Method and apparatus for charging in a telecommunication network

A node configured for operation as a charging client in a telecommunication network, the node comprising:

• communication interface circuitry configured to send and receive signaling to one or more other nodes or devices operating in the telecommunication network;
• and
• processing circuitry operatively associated with the communication interface circuitry and configured to:
• receive a request for resource usage, requesting usage of a communication resource of the telecommunication network by a user of the telecommunication network;
• determine a timer value, the timer value being a time for which a reservation against usage of the communication resource should remain valid against a subscriber account associated with the user;
• send a reservation request to another node in the telecommunication network that is operative as a charging server, the reservation request indicating the timer value as a requested timer value;
• receive a reservation response in return from the charging server, the reservation response indicating a quota reservation and a granted timer value;
• and
• responsive to determining at least that the granted timer value indicated in the reservation response conforms to the requested timer value:
• initiate or continue a communication session for the user, based on a granted resource quota represented by the quota reservation;
• track consumption of the communication resource during the session, against the quota reservation;
• and
• time expiration of the quota reservation according to the granted timer value.

A method performed by a node in a telecommunication network, the node operative as a charging server and the method comprising:

• receiving a reservation request from another node in the telecommunication network that is operative as a charging client, the reservation request indicating a requested timer value and requesting usage of a communication resource by a user of the telecommunication network, the requested timer value being a time for which a reservation against usage of the communication resource should remain valid against a subscriber account associated with the user;
• determining whether or not a conforming reservation is possible, based on determining whether the requested timer value is acceptable to the charging server and whether the subscriber account has available funds sufficient to cover a resource quota to be reserved against the subscriber account as a granted resource quota;
• and
• in response to determining that a conforming reservation is possible, sending a reservation response to the charging client indicating the granted resource quota as a resource reservation and indicating a granted timer value in conformance with the requested timer value.

A node configured for operation as a charging server in a telecommunication network and comprising:

• communication interface circuitry configured to communicatively couple the node to another node that is operative as a charging client in the telecommunication network;
• and
• processing circuitry operatively associated with the communication interface circuitry and configured to:
• receive a reservation request from the charging client, the reservation request indicating a requested timer value and requesting usage of a communication resource by a user of the telecommunication network, the requested timer value being a time for which a reservation against usage of the communication resource should remain valid against a subscriber account associated with the user;
• determine whether or not a conforming reservation is possible, based on determining whether the requested timer value is acceptable to the charging server and whether the subscriber account has available funds sufficient to cover a resource quota to be reserved against the subscriber account as a granted resource quota;
• and
• in response to determining that a conforming reservation is possible, send a reservation response to the charging client indicating the granted resource quota as a resource reservation and indicating a granted timer value in conformance with the requested timer value.