Method and apparatus for service aware charging and control in a communication network
AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
InventorChristian Olrog
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and service aware charging controller for enabling service aware charging of access to a data service in a communication network. A request for a first data service is received and a first property of the request for the first data service is determined. Charging of the first data service is initiated using the first property. A request for a second data service is received and a second property of the request for the second data service is determined. It is further determined that the second data service is to be charged as a subordinate service of the first data service due to fulfillment of a condition based on the first and second property. Charging of the second data service as a subordinate service of the first data service is initiated.
Claims23
A method for enabling service aware charging of access to a data service in a communication network comprising:
- receiving a request for a first data service;
- determining a first property of the request for the first data service;
- initiating charging of the first data service using the first property;
- receiving a request for a second data service;
- selecting between a packet inspection for the request for the second data service and a heuristic inspection for the request for the second data service, wherein the packet inspection comprises analyzing a response message received in response to the request for the first data service and analyzing the response message to detect the occurrence of referenced content requested in the request for the second data service, and wherein the heuristic inspection comprises determining that a time difference between the request for the first data service and the request for the second data service does not exceed a threshold value;
- determining, based on the selected heuristic inspection or the selected packet inspection, that the second data service is to be charged as a subordinate service of the first data service;
- and
- initiating charging of the second data service as a subordinate service of the first data service.
A service aware charging controller for enabling service aware charging of access to a data service in a communication network comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
- receiving a request for a first data service;
- determining a first property of the request for the first data service;
- initiating charging of the first data service using the first property;
- receiving a request for a second data service;
- selecting between a packet inspection for the request for the second data service and a heuristic inspection for the request for the second data service, wherein the packet inspection comprises analyzing a response message received in response to the request for the first data service and analyzing the response message to detect the occurrence of referenced content requested in the request for the second data service, and wherein the heuristic inspection comprises determining that a time difference between the request for the first data service and the request for the second data service does not exceed a threshold value;
- determining, based on the selected heuristic inspection or the selected packet inspection, that the second data service is to be charged as a subordinate service of the first data service;
- and
- initiating charging of the second data service as a subordinate service of the first data service.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.