WO2020233771A1 - Procédé et appareil permettant de faire payer un usage de service de communication - Google Patents

Procédé et appareil permettant de faire payer un usage de service de communication Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020233771A1
WO2020233771A1 PCT/EP2019/062814 EP2019062814W WO2020233771A1 WO 2020233771 A1 WO2020233771 A1 WO 2020233771A1 EP 2019062814 W EP2019062814 W EP 2019062814W WO 2020233771 A1 WO2020233771 A1 WO 2020233771A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
credit
charging
account
provider
provider account
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2019/062814
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Elisabeth ADELGREN
Magnus SÖDERLUND
Peter SKARPHAGEN
Mattias FORSMAN
Original Assignee
Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Publication date
Application filed by Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) filed Critical Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority to PCT/EP2019/062814 priority Critical patent/WO2020233771A1/fr
Publication of WO2020233771A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020233771A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/66—Policy and charging system
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
    • H04L12/1403—Architecture for metering, charging or billing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
    • H04L12/1403—Architecture for metering, charging or billing
    • H04L12/1407—Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
    • H04L12/141—Indication of costs
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
    • H04L12/141—Indication of costs
    • H04L12/1414—Indication of costs in real-time
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
    • H04L12/141—Indication of costs
    • H04L12/1414—Indication of costs in real-time
    • H04L12/1417—Advice of charge with threshold, e.g. user indicating maximum cost
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/61—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP based on the service used
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/64—On-line charging system [OCS]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/70—Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
    • H04M15/765—Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/70—Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
    • H04M15/785—Reserving amount on the account
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/80—Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/83—Notification aspects
    • H04M15/85—Notification aspects characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
    • H04M15/852—Low balance or limit reached
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/83—Notification aspects
    • H04M15/85—Notification aspects characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
    • H04M15/854—Available credit
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/88—Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/88—Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
    • H04M15/882—Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure for continuing the call beyond the limit using an alternative, e.g. alternative account
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/88—Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
    • H04M15/888—Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure severing connection after predetermined time or data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/24—Accounting or billing

Definitions

  • This disclosure relates to charging communication service usage and may be
  • Online charging systems rate and charge usage of communication services in association with that usage.
  • a subscriber of a wireless network operator uses a wireless terminal or other wireless communication apparatus to access a communication service provided through a wireless communication network and an online charging system authorizes initial and continuing use of the service, in dependence on the availability of“credit” in one or more subscriber accounts associated with the subscriber.
  • a communication device attempts to access a communication service, with that attempt resulting in an initial credit request being sent.
  • the initial credit request requests a certain amount of credit, such as the minimum charging amount defined for the involved service.
  • a return credit request response indicates whether the credit request was granted or denied. If granted, the involved subscriber account is“debited” by the granted amount of credit.
  • the additional charging requests and return responses determine whether or to what extent continued use of the service is permitted.
  • Credit may or may not be expressed in monetary units and may be broadly defined in terms of“charging units,” with initial and ongoing service authorizations requiring the targeted subscriber account(s) to contain sufficient available credit.
  • the type of communication service being charged may dictate the minimum debit amount— expressed in charging units— against the available credit. For example, a voice call may be charged in one-minute increments while data usage may be charged by the megabyte, etc.
  • a“credit account” or simply an“account” significant signaling overhead may arise.
  • the entities involved with the multiple accounts may be held, managed, or accessed by network nodes at geographically-separated points, requiring account data, credit information, or other account-related data to be transported over potentially many network links.
  • a user attempting to make use of a communication service is in a location geographically separated from the network in which a subscriber account chargeable for use of the service is located.
  • An example method and charging system improve operations associated with online charging in a communications network by, among other things, reducing the amount or occurrences of charging-related signaling going between charging-system nodes associated with “consumer accounts” and“provider accounts.”
  • a provider account serves as a source of credit for communication-service usage chargeable to a consumer account, and the charging system puts in place a series of mechanisms that allow a requesting node associated with a consumer account to avoid sending credit requests towards a provider account that has insufficient credit.
  • the contemplated charging system may further include mechanisms that allow a responding node associated with a provider account to send updated credit information to any node(s) to which it previously sent indications of insufficient credit, thus resetting those nodes with regard to sending credit requests in the future.
  • a charging system in an example embodiment is configured for online charging of communication service usage in a communication network.
  • the example charging system includes a first charging node configured to: (a) receive an authorization request, requesting authorization of use of a communication service provided by the communication network, where the use is chargeable to a consumer account maintained for online charging in association with the communication network; (b) send a credit request targeting a provider account that is further maintained in association with the communication network and linked to the consumer account, the credit request requesting credit on behalf of the consumer account, for charging the use of the communication service; (c) receive a credit response in reply to the credit request; and (d) in dependence on the credit response indicating a credit insufficiency in the provider account: (i) suspend further credit requests targeting the provider account, at least with respect to the consumer account and the communication service; and (ii) clear the suspension responsive to at least one of: (1) expiration of a suspension timer that was activated regarding the suspension; or (2) reception of a credit-availability message indicating a change in credit availability in
  • a second charging node that is configured to: (a) receive the above-mentioned credit request; (b) determine whether sufficient credit is available in the provider account, for granting with respect to the credit request; and (c) in dependence on there being a credit insufficiency at the provider account: (i) send the credit response, indicating the credit insufficiency; and (ii) subsequently, send the credit-availability message in dependence on one or more conditions, including, at least, occurrence of the change in credit availability in the provider account.
  • the charging node includes communication circuitry and processing circuitry.
  • the communication circuitry is configured for exchanging charging-related messages with one or more other nodes in the online charging system
  • the processing circuitry is operatively associated with the communication circuitry and configured to: (a) receive an authorization request, requesting authorization of use of a communication service provided by the communication network, where the use is chargeable to a consumer account maintained for online charging in association with the communication network; (b) send a credit request targeting a provider account that is further maintained in association with the communication network and linked to the consumer account, the credit request requesting credit on behalf of the consumer account, for charging the use of the communication service; (c) receive a credit response in reply to the credit request; and (d) in dependence on the credit response indicating a credit insufficiency in the provider account: (i) suspend further credit requests targeting the provider account, at least with respect to the consumer account and the communication service; and (ii) clear the suspension responsive to
  • An example method corresponding to the charging node operations described immediately above includes the node: (a) receiving an authorization request, requesting authorization of use of a communication service provided by the communication network, where the use is chargeable to a consumer account maintained for online charging in association with the communication network; (b) sending a credit request targeting a provider account that is further maintained in association with the communication network and linked to the consumer account, the credit request requesting credit on behalf of the consumer account, for charging the use of the communication service; (c) receiving a credit response in reply to the credit request; and (d) in dependence on the credit response indicating a credit insufficiency in the provider account: (i) suspending further credit requests targeting the provider account, at least with respect to the consumer account and the communication service; and (ii) clearing the suspension responsive to at least one of: (1) expiration of a suspension timer that was activated regarding the suspension; or (2) reception of a credit-availability message indicating a change in credit availability in the provider account.
  • a charging node is configured for operation in an online charging system associated with a communication network and includes communication circuitry and processing circuitry.
  • the communication circuitry is configured for exchanging charging-related messages with one or more other nodes in the online charging system
  • the processing circuitry is operatively associated with the communication circuitry and configured to: (a) receive a credit request targeting a provider account maintained for online charging in association with the communication network, the credit request requesting credit on behalf of a consumer account that is also maintained for online charging in association with the
  • the requested credit to be used for authorizing use of a communication service chargeable to the consumer account; (b) determine whether sufficient credit is available in the provider account, for granting with respect to the credit request; and (c) in dependence on there being a credit insufficiency in the provider account: (i) send a credit response in reply to the credit request, indicating the credit insufficiency; and (ii) subsequently, send a credit- availability message in dependence on one or more conditions, including, at least, occurrence of a change in credit availability in the provider account.
  • An example method corresponding to the charging node operations described immediately above includes a charging node: (a) receiving a credit request targeting a provider account maintained for online charging in association with the communication network, the credit request requesting credit on behalf of a consumer account that is also maintained for online charging in association with the communication network, the requested credit to be used for authorizing use of a communication service chargeable to the consumer account; (b) determining whether sufficient credit is available in the provider account, for granting with respect to the credit request; and (c) in dependence on there being a credit insufficiency in the provider account: (i) sending a credit response in reply to the credit request, indicating the credit insufficiency; and (ii) subsequently, sending a credit-availability message in dependence on one or more conditions, including, at least, occurrence of a change in credit availability in the provider account.
  • the present invention is not limited to the above features and advantages. Indeed, those skilled in the art will recognize additional features and advantages upon reading the following detailed description, and upon viewing the accompanying drawings.
  • Figure 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a communication network and an associated charging system.
  • Figure 2 is a logic flow diagram of one embodiment of a method of operation, as performed by a charging-system node that is associated with a“consumer account”.
  • Figure 3 is a logic flow diagram of one embodiment of a method of operation, as performed by a charging-system node that is associated with a“provider account”.
  • Figure 4 is a signal flow diagram of one embodiment of signaling exchanged within a charging system on behalf of a consumer account, with respect to multiple provider accounts.
  • Figure 5 is a logic flow diagram of another embodiment of a method of operation, as performed by a charging-system node that is associated with a consumer account.
  • Figures 6-8 are logic flow diagrams of further embodiments of methods of operation, as performed by a charging-system node that is associated with a provider account.
  • FIG. 9 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a charging system node.
  • Figure 10 is a block diagram of yet another embodiment of a charging system node.
  • FIG 1 illustrates a communication network 10, in an example embodiment.
  • the communication network 10 (“network 10”)
  • the network 10 communicatively couples wireless communication devices 12 (“devices 12” or“device 12”) to one or more external networks 14, such as the Internet.
  • the network 10 includes a Radio Access Network (RAN) 16, providing radio-based connectivity to the device(s) 12, and further includes a Core Network (CN) 18, providing data routing and interfacing with the external network(s) 14.
  • RAN Radio Access Network
  • CN Core Network
  • the network 10 provides devices 12 with access to one or more types of communication services, such as voice services, data services, media services, messaging services, etc.
  • a charging system 20 is included in the network 10 or is associated therewith and provides mechanisms for charging one or more subscriber accounts associated with the use of communication services provided via the network 10.
  • a given device 12 includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or other secure data element that allows the network 10 to authenticate the device 12 for access to the network 10 and, further, identify the one or more accounts against which communication-service usage by the device 12 is charged. Because accounts of this sort typically are held by persons or companies that have“subscriptions” in place with the operator of the network 10, they often are referred to as subscriber accounts.
  • SIM Subscriber Identity Module
  • the charging improvements disclosed herein are not limited to“subscriber” accounts per se, and the term“account” broadly connotes any type of account that is linked directly or indirectly to the charging of communication-service usage by a device 12. Where usage of a communication service is chargeable to more than one account, or where one account is otherwise linked to another in terms of credit, it should be understood that different persons or entities may be associated with respective ones of the accounts.
  • a scenario of particular interest herein involves“consumer accounts” and“provider accounts.”
  • a consumer account and a provider account maybe of the same account type or may be of different account types, with the labels emphasizing that the provider account is linked to the consumer account, as a potential source of credit for charging use of a communication service that is chargeable against the consumer account.
  • an employee of a company has an account, and the employer has another account that is linked to the employee’s account as a source of credit for authorizing communication-service usage by the employee. Similar arrangements apply to so-called“family plans,” where a number of sub-accounts link to the main account.
  • the network 10 comprises, for example, a 3 GPP network based on any one of
  • the depicted charging system 20 comprises a 3GPP charging system, albeit with the advantageous improvements detailed herein.
  • TS32.296 for non-limiting example details of the charging system 20, according to a non-limiting example embodiment.
  • TS 32.240 for example details regarding overall charging-system architecture and management.
  • the example charging system 20 includes or provides electronic access to data records constituting a consumer account 22 and a provider account 24.
  • the consumer account 22 and the provider account 24 comprise or are linked to respective records or sets of records stored in one or more account databases 26 that are included in or accessible to the charging system 20.
  • at least the consumer account 22 is linked with a device 12 configured for accessing one or more types of communication services via the network 10, and the provider account 24 is logically linked to the consumer account 22, as a possible source of credit for authorizing communication-service usage by the device 12.
  • a charging node 30 is associated with the consumer account 22, and a charging node 32 is associated with the provider account 24.
  • the charging node 30 includes or is associated with a“Charging Trigger Function” (CTF) that generates requests for credit authorization responsive to the involved device 12 attempting to initiate or continue use of a communication service subject to online charging by the network 10.
  • CTF Charge Trigger Function
  • the charging nodes 30 and 32 maybe part of a Business Support System (BSS) and, in general, each node maybe associated with one or more consumer accounts and one or more provider accounts, and a given account may be either a provider account or a consumer account, depending upon the particular circumstances or transactions at issue.
  • BSS Business Support System
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an example method 200 of operation by the charging node 30, which will be understood as a charging node configured for operation in the charging system 20, which operates as an online charging system associated with the network 10.
  • the method 200 includes the charging node 30 receiving (Block 202) an authorization request, requesting authorization of use of a communication service provided by the network 10, where the use is chargeable to a consumer account 22 maintained for online charging in association with the network 10.
  • a device 12 linked to the consumer account 22 initiates or attempts to continue a voice call, data session, or another communication service to which the network 10 applies online charging.
  • the charging node 30 sends (Block 204) a credit request targeting a provider account 24 that is further maintained in association with the network 10 and linked to the consumer account 22.
  • the credit request requests credit on behalf of the consumer account 22, for charging the use of the communication service.
  • Sending the credit request maybe a conditional operation, e.g., conditioned on first determining that the consumer account 22 lacks sufficient credit for authorizing the requested usage, or upon determining that the provider account 24 represents a higher-priority for charging, or upon determining that the particular communication-service usage at issue should, in particular, be charged to the provider account 24.
  • sending the credit request may comprise, for example, sending the credit request towards a centralized node or some other processing node in the charging system 20, with addressing or other information included, allowing the receiving node to recognize that the requests targets the provider account 24.
  • the charging node 30 receives (Block 206) a credit response in reply to the credit request and, in dependence on the credit response indicating a credit insufficiency in the provider account: the method 200 includes the charging node 30: (a) suspending further credit requests targeting the provider account 24, at least with respect to the consumer account 22 and the communication service (Block 208); and (b) clearing the suspension responsive to at least one of (Block 210): (1) expiration of a suspension timer that was activated regarding the suspension; or (2) reception of a credit-availability message indicating a change in credit availability in the provider account 24.
  • the method 200 includes, in at least one embodiment, generating the credit request to include, as a requested amount of credit, an indication of a requested number of charging units.
  • the credit response returned to the charging node 30 may indicate an amount of credit available in the provider account 24, at least with respect to the consumer account 22. Further, the indication may be specific for the involved communication service. Correspondingly, the method 200 may include identifying a credit insufficiency in the provider account 24 by determining that the amount of credit available in the provider account 24 is less than the requested amount of credit.
  • the method 200 includes consideration of more than one provider account 24 (not shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2).
  • the provider account 24 is one among two or more provider accounts linked to the consumer account 22.
  • the method 200 in at least one such embodiment includes, in dependence on the credit response indicating a credit insufficiency in the provider account 24, sending a further credit request targeting another one of the two or more provider accounts, requesting credit on behalf of the consumer account 22, for charging the use of the communication service.
  • the charging node 30 comprises processing circuitry 34 that is configured to carry out the method 200, including the extensions and variations suggested above. Possible implementations of the processing circuitry 34 include programmatically- configured circuitry or fixed circuitry or some combination of the two.
  • the processing circuitry 34 comprises one or more processors that are specially adapted to carry out the operations described herein, based on the execution of computer-program instructions.
  • Example processors include microprocessors, microcontrollers, Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or other computer circuitry that is programmatically configured to carry out the operations ascribed herein to the charging node 30.
  • the processing circuitry 34 includes or is associated with storage 36, which comprises one or more types of computer-readable media.
  • storage 36 provides both longer-term storage of the computer-program instructions, as well as short-term storage as working memory for program execution, data processing, etc.
  • Non-limiting examples include any one or more of FLASH memory circuits, DRAM circuits, SRAM circuits, Solid State Disk (SSD) circuits, and magnetic storage devices.
  • One example implementation includes the storage 36 storing one or more computer programs, CP(s) 38 in the diagram, for execution by the one or more processors comprising the processing circuitry 34.
  • the storage 36 also may store short- or long-term configuration data 40, such as account information, information about network addresses or locations of other charging- system nodes, etc.
  • the CP(s) 38 comprise computer-program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors comprising the processing circuitry 34, at least partly configure the processing circuitry 34 to carry out the above-described operations of the method 200, including the described variations and extensions.
  • the illustrated communication circuitry 42 comprises, for example, an Ethernet or another computer-network interface.
  • the communication circuitry 42 includes, for example, the physical-layer interface circuits for wired or wireless communications with one or more other nodes in the charging system 20 and/or with intermediate-network nodes that communicatively couple the charging node 30 to one or more other nodes in the charging system 20.
  • the communication circuitry 42 may include one or more processing circuits associated with the implementation of the involved communication protocols, although the processing circuitry 34 may perform at least some of the protocol processing or other communication-control functions needed for sending and receiving messages or other signaling via the communication circuitry 42.
  • the charging node 30 in an example embodiment comprises communication circuitry 42 configured for exchanging charging-related messages with one or more other nodes in the charging system 20, which, as described above, functions as an online charging system.
  • the charging node 30 further includes processing circuitry 34 that is operatively associated with the communication circuitry 42 and configured to: (a) receive an authorization request, requesting authorization of use of a communication service provided by the communication network 10, where the use is chargeable to a consumer account 22 maintained for online charging in association with the communication network 10; (b) send a credit request targeting a provider account 24 that is further maintained in association with the communication network 10 and linked to the consumer account 22, the credit request requesting credit on behalf of the consumer account 22, for charging the use of the communication service; (c) receive a credit response in reply to the credit request; and (d) in dependence on the credit response indicating a credit insufficiency in the provider account 24: (i) suspend further credit requests targeting the provider account 24, at least with respect to the consumer account and the communication service; and (ii) clear
  • The“suspension timer” mentioned above does not appear in the diagram but comprises either a hardware clock/counter circuit included in the one or more processors comprising the processing circuitry 34 or comprises a software-based timer maintained by the processing circuitry 34 as part of its program execution.
  • the processing circuitry 34 is configured to generate the credit request to include, as a requested amount of credit, an indication of a requested number of charging units.
  • the processing circuitry 34 is configured to identify the credit insufficiency in the provider account 24 by determining that the amount of credit available in the provider account 24 is less than the requested amount of credit.
  • the provider account 24 may be one among two or more provider accounts linked to the consumer account 22.
  • the processing circuitry 34 is, in at least one
  • the provider account 24 configured to, in dependence on the credit response from the provider account 24 indicating a credit insufficiency in the provider account 24, send a further credit request targeting a further provider account.
  • the further credit requests request credit from the further provider account on behalf of the consumer account 22, for charging the use of the communication service.
  • Figure 2 illustrates an example method 200 of operation from the perspective of the charging node 30 in keeping with its association with the consumer account
  • Figure 3 illustrates a complementary method 300 of operation from the perspective of the charging node 32, in keeping with its association with the provider account 24 (or with at least one provider account, in cases where the consumer account 22 is linked with more than one provider account).
  • the method 300 represents operations by the charging node 32 in the charging system 20 configured for online charging of communication service usage in the communication network 10.
  • the method 300 includes (Block 302) receiving a credit request targeting a provider account 24 maintained for online charging in association with the communication network 10.
  • the credit request requests credit on behalf of a consumer account 22 that is also maintained for online charging in association with the communication network 10, with the requested credit to be used for authorizing the use of a communication service chargeable to the consumer account 22.
  • Further operations in the method 300 include the charging node 32 determining (Block 304) whether sufficient credit is available in the provider account 24, for granting with respect to the credit request, and, in dependence on there being a credit insufficiency in the provider account: sending (Block 306) a credit response in reply to the credit request, indicating the credit insufficiency; and subsequently, sending (Block 308) a credit-availability message in
  • Use of the communication service is, in at least one embodiment, charged in increments of charging units, and the credit request received by the charging node 32 indicates a requested number of charging units.
  • the credit response may, therefore, indicate an available number of charging units in the provider account 24, at least with respect to the consumer account 22 and the communication service.
  • the method 300 may include sending it in dependence on at least one of: the available credit in the provider account 24 exceeding a threshold; the available credit in the provider account 24 changing by more than a threshold; or the available credit in the provider account 24 at least reaching an amount of credit requested in the credit request.
  • the method 300 may include the charging node 32 sending the credit-availability message further conditioned on the type of the communication service, wherein the charging node 32 only sends the credit-availability message if the communication service is one of one or more certain types.
  • the depicted charging node 32 maybe configured to carry out the operations comprised in the method 300, and to perform extensions or variations of the method 300. That is, as seen in Figure 1, the example charging node 32 comprises processing circuitry 44 that is configured to carry out the method 300, including the extensions and variations suggested above. Possible implementations of the processing circuitry 44 include programmatically-configured circuitry or fixed circuitry or some combination of the two.
  • the processing circuitry 44 comprises one or more processors that are specially adapted to carry out the operations described herein, based on the execution of computer-program instructions.
  • Example processors include microprocessors, microcontrollers, Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or other computer circuitry that is programmatically configured to carry out the operations ascribed herein to the charging node 32.
  • the processing circuitry 44 includes or is associated with storage 46, which comprises one or more types of computer-readable media.
  • storage 46 provides both longer-term storage of the computer-program instructions, as well as short-term storage as working memory for program execution, data processing, etc.
  • Non-limiting examples include any one or more of FLASH memory circuits, DRAM circuits, SRAM circuits, Solid State Disk (SSD) circuits, and magnetic storage devices.
  • One example implementation includes the storage 46 storing one or more computer programs, CP(s) 48 in the diagram, for execution by the one or more processors comprising the processing circuitry 44.
  • the storage 46 also may store short- or long-term configuration data 50, such as account information, information about network addresses or locations of other charging- system nodes, etc.
  • the CP(s) 48 comprise computer-program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors comprising the processing circuitry 44, at least partly configure the processing circuitry 44 to carry out the above-described operations of the method 300, including the described variations and extensions.
  • the illustrated communication circuitry 52 comprises, for example, an Ethernet or another computer-network interface.
  • the communication circuitry 52 includes, for example, the physical-layer interface circuits for wired or wireless communications with one or more other nodes in the charging system 20 and/or with intermediate-network nodes that communicatively couple the charging node 32 to one or more other nodes in the charging system 20. Further, the communication circuitry 52 may include one or more processing circuits associated with the implementation of the involved communication protocols, although the processing circuitry 44 may perform at least some of the protocol processing or other communication-control functions needed for sending and receiving messages or other signaling via the communication circuitry 52.
  • the charging node 32 in an example embodiment comprises communication circuitry 52 configured for exchanging charging-related messages with one or more other nodes in the charging system 20, which, as described above, functions as an online charging system.
  • the charging node 32 further includes processing circuitry 44 that is operatively associated with the communication circuitry 52 and configured to: (a) receive a credit request targeting a provider account 24 maintained for online charging in association with the communication network 10, the credit request requesting credit on behalf of a consumer account 22 that is also maintained for online charging in association with the communication network 10, the requested credit to be used for authorizing use of a communication service chargeable to the consumer account 22; (b) determine whether sufficient credit is available in the provider account 24, for granting with respect to the credit request; and (c) in dependence on there being a credit insufficiency in the provider account 24: (i) send a credit response in reply to the credit request, indicating the credit insufficiency; and (ii) subsequently, send a credit- availability message in dependence on one or more conditions, including, at
  • the credit response and/or subsequent credit availability message may be addressed to the node in the charging system 20 associated with the original credit request.
  • the credit response and/or subsequent credit availability message may be tagged or otherwise identified as pertaining to the consumer account 22, for forwarding to the appropriate handling node in the charging system 20.
  • the credit request incoming to the charging node 32 indicates a requested number of charging units.
  • the processing circuitry 44 is configured to generate the credit response to indicate an available number of charging units in the provider account 24, at least with respect to the consumer account and the communication service.
  • the processing circuitry 44 in one or more embodiments is configured to send the credit- availability message in dependence on at least one of: the available credit in the provider account 24 exceeding a threshold; the available credit in the provider account 24 changing by more than a threshold; or the available credit in the provider account 24 at least reaching an amount of credit requested in the credit request.
  • the processing circuitry 44 maybe configured to send the credit- availability message further conditioned on the type of the communication service, wherein the charging node 32 only sends the credit-availability message if the communication service is one of one or more certain types.
  • the charging node 30, as a“first” charging node, and the second charging node 32, as a“second” charging node cooperate as a charging system configured for online charging of communication service usage in a communication network 10.
  • the charging nodes 30 and 32 are configured to operate as described above and, in at least one embodiment, are implemented as separate charging nodes in the charging system 20.
  • the involved communication network / charging system may keep or instantiate a copy of the consumer account 22“close” to the geographic location where the communication device 12 is in use, whereas the provider account 24 may be kept or instantiated in another part of the charging system that is geographically removed from where the consumer account is held.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates an example signaling flow diagram, involving a charging node 30 associated with a consumer account 22, a charging node 32-1 associated with a provider account 24-1, and a charging node 32-2 associated with a provider account 24-2.
  • a single charging node 32 may be associated with both provider accounts 24-1 and 24-2, with both such accounts being linked or otherwise associated with the account 22.
  • the charging node 30 receives incoming signaling from the communication network 10, indicating a requested use of a communication service subject to online charging— either an initial request or a continued-usage request.
  • the charging node 30 sends a credit request, requesting, for example, a reservation of 5 credit units from the account 24-1, for authorizing the requested use of the communication service.
  • the charging node 30 may send the credit request for any one or more reasons, such as determining that the consumer account 22 has insufficient credit, or determining that account 24-1 is a higher-priority account for charging.
  • the account 22 may not hold credit directly and instead be maintained only for network authentication and/or linking an individual user or device owner.
  • the requested amount of credit,“5” in this example may represent a minimum request corresponding to the minimum increments of charging applicable to the involved communication service, or it may be a computed value determined in dependence on a known or assumed amount or extent of usage. Further, the value“5” may represent monetary units of currency, or represent non-monetary units of credit, such as minutes, megabytes, etc.
  • the charging node 32-1 responds to the credit request by, for example, granting the requested credit, subject to authorizations, credit availability in the provider account 24-1, etc.
  • the signal flow assumes that the node 32-1 refuses the credit request (Step 3) and returns a credit response granting zero credits (Step 4).
  • the node 32-1 remembers the credit refusal, e.g., for later sending a subsequent credit-availability message to the node 30, e.g., when the account 24-1 is replenished, or the available credit in the account otherwise changes.
  • the charging node 30 remembers the credit refusal, so that it avoids sending future credit requests towards the provider account 24-1, at least with respect to the consumer account 22 and the involved communication service. However, the suspension of further credit requests towards the provider account 24-1 may be fine-tuned. For example, if the credit response indicated a certain amount of credit being available in the provider account 24-1, the charging node 30 may suspend further credit requests on behalf for the consumer account 22 only if they exceed that reported credit availability.
  • the charging node 30 sends a credit request targeting the provider account 24-2, which is associated with the charging node 32-2.
  • the signal flow assumes that sufficient credit is available in the provider account 24-2, meaning that the charging node 32-2 grants the requested credit and the charging node 30 signals the grant to the network 10.
  • the charging node 30 receives a further request for authorization of a communication service (Step 10).
  • the further request may be for continued usage of the same communication service or may be for a different communication service.
  • the charging node 30 remembers that its credit request towards the provider account 24-1 was unsuccessful, it does not send the new credit request towards the provider account 24-1. Instead, the charging node 30 sends the new credit request towards the provider account 24-2. Again, the request is granted, and the charging node 32-2 indicates the grant in its return credit request, and the charging node 30 correspondingly indicates the grant to the network 10.
  • the provider account 24-1 is replenished, depicted here as an example replenishment with 100 credits.
  • the node 32-1 looks at its log of previously-refused credit requests, allowing it to determine that it previously refused a credit request from the charging node 30 on behalf of the consumer account 22. Based upon the determination, the node 32-1 sends a credit-availability message that indicates the replenishment of credit (Step 17). The message may be addressed to the charging node 30 and/or the consumer account 22. In any case, the charging node 30 makes clear any suspension of credit requests it has in place for the provider account 24-1, at least with respect to the consumer account 22 and the communication service involved in the prior credit refusal.
  • the charging node 30 may send a new credit request towards the provider account 24-1, receive a return credit response granting the request, and indicate the grant to the network 10. These details are seen in Steps 19-22.
  • Figure 5 illustrates another example embodiment of a method 500 that may be performed by a charging node 30 on behalf of a consumer account 22, with respect to a provider account 24.
  • the method 500 includes the charging node 30 selecting (Block 502) the“optimal” provider, from among two or more providers.
  • the word“provider” should be understood as indicating a provider account 24 that is linked to the consumer account 22 for charging one or more types of communication services offered through the communication network 10.
  • a given provider may be optimal in only one sense, or in multiple ways. In addition to not being subject to any suspension of credit requests, the optimal provider may be a more economical choice or of a higher charging priority. However selected, the charging node 30 reads the available credit units from the selected provider (Block 504), with such operations being undertaken with respect to a requested usage of a communication service, for example, where the usage maybe an initial usage or a continuing usage.
  • a continuous provider is an account that represents a continuing or ongoing source of credit for the involved consumer account 22.
  • a non- continuous provider is an account that is available for promotional use, one-time use, or another temporary basis.
  • the charging node 30 temporarily marks the selected provider as depleted (YES from Block 508, into Block 510). If the selected provider does not have any units and is a non-continuous provider, the charging node 30 permanently marks the selected provider as depleted and/or removes the account link (NO from Block 508, into Block 512).
  • the charging node 30 may flag the selected provider as depleted and thereafter suspend further credit requests towards the provider, until receipt of a credit-availability message indicating a replenishment of credit or other change in credit availability at the provider.
  • the charging node 30 may use certain metadata in determining the suspension.
  • the suspension may be a timed suspension, based on a known or estimated time to replenishment or replenishment cycle for the provider.
  • the charging node 30 may use such metadata not only to control whether or for how long credit-requests are suspended with respect to a particular provider account 24, but also to override a suspension that is in force.
  • the charging node 30 may be configured to impose a longer suspension or require affirmative receipt of a credit-availability message indicating new credit availability, or otherwise remove a provider account 24, upon receiving a certain number of credit refusals from the provider account 24.
  • the charging node 30 may require that the credit refusals be consecutive or be received over a particular time period, such as spanning an expected credit replenishment event.
  • the selected provider has credit units available, and the charging node 30 uses the available units for rating the communication-service usage (Block 514).
  • the credit-reservation flow continues (Block 516) with the charging node 30 determining whether all requested units are reserved (Block 518). If so, processing continues with granting reserved units (Block 520). If not (NO from Block 518), the charging node 30 determines whether remaining credit in the provider account 24 is reserved, such that the account is not depleted but should, at least for purposes of the current processing flow, be considered as depleted, to prevent further interrogation of the account within the ongoing processing loop (see Blocks 522 and 524).
  • Figure 6 illustrates a method 600 performed by a charging node 32 on behalf of a provider account 24 with respect to a particular consumer account 22, referred to in the diagram simply as the“consumer”.
  • the charging node 32 may be referred to as the “provider” in keeping with the operations that it performs for or in association with the provider account 24.
  • the method 600 illustrates a“pre-step” series of operations, for both in credit reservation and credit debit, e.g., with reference to“Module 2” shown in Figure 4.
  • the method 600 includes the provider determining whether the consumer is eligible for new units notification (Block 602).
  • the eligibility decision pertains to whether the consumer should receive one or more credit-availability messages in the future, responsive to a credit change at the provider.
  • the consumer is eligible for new units notification upon the provider refusing a credit request submitted on behalf of the consumer.
  • the provider adds the consumer to a consumer list (Block 604) and determines whether it should add a time of entry of the current or most recent credit request from the consumer (Block 606). If so, the provider adds such information as metadata into a metadata record maintained for the consumer (Block 608), prepares the metadata for a response (Block 610), and processing continues to Block 616.
  • processing continues with determining whether the consumer is in the notification list (Block 612). If so, the consumer is removed from the list (Block 614), and processing continues to Block 616.
  • the provider determines whether it has enough units available for the consumer, e.g., with respect to a pending credit request from the consumer. If so, processing continues with continuing or resuming the credit reservation and debit processing flow (Block 618), followed by termination of the credit-request session (Block 620). At Block 616, if there are not enough units available for the consumer, processing advances to termination of the session (Block 620). Of course, the provider may notify the consumer regarding the insufficiency of available credit.
  • Figure 7 illustrates another method 700 that may be performed by or on behalf of a provider, in association with replenishment of credit at the provider. Assuming the provider previously refused credit requests from a number of consumers, the processing associated with the method 700 provides a mechanism for notifying consumers of the credit replenishment.
  • the notification process and/or credit reservation may be performed
  • the method 700 includes carrying out an optimal consumer selection algorithm (Block 704), as a mechanism for selecting the next consumer to notify. Processing then considers whether there are credit units left available (Block 706), which may be understood as determining whether there remains some amount of replenished credit that has not already been pre-reserved for consumers already processed in accordance with the illustrated flow.
  • the subprocess includes determining whether to pre-reserve units for the current consumer (Block 708). The decision may be based upon metadata associated with the consumer, such as a priority value, statistics on previous credit refusals, etc.
  • processing Upon deciding not to pre-reserve units for the consumer (NO from Block 708), processing continues with performing a consumer notification or at least including the consumer in a list of consumers for which credit-availability messages are to be sent (Block 710). Upon deciding to pre-reserve units for the consumer (YES from Block 708), processing continues with pre-reserving a defined number of credit units (Block 712), where the pre-reservation can be indicated in the consumer notification and debited against the remaining credits.
  • Figure 8 illustrates yet another method 800 that may be performed by a provider.
  • Operations illustrated in the method 800 relate to performing a consumer notification as a function of a credit threshold being passed, regarding a change in the credit balance at the provider.
  • Processing begins with provider determining whether a defined threshold has been exceeded (Block 802). If so, processing continues with the provider running a threshold analysis (Block 804), with the results of the analysis used to determine whether consumer notifications should be sent (Block 806). If so, processing continues with the provider going through its current list of consumers and sending corresponding notifications to those consumers (Block 808), e.g., as credit-availability messages indicating the balance change or indicating the amount of credit currently available at the provider. After the consumer-notification processing, the processing session ends (Block 810).
  • FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a charging node 30, comprising a set 900 of modules or units that are implemented, for example, via programmatic configuration of the one or more processors comprising the processing circuitry 34 of the charging node 30.
  • the modules include a first receiving module 902 that is configured to receive an authorization request, requesting authorization of use of a communication service provided by the communication network 10, where the use is chargeable to a consumer account 22 maintained for online charging in association with the communication network 10.
  • a sending module 904 is further included and is configured to send a credit request targeting a provider account 24 that is further maintained in association with the communication network 10 and linked to the consumer account 22.
  • the credit request requests credit on behalf of the consumer account 22, for charging the use of the communication service.
  • a second receiving module 906 is configured to receive a credit response in reply to the credit request.
  • a suspending module 908 is configured to, in dependence on the credit response indicating a credit insufficiency in the provider account 24: suspend further credit requests targeting the provider account 24, at least with respect to the consumer account 22 and the communication service.
  • a suspension-clearing module 910 is configured to clear the suspension in response to at least one of: expiration of a suspension timer that was activated regarding the suspension; or reception of a credit-availability message indicating a change in credit availability in the provider account 24.
  • FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of a charging node 32, comprising a set 1000 of modules or units that are implemented, for example, via programmatic configuration of the one or more processors comprising the processing circuitry 44 of the charging node 32.
  • the modules include a receiving module 1002 that is configured to receive a credit request targeting a provider account 24 maintained for online charging in association with the communication network 10.
  • the credit request requests credit on behalf of a consumer account 22 that is also maintained for online charging in association with the communication network 10, with the requested credit to be used for authorizing the use of a communication service chargeable to the consumer account 22.
  • a determining module 1004 that is configured to determine whether sufficient credit is available in the provider account 24, for granting with respect to the credit request and a first sending module 1006.
  • the first sending module 1006 is configured to, in dependence on there being a credit insufficiency in the provider account 24, send a credit response in reply to the credit request, indicating the credit insufficiency.
  • a second sending module 1008 is configured to send, subsequently, a credit-availability message in dependence on one or more conditions, including, at least, occurrence of a change in credit availability in the provider account 24.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de facturation (20) qui améliore les opérations associées à la facturation en ligne dans un réseau de communication (10) par, entre autres, la réduction de la quantité ou des occurrences de signalisation liée à la facturation entre des nœuds de système de facturation (30, 32) associés à des «comptes de consommateur» et des «comptes de fournisseur». Dans ce contexte, un compte de fournisseur (24) sert de source de crédit pour une utilisation de service de communication pouvant être facturée à un compte de consommateur (22), et le système de facturation (20) met en place une série de mécanismes qui permettent à un nœud demandeur (30) associé à un compte consommateur (22) d'éviter d'envoyer des requêtes de crédit vers un compte fournisseur (24) qui a un crédit insuffisant. Du point de vue du compte du fournisseur, le système de facturation (20) envisagé peut en outre comprendre des mécanismes qui permettent à un nœud de réponse (32) associé à un compte de fournisseur (24) d'envoyer des informations de crédit mises à jour à n'importe quels nœuds (30) auquel il a envoyé précédemment des indications de crédit insuffisant, réinitialisant ainsi ces nœuds (30) en ce qui concerne l'envoi de demandes de crédit dans le futur.
PCT/EP2019/062814 2019-05-17 2019-05-17 Procédé et appareil permettant de faire payer un usage de service de communication WO2020233771A1 (fr)

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Cited By (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2022204841A1 (fr) * 2021-03-29 2022-10-06 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Procédé, appareil et système de gestion de facturation

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US20140372287A1 (en) * 2013-06-13 2014-12-18 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Method and Apparatus for Subscriber Account Selection
EP3107240A1 (fr) * 2015-06-15 2016-12-21 Alcatel Lucent Facturation dynamique d'un tiers

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140372287A1 (en) * 2013-06-13 2014-12-18 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) Method and Apparatus for Subscriber Account Selection
EP3107240A1 (fr) * 2015-06-15 2016-12-21 Alcatel Lucent Facturation dynamique d'un tiers

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WO2022204841A1 (fr) * 2021-03-29 2022-10-06 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Procédé, appareil et système de gestion de facturation

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