Method and Arrangement for Controlling and Charging for Peer-to-Peer Services in an IP-based Communication Network

A method for controlling and charging for peer-to-peer services, P2P-services for short, in an IP-based communication network, which comprises the steps of:

• providing a server system for communicating with a plurality of terminals in the communication network;
• using a charging and access control regulation function for charging and access control for communication traffic;
• using direct logical communication links, called P2P links, for communication between the terminals;
• providing software which uses logical P2P-service-specific communication channels on the terminals;
• communicating via each terminal with the server system, before setting up direct logical communication links to other terminals in the communication network;
• and
• performing, via the server system, P2P-service-specific access control for each terminal communicating with the server system in collaboration with the charging and access control regulation function.

A configuration for controlling and charging for peer-to-peer services, P2P-service for short, in an IP-based communication network, the configuration comprising:

• a server system;
• means for communicating between said server system and a plurality of terminals in the communication network;
• a charging and access control regulation function for charging and access control of communication traffic;
• means for the terminals to communicate with one another via direct logical communication links, called P2P links;
• software-based logical P2P-service-specific communication channels on the terminals;
• means for each terminal to communicate with said server system before direct logical communication links have been set up to other terminals in the communication network;
• and
• means for said server system to perform P2P-service-specific access control for each terminal communicating with said server system in collaboration with the charging and access control regulation function.