Method and Apparatus for Service Charging in a Communication Network

A method of operation performed by a charging system node of a charging system associated with a communication network, the method comprising:

• recording consumption control information in a parent data container that is common to a plurality of user devices that share a subscription for using the communication network, the consumption control information commonly governing consumption by each of the user devices of units that represent corresponding quanta of metered use of a communication service provided via the communication network;
• and
• recording individual consumption information for each user device in a correspondingly created child data container that is specific to the user device, the individual consumption information reflecting unit consumption by the user device that is subject to the consumption control information in the parent data container;
• wherein, for charging-system operations that involve only the consumption control information, the method includes accessing the parent data container without accessing any child data container;
• and
• wherein, for charging-system operations involving unit consumption by a particular one of the user device that is governed by the consumption control information, the method includes forming a non-persistent working data container, tracking the unit consumption in the working data container, along with holding the consumption control information in the working data container to govern the unit consumption, and, in conjunction with releasing the working data container, updating the individual consumption information recorded in the corresponding child data container, according to the tracked unit consumption.

A charging system node configured for operation in a charging system associated with a communication network, the charging system node comprising:

• communication interface circuitry configured for communicatively coupling the charging system node to one or more other nodes of the charging system;
• and
• processing circuitry operatively associated with the communication interface circuitry and configured to:
• record consumption control information in a parent data container that is common to a plurality of devices that share a subscription for using the communication network, the consumption control information commonly governing consumption by each of the user devices of units that represent corresponding quanta of metered use of a communication service provided via the communication network;
• record individual consumption information for each user device in a correspondingly created child data container that is specific to the user device, the individual consumption information reflecting unit consumption by the user device that is subject to the consumption control information in the parent data container;
• for charging-system operations that involve only the consumption control information, access the parent data container without accessing any child data container;
• and
• for charging-system operations involving unit consumption by a particular one of the user device that is governed by the consumption control information, form a non-persistent working data container, track the unit consumption in the working data container, along with holding the consumption control information in the working data container to govern the unit consumption, and, in conjunction with releasing the working data container, update the individual consumption information recorded in the corresponding child data container, according to the tracked unit consumption.

A charging system node configured for operation in a charging system associated with a communication network, the charging system node comprising:

• a first recording module configured to record consumption control information in a parent data container that is common to a plurality of devices that share a subscription for using the communication network, the consumption control information commonly governing consumption by each of the user devices of units that represent corresponding quanta of metered use of a communication service provided via the communication network;
• a second recording module configured to record individual consumption information for each user device in a correspondingly created child data container that is specific to the user device, the individual consumption information reflecting unit consumption by the user device that is subject to the consumption control information in the parent data container;
• and
• an operations module configured to access the parent data container without accessing any child data container, for charging-system operations that involve only the consumption control information, and, for charging-system operations involving unit consumption by a particular one of the user devices that is governed by the consumption control information, form a non-persistent working data container, track the unit consumption in the working data container, along with holding the consumption control information in the working data container to govern the unit consumption, and, in conjunction with releasing the working data container, update the individual consumption information recorded in the corresponding child data container, according to the tracked unit consumption.