US 8,483,135 B2 · Online charging for sessions that are transferred between network domains

Abstract

Communication networks and methods are disclosed for providing online charging for a session of a dual mode device that is transferred (seamless handover) from a first network domain to a second network domain. For the session involving the dual mode device, a handover application server or another network element generates a handover charging identifier that may be used in the first network domain and the second network domain. The handover application server then distributes the handover charging identifier to network elements in the second network domain and the first network domain. The network elements in the first network domain and the second network domain insert the handover charging identifier and other context information in online charging requests that are transmitted to an online charging system. The online charging system is then able to correlate online charging requests from both the first network domain and the second network domain.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system operable to provide online charging for a session of a dual mode device that is transferred from a first network domain to a second network domain, the system comprising:

at least one network element in the second network domain that is operable to receive a handover charging identifier for the session that was handed over from the first network domain to the second network domain, wherein the handover charging identifier identifies the session for online charging across the first network domain and the second network domain
the at least one network element is further operable to store the handover charging identifier, to identify a triggering event for charging during the session over the second network domain, to generate an online charging request for the session and insert the handover charging identifier in the online charging request, and to transmit the online charging request to an online charging system.

A method of providing online charging for a session of a dual mode device that is transferred from a first network domain to a second network domain, the method comprising:

receiving a handover charging identifier in at least one network element in the second network domain, wherein the handover charging identifier identifies the session for online charging across the first network domain and the second network domain;
storing the handover charging identifier in the at least one network element in the second network domain;
identifying a triggering event for charging in the at least one network element in the second network domain during the session over the second network domain,
generating an online charging request for the session and inserting the handover charging identifier in the online charging request;
and
transmitting the online charging request to an online charging system.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Online charging for sessions that are transferred between network domains

Life of this patent

Online charging for sessions that are transferred between network domains

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20