Method , system and devices for transferring accounting information

A system for transferring accounting information, said system comprising:

• a metering server for metering data related to a service,
• an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) service authorization server including a generator for generating Extensible Authentication Protocol requests (EAP-request) for service authorizations, and a network connection means,
• a terminal including a signer arranged to digitally sign verified accounting information, an Extensible Authentication Protocol response (EAP-response) generator arranged to insert digitally signed accounting information in EAP-responses, and a network connection means, and
• an Authentication Authorization Accounting (AAA) server arranged to manage accounting information relating to at least one terminal.

A method in a terminal, said method comprising:

• collecting data corresponding to accounting information relevant for at least one service presently utilized in the terminal,
• receiving an Extensible Authentication Protocol request (EAP-request) for service authorization,
• digitally signing accounting information, and
• sending the digitally signed accounting information in an Extensible Authentication Protocol response (EAP-response).

A terminal comprising:

• a collector arranged to collect data corresponding to accounting information relevant for at least one service presently utilized in the terminal,
• a signer arranged to digitally sign accounting information,
• an Extensible Authentication Protocol response (EAP-response) generator arranged to insert digitally signed accounting information in EAP-responses, and
• a network connection means.

A method in an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) service authorization server, said method comprising:

• receiving accounting information related to at least one terminal,
• sending, to at least one terminal, an Extensible Authentication Protocol request (EAP-request) for ordering service authorization,
• receiving an Extensible Authentication Protocol response (EAP-response) including signed accounting information, which has been signed in the at least one terminal, and
• providing an Authentication Authorization Accounting server with the signed accounting information.

An Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) service authorization server comprising:

• an accounting information receiver for receiving accounting information relating to at least one terminal,
• an Extensible Authentication Protocol request (EAP-request) generator arranged to generate EAP-requests for service authorizations,
• an extractor for extracting digitally signed accounting information from an Extensible Authentication Protocol response (EAP-response) received,
• an accounting message generator for generating a message, complying with an Authentication Authorization Accounting (AAA) protocol, including said digitally signed accounting information, and
• a network connection means.