Device and method for billing connections that are routed via a packet network

An arrangement for billing for a connection routed via a packet network, the connection between a plurality of subscriber terminals, comprising:

• a data stream of information packets exchanged between subscribers, billing for the data once the connection is established;
• a quality standard of the connection;
• and
• a central device arranged within the network, the device having a quality control and routes the information packets, and stops the billing when the quality standard is not and when the Quality standard is not met:
• stopping the transfer of information packets, and
• signaling to a controller responsible for billing that transmission has stopped.

A method for billing for a connection routed via a packet network, comprising:

• initiating the connection by a first subscriber terminal to a second subscriber terminal;
• starting the billing when the connection is established between the terminals;
• providing a signaling path between the subscribers;
• transmitting information packets by at least one of the terminals, the packets transmitted so that a minimum separation in time occurs between information packets consecutively transmitted;
• and
• stopping the billing if packet separation is greater than a guard time, wherein the signaling path is a different path than provided by the connection,
• when packet separation is greater than the guard time:
• stopping the transmitting of information packets;
• and
• signaling to a controller responsible for billing that transmission has stopped.