Maintaining charging state during final unit redirect in credit-control systems
AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
InventorMarcus Karlsson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is implemented in a credit control server (CCS). The method includes receiving, at the CCS from a credit control client (CCC), a message associated with a multiple services credit control (MSCC) session, where the message includes a request for service units associated with a service account. The method further includes determining, at the CCS, that insufficient service units are available in the service account and notifying the CCC that service units need to be added to the service account. The method also includes maintaining, at the CCS, MSCC session related parameters while the CCC adds service units to the service account.
Claims15
A method implemented in a Credit Control Server CCS, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving, at the CCS from a Credit Control Client CCC, a message associated with a Multiple Services Credit Control MSCC session, where the message includes a request for service units associated with a service account;
- determining, at the CCS, that insufficient service units are available in the service account;
- notifying the CCC that service units need to be added to the service account by sending as part of an MSCC message a Final Unit Indication F-U-I redirect message to the CCC;
- and
- maintaining, at the CCS, MSCC session related parameters while the CCC adds service units to the service account.
A Credit Control Server CCS, comprising:
- an interface configured to receive a message, from a Credit Control Client CCC associated with a Multiple Services Credit Control MSCC session, where the message requests a grant of service units associated with a service account;
- and
- a processing unit (220) configured to:
- determine, based on the request, that insufficient service units are available in the service account,
- notify the CCC that service units need to be added to the service account by sending as part of an MSCC message a Final Unit Indication F-U-I redirect message to the CCC, and
- maintain, in a memory, MSCC session related parameters during a period of time during which the CCC adds service units to the service account.
A computer-readable medium containing instructions executable by at least one processor, the computer-readable medium comprising:
- one or more instructions for receiving, from a client, a message associated with a Multiple Services Credit Control MSCC session, where the message includes a request for service units associated with a service account;
- one or more instructions for notifying the client, based on receipt of the request for service units, when insufficient service units are available in the service account, where the notification includes as part of an MSCC message a Final Unit Indication F-U-I and a network address at which the client can add service units to the service account;
- and
- one or more instructions for continuing the MSCC session, without losing session parameters and state information associated with the MSCC session, once the client adds service units to the service account.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.