WO2011000266A1

WO2011000266A1 - Method and system for triggering accounting start

Info

Publication number: WO2011000266A1
Application number: PCT/CN2010/074023
Authority: WO
Inventors: 骆文; 刘熠雯; 刘俊羿
Original assignee: 中兴通讯股份有限公司
Priority date: 2009-07-02
Filing date: 2010-06-17
Publication date: 2011-01-06
Also published as: CN101938730A

Abstract

A method and system for triggering accounting start are provided. Wherein, the method comprises that: When the success of user address allocation is monitored, an accounting proxy adds an accounting start filed into an interim update request message and sends the message to an accounting client; the accounting client determines that the received interim update request message carries the accounting start field, and returns an accounting start triggering response message, then notifies the accounting server to start accounting. In the invention, the system comprises an accounting proxy and an accounting client, wherein the accounting proxy is used for when the success of user address allocation is monitored, setting an accounting start triggering message and sends the accounting start triggering message to an accounting client ; and the accounting client is used for receiving the accounting start triggering message, returning an accounting start response message and notifying the accounting server to start accounting. Thus, the invention enables accounting start triggering when the accounting proxy and the accounting client reside in different access gateways (AGW).

Description

Method and system for triggering start charging

The present invention relates to a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) system, and more particularly to a method and system for triggering start charging. Background technique

A WiMAX system generally consists of three parts: a terminal, an Access Service Network (ASN), and a Connect Service Network (CSN); wherein the structure of the ASN is as shown in FIG. 1 and includes one or more base stations. (BS), and one or more ASN gateways (AGW, ASN-GW), and the BS and the AGW can be many-to-many connections, that is, one BS can connect multiple AGWs at the same time, and one AGW can also connect multiple times at the same time. The BS and the AGW interact through the R6 interface, and each AGW interacts through the R4 interface.

The accounting related logic entities in the WiMAX system mainly include: an account agent (Account Agent), an account client (Account Client), and an account server (Account Server); wherein the billing agent can automatically perceive the user to log in and exit. The action is used to collect the charging information including the traffic, the activated duration, and the collected charging information is reported to the charging client. The charging client is a forwarding entity between the charging proxy and the charging server. The billing information is encapsulated and sent to the billing server. The billing server generates a bill according to the billing information reported by the billing client. Generally, the billing server can be used by the AAA server.

The billing agent and the billing client generally reside in the AGW. The WiMAX Network Working Group (WiMAX NWG) standard splits the AGW into a number of logical functional entities. The accounting agent resides in a Data Channel Function (DPF) entity for transmitting user data messages, and the charging client resides in use. In the authenticator (Authenticator) that authenticates the user access legality and authorized service flow parameters. The WiMAX NWG standard also allows multiple logical functional entities for the same user to be spread across multiple On the AGW, in this way, the charging proxy and the charging client for the user may be respectively set in different AGWs, which means that the charging proxy and the accounting client need to interact with each other through the R4 interface to trigger the start of charging. , intermediate billing and other processes. For example: After the user's initial access is completed, the user moves over the base station, across the AGW, or across the ASN. After the handover is completed, the authenticator is migrated to the AGW2, and the DPF is still on the AGW1. When the charging interval is timed out, the charging agent and the accounting client need to interact with each other through the R4 interface to trigger the intermediate charging. The details are as follows: Step a: The charging agent detects that the intermediate charging interval is timed out and goes to the charging client. Send a Bulk Interim Update request message;

Step bl: After receiving the Bulk Interim Update request message, the charging client sends a Bulk Interim Update Ack message to the charging proxy to confirm receiving the message, and sends an intermediate charging request to the AAA server. RADIUS Accounting Request ); The Bulk Interim Update request message and the Bulk Interim Update Ack message are WiMAX NWG custom R4 interface messages.

Step cl: After receiving the RADIUS Accounting Request, the accounting server sends an intermediate charging response (ADIUS Accounting Response) message to the charging client to end the intermediate charging triggering process.

However, when the user's authenticator and the DPF are set on different AGWs, that is, the charging client and the charging proxy are on different AGWs, when the user is assigned to the IP address, or when the user is assigned an IP address again, The method of starting the charging is triggered by the R4 interface interaction between the charging proxy and the accounting client. Summary of the invention

In view of the above, the main object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for triggering start charging, which can trigger the start of charging when the charging proxy and the charging client reside on different AGWs.

In order to achieve the above object, the technical solution of the present invention is achieved as follows:

The invention discloses a method for triggering start charging, and the method comprises: When the charging agent detects that the user address is successfully assigned, the start charging trigger message is set and sent to the charging client; the start charging trigger message is an R4 interface message;

The charging client receives the start charging trigger message, returns a start charging trigger response message, and notifies the charging server to start charging.

Further, the charging agent detects that the user address allocation succeeds: the charging agent monitors whether the data channel function entity forwards the user address to the terminal, and detects that the data channel function entity forwards the user address to the terminal, and then considers the user address allocation success.

Further, the notifying the accounting server to start charging comprises: the charging client sending a start charging request message; the charging server returns a starting charging response message, and ending the current charging triggering process.

Correspondingly, the present invention further provides a method for triggering the start of charging, the method comprising: when the charging agent detects that the user address is successfully assigned, adding a start charging field to the intermediate update request message and sending the charging field to the charging client;

The charging client determines that the received intermediate update request message carries the start charging field, returns a start charging trigger response message, and notifies the charging server to start charging.

The charging client determines that the received intermediate update request message does not carry the start charging field, returns a batch intermediate update response message, and requests the charging server to perform the intermediate charging.

Further, the charging agent detects that the user address allocation succeeds: the charging agent monitors whether the data channel function entity forwards the user address to the terminal, and if the user address has been forwarded to the terminal, the user address is considered to be successfully assigned.

In the above method, the notification charging server starts charging: the charging client sends a start charging request message; the charging server returns a start charging response message, and ends the current charging triggering process.

In order to implement the above method, the present invention also provides a system for triggering start charging, and the system package Including: billing agent and billing client;

The charging proxy is configured to: when the user address allocation is successful, set a start charging trigger message and send the message to the charging client;

The charging client is configured to receive the start charging trigger message, return a start charging trigger response message, and notify the charging server to start charging.

Further, the charging proxy includes: a monitoring module and a triggering module; wherein, the monitoring module is configured to: when the data channel function entity forwards the user address to the terminal, send the user address allocation success indication to the triggering module; For receiving the user address allocation success indication, setting a start charging trigger message and sending the message to the charging client.

Correspondingly, the present invention further provides a system for triggering start charging, the system comprising: a charging proxy and a charging client; wherein

The charging proxy is configured to: when the user address allocation is successful, add a start charging field to the intermediate update request message and send the charging account to the charging client;

The accounting client is configured to determine that the received intermediate update request message carries a start charging field, returns a start charging trigger response message, and notifies the charging server to start charging.

Further, the charging proxy includes: a monitoring module and a triggering module; wherein, the monitoring module is configured to: when the data channel function entity forwards the user address to the terminal, send the user address allocation success indication to the triggering module; And when the user address allocation success indication is received, the start charging field is added to the intermediate update request message and sent to the charging client.

Compared with the prior art, the method and system for triggering the start of charging provided by the present invention can reside in the charging agent and the charging client by defining a start charging trigger message or expanding the Bulk Interim Update request message. When the AGW is triggered, the charging is started through the R4 interface to increase the flexibility and scalability of the system charging. DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic structural view of an ASN; 2 is a schematic flowchart of a triggering start charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a triggering start charging method according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

4 is a schematic structural diagram of a trigger start charging system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a trigger start charging system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. detailed description

The basic idea of the present invention is: when the charging agent detects that the user address is successfully assigned, sets a start charging trigger message that belongs to the R4 interface message, and sends the message to the charging client; the charging client receives the start charging trigger. The message returns to start the charging trigger response message, and notifies the accounting server to start charging. Embodiment 1

The implementation process of the method for triggering the start of charging according to the embodiment of the present invention is as shown in FIG. 2, and includes the following steps:

Step 201: When the charging agent detects that the user address is successfully assigned, the charging trigger message is set and sent to the charging client to notify the charging client to start charging.

The start charging trigger message is an R4 interface message.

Here, the charging proxy and the charging client reside on different AGWs, and the charging proxy and the charging client can no longer use the internal interface of the device to interact, but need to interact through the R4 interface between the AGWs in which they reside. Therefore, it is required to notify the charging client to start charging through a start charging trigger message belonging to the R4 interface message.

It should be noted that the charging agent monitoring the success of the user address allocation further includes: The charging agent monitors whether the DPF forwards the user address to the terminal, and if the DPF is detected to forward the user address to the terminal, the user address is considered to be successfully assigned.

Step 202: The charging client identifies the received start charging trigger message, and returns a start charging trigger response message.

Step 203: The charging client notifies the charging server to start charging, and ends the current charging touch. Process.

The charging client notifies the charging server to start charging, including:

The charging client sends a start charging request message;

The accounting server returns a start charging response message, and ends the current charging triggering process. It should be noted that the message exchanged between the accounting client and the accounting server may be a message defined by a remote user dial-up authentication (RADIUS) protocol or a message defined by a Diameter protocol. The Diameter protocol is an upgraded version of the RADIUS protocol. Embodiment 2

When the charging proxy and the charging client are in different AGWs, the implementation process of the triggering charging method in the second embodiment of the present invention is as shown in FIG. 3, and includes the following steps:

Step 301: When the charging agent detects that the user address allocation is successful, the start charging field is added to the Bulk Interim Update request message to indicate that the charging is started, and the Bulk Interim Update request message is sent to the charging client. End

The charging agent monitoring the success of the user address allocation further includes:

The accounting agent monitors the data channel function entity. The DPF forwards the user address to the terminal. If the data channel function entity DPF detects the user address and forwards the user address to the terminal, the user address is considered to be successfully assigned.

Step 302: The charging client determines whether the received intermediate update request message carries a start charging field. If the start charging field is carried, it is considered to trigger the start of charging, and step 303 is performed; if the starting charging field is not carried, If the intermediate charging is triggered, step 304 is performed;

The intermediate charging means that, after the charging is started, the charging proxy or the charging client collects the charging information periodically or irregularly, and sends the accounting information to the charging server to periodically update the charging. information.

Step 303: Return to the Bulk Interim Update Ack message, and notify the accounting server to start charging, and end the current charging triggering process. In this step, the notification charging server starts charging: the charging client sends a start charging request message; the charging server returns a start charging response message, and ends the current charging triggering process.

Step 304: Return to the Bulk Interim Update Ack message, and request the accounting server to perform intermediate charging, and end the intermediate charging triggering process. Embodiment 3

As shown in FIG. 4, the system for triggering the start of charging in the third embodiment of the present invention includes: a charging proxy 41 and a charging client 42;

The charging proxy 41 is configured to: when the user address allocation is successful, set a start charging trigger message and send the message to the charging client;

The charging client 42 is configured to receive the start charging trigger message, return a start charging trigger response message, and notify the charging server to start charging.

In the above system, the charging proxy 41 includes: a monitoring module 411 and a triggering module 412;

The monitoring module 411 is configured to: when the data channel function entity forwards the user address to the terminal, send the user address allocation success indication to the triggering module;

The triggering module 412 is configured to: when the user address allocation success indication is received, set a start charging trigger message and send the message to the charging client.

The charging proxy 41 resides on the AGW 11, and resides on the AGW 12 with the charging client 42. Embodiment 4

As shown in FIG. 5, the system for triggering the start of charging in the fourth embodiment of the present invention includes: a charging proxy 51 and a charging client 52;

The charging proxy 51 is configured to: when it is detected that the user address allocation is successful, add a start charging field in the intermediate update request message and send the same; The charging client 52 is configured to determine that the received intermediate update request message carries a start charging field, return a start charging trigger response message, and notify the charging server to start charging.

The charging proxy 51 includes: a monitoring module 511 and a triggering module 512. The monitoring module 511 is configured to: when the data channel function entity forwards the user address to the terminal, send the user address allocation success indication to the triggering module;

The triggering module 512 is configured to add a start charging field to the intermediate update request message and send it to the charging client when receiving the user address allocation success indication.

The charging proxy 51 resides on the AGW 21 and resides on the AGW 22 with the charging client 52. Embodiment 5

The following is the AGW1 full-time authenticator function and the AGW2 full-time DPF function, that is, when the charging client resides on the AGW1 and the charging agent resides on the AGW2, the user is assigned an IP address and uses the method and system of the present invention to trigger the start of the calculation. The implementation process of the fee is taken as an example to specifically describe the method and system of the present invention:

Step a2; The terminal accesses the WiMAX network, and the AGW1 performs access authentication and authorizes related service flow parameters;

Step b2: AGW1 notifies AGW2 to establish a data channel, and sends the related service flow parameters to AGW2; AGW2 establishes a data channel according to the received related service flow parameters;

Step c2: The terminal requests the dynamic host allocation protocol (DHCP) server on the network side to allocate an IP address through the established data channel;

Step d2: The DHCP server allocates an IP address to the terminal, and sends the assigned IP address to the AGW2;

Step e2: The AGW2 forwards the IP address to the terminal through the data channel, and the charging agent that resides in the AGW2 detects the operation of the IP address, considers that the user address is successfully assigned, sets the start charging trigger message, and sends the message to the resident. Billing client in AGW 1; Here, the step e2 may further be: the AGW2 forwards the IP address to the terminal through the data channel, and the charging agent residing in the AGW2 monitors the operation of the IP address, and considers that the user address is successfully assigned, and the Bulk Interim Update request message is received. After adding the start charging field, sending the Bulk Interim Update request message to the charging client residing in AGW 1;

Step £2: The charging client residing in the AGW1 receives the start charging trigger message, returns a start charging trigger response message, and sends a start charging request message to the charging server; the charging server returns a start charging response message. , End this billing trigger process.

Here, the step may further be: the charging client residing in the AGW1 receives the Bulk Interim Update request message carrying the start charging field, returns a Bulk Interim Update Ack message, and sends a start charging request message to the charging server; The fee server returns a start charging response message, and ends the current charging triggering process.

It should be emphasized that the method and system of the present invention are also applicable to the case where multiple IP addresses are assigned to a user, including:

When multiple IP addresses are assigned to a user, the first IP address is allocated during the initial access. The remaining IP addresses are generally assigned when the user accesses the WiMA network and needs to deploy a specific service. For example: In the private network of the enterprise, the private network of the enterprise assigns an IP address to the user, and when the remaining IP addresses are allocated, the switching occurs, so that the charging proxy and the charging client reside in different AGWs. After the IP address is successfully assigned, the method and system of the present invention are required to trigger the start of charging.

The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claim

A method for triggering start charging, characterized in that the method comprises:

When the charging agent detects that the user address is successfully assigned, the start charging trigger message is set and sent to the charging client; the start charging trigger message is an R4 interface message;

2. The method for triggering the start of charging according to claim 1, wherein the charging agent detects that the user address allocation succeeds:

The accounting agent monitors whether the data channel function entity forwards the user address to the terminal. When the data channel function entity forwards the user address to the terminal, the user address is considered to be successfully assigned.

The method for triggering the start of charging according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the notifying the charging server to start charging comprises:

The charging client sends a start charging request message;

The accounting server returns a start charging response message, and ends the current charging triggering process.

4. A method for triggering start charging, characterized in that the method comprises:

When the charging agent detects that the user address is successfully assigned, the start charging field is added to the intermediate update request message and sent to the charging client;

The method for triggering the start of charging according to claim 4, wherein the charging client determines that the received intermediate update request message does not carry the start charging field, and returns a batch intermediate update response message. And request the accounting server to perform intermediate charging.

The method for triggering the start of charging according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the charging agent detects that the user address allocation succeeds:

The billing agent monitors whether the data channel function entity forwards the user address to the terminal, if If the user address is forwarded to the terminal, the user address is considered to be successfully assigned.

The method for triggering the start of charging according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the notifying the charging server to start charging comprises:

The charging client sends a start charging request message;

A system for triggering the start of charging, characterized in that the system comprises: a charging proxy and a charging client; wherein

The system for triggering the start of charging according to claim 8, wherein the charging proxy comprises: a monitoring module and a triggering module;

a monitoring module, configured to: when the data channel function entity forwards the user address to the terminal, send a user address allocation success indication to the triggering module;

The triggering module is configured to: when the user address allocation success indication is received, set a start charging trigger message and send the message to the charging client.

A system for triggering the start of charging, characterized in that the system comprises: a charging agent and a charging client; wherein

The system for triggering the start of charging according to claim 10, wherein the charging proxy comprises: a monitoring module and a triggering module; a monitoring module, configured to: when the data channel function entity forwards the user address to the terminal, send a user address allocation success indication to the triggering module;

The triggering module is configured to add a start charging field to the intermediate update request message and send the information to the charging client when receiving the user address allocation success indication.