Method and apparatus for information exchange in online charging

A charging system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the at least one processor and configured to store instructions for execution by the at least one processor to:
• receive, from a charging trigger function device, a first charging request message;
• determine, in response to the first charging request message, a non-real-time trigger;
• send, to the charging trigger function device, the non-real-time trigger;
• receive, from the charging trigger function device, a second charging request message comprising first charging information and second charging information, wherein the first charging information is associated with a first chargeable event corresponding to the non-real-time trigger and comprises first quota usage information of a rating group, wherein the second charging information is associated with a second chargeable event corresponding to a real-time trigger and comprises second quota usage information of the rating group, and wherein the second chargeable event is after the first chargeable event;
• and
• send, to the charging trigger function device, a first second charging answer message corresponding to the second charging request message,
• wherein the non-real-time trigger enables the charging trigger function device to store, but not report to the charging system, when a chargeable event corresponding to the non-real-time trigger happens, charging information collected before the chargeable event.

A communications system comprising:

• a charging trigger function device configured to:
• detect a first chargeable event corresponding to a non-real-time trigger;
• store first charging information collected before the first chargeable event, wherein the first charging information comprises first quota usage information of a rating group;
• collect second charging information after the first chargeable event, wherein the second charging information comprises second quota usage information of the rating group;
• and
• send, in response to detecting a second chargeable event corresponding to a real-time trigger, a charging request message, wherein the second chargeable event is after the first chargeable event, and wherein the charging request message comprises the first charging information and the second charging information;
• and
• a charging system configured to:
• receive the charging request message from the charging trigger function device;
• and
• send a first charging answer message corresponding to the charging request message to the charging trigger function device,
• wherein the non-real-time trigger enables the charging trigger function device to store, but not report to the charging system, when a chargeable event corresponding to the non-real-time trigger happens, charging information collected before the chargeable event.

A method comprising:

• detecting, by at least one first processor of a charging trigger function device, a first chargeable event corresponding to a non-real-time trigger;
• storing, by the at least one first processor, first charging information collected before the first chargeable event, wherein the first charging information comprises first quota usage information of a rating group;
• collecting, by the at least one first processor, second charging information after the first chargeable event, wherein the second charging information comprises second quota usage information of the rating group;
• sending, by the at least one first processor and in response to detecting a second chargeable event corresponding to a real-time trigger, a charging request message, wherein the second chargeable event is after the first chargeable event, and wherein the charging request message comprises the first charging information and the second charging information;
• receiving, by at least one second processor of a charging system, the charging request message from the charging trigger function device;
• and
• sending, by the at least one second processor, a first charging answer message corresponding to the charging request message to the charging trigger function device,
• wherein the non-real-time trigger enables the charging trigger function device to store, but not report to the charging system, when a chargeable event corresponding to the non-real-time trigger happens, charging information collected before the chargeable event.

A computer program product comprising instructions that are stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to:

• receive, from a charging trigger function device, a first charging request message,
• determine, in response to the first charging request message, a non-real-time trigger,
• send, to the charging trigger function device, the non-real-time trigger,
• receive, from the charging trigger function device, a second charging request message comprising first charging information and second charging information, wherein the first charging information is associated with a first chargeable event corresponding to the non-real-time trigger and comprises first quota usage information of a rating group, wherein the second charging information is associated with a second chargeable event corresponding to a real-time trigger and comprises second quota usage information of the rating group, and wherein the second chargeable event is after the first chargeable event, and
• send, to the charging trigger function device, a second charging answer message corresponding to the second charging request message,
• wherein the non-real-time trigger enables the charging trigger function device to store, but not report to a charging system, when a chargeable event corresponding to the non-real-time trigger happens, charging information collected before the chargeable event.

Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to:

• receive, from a charging trigger function device, a first charging request message,
• determine, in response to the first charging request message, a non-real-time trigger,
• send, to the charging trigger function device, the non-real-time trigger,
• receive, from the charging trigger function device, a second charging request message comprising first charging information and second charging information, wherein the first charging information is associated with a first chargeable event corresponding to the non-real-time trigger and comprises first quota usage information of a rating group, wherein the second charging information is associated with a second chargeable event corresponding to a real-time trigger and comprises second quota usage information of the rating group, and wherein the second chargeable event is after the first chargeable event;
• and
• send, to the charging trigger function device, a second charging answer message corresponding to the second charging request message,
• wherein the non-real-time trigger enables the charging trigger function device to store, but not report to a charging system, when a chargeable event corresponding to the non-real-time trigger happens, charging information collected before the chargeable event.