System for charging the use of a packet-based telecommunication network

A system for use in conjunction with a packet based telecommunication network for determining a charge for a packet connection therethrough, the charge being responsive to dynamic changes in packet loading occurring during the connection, the network carrying system packets (RM, RESV) which comprise first and second indications (r1, r2) of capacity or priority as respectively requested by a user for a connection and, in response thereto, assigned to that connection for the user by the telecommunication system, the system comprising:

• a measuring device for measuring a duration (t) of each of a plurality of successively occurring time periods during which a predefined number (N) of packets in a packet stream that belong to a common packet connection are received or transmitted through the connection so as to define corresponding ones of a plurality of measured time periods, wherein the predefined number is less than a total number of packets transported during the connection and the time periods extend substantially throughout an entire duration of the connection;
• a billing system, responsive to the measuring device, for formulating a charge for use of the connection;
• a first detection device, responsive to the system packets in the packet stream and associated with the connection, for reading out the first indication (r1) from the system packets and transferring the first indication (r1) to the billing system;
• and
• a second detection device, responsive to the system packets in the packet stream and associated with the connection, for reading out the second indication (r2) from the system packets and transferring the second indication (r2) to the billing system;
• and
• wherein the charge for the connection, as determined by the billing system, reflects the measured duration (t) of each one of the measured time periods, such that a corresponding incremental charge for each one of the periods responsively tracks changes in the packet flow (N/t) then occurring on a period-by-period basis substantially throughout the entire duration of the connection, the charge also reflecting the first and second indications (r1, r2).