Volume-based online charging in hybrid networks

A method for enabling a charging of packet switched data transfer between an authorized customer and a network, the method providing:

• transferring a total data volume via at least a first data path and a second data path between an equipment related to the authorized customer and a hybrid access aggregation point (HAAP) as an access to the network, each of the at least a first data path and a second data bath using a different access technology for transferring its respective part of the total data volume;
• determining the total data volume as a sum of the respective parts of the total data volume transferred in both the first path and the second path;
• and
• using the total data volume by a central charging unit for a charging.

A system for enabling a charging of packet switched data transfer between an authorized customer and a network, the system comprising:

• an equipment related to the authorized customer;
• a hybrid access aggregation point (HAAP) as an access to the network;
• at least a first data path and a second data path which are respectively configured to transfer a part of a data volume, each of the first data path and the second data path using a different access technology for the data transfer;
• a device configured to determine a total data volume as a sum of the parts of data volume transferred via the first data path and the second data path;
• and
• a central charging unit configured to use the total data volume for a charging.