A method and device for integrated billing

Abstract

The present application provides a method and device for converged billing, which realizes requesting online billing and offline billing based on an online and offline converged billing session, and simplifies the billing architecture. The method includes: a session management function determines the billing type of a first data stream and a second data stream, and the billing type is online billing or offline billing; the session management function sends a first message to a billing server through an online and offline converged billing session according to the billing type of the first data stream and the second data stream, the first message includes a first online billing request for the first data stream, or the first message includes a first offline billing request for the second data stream, or the first message includes a first online billing request for the first data stream and a first offline billing request for the second data stream, and the online and offline converged billing session is used to send the first online billing request and the first offline billing request.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communications, and more specifically, to a method and device for convergent billing. Background Art

[0002] At present, the charging architecture of the third generation mobile communication technology (3rd-generation, 3G) and the fourth generation mobile communication technology (4th-generation, 4G) includes two systems: online charging and offline charging. In the online charging system, the charging trigger function (CTF) is used to trigger the charging of the R o The interface is connected to the online charging function (OCF). In the offline charging system, CTF is connected to the online charging function (OCF) through R f The interface is connected to the Charging Data Function (CDF). The billing architecture with separate online and offline billing makes operators face complex coordination and cooperation among multiple systems when configuring products, which limits the flexibility of operators in opening services. There will be many restrictions on industry application support under the fifth-generation mobile communication technology (5th-generation, 5G). At the same time, the billing system is limited by the intervention of external systems in online and offline billing, making the billing system processing complex. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present application provides a method and device for convergent billing, which realizes requesting online billing and offline billing based on an online and offline convergent billing session, simplifies the billing architecture, and improves the flexibility of operator service activation.

[0004] In a first aspect, a convergent charging method is provided, including: a session management function determines a charging type of a first data flow and a second data flow, where the charging type is online charging or offline charging; the session management function sends a first message to a charging server through an online and offline convergent charging session according to the charging types of the first data flow and the second data flow, where the first message includes a first online charging request for the first data flow, or the first message includes a first offline charging request for the second data flow, or the first message includes a first online charging request for the first data flow and a first offline charging request for the second data flow, and the online and offline convergent charging session is used to send the first online charging request and the first offline charging request.

[0005] Therefore, in an embodiment of the present application, the session management function sends a first online charging request to the charging server through an online and offline convergent charging session, or the session management function sends a first offline charging request to the charging server through an online and offline convergent charging session, or the session management function sends a first online charging request and a first offline charging request to the charging server through an online and offline convergent charging session, thereby realizing online charging and offline charging requests based on online and offline convergent charging sessions, simplifying the charging architecture, and improving the flexibility of operator service activation.

[0006] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first online billing request includes a first quota application; the first offline billing request includes consumption information statistics, or the first offline billing request includes a second quota application and first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second quota is a virtual quota.

[0007] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the session management function receives a second message sent by the billing server through the online and offline convergent billing session, wherein the second message includes at least one of the first online billing request response information and the first offline billing request response information, and the first online billing response information includes a first quota allocated for the first quota application of the data flow; when the first offline billing request includes the consumption information statistics, the first offline billing response information includes a processing result of the consumption information statistics, and when the first offline billing request includes the second quota application and first indication information, the first offline billing response information includes the second quota allocated for the second quota application of the data flow and the first indication information.

[0008] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the second message also includes: an identifier corresponding to the first quota, and the identifier is used to indicate to the billing server that the reported usage information is the usage amount of the first quota when reporting the first quota usage information to the billing server.

[0009] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, when a first charging trigger condition of the first data flow is met, the session management function sends a third message to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes a second online charging request for the first data flow; or

[0010] When a second charging trigger condition of the second data flow is met, the session management function sends a third message to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes a second offline charging request for the second data flow; or

[0011] When a first charging trigger condition of the first data flow is met and a second charging trigger condition of the second data flow is met, the session management function sends a third message to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes a second online charging request for the first data flow and a second offline charging request for the second data flow.

[0012] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the second online charging request includes at least one of a third quota application and usage information of the first quota; the second offline charging request includes consumption information statistics, or the second offline charging request includes at least one of usage information of the second quota and a fourth quota application, and second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the fourth quota or the usage information of the second quota is a virtual quota.

[0013] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the third message also includes: at least one of third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream, the third indication information being used to indicate online billing for the first data stream, and the fourth indication information being used to indicate offline billing for the second data stream.

[0014] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, before the session management function sends the third message to the billing server through the online offline convergent billing session, the session management function receives a fourth message sent by the billing server through the online offline convergent billing session, where the fourth message is used to instruct to send the third message through the online offline convergent billing session;

[0015] When the first data stream and the second data stream correspond to the same rate group,

[0016] When the fourth message includes the same rate group, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow and the second offline charging request for the second data flow; or,

[0017] When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the third indication information, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow; or,

[0018] When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the fourth indication information, the third message includes the second offline charging request for the second data flow.

[0019] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, before sending the first message, the session management function sends an online and offline convergent charging session establishment request to the charging server; or

[0020] The first message includes an online and offline convergent charging session establishment request.

[0021] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, in the online and offline converged charging session, when the first data flow is online charged and the online charging trigger condition of the first data flow is met, and the second data flow is offline charged and the offline charging trigger condition of the second data flow is met, the session management function sends an online charging request for the first data flow and an offline charging request for the second data flow, respectively.

[0022] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, when it is determined that online charging and offline charging do not need to be performed, the session management function sends a fifth message to the charging server to request the charging server to end the online and offline converged charging session.

[0023] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the session management function obtains a static charging policy or obtains a dynamic charging policy of a policy control function, and the dynamic charging policy and the static charging policy include the charging types of the first data flow and the second data flow; the session management function determines, according to the dynamic charging policy or the static charging policy, that the first data flow is online charging and the second data flow is offline charging.

[0024] In a second aspect, a convergent charging method is provided, including: a charging server receiving a first message sent by a session management function through an online and offline convergent charging session, where the first message includes a first online charging request for a first data flow, or the first message includes a first offline charging request for the second data flow, or the first message includes a first online charging request for the first data flow and a first offline charging request for the second data flow, and the online and offline convergent charging session is used to send the first online charging request and the first offline charging request;

[0025] The charging server sends a second message to the session management function,

[0026] When the first message includes a first online charging request for the first data flow, the second message includes response information of the first online charging request; when the first message includes a first offline charging request for the second data flow, the second message includes response information of the first offline charging request; when the first message includes the first online charging request for the first data flow and the first offline charging request for the second data flow, the second message includes response information of the first online charging request and response information of the first offline charging request.

[0027] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the first online billing response information includes the first quota allocated by the first quota application for the first data flow, the first online billing response information includes the first quota allocated for the first quota application for the data flow, when the first offline billing request includes the consumption information statistics, the first offline billing response information includes the processing result of the consumption information statistics, and when the first offline billing request includes the second quota application and the first indication information, the first offline billing response information includes the second quota allocated by the second quota application for the data flow and the first indication information.

[0028] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the billing server receives a third message sent by the session management function through the online and offline convergent billing session, where the third message includes a second online billing request for the first data flow, or a second offline billing request for the second data flow, or a second online billing request for the first data flow and a second offline billing request for the second data flow.

[0029] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the second online billing request includes at least one of a third quota application and consumption information of the first quota, the second offline billing request includes the consumption information statistics, or the second offline billing request includes consumption information of the second quota or a fourth quota application, and second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the fourth quota or the consumption information of the second quota is a virtual quota.

[0030] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the third message also includes: at least one of third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream, the third indication information is used to indicate online billing for the first data stream, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate offline billing for the second data stream.

[0031] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the billing server deducts the reserved first quota based on the usage information of the first quota; or the billing server allocates the third quota based on the third quota application; or the billing server generates a billing call record based on the consumption information statistics; or the billing server generates a billing call record based on the consumption information of the second quota and the second indication information; or the billing server allocates the fourth quota based on the fourth quota application and the second indication information.

[0032] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, before receiving the third message, the charging server sends a fourth message to the session management function through the online offline convergent charging session, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the third message is sent through the online offline convergent charging session;

[0033] When the first data stream and the second data stream correspond to the same rate group,

[0034] When the fourth message includes the same rate group, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow and the second offline charging request for the second data flow; or,

[0035] When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the third indication information, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow; or,

[0036] When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the fourth indication information, the third message includes the second offline charging request for the second data flow.

[0037] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, before receiving the first message, the billing server receives an online offline convergent billing session request sent by the session management function to establish an online offline convergent billing session; or the billing server receives the first message including the online offline convergent billing session establishment request to establish an online offline convergent billing session.

[0038] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, in the online and offline converged billing session, when the first data flow is online billed and the online billing trigger condition of the first data flow is met, and the second data flow is offline billed and the offline billing trigger condition of the second data flow is met, the billing server receives the online billing request of the first data flow and the offline billing request of the second data flow, respectively.

[0039] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the billing server receives a fifth message sent by the session management function; and the billing server ends the online and offline convergent billing session according to the fifth message.

[0040] In a third aspect, a convergent billing method is provided, including: a billing server receiving a first message sent by a session management function through an online and offline convergent billing session, the first message including a first quota application for a first data flow, or the first message including a second quota application for the second data flow, or the first message including a first quota application for the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow; the online and offline convergent billing session is used to send the first online billing request and the first offline billing request;

[0041] The billing server determines a billing type for the first data flow and the second data flow, where the billing type is online billing or offline billing;

[0042] The charging server sends a second message to the session management function through the online and offline convergent charging session according to the charging types of the first data flow and the second data flow,

[0043] Wherein, when the first message includes a first quota application for a first data flow, the second message includes a first quota allocated by the billing server to the first data flow,

[0044] When the first message is a second quota application for the second data flow, the second message includes the second quota application for the second data flow and first indication information allocated to the second data flow, the first indication information is used to instruct the session management function to perform offline charging on the second data flow, or the second message includes the second quota application and second indication information allocated by the billing server to the second data flow, the second indication information is used to indicate that the second quota is a virtual quota,

[0045] When the first message includes a first quota application for the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow, the second message includes a first quota assigned to the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow by the billing server and first indication information assigned to the second data flow, the first indication information being used to instruct the session management function to perform offline billing on the second data flow, or the second message includes a first quota application assigned to the first data flow and a second quota application assigned to the second data flow by the billing server and second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate that the second quota is a virtual quota, when the first message includes a first quota application for the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow.

[0046] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, when it is determined that the billing type of the service data flow of the first service is online billing, the second message also includes service data flow information corresponding to the first quota; or when it is determined that the billing type of the service data flow of the first service is offline billing, the second message includes service data flow information corresponding to the first indication information; or when it is determined that the billing type of the service data flow of the first service is offline billing, the second message includes service data flow information corresponding to the second quota.

[0047] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, when the first data stream and the second data stream use the same rate group, the second message also includes a flow identifier corresponding to the second data stream, and the flow identifier is used to instruct the session management function to perform reporting of consumption information statistics of the second data stream corresponding to the flow identifier.

[0048] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the billing server receives a third message sent by a session management function through an online and offline converged billing session, and the third message includes at least one of a third quota application for the first data flow and consumption information of the first quota, or consumption information statistics of the second data flow or a fourth quota application and second indication information, or consumption information used by the second quota and second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a virtual quota.

[0049] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the third message also includes: at least one of third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream, the third indication information being used to indicate an online charging request for the first data stream, and the fourth indication information being used to indicate an offline charging request for the second data stream.

[0050] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the billing server deducts the reserved first quota based on the consumption information of the first quota; or the billing server allocates the third quota based on the third quota application; or the billing server generates a billing call record based on the consumption information statistics of the second data flow; or the billing server allocates the fourth quota based on the fourth quota application and the second indication information; or the billing server generates a billing call record based on the consumption information used by the second quota and the second indication information.

[0051] In combination with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, before receiving the third message, the charging server sends a fourth message to the session management function through the online offline convergent charging session, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the third message is sent through the online offline convergent charging session;

[0052] When the first data stream and the second data stream correspond to the same rate group,

[0053] When the fourth message includes the same rate group, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow and the second offline charging request for the second data flow; or,

[0054] When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the third indication information, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow; or,

[0055] When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the fourth indication information, the third message includes the second offline charging request for the second data flow.

[0056] In combination with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, before receiving the first message, the charging server receives an online offline convergent charging session request sent by the session management function to establish an online offline convergent charging session; or

[0057] The charging server receives the first message including the online and offline convergent charging session establishment request, and establishes the online and offline convergent charging session.

[0058] In combination with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the billing server receives a billing policy corresponding to the PDU session sent by the policy control function when the policy control function establishes the PDU session; or

[0059] When receiving the first message sent by the session management function, the policy control function is requested to obtain the charging policy corresponding to the PDU session.

[0060] In combination with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the billing server determines, according to the billing policy, that the billing type of the first data flow is online billing, and the billing type of the second data flow is offline billing.

[0061] In combination with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the billing server receives a fifth message sent by the session management function; and the billing server ends the online and offline convergent billing session according to the fifth message.

[0062] In a fourth aspect, a convergent billing method is provided, including: a session management function sending a first message to a billing server through an online and offline convergent billing session, where the first message includes a first quota application for a first data flow, or the first message includes a second quota application for the second data flow, or the first message includes a first quota application for the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow; the online and offline convergent billing session is used to send the first online billing request and the first offline billing request;

[0063] The session management function receives a second message sent by the charging server through an online and offline convergent charging session,

[0064] Wherein, when the first message includes a first quota application for a first data flow, the second message includes a first quota allocated by the billing server to the first data flow,

[0065] When the first message is a second quota application for the second data flow, the second message includes a second quota allocated to the second data flow and first indication information allocated to the second data flow, the first indication information is used to instruct the session management function to perform offline charging on the second data flow, or the second message includes a second quota application and second indication information allocated by the billing server to the second data flow, the second indication information is used to indicate that the second quota is a virtual quota,

[0066] When the first message includes a first quota application for the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow, the second message includes a first quota assigned to the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow by the billing server and first indication information assigned to the second data flow, the first indication information being used to instruct the session management function to perform offline billing on the second data flow, or the second message includes a first quota application assigned to the first data flow and a second quota application assigned to the second data flow by the billing server and second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate that the second quota is a virtual quota, when the first message includes a first quota application for the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow.

[0067] In combination with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, when a first charging trigger condition of the first data flow is met, the session management function sends a third message to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes at least one of a third quota application for the first data flow and consumption information of the first quota; or

[0068] When a second charging trigger condition of the second data flow is met, the session management function sends a third message to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes consumption information statistics of the second data flow or a fourth quota application and second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the fourth quota is a virtual quota; or

[0069] When a second charging trigger condition of the second data flow is met, the session management function sends a third message to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes usage information statistics of the second quota or a fourth quota application and second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the fourth quota is a virtual quota; or

[0070] When the first charging trigger condition of the first data flow is met and the second charging trigger condition of the second data flow is met, the session management function sends a third message to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes at least one of a third quota application for the first data flow and consumption information of the first quota, and consumption information statistics of the second data flow or a fourth quota application and second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the fourth quota is a virtual quota, or the third message includes at least one of a third quota application for the first data flow and consumption information of the first quota, and usage information statistics of the second quota or a fourth quota application and second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the fourth quota is a virtual quota.

[0071] In combination with the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the third message also includes: at least one of third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream, the third indication information is used to indicate an online charging request for the first data stream, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate an offline charging request for the second data stream.

[0072] In combination with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, before the session management function sends the third message to the billing server through the online offline convergent billing session, the session management function receives a fourth message sent by the billing server through the online offline convergent billing session, where the fourth message is used to instruct to send the third message through the online offline convergent billing session;

[0073] When the first data stream and the second data stream correspond to the same rate group,

[0074] When the fourth message includes the same rate group, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow and the second offline charging request for the second data flow; or,

[0075] When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the third indication information, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow; or,

[0076] When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the fourth indication information, the third message includes the second offline charging request for the second data flow.

[0077] In combination with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, before sending the first message, the session management function sends an online offline convergent charging session establishment request to the charging server; or the first message includes an online offline convergent charging session establishment request.

[0078] In combination with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, when the session management function determines that online charging and offline charging do not need to be performed, it sends a fifth message to the charging server to request the charging server to end the online and offline converged charging session.

[0079] In a fifth aspect, a session management function is provided, including: a determination module and a sending module, which can execute the method in the first aspect or any optional implementation of the first aspect.

[0080] In a sixth aspect, a billing server is provided, comprising: a receiving module and a sending module, which can execute the method in the second aspect or any optional implementation of the second aspect.

[0081] In a seventh aspect, a billing server is provided, comprising: a receiving module, a determining module and a sending module, which can execute the method in the third aspect or any optional implementation of the third aspect.

[0082] In an eighth aspect, a session management function is provided, including: a sending module and a receiving module, which can execute the method in the fourth aspect or any optional implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0083] In the ninth aspect, a communication device is provided, including a memory and a processor, the memory storing program codes that can be used to instruct the execution of the first or any optional implementation method of the first aspect, the second or any optional implementation method of the second aspect, the third or any optional implementation method of the third aspect, and the fourth or any optional implementation method of the fourth aspect. When the program codes are executed, the processor can implement the session management function in the above method and the billing server can perform various operations.

[0084] In the tenth aspect, a chip system is provided, comprising: at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is used to execute stored instructions so that the session management function can execute the method in the first aspect or any optional implementation of the first aspect, the fourth aspect or any optional implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0085] In the eleventh aspect, a chip system is provided, comprising: at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is used to execute stored instructions so that the billing server can execute the method in the second aspect or any optional implementation of the second aspect, the third aspect or any optional implementation of the third aspect.

[0086] In the twelfth aspect, a computer program product is provided, which includes instructions, which, when executed, enable the session management function to execute the method in the first aspect or any optional implementation of the first aspect, the fourth aspect or any optional implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0087] In the thirteenth aspect, a computer program product is provided, which includes instructions. When the instructions are executed, the billing server can execute the method in the second aspect or any optional implementation of the second aspect, the third aspect or any optional implementation of the third aspect.

[0088] In the fourteenth aspect, a computer storage medium is provided, which stores program instructions. When the instructions are executed, the session management function can execute the method in the first aspect or any optional implementation of the first aspect, the fourth aspect or any optional implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0089] In the fifteenth aspect, a computer storage medium is provided, which stores program instructions. When the instructions are executed, the billing server can execute the method in the second aspect or any optional implementation of the second aspect, the third aspect or any optional implementation of the third aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0090] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communication system architecture of a method and device for convergent billing according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0091] Figure 2 is a schematic flow chart of a method for convergent billing according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0092] Figure 3 is a schematic flow chart of a method for convergent billing according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0093] Figure 4 is a schematic flow chart of a method for convergent billing according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0094] Figure 5 is a schematic flow chart of a method for convergent billing according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0095] Figure 6 is a schematic flow chart of a method for convergent billing according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0096] Figure 7 is a schematic flow chart of a method for convergent billing according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0097] Figure 8 is a schematic flow chart of a method for convergent billing according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0098] Fig. 9 is a schematic flow chart of a method for convergent billing according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0099] Fig.10 is a structural diagram of a session management function according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0100] Fig.11 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a billing server according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0101] Fig.12 is a structural diagram of a session management function according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0102] Fig.13 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a billing server according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0103] Fig.14 It is a structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0104] The technical solution in this application will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0105] In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, first of all, before introducing the embodiments of the present application, an online billing system and an offline billing system in the prior art are introduced.

[0106] The online charging system (OCS) is a system that manages billing based on service usage in real time. Online charging applies for quota before using the service, and reports the collected billing information after the service is used to achieve real-time settlement. In the 3G and 4G billing architecture, the online charging system mainly includes the charging trigger function CTF, the online charging function OCF, the user balance management function and the batch pricing function. The charging trigger function collects the user's charging request events from the data gateway of the data service domain, reports these events to the online charging function, and obtains the authorization to use the network resources requested by the charging event and the corresponding event from the online charging function. The online charging function inquires about the service price or rate and the user balance from the batch pricing function and the account balance management function, and decides whether to authorize the user who applied for the service to use the network resources after judgment. During the service, the online charging function is responsible for calculating the service fee in real time, and notifies the CTF to forcibly interrupt the service when the user balance is insufficient to maintain the existing service.

[0107] The offline charging system reports the collected charging information after the service is used, and the charging will not affect the service use in real time. In the 3G and 4G charging architecture, the offline charging system mainly includes the charging trigger function CTF, the charging data function (CDF) and the charging gateway function (CGF). CTF assembles the charging information into a charging event and sends it to the R f The Bx interface sends the charging event to the CDF, which uses the information contained in the charging event to construct a Charging Detail Record (CDR), also known as a call bill. After the CDF generates the CDR, it sends the CDR to the CGF. The CGF assembles the CDR into a CDR file and uses the Bx interface to send the CDR file to the billing center for processing.

[0108] The billing architecture with separate online and offline billing makes operators face complex coordination and cooperation among multiple systems when configuring products, which limits the flexibility of operators in launching services. There will be many restrictions on industry application support under the fifth-generation mobile communication technology (5th-generation, 5G). At the same time, the billing system is complex to handle because it is limited by the intervention of external systems in online and offline billing.

[0109] Figure 1 1 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communication system architecture 100 of a method and device for converged billing according to the present application. Figure 1As shown, the system architecture 100 includes a terminal device 110, an access network device 120, a user plane function 130 (UPF), a data network 140 (DN), an access and mobility management function 150 (AMF), a session management function 160 (SMF) and a policy control function 170 (PCF). Figure 1 The functional units in the communication network can establish a connection through the next generation network (NG) interface to achieve communication, such as: the terminal device establishes an air interface connection with the radio access network (RAN) device / access network (AN) device through the new radio (NR) interface to transmit user plane data and control plane signaling; the terminal device can establish a control plane signaling connection with the AMF through the NG interface 1 (N1 for short); RAN devices such as 5G wireless access base stations (5G NodeB, 5GNB) can establish a user plane data connection with the UPF through the NG interface 3 (N3 for short); RAN devices can establish a control plane signaling connection with the AMF through the NG interface 2 (N2 for short); UPF can establish a control plane signaling connection with the SMF through the NG interface 4 (N4 for short); UPF can exchange user plane data with the data network through the NG interface 6 (N6 for short); AMF can establish a control plane signaling connection with the SMF through the NG interface 11 (N11 for short); SMF can establish a control plane signaling connection with the PCF through the NG interface 7 (N7 for short).

[0110] The above-mentioned terminal device can be user equipment (UE), such as: a mobile phone, a computer, and can also be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a smart phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a computer, a laptop computer, a handheld communication device, a handheld computing device, a satellite wireless device, a wireless modem card, a TV set top box (STB), a customer premises equipment (CPE) or other equipment used to communicate on a wireless system.

[0111] The above-mentioned access network device can be an access network (AN) / radio access network (RAN) device, a network composed of multiple 5G-AN / 5G-RAN nodes, and the 5G-AN / 5G-RAN node can be: access node (AP), next-generation base station (NR nodeB, gNB), central unit (CU) and distributed unit (DU) separated gNB, transmission receive point (TRP), transmission point (TP) or some other access node.

[0112] The above-mentioned functional units such as access and mobility management functions, session management functions, policy control functions, user plane functions, etc. can work independently or be combined to implement certain control functions. For example, AMF, SMF and PCF can be combined together as a management device to complete access control and mobility management functions such as access authentication, security encryption, and location registration of terminal devices, as well as session management functions such as establishment, release and change of user plane transmission paths, and analysis of some slice-related data (such as congestion) and terminal device-related data. UPF, as a gateway device, mainly completes functions such as routing and forwarding of user plane data, such as: responsible for data packet filtering, data transmission / forwarding, rate control, and generation of billing information for terminal devices.

[0113] It should be noted that Figure 1 This is only an exemplary architecture diagram. Figure 1 In addition to the functional units shown in , the network architecture may also include other functional units or functional entities, such as: the core network device may also include other functional units such as unified data management (UDM), which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0114] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: global system of mobile communication (GSM) system, code division multiple access (CDMA) system, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system, general packet radio service (GPRS), long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD), universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, future fifth generation (5G) system or new radio (NR), etc.

[0115] Figure 2 is a schematic flow chart of a method 200 for convergent billing according to the present application. The method 200 can be applied in Figure 1 The scenario shown in the figure can of course also be applied to other communication scenarios, and the present application embodiment does not limit this. Figure 2 As shown, method 200 includes the following contents.

[0116] Step 201: The session management function determines the charging type of the first data flow and the second data flow, where the charging type is online charging or offline charging.

[0117] Step 202: The session management function sends a first message to the billing server through an online and offline convergent billing session according to the billing types of the first data flow and the second data flow, where the first message includes a first online billing request for the first data flow, or the first message includes a first offline billing request for the second data flow, or the first message includes a first online billing request for the first data flow and a first offline billing request for the second data flow, and the online and offline convergent billing session is used to send the first online billing request and the first offline billing request.

[0118] It should be understood that the online and offline converged charging session can not only process online charging, but also process offline charging. The session management function can send the online charging request and the offline charging request through the same message, such as the first message; the session management function can also send the online charging request and the offline charging request through different messages.

[0119] For example, an online charging request and an offline charging request are sent using different messages through an online and offline converged charging session. The online charging request is sent through message a, and the offline charging request is sent through message b. The online charging request and the offline charging request may also be included in the same message, such as the online charging request and the offline charging request in the first message.

[0120] Step 203: The charging server receives a first message sent by the session management function through the online and offline convergent charging session.

[0121] Step 204: The charging server sends a second message to the session management function.

[0122] Wherein, when the first message includes a first online charging request for the first data flow, the second message includes response information of the first online charging request. When the first message includes a first offline charging request for the second data flow, the second message includes response information of the first offline charging request. When the first message includes a first online charging request for the first data flow and a first offline charging request for the second data flow, the second message includes response information of the first online charging request and response information of the first offline charging request.

[0123] Step 205: The session management function receives the second message sent by the charging server.

[0124] Therefore, in an embodiment of the present application, the session management function sends a first online charging request to the charging server through an online and offline convergent charging session, or the session management function sends a first offline charging request to the charging server through an online and offline convergent charging session, or the session management function sends a first online charging request and a first offline charging request to the charging server through an online and offline convergent charging session, thereby realizing online charging and offline charging requests based on online and offline convergent charging sessions, simplifying the charging architecture, and improving the flexibility of operator service activation.

[0125] Optionally, in step 202, the first online charging request includes a first quota application; the first offline charging request includes consumption information statistics, or the first offline charging request includes a second quota application and first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second quota is a virtual quota.

[0126] Specifically, when the charging type of the first data flow is online charging, the first message includes a first online charging request for the first data flow, and the first online charging request includes a first quota application.

[0127] When the charging type of the second data flow is offline charging, the first message includes a first offline charging request for the second data flow, and the first offline charging request includes consumption information statistics.

[0128] When the charging type of the second data flow is offline charging, the first message includes a first offline charging request for the second data flow, the first offline charging request includes a second quota application and first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second quota is a virtual quota.

[0129] When the first data flow is charged online and the second data flow is charged offline, the first message includes a first online charging request for the first data flow and a first offline charging request for the second data flow, the first online charging request includes a first quota application, and the first offline charging request includes consumption information statistics.

[0130] When the first data flow is charged online and the second data flow is charged offline, the first message includes a first online charging request for the first data flow and a first offline charging request for the second data flow, the first online charging request includes a first quota application, the first offline charging request includes a second quota application and first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second quota is a virtual quota.

[0131] The virtual quota is a virtual quota allocated by the billing server for offline billing requests. The virtual quota does not actually deduct the account balance. The session management function uses the virtual quota in the normal quota usage method. After receiving the report of the virtual quota, the billing server does not deduct the quota, but directly writes the CDR.

[0132] In step 204, optionally, the first online charging response information includes a first quota allocated for the first quota application of the data flow. When the first offline charging request includes the consumption information statistics, the first offline charging response information includes a processing result of the consumption information statistics, and when the first offline charging request includes the second quota application and the first indication information, the first offline charging response information includes a second quota allocated for the second quota application of the data flow and the first indication information.

[0133] Specifically, when the first online billing request includes the first quota application, the billing server allocates the first quota upon receiving the first online billing request. When the first offline billing request includes the consumption information statistics, the billing server generates a billing call record. When the first offline billing request includes the second quota application and the first indication information, the billing server allocates the second quota according to the second quota application and the first indication information.

[0134] Optionally, the second message may further include an identifier corresponding to the first quota, and when the session management function reports the first quota usage information to the billing server, the identifier is used to indicate to the billing server that the reported usage information is the usage amount of the first quota.

[0135] Optionally, the second message may further include a trigger condition corresponding to the first data flow.

[0136] For example, if it is an online charging request, the second message includes the following content:

[0137]

[0138] Among them, Trigger represents the trigger condition, Quata ID is the identifier corresponding to the authorized quota 30M, and RG represents the rate group corresponding to the authorized quota.

[0139] According to the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, the billing server processes the first online billing request or the first offline billing request or the first online billing request and the first offline billing request sent to the billing server by the session management function through the online offline converged billing session. This implements requesting online billing and offline billing based on the online offline converged billing session, simplifies the billing architecture, and improves the flexibility of the operator's service activation.

[0140] Figure 3 is a schematic flow chart of a converged billing method 300 according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 Example, Figure 3 Examples in Figure 2 After step 205, the embodiment further includes steps 306 to 308.

[0141] Step 306: The session management function sends a third message to the charging server.

[0142] Optionally, when a first charging trigger condition of the first data flow is met, the session management function sends the third message to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes a second online charging request for the first data flow.

[0143] Optionally, when a second charging trigger condition of the second data flow is met, the session management function sends a third message to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes a second offline charging request for the second data flow.

[0144] Optionally, when the first charging trigger condition of the first data flow is met and the second charging trigger condition of the second data flow is met, the session management function sends a third message to the charging server through the online and offline converged charging session, and the third message includes a second online charging request for the first data flow and a second offline charging request for the second data flow.

[0145] It should be understood that for online charging, the trigger condition includes: at least one of the trigger condition pre-configured on the SMF and the trigger condition issued by the charging server; for offline charging, the trigger condition is pre-configured on the SMF.

[0146] The session management function may send the online charging request and the offline charging request through the same message, such as the third message; the session management function may also send the online charging request and the offline charging request through different messages.

[0147] It should be understood that the first billing trigger condition may be the geographical location condition of the terminal device corresponding to the first data flow. For example, when the location of the terminal device changes, the first billing trigger condition is met, and the session management function needs to send the third message to the billing server. The first billing trigger condition may also be a change in the access network or core network of the terminal device corresponding to the first data flow. For example, when the terminal device switches from a 3G system to a 4G system, the first billing trigger condition is met, and the session management function needs to send the third message to the billing server. The first billing trigger condition may also be a quota amount. For example, when the quota is used up to 90%, the first billing trigger condition is met, and the session management function needs to send the third message to the billing server. The second billing trigger condition is similar to the first billing trigger condition.

[0148] Optionally, the second online charging request includes at least one of a third quota application and usage information of the first quota. The second offline charging request includes consumption information statistics, or the second offline charging request includes at least one of usage information of the second quota and a fourth quota application, and second indication information, wherein the second indication information is used to indicate that the fourth quota or the usage information of the second quota is a virtual quota.

[0149] Specifically, for an online charging request, the second online charging request includes a third quota application, or the second online request includes usage information of the first quota; or the second online request includes a third quota application and usage information of the first quota. For an offline charging request, the second offline charging request includes consumption information statistics, or the second offline charging request includes usage information of the second quota and second indication information, the second indication information is used to indicate that the usage information of the second quota is a virtual quota, or the second offline charging request includes a fourth quota application, and second indication information, the second indication information is used to indicate that the fourth quota is a virtual quota, or the second offline request includes usage information of the second quota and a fourth quota application, and second indication information, the second indication information is used to indicate that the fourth quota or the usage information of the second quota is a virtual quota.

[0150] Optionally, the second indication information may also be the first indication information.

[0151] Optionally, the third message also includes: at least one of third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream, the third indication information is used to indicate online billing for the first data stream, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate offline billing for the second data stream.

[0152] Specifically, the third message may also include third indication information corresponding to the first data stream, or the third message may also include fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream, or the third message may also include third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream.

[0153] When the online billing request and the offline billing request use the same rate group, the billing server cannot distinguish the online billing request and the offline billing request based only on the rate group, for example, it cannot distinguish the online quota usage information and the offline consumption information statistics based only on the rate group, so the third message may carry the third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream respectively, or only carry the third indication information corresponding to the first data stream in the third message, or only carry the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream in the third message. For example, the third indication information is used to identify the online quota usage information, and the fourth indication information is used to identify the offline consumption information statistics, then the billing server can distinguish the online quota usage information and the offline consumption information reported in the third message based on the third indication information or the fourth indication information.

[0154] If the third message carries the third indication information corresponding to the first data flow, the billing server performs online billing on the first data flow and performs offline billing on the second data flow. If the third message carries the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data flow, the billing server performs online billing on the first data flow and performs offline billing on the second data flow. If the third message carries the third indication information corresponding to the first data flow and the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data flow, the billing server performs online billing on the first data flow and performs offline billing on the second data flow.

[0155] Optionally, the third indication information may be a quota identifier, or an online or offline indication.

[0156] For example, online charging and offline charging are identified in two forms as shown below.

[0157] Example 1: Using a quota identifier to distinguish between online charging and offline charging. In this example, the third message includes third indication information, which is a quota identifier. The following is the content of the third message:

[0158] Quota Request{ / / Online billing request

[0159] RG=1

[0160] }

[0161] Usage Report{ / / Online billing request

[0162] RG=1, 28M, Quota ID=00001 / / Quota ID is the third indication information, used to identify the online charging request

[0163] }

[0164] Usage Report{ / / Offline billing request

[0165] RG=1,50M

[0166] }

[0167] Example 2: Using online and offline indication to distinguish online charging and offline charging. In this example, the third message includes third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream. The following is the content of the third message:

[0168] Quota Request{RG=1 / / Online charging request

[0169] }

[0170] Usage Report{RG=1, 28M, indicator=online / / online charging request, indicator is the third indication information used to identify the online charging request

[0171] }

[0172] Usage Report{RG=1, 50M, indicator=offline / / Offline charging request, indicator is the fourth indication information, used to identify the offline charging request

[0173] }

[0174] In Example 1 and Example 2, RG is a rate group. It should be understood that if there is no quota application with a special mark in the request, it is assumed to be an online charging request by default.

[0175] It should be understood that the first message may also include third indication information corresponding to the first data stream, or the first message may also include fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream, or the first message may also include third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream, the third indication information is used to indicate an online billing request for the first data stream, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate an offline billing request for the second data stream.

[0176] It should be understood that the above-mentioned third message also includes the third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream, which is also applicable to the case where the online charging request and the offline charging request use different rate groups, that is, the online charging request and the offline charging request are different rate groups. The third message also includes at least one of the third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream, the third indication information is used to indicate online charging for the first data stream, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate offline charging for the second data stream.

[0177] It should be understood that the third message has a corresponding response message. When the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow, the response message of the third message includes response information of the second online charging request. When the third message includes the second offline charging request for the second data flow, the response message of the third message includes response information of the second offline charging request. When the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow and the second offline charging request for the second data flow, the response message of the third message includes response information of the second online charging request and response information of the second offline charging request.

[0178] Step 307: The charging server receives the third message sent by the session management function.

[0179] Step 308: The charging server performs at least one of online charging and offline charging according to the third message sent by the session management function.

[0180] Optionally, for online billing, the billing server deducts the reserved first quota according to the usage information of the first quota; or the billing server allocates the third quota according to the third quota application; or the billing server deducts the reserved first quota according to the usage information of the first quota, and allocates the third quota according to the third quota application. For offline billing, the billing server generates a billing call record according to the consumption information statistics; or the billing server generates a billing call record according to the consumption information of the second quota and the second indication information; or the billing server allocates the fourth quota according to the fourth quota application and the second indication information; or the billing server generates a billing call record according to the second quota and the second indication information, and allocates the fourth quota.

[0181] According to the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, the billing server processes the second online billing request or the second offline billing request or the first online billing request and the second offline billing request sent to the billing server by the session management function through the online and offline convergent billing session, thereby realizing online billing and offline billing requests based on the online and offline convergent billing session, simplifying the billing architecture, and improving the flexibility of operator service activation.

[0182] Figure 4 is a schematic flow chart of a converged billing method 400 according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3 Example, Figure 4 Examples in Figure 3 Before step 306 , the embodiment further includes steps 409 and 410 .

[0183] Step 409: before the session management function sends the third message to the billing server through the online offline convergent billing session, the session management function receives a fourth message sent by the billing server through the online offline convergent billing session, where the fourth message is used to instruct to send the third message through the online offline convergent billing session;

[0184] When the first data stream and the second data stream correspond to the same rate group,

[0185] When the fourth message includes the same rate group, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow and the second offline charging request for the second data flow; or,

[0186] When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the third indication information, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow; or,

[0187] When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the fourth indication information, the third message includes the second offline charging request for the second data flow.

[0188] Specifically, when the online charging request and the offline charging request use the same rate group, the session management function cannot distinguish between online charging and offline charging based only on the rate group, and therefore the third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream may be carried in the fourth message, respectively. Alternatively, the third indication information corresponding to the first data stream may be carried in the third message, without the fourth indication information. Alternatively, the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream may be carried in the third message, without the third indication information.

[0189] If the fourth message carries the same rate group and the third indication information respectively, the third message sent by the session management function includes the second online charging request for the first data flow. If the fourth message carries the same rate group and the fourth indication information respectively, the third message sent by the session management function includes the second offline charging request for the second data flow.

[0190] If the fourth message contains the same rate group, the third message sent by the session management function contains the second online charging request for the first data flow and the second offline charging request for the second data flow.

[0191] The third indication information may also be a quota identifier, or an online or offline indication.

[0192] It should be understood that the above-mentioned fourth message including the third indication information corresponding to the first data flow and the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data flow is also applicable to the case where the online charging request and the offline charging request use different rate groups, that is, when the online charging request and the offline charging request use different rate groups, the fourth message also includes at least one of the third indication information corresponding to the first data flow and the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data flow, the third indication information is used to indicate that the first data flow is charged online, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the second data flow is charged offline.

[0193] Step 410: The session management function receives the fourth message, and sends the third message to the charging server according to the fourth message.

[0194] It should be understood that the fourth message has a corresponding response message, and the third message may be sent after the response message of the fourth message.

[0195] Figure 5 is a schematic flow chart of a converged billing method 500 according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 Example, Figure 5 Examples in Figure 4 Before step 401 of the embodiment, steps 511 and 512 are also included.

[0196] Step 511, before sending the first message, the session management function sends an online and offline convergent charging session establishment request to the charging server; or

[0197] The first message includes an online and offline convergent charging session establishment request.

[0198] Specifically, the session management function stores a protocol data unit session (PDU session) of the terminal device. When the session management function determines that the data service in the PDU session of the terminal device requires online billing or offline billing, and the current PDU session of the terminal device does not have a corresponding online and offline billing convergent session, the session management function sends an online and offline convergent billing session establishment request to the billing server, or the session management function carries the online and offline convergent billing session establishment request in the first message to establish an online and offline convergent billing session between the session management function and the billing server, and the online and offline convergent billing session is used to send the online and offline billing requests corresponding to the PDU Session of the user.

[0199] Step 512: The charging server receives the online and offline convergent charging session establishment request and establishes the online and offline convergent charging session.

[0200] It should be understood that if the session management function sends an online offline convergent charging session establishment request to the charging server before sending the first message, the charging server also returns a response to the online offline convergent charging session establishment request to the session management function.

[0201] It should be understood that if the first message includes an online and offline convergent charging session establishment request, the second message also includes a response to the online and offline convergent charging session establishment request.

[0202] Optionally, the method 500 further includes:

[0203] When the session management function determines that online charging and offline charging do not need to be performed, the session management function sends a fifth message to the charging server to request the charging server to end the online and offline convergent charging session.

[0204] Specifically, when the session management function determines to perform online billing and offline billing, it sends a fifth message to the billing server, and the fifth message includes the allocated quota usage information of the first data flow and the consumption information statistics of the second data flow, or the usage information statistics of the virtual quota of the second data flow.

[0205] It should be understood that the fifth message may also include the third indication information corresponding to the first data stream, or the fifth message may also include the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream, or the fifth message may also include the third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream, the third indication information is used to identify the quota usage information of the first data stream, and the fourth indication information is used to identify the offline consumption information of the second data stream.

[0206] It should be understood that when the PDU session corresponding to the online and offline converged billing session ends, or when an instruction is received from the billing server to end the online and offline converged billing session, or when there is no business traffic for a long time, or when an instruction is received from the PCF not to execute online billing and offline billing, the session management function can determine that online billing and offline billing do not need to be executed.

[0207] The charging server receives the fifth message, performs online charging and offline charging according to the fifth message, and ends the online and offline converged charging session.

[0208] Specifically, the billing server deducts the reserved quota according to the quota usage information of the first data flow, and the billing server generates a call record according to the consumption information statistics of the second data flow, or the usage information statistics of the virtual quota of the second data flow and its second indication information, and ends the online and offline converged billing session.

[0209] Optionally, the method 500 further includes: the session management function acquiring a static charging policy or acquiring a dynamic charging policy of a policy control function, the dynamic charging policy and the static charging policy including charging types of the first data flow and the second data flow;

[0210] The session management function determines, according to the dynamic charging policy or the static charging policy, that the first data flow is charged online and the second data flow is charged offline.

[0211] Specifically, the charging policy includes the charging type of the first data flow and the second data flow, and the session management function can determine the charging type of the first data flow and the second data flow according to the static charging policy stored therein, or the session management function receives the dynamic charging policy sent by the policy control function, and determines the charging type of the first data flow and the second data flow according to the dynamic charging policy. The charging policy parameters can include the parameters shown in Table 1.

[0212] Table 1 Charging policy parameters

[0213]

[0214] Figure 6 is a schematic flow chart of a method 600 of convergent billing according to the present application. The method 600 can be applied in Figure 1 The scenario shown in the figure can of course also be applied to other communication scenarios, and the present application embodiment does not limit this. Figure 6 As shown, method 600 includes the following contents.

[0215] Step 601: The session management function sends a first message to the billing server through an online and offline convergent billing session, where the first message includes a first quota application for a first data flow, or the first message includes a second quota application for a second data flow, or the first message includes a first quota application for the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow; the online and offline convergent billing session is used to send the first online billing request and the first offline billing request.

[0216] It should be understood that the online and offline converged charging session can process not only online charging but also offline charging. The session management function can send the first quota application for the first data flow and the second quota application for the second data flow through the same message, or the session management function can send the first quota application for the first data flow and the second quota application for the second data flow through different messages.

[0217] Step 602: The charging server receives a first message sent by a session management function through an online and offline convergent charging session.

[0218] Step 603: The charging server determines the charging types of the first data flow and the second data flow according to the first message and the charging policy.

[0219] Step 604: The charging server sends a second message to the session management function through the online and offline convergent charging session according to the charging types of the first data flow and the second data flow.

[0220] When the billing server determines that the first data flow included in the first message is charged online, the second message includes a first quota allocated by the billing server to the first data flow,

[0221] When the billing server determines that the second data flow included in the first message is offline billing, the second message includes a second quota allocated by the billing server to the second data flow and first indication information allocated to the second data flow, the first indication information is used to instruct the session management function to perform offline billing on the second data flow, or the second message includes the second quota allocated by the billing server to the second data flow and second indication information, the second indication information is used to indicate that the second quota is a virtual quota. The first indication information may be the same as the second indication information.

[0222] Step 605: The session management function receives the second message through the online and offline convergent charging session.

[0223] Therefore, in an embodiment of the present application, the session management function sends a first message to the billing server through an online and offline converged billing session, wherein the first message includes a first quota application for a first data flow, or the first message includes a second quota application for the second data flow, or the first message includes a first quota application for the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow, thereby realizing requesting online billing and offline billing based on an online and offline converged billing session, simplifying the billing architecture, and improving the flexibility of operator service activation.

[0224] Optionally, in step 603, the billing server determines, according to the first message and the billing policy, billing types of the first data flow and the second data flow, including:

[0225] The charging server determines, according to a charging policy, that the first data flow is charged online and the second data flow is charged offline.

[0226] Specifically, the charging policy includes the charging types of the first data flow and the second data flow, and the charging server can determine the charging types of the first data flow and the second data flow according to the charging policy. The charging policy parameters can include the parameters shown in Table 2.

[0227] Table 2 Charging strategy parameters

[0228]

[0229]

[0230] Optionally, the method 600 further includes:

[0231] When the policy control function establishes the PDU session, the charging server receives a charging policy corresponding to the PDU session sent by the policy control function; or

[0232] When receiving the first message sent by the session management function, the charging server requests the policy control function for the charging policy corresponding to the PDU session.

[0233] Specifically, when establishing a PDU Session for a terminal device to access the network, the policy control function PCF obtains the billing accumulation information from the billing server for policy decision-making. At this time, the PCF can also send the relevant billing policy of the user's PDU Session to the billing server, which reduces the information interaction between the PCF and the billing server. However, the billing policy at this time is not the billing policy after the decision of the PCF. Therefore, the billing server needs to associate the billing policy of the PCF with the online and offline converged billing session to facilitate the determination of online billing requests and offline billing requests according to the billing policy.

[0234] Optionally, when the first data flow and the second data flow use the same rate group, the second message also includes: when it is determined that the billing type of the first data flow is online billing, the second message also includes the flow information of the first data flow corresponding to the first quota; or when it is determined that the billing type of the second data flow is offline billing, the second message includes the flow information of the second data flow corresponding to the first indication information; or when it is determined that the billing type of the first data flow is offline billing, the second message includes the flow information of the second data flow corresponding to the second quota.

[0235] Specifically, if the billing types of the first data stream and the second data stream are different, but the first data stream and the second data stream use the same rate group request quota, then when the billing server sends an offline message corresponding to the rate group to the SMF, the billing server can simultaneously send the flow information corresponding to the second data stream corresponding to the second quota, or can also simultaneously send the flow information corresponding to the first data stream corresponding to the first quota. The SMF reports the first data stream online and reports the second data stream offline based on the flow information.

[0236] It should be understood that the flow information can be a flow identifier or a flow feature (such as a five-tuple: source IP address, source port, destination IP address, destination port and transport layer protocol). If the SMF has a corresponding relationship between the flow identifier and the flow feature, the flow identifier will be sent down, otherwise the specific flow feature will be sent down.

[0237] It should be understood that the second message including the flow information corresponding to the first data flow and / or the flow information corresponding to the second data flow is also applicable to the case where the online charging and the offline charging use different rate groups.

[0238] like Figure 7 is a schematic flow chart of a converged billing method 700 according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 6 Example, Figure 7 Examples in Figure 6 After step 605, the embodiment further includes steps 706 to 708.

[0239] Step 706: The session management function sends a third message to the charging server.

[0240] Optionally, when the first charging trigger condition of the first data flow is met, the session management function sends a third message to the charging server through the online and offline converged charging session, and the third message includes a third quota application for the first data flow and / or consumption information of the first quota.

[0241] Optionally, when the second billing trigger condition of the second data flow is met, the session management function sends a third message to the billing server through the online and offline converged billing session, and the third message includes consumption information statistics of the second data flow or a fourth quota application and second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the fourth quota is a virtual quota.

[0242] Optionally, when the second billing trigger condition of the second data flow is met, the session management function sends a third message to the billing server through the online and offline converged billing session, and the third message includes usage information statistics of the second quota or a fourth quota application and second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the fourth quota is a virtual quota.

[0243] Optionally, when the first billing trigger condition of the first data flow is met and the second billing trigger condition of the second data flow is met, the session management function sends a third message to the billing server through the online and offline converged billing session, and the third message includes a third quota application for the first data flow and / or consumption information of the first quota, and consumption information statistics of the second data flow or a fourth quota application and second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the fourth quota is a virtual quota, or the third message includes a third quota application for the first data flow and / or consumption information of the first quota, and usage information statistics of the second quota or a fourth quota application and second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate that the fourth quota is a virtual quota.

[0244] It should be understood that for online charging, the trigger condition includes: at least one of the trigger condition pre-configured on the SMF and the trigger condition issued by the charging server; for offline charging, the trigger condition is pre-configured on the SMF.

[0245] For an explanation of the charging trigger condition, reference may be made to the related description of the charging trigger condition in method 300, which will not be described again here to avoid repetition.

[0246] Optionally, the billing server receives a third message sent by the session management function through an online and offline converged billing session, and the third message includes at least one of a third quota application for the first data flow and consumption information of the first quota, or consumption information statistics of the second data flow or a fourth quota application and second indication information, or consumption information used by the second quota and second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate a virtual quota.

[0247] Optionally, the third message also includes: third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and / or fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream, the third indication information is used to indicate online billing for the first data stream, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate offline billing for the second data stream.

[0248] Specifically, the third message may also include third indication information corresponding to the first data stream, or the third message may also include fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream, or the third message may also include third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream.

[0249] When the online charging request and the offline charging request use the same rate group, the charging server cannot distinguish the online charging request from the offline charging request only according to the rate group. Therefore, the third message may carry the third indication information corresponding to the first data flow and the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data flow, respectively, or the third message may carry the third indication information corresponding to the first data flow, or the third message may carry the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data flow.

[0250] If the third message carries only the third indication information corresponding to the first data flow, the billing server performs online billing on the first data flow and offline billing on the second data flow. If the third message carries only the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data flow, the billing server performs online billing on the first data flow and offline billing on the second data flow. If the third message carries the third indication information corresponding to the first data flow and the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data flow, the billing server performs online billing on the first data flow and offline billing on the second data flow.

[0251] Optionally, the third indication information may be a quota identifier, or an online or offline indication.

[0252] Step 707: The charging server receives the third message sent by the session management function.

[0253] Step 708: The charging server performs online charging, offline charging, or online charging and offline charging according to the third message.

[0254] Optionally, for online billing, the billing server deducts the reserved first quota according to the consumption information of the first quota; or the billing server allocates the third quota according to the third quota application; or the billing server deducts the reserved first quota according to the usage information of the first quota, and allocates the third quota according to the third quota application. For offline billing, the billing server generates a billing call record according to the consumption information statistics of the second data flow; or the billing server allocates the fourth quota according to the fourth quota application and the second indication information; or the billing server generates a billing call record according to the consumption information used by the second quota and the second indication information; or the billing server generates a billing call record according to the second quota and the second indication information, and allocates the fourth quota.

[0255] Figure 8 is a schematic flow chart of a converged billing method 800 according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 7 Example, Figure 8 Examples in Figure 7 Before step 706 , the embodiment further includes steps 809 and 810 .

[0256] Step 809: before the session management function sends the third message to the billing server through the online offline convergent billing session, the session management function receives a fourth message sent by the billing server through the online offline convergent billing session, where the fourth message is used to instruct to send the third message through the online offline convergent billing session;

[0257] When the first data stream and the second data stream correspond to the same rate group,

[0258] When the fourth message includes the same rate group, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow and the second offline charging request for the second data flow; or,

[0259] When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the third indication information, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow; or,

[0260] When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the fourth indication information, the third message includes the second offline charging request for the second data flow.

[0261] Step 810: The session management function receives the fourth message.

[0262] like Fig. 9 is a schematic flow chart of a converged billing method 900 according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 8 Example, Fig. 9 Examples in Figure 8 Before step 801 of the embodiment, steps 911 and 912 are also included.

[0263] Step 911: before the session management function sends a first message to the billing server through the online and offline convergent billing session, the session management function sends an online and offline convergent billing session establishment request to the billing server; or the first message includes an online and offline convergent billing session establishment request.

[0264] Specifically, the session management function stores a protocol data unit session (PDU session) of the terminal device. When the session management function determines that the data service in the PDU session of the terminal device requires online billing or offline billing, and the current PDU session of the terminal device does not have a corresponding online and offline billing convergent session, the session management function sends an online and offline convergent billing session establishment request to the billing server, or the session management function carries the online and offline convergent billing session establishment request in the first message to establish an online and offline convergent billing session between the session management function and the billing server, and the online and offline convergent billing session is used to send the online and offline convergent billing request corresponding to the PDU session of the user.

[0265] Step 912: The charging server receives the online and offline convergent charging session establishment request and establishes the online and offline convergent charging session.

[0266] Optionally, the method 900 further includes:

[0267] When the session management function determines that online charging and offline charging do not need to be performed, the session management function sends a fifth message to the charging server to request the charging server to end the online and offline convergent charging session.

[0268] Specifically, when the session management function determines to perform online billing and offline billing, it sends a fifth message to the billing server, and the fifth message includes the allocated quota usage information of the first data flow and the consumption information statistics of the second data flow, or the usage information statistics of the virtual quota of the second data flow.

[0269] It should be understood that when the PDU session corresponding to the online and offline converged billing session ends, or when an instruction is received from the billing server to end the online and offline converged billing session, or when there is no business traffic for a long time, or when an instruction is received from the PCF not to execute online billing and offline billing, the session management function can determine that online billing and offline billing do not need to be executed.

[0270] The charging server receives the fifth message, performs online charging and offline charging according to the fifth message, and ends the online and offline converged charging session.

[0271] Specifically, the billing server deducts the reserved quota according to the quota usage information allocated to the first data flow, and the billing server generates a call record according to the consumption information statistics of the second data flow, or the usage information statistics of the virtual quota of the second data flow and its second indication information, and ends the online and offline converged billing session.

[0272] Fig.10 is a schematic block diagram of the session management function 1000 according to the present application. Fig.10 As shown, the session management function 1000 includes:

[0273] The determination module 1010 is used to determine the billing type of the first data flow and the second data flow, where the billing type is online billing or offline billing.

[0274] The sending module 1020 is configured to send a first message to a billing server through an online and offline convergent billing session according to the billing types of the first data flow and the second data flow, where the first message includes a first online billing request for the first data flow, or the first message includes a first offline billing request for the second data flow, or the first message includes a first online billing request for the first data flow and a first offline billing request for the second data flow, and the online and offline convergent billing session is used to send the first online billing request and the first offline billing request.

[0275] Optionally, the first online charging request includes a first quota application; the first offline charging request includes consumption information statistics, or the first offline charging request includes a second quota application and first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second quota is a virtual quota.

[0276] Optionally, the session management function further includes: a receiving module, configured to receive a second message sent by the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, wherein the second message includes at least one of the first online charging request response information and / or the first offline charging request response information;

[0277] The first online charging response information includes a first quota allocated for the first quota application of the data flow;

[0278] When the first offline billing request includes the consumption information statistics, the first offline billing response information includes the processing result of the consumption information statistics; when the first offline billing request includes the second quota application and the first indication information, the first offline billing response information includes the second quota allocated by the second quota application of the data flow and the first indication information.

[0279] Optionally, the sending module is further used to: when a first charging trigger condition of the first data flow is met, send a third message to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes a second online charging request for the first data flow; or

[0280] When a second charging trigger condition for the second data flow is met, sending a third message to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes a second offline charging request for the second data flow; or

[0281] When a first charging trigger condition of the first data flow is met and a second charging trigger condition of the second data flow is met, a third message is sent to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes a second online charging request for the first data flow and a second offline charging request for the second data flow.

[0282] Optionally, the second online charging request includes at least one of a third quota application and usage information of the first quota.

[0283] The second offline charging request includes consumption information statistics, or

[0284] The second offline charging request includes at least one of usage information of the second quota and a fourth quota application, and second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that usage information of the fourth quota or the second quota is a virtual quota.

[0285] Optionally, the third message also includes: at least one of third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream, the third indication information is used to indicate online billing for the first data stream, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate offline billing for the second data stream.

[0286] Optionally, the receiving module is further used to: before sending the third message to the billing server through the online offline convergent billing session, receive a fourth message sent by the billing server through the online offline convergent billing session, where the fourth message is used to indicate that the third message is sent through the online offline convergent billing session;

[0287] When the first data stream and the second data stream correspond to the same rate group,

[0288] When the fourth message includes the same rate group, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow and the second offline charging request for the second data flow; or,

[0289] When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the third indication information, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow; or,

[0290] When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the fourth indication information, the third message includes the second offline charging request for the second data flow.

[0291] Optionally, the sending module is further configured to: before sending the first message, send an online and offline convergent charging session establishment request to the charging server; or

[0292] The first message is sent to the charging server, where the first message includes an online and offline convergent charging session establishment request.

[0293] Optionally, the sending module is further configured to: when it is determined that online charging and offline charging do not need to be performed, send a fifth message to the charging server to request the charging server to end the online and offline converged charging session.

[0294] Optionally, the session management function further includes an acquisition module, the acquisition module is used to acquire a static charging policy or a dynamic charging policy of a policy control function, the dynamic charging policy and the static charging policy include charging types of the first data flow and the second data flow;

[0295] The determination module is specifically used for the session management function to determine that the charging type of the first data flow is online charging and the charging type of the second data flow is offline charging according to the dynamic charging policy or the static charging policy.

[0296] Optionally, the session management function 1000 is used to perform various operations of the session management function in the convergent billing method 200 to the method 500 of the present application, which will not be described in detail for the sake of brevity.

[0297] Fig.11 1 is a schematic block diagram of a billing server 1100 according to the present application. Fig.11 As shown, the billing server 1100 includes:

[0298] The receiving module 1110 is configured to receive a first message sent by a session management function through an online and offline convergent charging session, where the first message includes a first online charging request for the first data flow, or the first message includes a first offline charging request for the second data flow, or the first message includes a first online charging request for the first data flow and a first offline charging request for the second data flow, and the online and offline convergent charging session is used to send the first online charging request and the first offline charging request;

[0299] The sending module 1120 is configured to send a second message to the session management function.

[0300] Wherein, when the first message includes a first online charging request for the first data flow, the second message includes response information of the first online charging request;

[0301] When the first message includes a first offline charging request for the second data flow, the second message includes response information of the first offline charging request;

[0302] When the first message includes a first online charging request for the first data flow and a first offline charging request for the second data flow, the second message includes response information of the first online charging request and response information of the first offline charging request.

[0303] Optionally, the first online billing response information includes a first quota allocated for a first quota application for the first data flow; when the first offline billing request includes the consumption information statistics, the first offline billing response information includes a processing result of the consumption information statistics; when the first offline billing request includes the second quota application and first indication information, the first offline billing response information includes a second quota allocated for a second quota application for the second data flow and the first indication information.

[0304] Optionally, the receiving module is also used to: receive a third message sent by the session management function through the online and offline converged billing session, the third message including a second online billing request for the first data flow, or a second offline billing request for the second data flow, or a second online billing request for the first data flow and a second offline billing request for the second data flow.

[0305] Optionally, the second online charging request includes at least one of a third quota application and consumption information of the first quota.

[0306] The second offline charging request includes the consumption information statistics, or

[0307] The second offline charging request includes consumption information of the second quota or a fourth quota application, and second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the fourth quota or the consumption information of the second quota is a virtual quota.

[0308] Optionally, the third message also includes: third indication information corresponding to the first data stream and / or fourth indication information corresponding to the second data stream, the third indication information is used to indicate online billing for the first data stream, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate offline billing for the second data stream.

[0309] Optionally, the billing server further includes a processing module:

[0310] used to deduct the reserved first quota according to the usage information of the first quota; or

[0311] allocating the third quota according to the third quota application; or

[0312] Generate a billing call record based on the consumption information statistics; or

[0313] Generate a billing call record according to the consumption information of the second quota and the second indication information; or

[0314] The fourth quota is allocated according to the fourth quota application and the second indication information.

[0315] Optionally, the sending module is further used to: before receiving the third message, send a fourth message to the session management function through the online offline convergent charging session, where the fourth message is used to instruct to send the third message through the online offline convergent charging session;

[0316] When the first data stream and the second data stream correspond to the same rate group,

[0317] When the fourth message includes the same rate group, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow and the second offline charging request for the second data flow; or,

[0318] When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the third indication information, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow; or,

[0319] When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the fourth indication information, the third message includes the second offline charging request for the second data flow.

[0320] Optionally, the receiving module is further used to: before receiving the first message, receive an online offline convergent charging session request sent by the session management function to establish an online offline convergent charging session; or receive the first message including the online offline convergent charging session establishment request to establish an online offline convergent charging session.

[0321] Optionally, the receiving module is further used for: the charging server receiving a fifth message sent by the session management function; and the processing module is further used for terminating the online and offline convergent charging session according to the fifth message.

[0322] Optionally, the billing server 1100 is used to execute various operations of the billing server in the convergent billing method 200 to the method 500 of the present application, which will not be described in detail for the sake of brevity.

[0323] Fig.12 1 is a schematic block diagram of the session management function 1200 according to the present application. Fig.12 As shown, the session management function 1200 includes:

[0324] The sending module 1210 is configured to send a first message to a charging server through an online and offline convergent charging session, where the first message includes a first quota application for a first data flow, or the first message includes a second quota application for the second data flow, or the first message includes a first quota application for the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow; the online and offline convergent charging session is used to send the first online charging request and the first offline charging request;

[0325] The receiving module 1220 is configured to receive a second message sent by the billing server through an online and offline convergent billing session.

[0326] Wherein, when the first message includes a first quota application for a first data flow, the second message includes a first quota allocated by the billing server to the first data flow,

[0327] When the first message is a second quota application for the second data flow, the second message includes a second quota allocated to the second data flow and first indication information allocated to the second data flow, the first indication information is used to instruct the session management function to perform offline charging on the second data flow, or the second message includes a second quota application and second indication information allocated by the billing server to the second data flow, the second indication information is used to indicate that the second quota is a virtual quota,

[0328] When the first message includes a first quota application for the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow, the second message includes a first quota assigned to the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow by the billing server and first indication information assigned to the second data flow, the first indication information being used to instruct the session management function to perform offline billing on the second data flow, or the second message includes a first quota application assigned to the first data flow and a second quota application assigned to the second data flow by the billing server and second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate that the second quota is a virtual quota, when the first message includes a first quota application for the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow.

[0329] Optionally, the session management function 1200 is used to perform various operations of the session management function in the convergent billing method 600 to the method 900 of the present application, which will not be described in detail for the sake of brevity.

[0330] Fig.13 1 is a schematic block diagram of a billing server 1300 according to the present application. Fig.13 As shown, the billing server 1300 includes:

[0331] The receiving module 1310 is configured to receive a first message sent by a session management function through an online and offline convergent charging session, where the first message includes a first quota application for a first data flow, or a second quota application for the second data flow in the first message, or the first message includes a first quota application for the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow; the online and offline convergent charging session is used to send the first online charging request and the first offline charging request;

[0332] A determination module 1320, configured to determine a charging type for the first data flow and the second data flow, wherein the charging type is online charging or offline charging;

[0333] The sending module 1330 is configured to send a second message to the session management function through the online and offline convergent charging session according to the charging types of the first data flow and the second data flow,

[0334] Wherein, when the first message includes a first quota application for a first data flow, the second message includes a first quota allocated by the billing server to the first data flow,

[0335] When the first message is a second quota application for the second data flow, the second message includes the second quota application for the second data flow and first indication information allocated to the second data flow, the first indication information is used to instruct the session management function to perform offline charging on the second data flow, or the second message includes the second quota application and second indication information allocated by the billing server to the second data flow, the second indication information is used to indicate that the second quota is a virtual quota,

[0336] When the first message includes a first quota application for the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow, the second message includes a first quota assigned to the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow by the billing server and first indication information assigned to the second data flow, the first indication information being used to instruct the session management function to perform offline billing on the second data flow, or the second message includes a first quota application assigned to the first data flow and a second quota application assigned to the second data flow by the billing server and second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate that the second quota is a virtual quota, when the first message includes a first quota application for the first data flow and a second quota application for the second data flow.

[0337] Optionally, the billing server 1300 is used to execute various operations of the billing server in the method 600 to the method 900 of a convergent billing of the present application, which will not be described in detail here for the sake of brevity.

[0338] The above-mentioned session management function and billing server completely correspond to the session management function and billing server in the method embodiment, and the corresponding modules execute the corresponding steps. For details, please refer to the corresponding method embodiment.

[0339] Fig.14 A schematic block diagram of a communication device 1400 provided in the present application is shown, and the communication device 1400 includes:

[0340] A memory 1410, used for storing a program, wherein the program includes codes;

[0341] A transceiver 1420, used for communicating with other devices;

[0342] The processor 1430 is configured to execute the program code in the memory 1410 .

[0343] Optionally, when the code is executed, the processor 1430 may implement various operations of the method 200 or the method 300, which will not be described in detail for the sake of brevity. In this case, the communication device 1400 may be a session management function or a billing server. The transceiver 1420 is used to perform specific signal transmission and reception under the drive of the processor 1430.

[0344] The present application provides a chip system, including: at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is used to execute stored instructions so that the session management function can implement each operation of method 200 to method 900.

[0345] The present application provides a chip system, including: at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is used to execute stored instructions so that the billing server can implement each operation of method 200 to method 900.

[0346] The present application provides a computer program product, which includes instructions. When the instructions are executed, the session management function can implement each operation of method 200 to method 900.

[0347] The present application provides a computer program product, which includes instructions. When the instructions are executed, the billing server can implement each operation of method 200 to method 900.

[0348] The present application provides a computer storage medium storing program instructions. When the instructions are executed, the session management function can implement various operations of method 200 to method 900.

[0349] The present application provides a computer storage medium storing program instructions. When the instructions are executed, the billing server can implement various operations of methods 200 to 900.

[0350] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of this application.

[0351] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0352] In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0353] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

[0354] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0355] If the functions are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application can be essentially or partly embodied in the form of a software product that contributes to the prior art. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0356] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in this application is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from a website site, computer, server or data center to another website site, computer, server or data center by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) mode. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated. The available medium can be a magnetic medium, (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape), an optical medium, or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid-state hard disk Solid State Disk, SSD), etc.

[0357] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art who is familiar with the present technical field can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, which should be included in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for convergent billing, characterized in that: include: When it is determined that the data service in the protocol data unit PDU session of the terminal device requires online charging or offline charging, and the current PDU session does not have a corresponding online and offline charging convergent session, the session management function sends an online and offline convergent charging session establishment request to the charging server to request to establish an online and offline convergent charging session corresponding to the PDU session, and the PDU session is stored in the session management function; The session management function determines the billing type of the first data flow and the second data flow in the PDU session of the terminal device, the billing type of the first data flow is online billing, and the billing type of the second data flow is offline billing; The session management function sends a first message including a first online charging request for the first data flow and / or a first offline charging request for the second data flow to the charging server through the online and offline converged charging session corresponding to the PDU session of the terminal device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first online charging request includes a first quota application; the first offline charging request includes consumption information statistics, or the first offline charging request includes a second quota application and first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second quota is a virtual quota.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that include: The session management function receives a second message sent by the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, wherein the second message includes at least one of the first online charging request response information and the first offline charging request response information; The first online charging request response information includes a first quota allocated for a first quota application for the first data flow; When the first offline billing request includes the consumption information statistics, the first offline billing request response information includes the processing result of the consumption information statistics; when the first offline billing request includes the second quota application and the first indication information, the first offline billing request response information includes the second quota allocated for the second quota application of the second data flow and the first indication information.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The method further comprises: When a first charging trigger condition of the first data flow is met, the session management function sends a third message to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes a second online charging request for the first data flow; or When a second charging trigger condition of the second data flow is met, the session management function sends a third message to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes a second offline charging request for the second data flow; or When a first charging trigger condition of the first data flow is met and a second charging trigger condition of the second data flow is met, the session management function sends a third message to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes a second online charging request for the first data flow and a second offline charging request for the second data flow.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The method further comprises: The second online charging request includes at least one of a third quota application and usage information of the first quota, The second offline charging request includes consumption information statistics, or The second offline charging request includes at least one of usage information of the second quota and a fourth quota application, and second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that usage information of the fourth quota or the second quota is a virtual quota.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The third message also includes: At least one of the third indication information corresponding to the first data flow and the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data flow, the third indication information is used to indicate online charging for the first data flow, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate offline charging for the second data flow.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The method further comprises: Before the session management function sends the third message to the charging server through the online offline convergent charging session, the session management function receives a fourth message sent by the charging server through the online offline convergent charging session, where the fourth message is used to instruct to send the third message through the online offline convergent charging session; When the first data stream and the second data stream correspond to the same rate group, When the fourth message includes the same rate group, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow and the second offline charging request for the second data flow; or, When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the third indication information, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow; or, When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the fourth indication information, the third message includes the second offline charging request for the second data flow.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: When it is determined that online charging and offline charging do not need to be performed, the session management function sends a fifth message to the charging server to request the charging server to end the online and offline convergent charging session.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: The session management function obtains a static charging policy or obtains a dynamic charging policy of a policy control function, wherein the dynamic charging policy and the static charging policy include charging types of the first data flow and the second data flow; The session management function determines, according to the dynamic charging policy or the static charging policy, that the charging type of the first data flow is online charging and the charging type of the second data flow is offline charging.

10. A session management function, characterized in that: include: a sending module, configured to send an online offline convergent charging session establishment request to a charging server to request establishment of an online offline convergent charging session corresponding to the PDU session, when determining that a data service in a protocol data unit PDU session of a terminal device requires online charging or offline charging, and the current PDU session does not have a corresponding online offline convergent charging session, wherein the session management function stores the PDU session; A determination module, used to determine the billing type of the first data flow and the second data flow in the PDU session of the terminal device, the billing type being online billing or offline billing; The sending module is used to send a first message including a first online charging request for the first data flow and / or a first offline charging request for the second data flow to the charging server through the online and offline converged charging session corresponding to the PDU session of the terminal device.

11. The session management function according to claim 10, characterized in that: The first online charging request includes a first quota application; the first offline charging request includes consumption information statistics, or the first offline charging request includes a second quota application and first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the second quota is a virtual quota.

12. The session management function according to claim 11, characterized in that: The session management function also includes: a receiving module, configured to receive, through the online and offline convergent charging session, a second message sent by the charging server, wherein the second message includes at least one of the first online charging request response information and / or the first offline charging request response information; The first online charging request response information includes a first quota allocated for a first quota application for the first data flow; When the first offline billing request includes the consumption information statistics, the first offline billing request response information includes the processing result of the consumption information statistics; when the first offline billing request includes the second quota application and the first indication information, the first offline billing request response information includes the second quota allocated for the second quota application of the second data flow and the first indication information.

13. The session management function according to claim 12, characterized in that: The sending module is also used for: When a first charging trigger condition of the first data flow is met, sending a third message to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes a second online charging request for the first data flow; or When a second charging trigger condition of the second data flow is met, sending a third message to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes a second offline charging request for the second data flow; or When a first charging trigger condition of the first data flow is met and a second charging trigger condition of the second data flow is met, a third message is sent to the charging server through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes a second online charging request for the first data flow and a second offline charging request for the second data flow.

14. The session management function according to claim 13, characterized in that: The second online charging request includes at least one of a third quota application and usage information of the first quota, The second offline charging request includes consumption information statistics, or The second offline charging request includes at least one of usage information of the second quota and a fourth quota application, and second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that usage information of the fourth quota or the second quota is a virtual quota.

15. The session management function according to claim 13, characterized in that: The third message also includes: At least one of the third indication information corresponding to the first data flow and the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data flow, the third indication information is used to indicate online charging for the first data flow, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate offline charging for the second data flow.

16. The session management function according to claim 15, characterized in that: The receiving module is also used for: Before sending the third message to the billing server through the online and offline convergent billing session, receiving a fourth message sent by the billing server through the online and offline convergent billing session, where the fourth message is used to instruct sending the third message through the online and offline convergent billing session; When the first data stream and the second data stream correspond to the same rate group, When the fourth message includes the same rate group, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow and the second offline charging request for the second data flow; or, When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the third indication information, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow; or, When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the fourth indication information, the third message includes the second offline charging request for the second data flow.

17. The session management function according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that: The sending module is also used for: When it is determined that online charging and offline charging do not need to be performed, a fifth message is sent to the charging server to request the charging server to end the online and offline converged charging session.

18. The session management function according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that: The session management function further includes an acquisition module, the acquisition module is used to acquire a static charging policy or a dynamic charging policy of a policy control function, the dynamic charging policy and the static charging policy include charging types of the first data flow and the second data flow; The determination module is specifically used for the session management function to determine that the charging type of the first data flow is online charging and the charging type of the second data flow is offline charging according to the dynamic charging policy or the static charging policy.

19. A billing server, characterized in that: include: a receiving module, configured to receive an online and offline convergent charging session establishment request sent by a session management function, wherein the online and offline convergent charging session establishment request is used to request to establish an online and offline convergent charging session corresponding to a protocol data unit (PDU) session of a terminal device, and receive a first message sent by a session management function through an online and offline convergent charging session corresponding to the PDU session of the terminal device, wherein the PDU session is stored on the session management function, a data service in the PDU session requires online charging or offline charging, and the current PDU session has no corresponding online and offline convergent charging session, If the charging type of the first data flow is online charging, the first message includes a first online charging request for the first data flow, If the charging type of the second data flow is offline charging, the first message includes a first offline charging request for the second data flow; a sending module, configured to send a second message to the session management function, Wherein, when the first message includes a first online charging request for the first data flow, the second message includes response information of the first online charging request; When the first message includes a first offline charging request for the second data flow, the second message includes response information of the first offline charging request; When the first message includes a first online charging request for the first data flow and a first offline charging request for the second data flow, the second message includes response information of the first online charging request and response information of the first offline charging request.

20. The billing server according to claim 19, characterized in that: The response information of the first online charging request includes a first quota allocated for a first quota application for the first data flow; when the first offline charging request includes consumption information statistics, the response information of the first offline charging request includes a processing result of the consumption information statistics; when the first offline charging request includes a second quota application and first indication information, the response information of the first offline charging request includes a second quota allocated for a second quota application for the second data flow and the first indication information.

21. The billing server according to claim 20, characterized in that: The receiving module is also used for: A third message sent by the session management function is received through the online and offline convergent charging session, where the third message includes a second online charging request for the first data flow, or a second offline charging request for the second data flow, or the second online charging request for the first data flow and a second offline charging request for the second data flow.

22. The billing server according to claim 21, characterized in that: The second online charging request includes at least one of a third quota application and consumption information of the first quota, The second offline charging request includes the consumption information statistics, or The second offline charging request includes consumption information of the second quota or a fourth quota application, and second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the fourth quota or the consumption information of the second quota is a virtual quota.

23. The billing server according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that: The third message also includes: The third indication information corresponding to the first data flow and / or the fourth indication information corresponding to the second data flow, the third indication information is used to indicate online charging for the first data flow, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate offline charging for the second data flow.

24. The billing server according to claim 22, characterized in that: The billing server also includes a processing module: used to deduct the reserved first quota according to the usage information of the first quota; or allocating the third quota according to the third quota application; or Generate a billing call record based on the consumption information statistics; or Generate a billing call record according to the consumption information of the second quota and the second indication information; or The fourth quota is allocated according to the fourth quota application and the second indication information.

25. The billing server according to claim 23, characterized in that: The sending module is also used for: Before receiving the third message, sending a fourth message to the session management function through the online offline convergent charging session, the fourth message being used to instruct sending the third message through the online offline convergent charging session; When the first data stream and the second data stream correspond to the same rate group, When the fourth message includes the same rate group, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow and the second offline charging request for the second data flow; or, When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the third indication information, the third message includes the second online charging request for the first data flow; or, When the fourth message includes the same rate group and the fourth indication information, the third message includes the second offline charging request for the second data flow.

26. The billing server according to any one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that: Also includes a processing module, The receiving module is further used to receive a fifth message sent by the session management function; The processing module is used to end the online and offline convergent charging session according to the fifth message.

27. A system, characterized in that: It comprises a session management function as described in any one of claims 10-18, and a billing server as described in any one of claims 19-26.

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