US 8,797,859 B2Granted

Reset functions

AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)

InventorsJohn Stenfelt, Hans Mattsson

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Abstract

The invention discloses a node (120) for use in a wireless access communications system (100) which is arranged to transmit information to and receive information from a PCRF (110), a Policy and Charging Rules Function, in the system. The information to and from the PCRF (110) is transmitted over a Gx interface, and the node is also arranged to count the amount of a defined service in the system which is used by a user, a UE (130) in the system during a defined period of time and to take a defined course of action when said amount of the defined service reaches a threshold value. The node (120) is arranged to be able to reset said count at a defined point in time, a “reset point”, and the information which the node it is arranged to receive from the PCRF (110) comprises information on said reset point.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) node for use in a wireless access communications system in which Usage Monitoring Control is used, the PCEF node comprising:

a processor and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor whereby said PCEF node is operative to:
transmit information to and receive information from a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) node in the system, the information to and from the PCRF node being transmittable over an interface, wherein the received information that the PCEF node is configured to receive includes:
(1) one or more Monitoring Keys for a user (UE) in the system,
(2) an allowed usage threshold per Monitoring Key for the UE,
(3) a reset point corresponding to a point in time at which the PCEF node resets a counter regarding an amount of a defined service in the system used by the UE during a defined period of time, and
(4) a reporting point for the PCEF node to transmit reports to the PCRF node regarding the amount of the defined service in the system used by the UE during the defined period of time, wherein the information regarding the reporting point is transmitted before the reset point, and wherein the reporting point is after the reset point;
count the amount of the defined service in the system which is used by the UE during the defined period of time per Monitoring Key;
take a defined course of action when the amount of the defined service used by the UE reaches the allowed usage threshold;
reset the count to zero for each Monitoring Key at the reset point;
and
transmit the reports to the PCRF node at the reporting point.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/509,386Filed 13 Nov 2009
Published: US 2012/0224538 A16 Sep 2012
Granted: 5 Aug 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

H04L 12/1407
Architecture for metering, charging or billing: policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
H04M 15/00
Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication
H04M 15/705
Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges: account settings, e.g. limits or numbers or payment
H04M 15/80
Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless…: rating or…