Method and apparatus for dynamically controlling customer traffic in a network under demand-based charging
AssigneeHuawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
InventorsNimal Gamini Senarath, Hang Zhang, Sophie Vrzic
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for responding to demand-based charging in a communication network, such as a 5G wireless communication network. Service providers and/or infrastructure providers adjust network usage pricing dynamically based on demand. Customers such as Virtual Network operators respond to pricing adjustments by adjusting their network usage, service requirements, and/or by re-negotiating the pricing structure. Network usage can be adjusted by controlling network traffic generated in response to activity of end-user devices of the Virtual Network.
Claims25
A method for charging in a communication network, comprising a service-based charging function:
- applying, according to a service level agreement (SLA), one or more service-based charging rules to a service provided to multiple UEs, the SLA being between a provider of the service and a customer and including a dynamic component including time-based billing or location-based billing, the dynamic component and the charging rules specifying a current pricing for a particular quality of service (QoS) level for the service, the current pricing being set solely by the service-based charging function according to current conditions, wherein the charging rules prescribe charging based on one or more of:
- an amount of communication used for the service for serving the multiple UEs, said communication dedicated to providing the service;
- access to the service by each of the multiple UEs;
- and an amount of resource consumption for providing the service to each of the multiple UEs;
- and
- transmitting an indication of charging to the customer associated with, and charged for, the service as provided to the multiple UEs, based on the applied one or more service-based charging rules, wherein the service is provided using a network slice operating on top of the communication network, the communication network being separate from the service.
A network node operative to provide service-based charging in a communication network, the network node comprising a processor operative to:
- apply, according to a service level agreement (SLA), one or more service-based charging rules to a service provided to multiple UEs, the SLA being between a provider of the service and a customer and including a dynamic component including time-based billing or location-based billing, the dynamic component and the charging rules specifying a current pricing for a particular quality of service (QoS) level for the service, the current pricing being set solely by the service-based charging function according to current conditions, wherein the charging rules prescribe charging based on one or more of:
- an amount of communication used for the service for serving the multiple UEs, said communication dedicated to providing the service;
- access to the service by each of the multiple UEs;
- and an amount of resource consumption for providing the service to each of the multiple UEs;
- and
- transmit an indication of charging to a device of the customer associated with, and charged for, the service as provided to the multiple UEs, based on the applied one or more service-based charging rules;
- wherein the service is provided using a network slice operating on top of the communication network, the communication network being separate from the service.
A system comprising a network node and a device of a customer, wherein
- the network node is configured to:
- apply, according to a service level agreement (SLA), one or more service-based charging rules to a service provided to multiple UEs, the SLA being between a provider of the service and the customer and including a dynamic component including time-based billing or location-based billing, the dynamic component and the charging rules specifying a current pricing for a particular quality of service (QoS) level for the service, the current pricing being set solely by the service-based charging function according to current conditions, wherein the charging rules prescribe charging based on one or more of:
- an amount of communication used for the service for serving the multiple UEs, said communication dedicated to providing the service;
- access to the service by each of the multiple UEs;
- and an amount of resource consumption for providing the service to each of the multiple UEs;
- and
- transmit an indication of charging to the device of the customer associated with, and charged for, the service as provided to the multiple UEs, based on the applied one or more service-based charging rules;
- wherein the service is provided using a network slice operating on top of a communication network, the communication network being separate from the service.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.