Accounting in peer-to-peer data communication networks

A system for charging in a data communications network, the system comprising:

• an Accounting Manager that:
• sends a service credential to the User;
• and
• sends a user credential to the Service Provider;
• a User that requests a service from the Service Provider, using information from the service credential;
• and
• a Service Provider that provides at least one service and that:
• validates the service request, using information from the user credential;
• and
• sends an accounting message relating to the service to the Accounting Manager.

A User node in a data communications network that further comprises a Service Provider and an Accounting Manager, the User node comprising:

• a communication unit that:
• receives a service credential from the Accounting Manager;
• and
• requests a service from the Service Provider, using information from the service credential.

An Accounting Manager in a data communications network that further comprises a User and a Service Provider, the Accounting Manager comprising:

• a communication unit that:
• sends a service credential to the User;
• sends a user credential to the Service Provider;
• and
• receives an accounting message from the Service Provider.

A Service Provider providing at least one service in a data communications network that further comprises a User and an Accounting Manager, wherein the Service Provider:

• comprises a communication unit that:
• receives a user credential from the Accounting Manager;
• receives a request for a service from the User;
• and
• sends an accounting message relating to the service to the Accounting Manager.

A system for charging in a data communications network further comprising a User, the system comprising:

• an Accounting Manager that:
• sends a service credential to the User;
• sends a user credential to the Service Provider;
• and
• receives a request for a service from the User;
• and
• a Service Provider that provides at least one service and that:
• validates the service request, using information from the user credential;
• and
• sends an accounting message relating to the service to the Accounting Manager.