow is modified, and the service authorization is passed. After that, the AF determines the PCRF to which the MS belongs according to the user identifier.

Step 802: The AF sends an access authorization request message to the determined PCRF. The process is to send an access authorization request message to the PCRF through the Rx interface with the PCRF, establish a session corresponding to the service between the PCRF, and notify the corresponding request. Business information.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the content of the access authorization request message includes: a user identifier, an application layer charging identifier, and a streaming media description information (including a classifier, a bandwidth requirement, a media type, and the like) related to the service.

In the embodiment of the present invention, in order to meet the requirements of the WiMAX system, the streaming media description information provided by the AF to the PCRF needs to include streaming media content, including resource indication reduction, quality of service priority (QoS Pr iorty), and combined resource request ( Combined Resources Requ i red ) and other information, if the AF does not provide the above information, the PCRF can also be based on its preset policy or user's subscription information. Set.

Step 803: While the AF interacts with the RCPF, the high-level message may notify the MS that the service request initiated by the MS is being processed.

Step 804: After receiving the access authorization request message sent by the AF, the PCRF performs QoS authorization on the message by using the user identifier provided in the message. After the authorization succeeds, the PCRF according to the information in the message, the PCRF own preset rule, and Any one or combination of user subscription information generates a PCC rule.

The PCC rules include: one or more of rule identification, authorization QoS information, charging policy information, and rule priority.

The charging policy information includes the foregoing charging method, a metric mode, a rate information, a service identifier, and a corresponding application layer charging identifier.

After generating the PCC rule, the PCRF actively sends a service authorization request message to the corresponding policy accounting execution entity, and the message includes the generated PCC rule.

When performing QoS authorization, if the information maintained on the PCRF is insufficient to complete the authorization operation, the PCRF can interact with the AAA Server to obtain the subscription information of the user for authorization.

In the embodiment of the present invention, in order to meet the requirements of the WiMAX system, the PCRF also sends a service authorization request message to the corresponding policy charging execution entity through the I-PCEF, and the sent service authorization request message further includes the streaming media content related to the service. , including one or more of reducing resource indication, QoS Pr ior ty, and Comb ined Re source s Requi red. If the service authorization message sent by the PCRF does not include the above information and the message is sent to the corresponding policy charging execution entity through the I-PCEF, the I-PCEF may determine the above information according to the policy preset by itself.

If the access network charging identifier is assigned by the PCRF, the PCRF assigns the identifier, and the identifier is included in the service authorization request message to be sent.

In this embodiment, the layer charging identifier may be applied to the service data flow identifier in the WiMAX system, where the PCRF may transmit the application layer charging identifier corresponding to the service data flow identifier to the policy charging execution entity. Implied service through the application layer charging identifier in the PCC rules The data flow identifier is used by the I-PCEF as a protocol conversion entity, and the application layer charging identifier in the rule is sent as a service data flow identifier to the policy charging execution entity.

Step 805: The I-PCEF is used as a protocol converter, after receiving the service authorization request message sent by the PCRF, according to the user identifier in the related information of the message, indexing to its corresponding policy charging execution entity, and The message is converted to a corresponding message in the WiMAX system, such as the RR-Reques t or the CC-Reques t message in the Diame ter protocol, and sent to the policy charging execution entity, where the message content includes the user identifier, the QoS policy, and the charging policy information. And other related information in step 804.

The policy charging enforcement entity includes a charging client/accounting agent, which can be located at the ASN and/or CSN. Step 806: The charging client in the policy charging execution entity generates a charging session identifier and/or a packet data flow identifier according to the received message, and the charging session identifier and one of all charging policy related information in the message. Or a combination thereof is sent to the billing agent.

The packet data stream identifier is generated by a PCRF, an I-PCEF, or a charging client according to a rule, and one packet data stream identifier corresponds to one or more PCC rules or one packet data stream identifier corresponds to one or more data in the rule. flow.

Step 807: After the charging proxy receives the information, when the charging policy information indicates that the online charging mode is used, the charging proxy needs to request the prepaid quota from the charging client through the charging client, and the 0CS obtains the rate information according to the rate. Determining the rate corresponding to the service and allocating the prepaid quota accordingly. After the quota application is successful, the service service flow authorization entity, for example, the SFA establishes a network side bearer and an air interface bearer for the service; if the offline charging mode is used, The service service flow authorization entity, such as the SFA, directly establishes network side bearers and air interface bearers for the service. After the bearer is established, the bearer setup completion information is returned to the billing client.

Step 808: The charging client in the policy charging execution entity returns a bearer setup completion message to the I-PCEF.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the bearer setup complete message carries the charging session identifier and the entity identifier of the corresponding policy charging execution entity, and the identifier may use the network access server (NAS) identifier table. It can also be represented by its IP address.

Step 809: After receiving the bearer setup complete message sent by the charging client in the policy charging execution entity, the I-PCEF returns a service authorization response message to the PCRF, where the message includes the access network charging identifier and the access network meter. Fee entity identification.

For the reported access network charging identifier and the access network charging entity identifier, the I-PCEF may identify its own identity (the identity of the rule distribution function entity or the identity of the charging report function entity) or its entity identifier (such as I). - the AAA entity identifier, the PCRF entity identifier, and the HA entity identifier of the PCEF are used as the access network charging entity identifier and the access network charging identifier is generated by the I-PCEF or the charging client (when the PCRF does not generate the access network meter) When the fee is identified, the access network charging identifier may be the same as the packet data stream identifier content generated by the foregoing I-PCEF or charging client. The CDR information reported by the I-PCEF may include a NAS identifier or IP in the ASN, and a corresponding account ing-ses s ion-id to indicate specific access network information. At this time, the I-PCEF needs to maintain the mapping relationship between the access network charging identifier and the NAS identifier and the NAS charging session identifier, so that the I-PCEF can map to the corresponding charging information when the charging policy execution entity reports the charging information. The access network charging identifier, and use this identifier to interact with 0CS/0FCS.

Alternatively, the access network charging entity identifier may correspond to the policy charging execution entity identifier in step 808; the access network charging identifier may correspond to the charging session identifier assigned by the policy charging executing entity in step 808.

Step 810: After receiving the service authorization response message returned by the I-PCEF, the PCRF returns the authorization response information of the service to the AF, including the access network charging entity identifier and the access network charging identifier, and completes the entire charging policy. The process of issuing an interaction.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method for delivering a charging policy information by a PCRF after receiving a PCC rule request sent by an I-PCEF according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the network entity involved includes a policy charging execution entity, a PCRF and an I-PCEF in the PCC architecture, an MS and an AF, where the policy charging execution entity includes a charging client and/or a charging proxy. Can be located in ASN and / or CSN. The specific steps are: Steps 900 - 903 are the same as steps 800 to 803.

Step 904: The MS initiates a service flow establishment process, and the SFA sends a PCC rule request to the PCRF through the I-PCEF, where the message content includes the user identifier, the QoS information corresponding to the service, and the classifier information. The PCRF may receive the PCC rule request, according to the request. The carried information, and the previously obtained information, the user subscription information, and the configuration information of the PCRF generate a PCC rule; the PCRF may also generate the PCC rule in the same manner as step 804 before or after receiving the PCC rule request.

The PCRF sends the generated PCC rules to the policy charging enforcement entity through the I-PCEF.

Steps 905 ~ 910 are the same as steps 805 ~ 810.

In the above embodiment, for a service session of a user, different charging identifiers are associated in the following manners.

The access network charging entity identity in the PCC architecture is associated with the charging client identity, NAS identity, NAS-IP address, or I-PCEF identity in the WiMAX system.

The access network charging identifier in the PCC architecture is associated with the packet data flow identifier or the billing session identifier in the WiMAX system.

For the AF, the access network charging entity identifier and the access network charging identifier are all from the PCRF, and are obtained through the Rx interface signaling between the two. For the PCRF, the NAS identification/NAS-IP address can be obtained through steps 808 and 809 (or steps 908 and 909), or can be obtained through other service flow establishment processes of the MS.

If the access network charging entity obtained by the AF is located in the ASN network, the service needs to be performed when the MS performs the cross-ASN handover, or when the access network charging entity identifier or the access network charging identifier of the MS changes. The billing association information change notification is sent to the AF. If necessary, the AF notifies the entities in other related PCC architectures through the high layer signaling. The specific steps are as shown in FIG. 10:

Step 1000: A charging entity in the ASN network, such as an accounting client, sends an advertisement message to the I-PCEF in the CSN through the R3 interface, where the message includes: a charging association information change identifier of the MS service session, and an access network meter. One or more of the fee entity identifier and the access network billing identifier.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the notification message may also not carry the charging association information of the MS service session. Change the identity.

Step 1001: The I-PCEF converts the received message into an announcement message in a PCC architecture format, and sends the message to the PCRF.

Step 1002: The PCRF sends the received advertisement message to the AF through the Rx interface.

The AF obtains the currently updated access network charging entity identifier and the access network charging identifier from the advertisement message, and the updated access network charging entity identifier and the access network charging identifier obtained by the AF are guaranteed. Consistency associated with access network charging.

If necessary, the PCRF re-authorizes the corresponding PCC rules, modifies the PCC rules, or updates the PCC information it maintains, according to the process of step 804 or step 904 and subsequent steps in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9, through the I-PCEF to the ASN. The charging entity in the network, such as the charging client, returns an acknowledgment message carrying the acknowledgment identifier and/or the updated PCC rule.

The above-mentioned processing method for changing the charging association information is also applicable to other applications such as PCC architecture or PCC-like architecture, such as System Framework Evolution (SAE: System Architecture) or SBBC's 3GPP2. system. In the network system, when the charging association information changes, the PCC entity in the network may be used. In the embodiment of the present invention, the charging association information may be updated, for example, by using PCEF, PCRF or AF. As shown in Fig. 12, the processing method when the charging association information changes is described in further detail below.

Step 1201: The PCEF sends an advertisement message carrying the charging association information to the PCRF.

In the embodiment of the present invention, if the PCEF discovers that the charging association information changes, such as the access network charging identifier or the access network charging entity identifier changes, sending an advertisement message to the PCRF, requesting to update the related meter. The fee-related information may include the charging association information in the advertisement message. In the embodiment of the present invention, the charging association information may include one of an access network charging identifier, an access network charging entity identifier, or a combination thereof; Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the advertisement message may further include a charging association information update indication.

Step 1202: After receiving the advertisement message from the PCEF, the PCRF sends the advertisement message to the AF, requesting to update related charging association information, where the advertisement message may include charging In the embodiment of the present invention, the charging association information may include one of an access network charging identifier, an access network charging entity identifier, or a combination thereof. Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the advertisement message A billing associated information update indication may also be included.

The application function entity AF may generate a bill and a billing record according to the updated access network billing identifier and/or the access network billing entity identifier in the advertisement message.

Step 1203: The AF returns an acknowledgement message to the PCRF.

Step 1204: The PCRF returns an acknowledgement message to the PCEF.

In the embodiment of the present invention, if the PCRF is required to re-authorize the PCC rule, the PCC rule after the PCRF re-authorization is carried in the confirmation message.

In the embodiment of the present invention, in order to meet the requirements of the PCC architecture, if charging is performed on the WiMAX ASN network, the charging process also needs to be modified accordingly.

As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the charging policy information is carried in the WiMAX system message and sent to the charging client/accounting agent. In this case, the charging client/accounting agent can obtain the specific plan corresponding to the service session. Fee strategy, including rate information, billing methods, and metrics. The rate information itself is allocated by the billing center, and corresponds to a set of rates. The rate information and its corresponding content are also maintained on the PCRF. The interaction between the PCRF and the AAA server can also obtain the rate information of the corresponding service of the user.

If the charging policy obtained by the charging client/accounting agent indicates that the offline charging mode is used, the charging client/accounting agent collects the charging information of the service flow according to the metric specified in the charging policy, for example, Traffic and duration. For example, the accounting policy only specifies the duration information, and the accounting point access server can only collect the duration information without performing traffic statistics. In the subsequent reporting information, only the duration information can be included instead of the traffic. information. When the reporting condition is met, the client/accounting agent reports the offline CDR to the 0FCS. The reported path can pass the I-PCEF or the I-PCEF. The bill content includes a user identifier, a charging session identifier, QoS information, classifier information, and the foregoing rate information, an application layer charging identifier, a service data stream identifier, a packet data stream identifier, a charging session identifier, and an access network meter. Any one of the fee entity identifiers (such as NAS logo or NAS IP address) or a combination thereof. 0FCS can calculate the MS rate directly according to the rate information in the bill. The index is indexed to the corresponding rate, and the service charge of the MS is obtained according to the duration reported by the billing client or the flow rate.

If the charging policy obtained by the charging client/accounting agent indicates that the online charging mode is used, in the process of establishing the MS service, the charging client/accounting agent requests the prepaid quota from the 0CS through the I-PCEF. The 0CS determines the rate corresponding to the application according to the obtained rate information, and allocates the pre-paid quota according to the obtained rate. After the quota request is successful, the subsequent bearer establishment process can be performed. The accounting client/accounting agent in the WiMAX system requests the quota according to the metrics specified in the policy, such as charging according to the duration, charging according to the flow rate, or charging according to the event. The message carries the user identifier and service. Identification and rate information. After receiving the request message, the 0CS determines the rate corresponding to the application according to the obtained rate information, allocates a pre-paid quota to the session according to the user identifier carried in the message, and allocates the allocated quota to the The billing client/accounting agent returns. The charging client/accounting agent collects the charging information of the service according to the obtained charging policy, deducts the corresponding share from the obtained prepaid quota, and when the prepaid quota reaches or falls below a certain threshold, The fee server requests a quota. If the request quota fails, the service is terminated after the current quota is exhausted.

If I-PCEF is used as the execution entity of the charging policy, when the offline charging is used, the charging client/accounting agent in the WiMAX system reports all the collected charging information to the I-PCEF; I-PCEF The policy charging enforcement entity of the CSN maintains a mapping relationship between the charging information and the charging rule. After receiving the charging information reported by the ASN charging client/accounting agent, the I-PCEF firstly according to the charging information. Any one or a combination of the service data flow identifier, the packet data flow identifier, and the charging session identifier is mapped to the corresponding charging policy information, and then the obtained charging information is performed twice according to the corresponding charging policy information. The processing, that is, extracting the required charging information according to the metric method in the corresponding charging policy information, such as extracting the traffic information or the duration information, and the related service identifier, the application layer charging identifier, and the rate. The information is exchanged with the 0FCS according to the corresponding charging method, and the 0FCS generates an offline CDR according to the obtained information. When online charging is used, the charging client/accounting agent in the WiMAX system provides services to the user according to the obtained prepaid quota. When the quota usage reaches the threshold, the charging client/accounting agent sends the packet to the I-PCEF. Prepaid And the request message includes the foregoing service data flow identifier, the packet data flow identifier, the charging session identifier, or a combination thereof; the I-PCEF maps to the corresponding charging policy according to the foregoing identifier in the request message, and is associated with the corresponding service identifier. And applying the layer charging identifier and the rate information, and performing message interaction with the 0CS according to the corresponding charging mode, where the message includes the user identifier and one or a combination of the foregoing identifiers; the rate is determined by the 0CS according to the obtained rate information. And assigning a prepaid quota to the current service of the user; the I-PCEF forwards the obtained prepaid quota to the charging client/accounting agent in the WiMAX system, and the charging client/accounting agent in the WiMAX system Continue to provide users with prepaid services.

The I-PCEF may also perform the combination of the charging information reported by the charging policy enforcement entity. The I-PCEF may be based on the user identifier, the service data flow identifier, the packet data flow identifier, and the charging session identifier in the received charging information. Or a combination of the charging information reported by the charging policy enforcement entity is aggregated, and the I-PCEF identifier and the access network charging identifier allocated by the I-PCEF are used as the access network charging entity identifier and the access network charging identifier. Communicate with the 0FCS/0CS, and block the migration of the charging policy enforcement entity to the 0CS/0FCS.

For the service bearer network, the application layer can perform bidirectional charging association with the application layer. The CDRs generated by the application layer charging point need to include: user identifier, application layer charging identifier, access network charging entity identifier, and access network charging identifier, data. One of the stream numbers or a combination thereof. The CDRs generated in the WiMAX system include: user identity, charging session identifier, QoS information, classifier information, and the foregoing rate information, application layer charging identifier, data stream sequence number, service data stream identifier, packet data stream identifier, NAS. And one or a combination of the identifier and the NAS IP address, the I-PCEF identifier, and the access network charging identifier assigned by the I-PCEF.

among them,

The application layer charging identifier is allocated by the application layer server;

The access network charging entity identifier may be allocated by the PCRF, the I-PCEF or the charging client, and the access network charging entity identifier corresponds to the PCRF identifier, the I-PCEF identifier or the charging client identifier; the access network charging identifier Can be assigned by PCRF, I-PCEF or billing client,

The access network charging identifier may correspond to a packet data flow identifier and a charging session identifier;

The billing client is located at the ASN and/or CSN. The service data flow identifier is generated by the application server, the PCRF, or the I-PCEF, and may correspond to the application layer charging identifier in numerical value;

The packet data stream identifier is generated by the PCRF, the I-PCEF, or the charging client according to the rule, and one packet data stream identifier corresponds to one or more PCC rules or one packet data stream identifier corresponds to one or more data streams in the rule.

The application layer charging identifier in the application layer bill can be bound to the service data stream identifier in the generated bill in the WiMAX system. The access network charging identifier in the application layer bill can be bound to the charging session identifier, the packet data stream identifier, or the access network charging identifier allocated by the I-PCEF in the WiMAX system bill; The access network charging entity identifier can be bound to the NAS identifier, or the NAS IP address, and the I-PCEF identifier in the WiMAX system bill.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a system for performing charging in a communication system. When the communication system is a microwave access global interworking system, as shown in FIG. 11, the system includes a policy control and charging rule function entity and WiMAX. a policy charging enforcement entity in the system, where

a policy control and charging rule function entity, configured to generate charging policy information for the service of the MS, and send the information to the policy charging execution entity;

The policy charging execution entity includes one or a combination of an I-PCEF, a charging client, and a charging agent, and the policy charging executing entity is located at the ASN and/or the CSN.

When the policy charging enforcement entity is located at the CSN, the policy charging enforcement entity is located in one or a combination of an HA entity, a PCRF entity, an AAA entity, and an independent entity.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the I-PCEF includes a rule distribution function entity, and is used to exchange charging policy information with the policy control and charging rule function entity or other policy charging execution entity during the service creation, modification, or deletion process, and / or, convert or distribute billing policy information or execution messages.

The I-PCEF may further include a charging report function entity, configured to receive charging information of other policy charging execution entities for performing service charging, and calculate the charging information and/or the self-executing charging for the service. Fee information, reported to 0CS or 0FCS.

In the embodiment of the present invention, when the I-PCEF is located at the CSN, the I-PCEF is located in one or a combination of an HA entity, a PCRF entity, an AAA entity, and an independent entity.

Further, the policy charging execution entity may further include an offline charging processing module and an offline CDR receiving module, where

The offline charging processing module is configured to obtain the charging information of the service according to the obtained charging policy information, and the obtained charging information is corresponding to the user identifier, the application layer charging identifier, the policy charging execution entity identifier, and the service data. Any one or a combination of the flow identifier, the packet data flow identifier, the rate information, the access network charging identifier policy charging execution entity identifier, and the charging session execution entity assigned charging policy session identifier, and the combination thereof are sent to the offline charging server. ;

The offline bill receiving module is configured to receive a bill generated by the offline billing server according to the billing information, the billing policy information, the rate information, and the identifier, where the bill includes a user identifier, an application layer billing identifier, and an access network. Any one or a combination of the charging identifier, the policy charging execution entity identifier, the charging session identifier assigned by the policy charging execution entity, the service data flow identifier, the packet data flow identifier, and the rate information.

Further, the policy charging execution entity may further include an online charging processing module and an online ticket receiving module, where

The online charging processing module is configured to interact with the online charging server according to the obtained charging policy information, and request a prepaid quota. The content of the request message includes a user identifier, an application layer charging identifier, an access network charging identifier, and a policy meter. Any one or a combination of a fee execution entity identifier, a charging session identifier, a service data flow identifier, a packet data flow identifier, and a rate information allocated by the policy charging entity; an online bill receiving module, configured to The charging policy information obtained by the accounting server collects the charging information of the service, deducts the corresponding share from the obtained prepaid quota, and requests the quota from the online charging server again when the prepaid quota reaches or falls below the set threshold. If the request quota fails, the service is terminated after the current quota is exhausted.

Further, the policy control and charging rule function entity includes an identifier generating module, and a function package thereof And generating one or more of a service data flow identifier, a packet data flow identifier, an access network charging identifier, and an access network charging entity identifier.

Further, the I-PCEF includes an identity generation module, and the function includes generating one or more of a service data flow identifier, a packet data flow identifier, an access network charging identifier, and an access network charging entity identifier.

Further, the policy charging execution entity includes an identifier generating module, and the function includes generating one or more of a service data stream identifier, a packet data stream identifier, an access network charging identifier, and an access network charging entity identifier.

Further, the policy control and charging rule function entity includes an identifier generating module, configured to generate one or more combinations of a service data flow identifier, a packet data flow identifier, an access network charging identifier, and an access network charging entity identifier. , sent to the policy billing execution entity.

Further, the policy charging enforcement entity further includes an identity generating module, the function of which comprises generating one or more combinations of a service data flow identifier, a packet data flow identifier, an access network charging identifier, and an access network charging entity identifier.

The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the present invention. Within the scope of protection.

Claims

Claim

A method for performing charging in a communication system, the method comprising: the policy control and charging rule function entity generating charging policy information for a service of the mobile terminal, and transmitting the policy to the communication system Billing execution entity;

2. The method of charging in a communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication system is a chopper access global interworking system.

3. The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 2, wherein the policy charging execution entity comprises an access policy control and enforcement function entity, a charging client, and a charging proxy. One or a combination thereof;

The policy charging enforcement entity is located in a service access network and/or a connected service network.

The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 3, wherein when the policy charging execution entity is located in a connection service network, the policy charging execution entity is located in a home agent entity, and the policy control And one or a combination of the charging rule function entity, the authentication, authorization and accounting server entity and the independent entity.

The method for performing charging in a communication system according to claim 2, wherein the process of generating charging policy information is:

The mobile terminal requests service establishment and/or service modification from the application function entity;

The application function entity provides the requested service information to the policy control and charging rule function entity, and the policy control and charging rule function entity provides configuration information according to the service information provided by the application function entity, the user subscription information, and the policy control and charging rule function entity. Any one or a combination thereof generates charging policy information of the requested service.

The mobile terminal initiates a service flow establishment and/or modification process, and the microwave accesses the services in the global interworking system. The flow authorization entity sends a charging policy information request to the policy control and charging rule function entity through the access policy control and execution function entity, and the access policy control and execution function entity sends the request to the policy control and charging rule function entity. Business information;

The policy control and charging rule function entity generates the charging policy information corresponding to the service according to any one or a combination of the service information, the user subscription information, and the self-configuration information.

The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 2, wherein before the method is sent to the policy charging execution entity in the global access system of the microwave access, the method further includes: the policy control After receiving the access policy control and performing the charging policy information request sent by the function entity, the charging rule function entity sends the generated charging policy information to the microwave access global interworking system through the access policy control and execution function entity. Policy charging enforcement entity in .

The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 2, wherein the charging policy information of the service comprises: the service corresponding charging method, the metric mode, the rate information, and the service identifier. And any one or a combination of the application layer charging identifiers;

The charging information includes any one or a combination of duration information, traffic information, and event information corresponding to the service.

The method for performing charging in a communication system according to claim 8, wherein the process of performing charging by the policy charging execution entity on the service is:

The policy charging execution entity obtains the charging information of the service according to the obtained charging policy information, and the obtained charging information corresponds to the user identifier, the application layer charging identifier, the policy charging execution entity identifier, and the service data flow. The identifier, the packet data flow identifier, the rate information, the access network charging identifier policy charging execution entity identifier, and the charging session execution entity-distributed charging session identifier are sent to the offline charging server;

The offline charging server generates a bill according to the billing information, the billing policy information, the rate information, and the identifier, where the bill includes a user identifier, an application layer charging identifier, an access network charging identifier, and a policy charging. Executing an entity identifier, any one of a charging session identifier, a service data flow identifier, a packet data flow identifier, and rate information, or a combination thereof, allocated by a policy charging execution entity.

The policy charging execution entity requests a prepaid quota from the online charging server according to the obtained charging policy information, where the content of the request message includes a user identifier, an application layer charging identifier, an access network charging identifier, and a policy charging execution entity. And any one or a combination of the charging session identifier, the service data flow identifier, the packet data flow identifier, and the rate information allocated by the identifier, the policy charging execution entity;

And determining, by the online charging server, a rate corresponding to the service according to the obtained rate information, and allocating a prepaid quota to the service according to the foregoing identifier, and returning the allocated quota to the policy charging execution entity;

The policy charging execution entity collects the charging information of the service according to the obtained charging policy information, deducts the corresponding share in the obtained prepaid quota, and recalculates the online payment when the prepaid quota reaches or falls below a set threshold. The fee server requests the quota. If the request quota fails, the service is terminated after the current quota is exhausted.

The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the policy charging execution entity acquires a service data flow identifier and/or before executing the charging policy. Or packet data stream identification.

12. The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 11, wherein the acquired service data flow identifier is controlled and executed by an application server, a policy control and charging rule function entity, or an access policy. Entity generation.

The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 12, wherein the service data flow identifier is bound to an application layer charging identifier or a service identifier;

Or the content of the service data flow identifier is the same as the content of the service identifier or the application layer charging identifier.

14. The charging method in a communication system according to claim 11, wherein the acquired packet data flow identifier is controlled by a policy control and charging rule function entity, an access policy control, and an execution function entity or Fee client generation.

15. The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 14, wherein: The obtained packet data flow identifier is generated by the policy control and charging rule function entity, the access policy control and execution function entity, or the charging client according to the policy charging and control rule.

The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 2, wherein after the policy charging execution entity receives the charging policy information, the method further includes:

The policy charging execution entity returns a response confirmation message to the policy control and charging rule function entity, where the response confirmation message includes an access network charging identifier and/or an access network charging entity identifier in the microwave access global interworking system;

The policy control and charging rule function entity further transmits the access network charging identifier and/or the access network charging entity identifier in the microwave access global interworking system to the application function entity;

The application function entity generates a bill and a charging record according to the access network charging identifier and/or the access network charging entity identifier.

The charging method in a communication system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the access network charging entity identifier is controlled by a policy control and charging rule function entity, an access policy control function, and an execution function. Entity or policy billing execution entity assignment.

The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the access network charging entity identifier is bound to a network access server network connection in the microwave access global interworking system. Any one or a combination of the server identifier, the network access server address, the policy charging execution entity identifier, the access policy control and the execution function entity identifier, and the access policy control and the entity identifier of the execution function entity.

The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the access network charging identifier is controlled by a policy control and charging rule function entity, an access policy control, and an execution function entity. Or policy billing execution entity allocation.

The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the access network charging identifier is bound to a charging session identifier and/or in a microwave access global interworking system. Packet data flow identifier.

21. The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 2, wherein The method further includes:

The policy charging execution entity sends an advertisement message carrying the change of the charging association information to the policy control and charging rule function entity, where the message carries the updated access network charging identifier and/or the access network charging entity identifier, and the policy control And the charging rule function entity sends the notification message to the application function entity, and returns an acknowledgement message to the policy charging execution entity.

The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 21, wherein the method further comprises:

The application function entity generates a bill and a billing record according to the updated access network billing identifier and/or the access network billing entity identifier in the advertisement message.

The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the method further comprises:

The policy control and charging rule function entity re-authorizes the charging policy information or modifies the current charging policy information according to the updated access network charging identifier and/or the access network charging entity identifier in the notification message, to the policy. The charging execution entity sends the updated charging policy information.

The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 1, wherein the policy charging execution entity sends an advertisement message carrying the charging association information to the policy control and charging rule function entity;

The policy control and charging rule function entity sends the notification message to the application function entity.

The charging method in a communication system according to claim 24, wherein the charging association information comprises an access network charging identifier and/or an access network charging entity identifier.

The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 24, wherein when the charging association information changes, the method further includes:

The policy charging execution entity sends an advertisement message carrying the charging association information to the policy control and charging rule function entity, where the message carries the updated access network charging identifier and/or the access network charging entity identifier, and the charging rule The generating entity sends the advertisement message to the application function entity, and returns to the policy charging execution entity. Reply to the confirmation message.

The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 26, wherein the method further comprises:

The method for charging in a communication system according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the method further comprises:

30. The system for charging in a communication system according to claim 29, wherein the policy charging execution entity comprises an access policy control and enforcement function entity, a charging client, and a charging agent. One or a combination thereof;

The system for performing charging in a communication system according to claim 30, wherein the access policy control and execution function entity comprises a rule distribution function entity, which is used in a service creation, modification or deletion process. And interacting with the policy control and charging rule function entity or other policy charging execution entity, and/or converting and distributing the charging policy information or the execution message.

32. The system for charging in a communication system according to claim 30, wherein the access policy control and enforcement function entity comprises a charging report function entity, configured to receive other policies. The charging execution entity performs billing information for performing billing on the service, and the billing information and/or billing information for performing billing on the service is "on" to the online billing system or the offline billing system.

33. The system for charging in a communication system according to claim 30, wherein, when the access policy control and enforcement function entity is located in a connection service network, the access policy control and execution function entity is located. One or a combination of a home agent entity, a policy control and charging rule function entity, an authentication, authorization and accounting server entity, and a separate entity.

The system for charging in a communication system according to claim 29, wherein, when the policy charging execution entity is located in a connection service network, the policy charging execution entity is located in a home agent entity, and the policy control And one or a combination of the charging rule function entity, the authentication, authorization and accounting server entity and the independent entity.

The system for charging in a communication system according to claim 29, wherein the policy charging execution entity comprises an offline charging processing module and an offline bill receiving module, wherein the offline charging processing module And the method is used to obtain the charging information of the service according to the obtained charging policy information, and the obtained charging information is corresponding to the user identifier, the application layer charging identifier, the policy charging execution entity identifier, the service data stream identifier, and the packet data. And sending, to the offline charging server, any one of the flow identifier, the rate information, the access network charging identifier policy charging execution entity identifier, and the charging session execution entity assigned charging session identifier;

The system for charging in a communication system according to claim 29, wherein the policy charging execution entity comprises an online charging processing module and an online bill receiving module, wherein the online charging processing module And the method for interacting with the online charging server according to the obtained charging policy information, requesting a prepaid quota, and the content of the request message includes a user identifier, an application layer charging identifier, and an access network meter. Any one or a combination of the fee identifier, the policy charging execution entity identifier, the charging session execution identifier assigned by the policy charging execution entity, the service data flow identifier, the packet data flow identifier, and the rate information;

The online bill receiving module is configured to collect billing information of the service according to the billing policy information obtained from the online billing server, and deduct the corresponding share in the obtained prepaid quota, when the prepaid quota reaches or falls below the setting gate After the time limit is reached, the quota is requested again from the online accounting server. If the request quota fails, the service is terminated after the current quota is exhausted.

37. The system for charging in a communication system according to claim 35 or claim 36, wherein the policy control and charging rule function entity comprises an identifier generating module, configured to generate a service data stream identifier, and packet data. One or more combinations of the flow identifier, the access network charging identifier, and the access network charging entity identifier are sent to the policy charging enforcement entity.

38. The system for charging in a communication system according to claim 35 or claim 36, wherein the policy charging execution entity further comprises an identifier generating module, the function comprising generating a service data stream identifier, a packet data stream One or more combinations of identity, access network charging identity, and access network charging entity identity.