# US 12,015,734 B2 · Policy information to policy control and confirmation to session management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,734 B2 - Document ID: US12015734B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/200,482 - Filed: 2023-05-22 - Published: 2023-09-21 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-13 - Assignees: Ofinno, LLC - Applicants: Ofinno, LLC - Inventors: Weihua Qiao; Esmael Hejazi Dinan; Kyungmin Park; Peyman Talebi Fard; Jayshree Bharatia - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015734B2 ## CPC - H04M 15/66: {Policy and charging system} - H04L 12/14: Charging, metering or billing arrangements specially adapted for data communications, e.g. authentication, authorisation and accounting [AAA] framework - H04L 12/1407: {Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture} - H04M 15/00: Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication {; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP} - H04M 15/64: {On-line charging system [OCS]} - H04M 15/65: {Off-line charging system} - H04M 15/8033: {location-dependent, e.g. business or home} - H04M 15/8038: {Roaming or handoff} - H04M 15/8228: {Session based} - H04W 4/24: Accounting or billing - H04W 8/22: Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities - H04W 84/042: {Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems} - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method may include receiving, by a charging function (CHF) from a policy control function (PCF), a first request for charging policy information for a packet data unit (PDU) session of a wireless device. The method may also include sending, by the CHF to the PCF, a message comprising the charging policy information. The charging policy information may indicate a charging method that includes: online charging, offline charging, converged charging, or a combination thereof. The method may further include receiving, by the CHF from a session management function (SMF), a second request to establish a charging session, wherein the second request comprises the charging method. The method may additionally include sending, by the CHF to the SMF, a confirmation for the charging method. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving, by a charging function (CHF) from a policy control function (PCF), a first request for charging policy information for a packet data unit (PDU) session of a wireless device; sending, by the CHF to the PCF, a message comprising the charging policy information, wherein the charging policy information indicates a charging method comprising one or more of: online charging, offline charging, or converged charging; receiving, by the CHF from a session management function (SMF), a second request to establish a charging session, wherein the second request comprises the charging method; and sending, by the CHF to the SMF, a confirmation for the charging method. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first request comprises at least one of: an identifier of the wireless device; a UE IP address; or an identifier of the PDU session. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the CHF from the PCF, the first request via a network function. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the charging policy information, wherein the determining is based on at least one of: an identifier of the wireless device; a type of PDU session; an access type; a radio access technology (RAT) type; a public land mobile network (PLMN) identifier; an application identifier; a data network name (DNN); a single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI); the identifier of the PDU session; or user location information. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the charging policy information further comprises a charging rate applied to the PDU session. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the second request comprises the charging rate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the charging policy information further comprises an address of the CHF applied to the PDU session. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the second request comprises the address of the CHF. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second request further comprises a requested charging method indication, wherein the requested charging method indication comprises at least one of: an information element indicating a requested online charging; an information element indicating a requested offline charging; or an information element indicating a requested converged charging. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising sending, by CHF to the SMF, a charging data response message comprising an accepted charging method indication, wherein the accepted charging method indication comprises at least one of: an information element indicating an accepted online charging; an information element indicating an accepted offline charging; or an information element indicating an accepted converged charging. ### Claim 11 An apparatus comprising: one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause a charging function (CHF) to: receive, from a policy control function (PCF), a first request for charging policy information for a packet data unit (PDU) session of a wireless device, wherein the charging policy information indicates a charging method comprising one or more of: online charging, offline charging, or converged charging; send, to the PCF, a message comprising the charging policy information; receive, by the CHF from a session management function (SMF), a second request to establish a charging session, wherein the second request comprises the charging method; and send, to the SMF, a confirmation for the charging method. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first request comprises at least one of: an identifier of the wireless device; a UE IP address; or an identifier of the PDU session. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to receive, from the PCF, the first request via a network function. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to perform a determination of the charging policy information, wherein the determination is based on at least one of: an identifier of the wireless device; a type of PDU session; an access type; a radio access technology (RAT) type; a public land mobile network (PLMN) identifier; an application identifier; a data network name (DNN); a single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI); the identifier of the PDU session; or user location information. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the charging policy information further comprises a charging rate applied to the PDU session. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second request comprises the charging rate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the charging policy information further comprises an address of the CHF applied to the PDU session. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second request further comprises a requested charging method indication, wherein the requested charging method indication comprises at least one of: an information element indicating a requested online charging; an information element indicating a requested offline charging; or an information element indicating a requested converged charging. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to send, to the SMF, a charging data response message comprising an accepted charging method indication, wherein the accepted charging method indication comprises at least one of: an information element indicating an accepted online charging; an information element indicating an accepted offline charging; or an information element indicating an accepted converged charging. ### Claim 20 A system comprising: a policy control function (PCF); a session management function (SMF); and an apparatus comprising: one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause a charging function (CHF) to: receive, from the PCF, a first request for charging policy information for a packet data unit (PDU) session of a wireless device; send, to the PCF, a message comprising the charging policy information, wherein the charging policy information indicates a charging method comprising one or more of: online charging, offline charging, or converged charging; receive, by the CHF from the SMF, a second request to establish a charging session, wherein the second request comprises the charging method; and send, to the SMF, a confirmation for the charging method.