US 9,438,748 B2Granted

CDF tracking for offline charging

AssigneeAlcatel Lucent

InventorRanjan Sharma

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Abstract

Systems and methods that track Charging Data Functions (CDFs) that handle accounting requests for a session. One embodiment comprises a distributor unit that receives an interim accounting request for a session. The interim accounting request includes a tracking parameter that includes one or more CDF identifiers (ID) indicating one or more CDFs that handled accounting requests for the session. The distributor unit processes the tracking parameter to identify a first CDF ID for a first destination CDF that handled accounting requests for the session. When the first destination CDF is not available to receive the interim accounting request, the distributor unit selects a second destination CDF for the interim accounting request based on a distribution algorithm. The distributor unit adds a second CDF ID for the second destination CDF in the tracking parameter of the interim accounting request, and transmits the interim accounting request to the second destination CDF.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

a distributor unit configured to connect to a plurality of Charging Data Functions (CDFs) for offline charging;
the distributor unit comprising a processor configured to receive an interim accounting request from a Charging Trigger Function (CTF) for a session, wherein the interim accounting request includes a tracking parameter populated with at least one CDF identifier (ID) indicating at least one destination CDF that handled accounting requests for the session;
the distributor unit is configured to process the tracking parameter in the interim accounting request to identify a first CDF ID for a first destination CDF that handled accounting requests for the session;
when the first destination CDF is available to receive the interim accounting request, the distributor unit is configured to transmit the interim accounting request to the first destination CDF;
when the first destination CDF is not available to receive the interim accounting request, the distributor unit is configured to select a second destination CDF for the interim accounting request based on a distribution algorithm,
to add a second CDF ID for the second destination CDF in the tracking parameter of the interim accounting request, and to transmit the interim accounting request to the second destination CDF.

3 more elements

A method comprising:

receiving an interim accounting request in a distributor unit from a Charging Trigger Function (CTF) for a session, wherein the distributor unit connects to a plurality of Charging Data Functions (CDFs) for offline charging;
wherein the interim accounting request includes a tracking parameter populated with at least one CDF identifier (ID) indicating at least one destination CDF that handled accounting requests for the session;
processing the tracking parameter in the interim accounting request to identify a first CDF ID for a first destination CDF that handled accounting requests for the session;
when the first destination CDF is available to receive the interim accounting request, transmitting the interim accounting request to the first destination CDF;
when the first destination CDF is not available to receive the interim accounting request:
selecting a second destination CDF for the interim accounting request based on a distribution algorithm;
adding a second CDF ID for the second destination CDF in the tracking parameter of the interim accounting request;
and
transmitting the interim accounting request to the second destination CDF.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/499,030Filed 26 Sep 2014
Published: US 2016/0094722 A131 Mar 2016
Granted: 6 Sep 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

H04M 15/65
Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless…: off-line…
H04L 12/1403
Charging, metering or billing arrangements specially adapted for data communications, e.g. authentication, authorisation and accounting [AAA]…:…
H04L 12/1407
Architecture for metering, charging or billing: policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
H04L 12/1425
Charging, metering or billing arrangements specially adapted for data communications, e.g. authentication, authorisation and accounting [AAA]…:…

Family

US 2016/0094722 A1Pre-grant publication · published 31 Mar 2016
US 9,438,748 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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