Traffic billing method, network device and storage medium

Abstract

The flow billing method, network device and storage medium provided by the embodiment of the present application include: a user management function network element establishes a session with a session management function network element and receives a usage reporting rule, the usage reporting rule includes a first reporting method field and a reporting threshold, and the field includes delayed reporting; if a rate switching event occurs when the user management function network element forwards a message, the message continues to be forwarded until the reporting threshold is reached, and the usage information is sent to the session management function network element, so that the session management function network element sends a call bill to the billing function network element according to the usage information. It can be understood that, in the case where the session management function network element is connected to multiple user plane function network elements and performs flow billing separately, if a rate switching event occurs, the usage information or session information of the session management function network element will not increase dramatically according to the first reporting method field, so the signaling load of the session management function network element will not increase dramatically.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a flow billing method, network equipment and storage medium. Background Art

[0002] The 5G network architecture introduces the concept of CU separation (i.e., separation of control plane and user plane) proposed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), splitting the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) into the control plane and the user plane. For example, the control plane includes the session management function (SMF) network element and the charging function (CHF) network element, and the user plane includes the user plane function (UPF) network element. At present, the billing system composed of the charging function network element, the session management function network element and the user plane function network element, if a rate switching event occurs during traffic billing, the usage information and / or session information of the session management function network element may increase dramatically due to the rate switching, resulting in a sharp increase in the signaling load of the session management function network element. Summary of the invention

[0003] Based on this, the embodiments of the present application provide a traffic billing method, a network device and a storage medium to solve the problem of increased signaling load caused by a rate switching event when a session management function network element performs traffic billing.

[0004] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a traffic billing method for a user plane function network element in a network device, the method comprising:

[0005] Establishing a session with a session management function network element and receiving a usage reporting rule sent by the session management function network element, wherein the usage reporting rule includes a first reporting mode field and a reporting threshold, and the first reporting mode field includes delayed reporting;

[0006] If a rate switching event occurs when the user plane function network element forwards the message, the message continues to be forwarded until the reporting threshold is reached, and the usage information is sent to the session management function network element, so that the session management function network element sends a call record to the billing function network element according to the usage information.

[0007] In addition, an embodiment of the present application further provides a traffic billing method for a session management function network element in a network device, the method comprising:

[0008] Establishing a session with a user plane function network element and sending a usage reporting rule to the user plane function network element, wherein the usage reporting rule includes a first reporting mode field and a reporting threshold, and the first reporting mode field includes delayed reporting;

[0009] If a rate switching event occurs when the user plane functional network element forwards the message, receiving usage information sent by the user plane functional network element according to the reporting threshold;

[0010] A call bill is sent to the billing function network element according to the usage information.

[0011] In a second aspect, the present application provides a network device, comprising a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store a computer program; the processor is used to execute the computer program and implement the traffic billing method as described in the first aspect when executing the computer program.

[0012] In a third aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the processor enables the processor to implement the traffic billing method as described in the first aspect.

[0013] The flow billing method, network device and storage medium provided by the embodiment of the present application include: a user management function network element establishes a session with a session management function network element and receives a usage reporting rule, the usage reporting rule includes a first reporting method field and a reporting threshold, and the field includes delayed reporting; if a rate switching event occurs when the user management function network element forwards a message, the message continues to be forwarded until the reporting threshold is reached, and the usage information is sent to the session management function network element, so that the session management function network element sends a call bill to the billing function network element according to the usage information. It can be understood that, in the case where the session management function network element is connected to multiple user plane function network elements and performs flow billing separately, if a rate switching event occurs, the usage information or session information of the session management function network element will not increase dramatically according to the first reporting method field, so the signaling load of the session management function network element will not increase dramatically. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a 5G communication network architecture;

[0015] Figure 2 This is a flow chart of the method in the embodiment of the present application applied to a user plane functional network element in a network device;

[0016] Figure 3 is an interaction diagram of a rate switching event occurring in an embodiment of the present application;

[0017] Figure 4is another interaction diagram of a rate switching event occurring in another embodiment of the present application;

[0018] Figure 5 is another interaction diagram of a rate switching event occurring in another embodiment of the present application;

[0019] Figure 6 A schematic block diagram of the structure of a network device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of this specification to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this specification. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of this specification, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this specification, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of this specification.

[0021] The flowcharts shown in the accompanying drawings are only examples and do not necessarily include all the contents and operations / steps, nor must they be executed in the order described. For example, some operations / steps may also be decomposed, combined or partially merged, so the actual execution order may change according to actual conditions.

[0022] In conjunction with the accompanying drawings, some implementation methods of this specification are described in detail below. In the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0023] Before discussing the flow billing method provided in the embodiment of the present application, a brief discussion is first given as follows: Figure 1 The 5G communication network architecture shown. The network architecture includes: Access Management Function (AMF) network element, Session Management Function (SMF) network element, Billing Function (CHF) network element, User Plane Function (UPF) network element, Access Network (AN), Data Network (DN), etc., wherein the access network can be a wireless access network (RadioAN, RAN) or a wired access network, and such an access network can be recorded as (R)AN. In some implementations, the session management function network element is connected to the billing function network element via the N40 interface, and the session management function network element is connected to the user plane function network element via the N4 interface. Other connection relationships are as follows: Figure 1 As shown, they are not discussed one by one here.

[0024] The network architecture includes a 5G core network, which includes Figure 1The network element in the dotted box. The 5G core network can be divided into a control plane and a user plane. For example, the control plane includes an access management function network element, a session management function network element and a billing function network element, and the user plane includes a user plane function network element. In some embodiments, the session management function network element, the billing function network element and the user plane function network element can form a billing system for performing traffic billing on the Internet access behavior of the user terminal (User Equipment, UE). It can be understood that the 5G core network can be set on a network device.

[0025] In some implementations, the session management function network element first establishes a session with the billing function network element and obtains billing information from the billing function network element. The session management function network element can then configure usage reporting rules based on the billing information, such as configuring a reporting threshold in the usage reporting rules. The session management function network element then establishes a session with the user plane function network element and sends the usage reporting rules to the user plane function network element, wherein the reporting threshold includes a traffic threshold or a time threshold. Based on this, the user plane function network element can forward messages, such as forwarding them to a public data network (PDN), and can count the usage information of the user terminal during the message forwarding process. Thereafter, if the reporting threshold is reached, the user plane function network element sends the current usage information to the session management function network element, and the session management function network element generates a call bill based on the usage information and sends the call bill to the billing function network element, which then performs billing. It should be noted that a session management function network element can be connected to multiple user plane function network elements at the same time to perform traffic billing for multiple user terminals, for example Figure 1 The session management function network element is connected to three user plane function network elements.

[0026] In the prior art, when a session management function network element is connected to multiple user plane function network elements and performs traffic billing separately, if multiple rate switching events occur at the same time point, multiple user plane function network elements may simultaneously send usage information before the rate switching to the session management function network element, thereby causing a sharp increase in the usage information of the session management function network element. In addition, when a rate switching event occurs, in order to enable multiple user plane function network elements to perform usage statistics according to new usage statistics rules, the session management function network element needs to update the session with the billing function network element multiple times, thereby causing a sharp increase in the session information of the session management function network element. Therefore, in the aforementioned situation, the signaling load of the session management function network element may increase sharply.

[0027] Based on this, the flow billing method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be used for user plane functional network elements in network devices, such as Figure 2 As shown, the method includes but is not limited to steps S110 and S120.

[0028] Step S110, establishing a session with a session management function network element and receiving a usage reporting rule sent by the session management function network element, wherein the usage reporting rule includes a first reporting mode field and a reporting threshold, and the first reporting mode field includes delayed reporting.

[0029] Step S120, if a rate switching event occurs when the user plane functional network element forwards the message, the message continues to be forwarded until the reporting threshold is reached, and the usage information is sent to the session management functional network element, so that the session management functional network element sends a call record to the billing functional network element according to the usage information.

[0030] In some implementations, in order to implement traffic billing, the session management function network element first establishes a session with the billing function network element to obtain billing information from the billing function network element, and the billing information includes a billing reporting method and a reporting threshold. Among them, the reporting threshold includes a traffic threshold and / or a time threshold; the billing reporting method includes immediate reporting or delayed reporting. If the billing reporting method includes immediate reporting, then in the subsequent process, if a rate switching occurs, the session management function network element needs to report the call bill immediately; if the billing reporting method includes delayed reporting, then in the subsequent process, if a rate switching occurs, the session management function network element does not need to report the call bill immediately.

[0031] After the session management function network element establishes a session with the billing function network element, the session management function network element configures the usage reporting rules according to the billing information, such as configuring the reporting threshold in the usage reporting rules. In addition, the first reporting mode field can be set in the user reporting rules. If the billing reporting mode is delayed reporting, the first reporting mode field can be set to delayed reporting; if the billing reporting mode is immediate reporting, the first reporting mode field can be set to immediate reporting. Then the session management function network element establishes a session with the user plane management function network element and sends the usage reporting rules to the user plane management function. In this way, the user plane function network element can forward the message, for example, to the public data network.

[0032] In some embodiments, a rate switching event may occur due to time changes, service quality changes, data network changes, or operator changes. When a session management function network element is connected to multiple user plane function network elements and performs traffic billing separately, if multiple rate switching events occur at the same time point, the usage information or session information of the session management function network element will not increase dramatically according to the first reporting method field, and therefore the signaling load of the session management function network element will not increase dramatically.

[0033] In some implementations, when the session function network element sends the call record to the billing function network element, the current traffic billing ends. If the next traffic billing is required, the embodiments of the present application can be applied again.

[0034] In some embodiments, the usage reporting rule includes a rate switching time point. Based on this, step S120 in the method may include but is not limited to steps S121 and S122.

[0035] S121. If it is detected that the current time has reached the rate switching time point when the user plane functional network element forwards the message, the usage information before the rate switching is generated, and the usage information before the rate switching is cached according to the first reporting method field; the message is continued to be forwarded until the reporting threshold is reached, and the usage information after the rate switching is generated.

[0036] S122: Send the usage information before the rate switching and the usage information after the rate switching to the session management function network element.

[0037] In some embodiments, a rate switching event may occur in this traffic billing due to time changes. In this case, the usage reporting rules in this traffic billing may include the rate switching time point. In addition, such rate switching events can be detected by the user plane functional network element, and if such rate switching events occur, the user plane functional network element can actively report the usage information.

[0038] In some embodiments, see Figure 3 After the session management function network element establishes sessions with the charging function network element and the user plane function network element in succession, the user plane function network element can start forwarding messages, such as forwarding to the public data network. If the user plane function network element detects that the current time has reached the rate switching time point when forwarding the message, such as the time has reached 23:00, the usage information before the rate switching is generated, and since the first reporting mode field is delayed reporting, the usage information before the rate switching is cached, that is, the usage information before the rate switching is delayed to be sent to the session management function network element. Then the user plane function network element continues to forward the message until the reporting threshold is reached, such as the time threshold, at which time the user plane function network element generates the usage information after the rate switching. In this way, the user plane functional network element can send the cached usage information before the rate switching and the usage information after the rate switching to the session management functional network element. The session management functional network element can generate a call record based on the usage information before and after the rate switching, and send the call record to the billing functional network element to end the current billing. If the next traffic billing is required, the embodiments of the present application can be applied again.

[0039] It can be understood that, in the case where the session management function network element is connected to multiple user plane function network elements and traffic billing is performed separately, if multiple aforementioned rate switching events occur at the same time point, then at this time, multiple user plane function network elements can first cache the usage information before the rate switching, that is, the usage information before the rate switching can be delayed. Therefore, at this time point, the session management function network element will not receive a large amount of usage information, thereby not causing a sharp increase in the usage information of the session management function network element, that is, not causing a sharp increase in the signaling load of the session management function network element.

[0040] In some embodiments, the usage reporting rule includes a service quality change indicator. Based on this, step S120 in the method may include but is not limited to steps S123 and S124.

[0041] Step S123, if a change in service quality is detected when the user plane functional network element forwards the message, the usage information before the rate switching is generated, and the usage information before the rate switching is cached according to the first reporting method field; the message is continued to be forwarded until the reporting threshold is reached, and the usage information after the rate switching is generated.

[0042] Step S124: sending the usage information before the rate switching and the usage information after the rate switching to the session management function network element.

[0043] In some embodiments, after detecting the change in the quality of service, step S123 also includes but is not limited to the following contents.

[0044] Receive the service quality execution rule sent by the session management function network element; update the current service quality parameter according to the service quality execution rule.

[0045] In some implementations, a rate switching event may occur in this traffic billing due to a change in the quality of service. In this case, the usage reporting rule may carry a service quality change identifier in the current traffic billing, or a field may be set in the usage reporting rule and the field may be set as the service quality change identifier. In addition, such rate switching events may be detected by the user plane functional network element, so if such a rate switching event occurs, the user plane functional network element may actively report usage information according to the service quality change identifier.

[0046] In some embodiments, see Figure 4After the session management function network element establishes sessions with the billing function network element and the user plane function network element in succession, the user plane function network element can start forwarding messages, such as forwarding to the public data network. If the user plane function network element detects a change in the quality of service when forwarding the message, it generates usage information before the rate switching, and because the first reporting mode field is delayed reporting, the usage information before the rate switching is cached, that is, the usage information before the rate switching is delayed and sent to the session management function network element. Then the user plane function network element continues to forward the message until the reporting threshold is reached, such as the time threshold, at which time the user plane function network element generates usage information after the rate switching. In addition, when a change in the quality of service is detected, the meeting management function network element can update the session with the user plane function network element and send an updated quality of service execution rule, so that the user plane management function network element can update the current quality of service parameters according to the quality of service execution rule and provide corresponding services to the terminal user. In this way, the user plane functional network element can send the cached usage information before the rate switch and the usage information after the rate switch to the session management functional network element according to the service quality change identifier. The session management functional network element can generate a call record based on the usage information before and after the rate switch, and send the call record to the billing functional network element to end this billing. If the next traffic billing is required, the embodiments of the present application can be applied again.

[0047] It can be understood that, in the case where the session management function network element is connected to multiple user plane function network elements and traffic billing is performed separately, if multiple aforementioned rate switching events occur at the same time point, then at this time, multiple user plane function network elements can first cache the usage information before the rate switching, that is, the usage information before the rate switching can be delayed. Therefore, at this time point, the session management function network element will not receive a large amount of usage information, thereby not causing a sharp increase in the usage information of the session management function network element, that is, not causing a sharp increase in the signaling load of the session management function network element.

[0048] In some embodiments, if the rate switching event is triggered when the session management function network element detects a data network change or an operator change, step 120 in the method may include but is not limited to steps S125 to S127.

[0049] Step S125, if a rate switching event occurs when the user plane functional network element forwards the message, a usage query reporting rule sent by the session management functional network element is received, the usage query reporting rule includes a second reporting mode field, and the second reporting mode field includes delayed reporting.

[0050] Step S126, updating the session with the session management function network element, generating usage information before the rate switching and sending the usage information before the rate switching to the session management function network element, so that the session management function network element caches the usage information before the rate switching.

[0051] Step S127: Continue forwarding the message until the reporting threshold is reached, generate usage information after the rate switching, and send the usage information after the rate switching to the session management function network element.

[0052] In some implementations, a rate switching event may occur during current traffic billing due to a data network change or an operator change, and such a rate switching event may be detected by the session management function network element.

[0053] In some embodiments, Figure 5 As shown, after the session management function network element establishes sessions with the billing function network element and the user plane function network element in succession, the user plane function network element can start forwarding messages, such as forwarding to the public data network. If the session management function network element detects that the data network or operator has changed when the user plane function network element is forwarding the message, the session management function network element updates the session with the user management function network element and sends a query usage reporting rule. The query usage reporting rule sets a second reporting method field, and the second reporting method field is a delayed report. In this way, after the session is updated, the reporting method field in the usage reporting rule in the user plane function network element will not change. After the session is updated, the user plane function network element generates the usage information before the rate switching and sends it to the session management function network element, and the session management function network element caches the usage information before the rate switching. Then, since the second reporting mode field is delayed reporting, the user plane management function network element can continue to forward the message until the reporting threshold is reached, generate the usage information after the rate switching and send it to the session management function network element. It should be noted that if the reporting mode field does not exist, the session management function network element needs to update or rebuild the session with the billing function network element to obtain a new reporting threshold and configure the usage reporting rules, and send the usage reporting rules to the user plane function network element so that the user plane function network element can restart the statistics of usage information. When the session management function network element receives the usage information after the rate switching, it can generate a call bill based on the cached usage information before the rate switching and the usage information after the rate switching and send it to the billing function network element to end the current billing. If the next flow billing is required, the embodiment of the present application can be applied again.

[0054] It is understandable that, in the case where the session management function network element is connected to multiple user plane function network elements and performs traffic billing separately, if multiple aforementioned rate switching events occur at the same time point, then multiple user plane function network elements send usage information before the rate switching to the session management function network element, and the session management function network element caches the usage information before the rate switching. At this time, since the current reporting mode field in these user plane function network elements is still delayed reporting, these user plane function network elements can continue to forward messages within the current reporting threshold, and there is no need for the session management function network element to update the session with the billing function network element, so the session information of the session management function network element will not increase dramatically, that is, the signaling load of the session management function network element will not increase dramatically.

[0055] The embodiment of the present application also provides a traffic billing method for a session management function network element in a network device, and the method includes but is not limited to steps S210 to S230.

[0056] Step S210: Establish a session with a user plane function network element and send a usage reporting rule to the user plane function network element. The usage reporting rule includes a first reporting mode field and a reporting threshold. The first reporting mode field includes delayed reporting.

[0057] Step S220: If a rate switching event occurs when the user plane functional network element forwards the message, the usage information sent by the user plane functional network element according to the reporting threshold is received.

[0058] Step S230: Send a call bill to the billing function network element according to the usage information.

[0059] In some embodiments, step S220 in the method includes but is not limited to steps S221 and S222.

[0060] Step S221, if a change in the data network or operator is detected when the user plane function network element forwards the message, a query usage reporting rule is sent to the user plane management function network element and the session with the user plane management function network element is updated to receive and cache the usage information before the rate switching sent by the user plane management function network element; the query usage reporting rule includes a second reporting method field, and the reporting method field includes delayed reporting.

[0061] Step S222: Continue to receive usage information after rate switching sent by the user plane management function network element, where the usage information after rate switching is generated when the user plane management function network element continues to forward messages and reaches a reporting threshold.

[0062] In some embodiments, the usage reporting rule includes a rate switching time point or a service quality change identifier; the rate switching event occurs when the user plane function network element detects that the current moment has reached the rate switching time point or is triggered when the user plane function network element detects that the service quality has changed. Based on this, step S220 in the method includes but is not limited to the following contents.

[0063] At the same time, the usage information before the rate switching and the usage information after the rate switching sent by the user plane management function network element are received.

[0064] It should be noted that the specific implementation method of the method for session management function network element in the embodiment of the present application has been discussed in the above content and will not be repeated here.

[0065] The embodiment of the present application also provides a network device, such as Figure 6 As shown, it includes a processor and a memory, the memory is used to store a computer program; the processor is used to execute the computer program and implement any traffic billing method provided in the embodiments of the present application when executing the computer program.

[0066] It should be understood that the processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), and the processor may also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. Among them, the general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may also be any conventional processor, etc.

[0067] A computer-readable storage medium is also provided in an embodiment of the present application. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a processor, the processor implements any traffic billing method provided in the embodiment of the present application.

[0068] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that all or some of the steps, systems, and functional modules / units in the methods disclosed above may be implemented as software, firmware, hardware, and appropriate combinations thereof. In a hardware implementation, the division between the functional modules / units mentioned in the above description does not necessarily correspond to the division of physical components; for example, a physical component may have multiple functions, or a function or step may be performed by several physical components in cooperation. Some or all physical components may be implemented as software executed by a processor, such as a central processing unit, a digital signal processor, or a microprocessor, or may be implemented as hardware, or may be implemented as an integrated circuit, such as an application-specific integrated circuit. Such software may be distributed on a computer-readable storage medium, which may include a computer-readable storage medium (or a non-transitory medium) and a communication medium (or a temporary medium).

[0069] As is known to those of ordinary skill in the art, the term computer-readable storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storing information (such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data). Computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tapes, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information and can be accessed by a computer. In addition, it is known to those of ordinary skill in the art that communication media typically contain computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transmission mechanism, and may include any information delivery medium.

[0070] Exemplarily, the computer-readable storage medium may be an internal storage unit of the network device described in the foregoing embodiments, such as a hard disk or memory of the network device. The computer-readable storage medium may also be an external storage device of the network device, such as a plug-in hard disk, a smart memory card (Smart Media Card, SMC), a secure digital (Secure Digital, SD) card, a flash card (Flash Card), etc., equipped on the network device.

[0071] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field can easily think of various equivalent modifications or replacements within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, and these modifications or replacements should be included in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A flow rate billing method, characterized in that: For a user plane function network element in a network device, the method comprises: Establishing a session with a session management function network element and receiving a usage reporting rule sent by the session management function network element, wherein the usage reporting rule includes a first reporting mode field and a reporting threshold, wherein the first reporting mode field includes delayed reporting; the usage reporting rule also includes a rate switching time point or a service quality change identifier; If a rate switching event occurs when the user plane function network element forwards a message from the session management function network element, the message continues to be forwarded until the reporting threshold is reached, and the usage information is sent to the session management function network element, so that the session management function network element sends a call record to the billing function network element according to the usage information; wherein the usage information includes usage information before the rate switching and usage information after the rate switching, the usage information before the rate switching is generated when it is detected that the current moment has reached the rate switching time point or when a change in service quality is detected according to a service quality change identifier, and the usage information after the rate switching is generated when the message continues to be forwarded until the reporting threshold is reached after the rate switching time point is reached or a change in service quality is detected.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The usage reporting rules include the rate switching time point; If a rate switching event occurs when the user plane function network element forwards the message, continue forwarding the message until the reporting threshold is reached, and send the usage information to the session management function network element, including: If it is detected that the current time has reached the rate switching time point when the user plane functional network element forwards the message, the usage information before the rate switching is generated, and the usage information before the rate switching is cached according to the first reporting mode field; Continue forwarding the message until the reporting threshold is reached, and generate usage information after the rate switching; The usage information before the rate switching and the usage information after the rate switching are sent to the session management function network element.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The usage reporting rules include a service quality change indicator; If a rate switching event occurs when the user plane function network element forwards the message, continue forwarding the message until the reporting threshold is reached, and send the usage information to the session management function network element, including: If a change in the quality of service is detected when the user plane functional network element forwards the message, usage information before the rate switching is generated, and the usage information before the rate switching is cached according to the first reporting mode field; Continue forwarding the message until the reporting threshold is reached, and generate usage information after the rate switching; The usage information before the rate switching and the usage information after the rate switching are sent to the session management function network element.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that After detecting a change in the quality of service, it also includes: Receiving a quality of service execution rule sent by the session management function network element; According to the quality of service execution rule, the current quality of service parameters are updated.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that If the rate switching event is triggered when the session management function network element detects a data network change or an operator change, if a rate switching event occurs when the user plane function network element forwards a message, continue forwarding the message until the reporting threshold is reached, and send the usage information to the session management function network element, including: If a rate switching event occurs when the user plane function network element forwards the message, receiving a usage query reporting rule sent by the session management function network element, the usage query reporting rule includes a second reporting mode field, and the second reporting mode field includes delayed reporting; updating the session with the session management function network element, generating usage information before the rate switching and sending the usage information before the rate switching to the session management function network element, so that the session management function network element caches the usage information before the rate switching; Continue forwarding the message until the reporting threshold is reached, generate usage information after the rate switching, and send the usage information after the rate switching to the session management function network element.

6. A flow rate billing method, characterized in that: For a session management function network element in a network device, the method comprises: Establishing a session with a user plane function network element and sending a usage reporting rule to the user plane function network element, the usage reporting rule including a first reporting mode field and a reporting threshold, the first reporting mode field including delayed reporting; the usage reporting rule also includes a rate switching time point or a service quality change identifier; If a rate switching event occurs when the user plane functional network element forwards a message from the session management functional network element, receiving usage information sent by the user plane functional network element according to the reporting threshold; wherein the usage information includes usage information before the rate switching and usage information after the rate switching, the usage information before the rate switching is generated when it is detected that the current moment has reached the rate switching time point or when a service quality change is detected according to a service quality change identifier, and the usage information after the rate switching is generated when the message continues to be forwarded until the reporting threshold is reached after reaching the rate switching time point or detecting a change in service quality; A call bill is sent to the billing function network element according to the usage information.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that If a rate switching event occurs when the user plane function network element forwards a message, receiving usage information sent by the user plane function network element according to the reporting threshold includes: If a change in the data network or operator is detected when the user plane function network element forwards the message, a usage query reporting rule is sent to the user plane function network element and a session with the user plane function network element is updated to receive and cache usage information before the rate switching sent by the user plane function network element; the usage query reporting rule includes a second reporting mode field, and the reporting mode field includes delayed reporting; Continue to receive usage information after rate switching sent by the user plane functional network element, where the usage information after rate switching is generated when the user plane functional network element continues to forward messages and reaches the reporting threshold.

8. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The usage reporting rule includes a rate switching time point or a service quality change identifier; the rate switching event occurs when the user plane function network element detects that the current moment has reached the rate switching time point or is triggered when the user plane function network element detects that the service quality has changed; The receiving the usage information sent by the user plane function network element according to the reporting threshold includes: At the same time, the usage information before the rate switching and the usage information after the rate switching sent by the user plane functional network element are received.

9. A network device, characterized in that: including a processor and a memory; The memory is used to store computer programs; The processor is used to execute the computer program and implement the traffic billing method as described in any one of claims 1 to 5 when executing the computer program, or implement the traffic billing method as described in any one of claims 6 to 8.

10. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the processor implements the flow billing method as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, or implements the flow billing method as described in any one of claims 6 to 8.

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