Method and apparatus for user specified priority in online billing

Abstract

In cases involving two or more communication services “competing” for the same credit pool, a node (30) of the billing system (28) associated with the communication network (10) considers the user-specified priority, which is used in online billing for consumption of the two or more communication services. As an example, subscriber information (34) associated with the user equipment (12) includes input from the subscriber involved, specifying a particular communication service as the priority service. In cases where the quota for authorized service consumption and corresponding credit reservations involves competition between a subscriber-prioritized service and another service not prioritized by the subscriber, the node (30) adjusts its licensing operations to favor the subscriber-prioritized service.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to online billing of communication services in the consumption of authorized communication services by granting service units, and to consideration of user-specified priorities. Background Technology

[0002] In the context of billing for consumption of communication services provided through a communication network by a user equipment (UE), "online" billing refers to a process involving real-time decisions regarding whether to authorize initial or continued consumption of a service based on the availability of credit in an account linked to the UE. In an example of online billing, the network entity sends a request to the billing system requesting permission for a unit to authorize consumption of the communication service by the UE. The billing system authorizes a quota for the unit corresponding to a specific service usage and makes corresponding credit reservations based on the credit account associated with the UE. The authorized units may be referred to as "service units" because they represent units of consumption of the communication service in question.

[0003] The size of the credit reservation depends on the number of licensed units—the quota size—and a “rating function” that determines the value of the licensed quota in any term applicable to a credit account. Because the licensed quota is authorized only for a specific amount of service consumption (e.g., a specific number of voice minutes or a specific amount of data transmission), billing operations for a communication session may include an initial request for licenses for service units, followed by one or more intermediate requests to cover the corresponding increments of continued use of the communication service by the user equipment (also referred to as “user equipment” or UE).

[0004] Because each licensed quota for a given communication service involves credit reservation, the amount of credit reserved for a licensed quota cannot be used to license quotas for any other communication services that may be active simultaneously for the user equipment. Reconciliation by the billing system involves subsequently debiting the entire credit reservation from the account if the licensed quota is fully consumed, or "refunding" all or part of the reserved credit if the licensed quota is unused or only partially used.

[0005] Under a scheme known as "Dynamic Service Configuration" or DSC, the size of the licensed quota can grow during a given billing session based on several factors. In an example scenario, the billing session involves a data session conducted by a user equipment (UE), involving the transmission of data to or from the UE via a communication network. An initial billing request establishes the billing session, and subsequent billing requests are used to continue the session. Using DSC, the size of the licensed quota can grow with each subsequent billing request received for the session, depending on how quickly the previously licensed quota is consumed. One advantage of DSC is that, by increasing the size of the licensed quota to match observed consumption behavior, it can reduce signaling overhead by decreasing the number of billing requests required to continue the session. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In situations where two or more communication services "compete" for the same credit pool, nodes in the billing system associated with the communication network consider the subscriber-specified priority, which is used in online billing for consumption of the two or more communication services. As an example, subscriber information associated with a User Equipment (UE) includes input from the subscriber involved, specifying a particular communication service as a priority service. In cases where the quota for authorized service consumption and corresponding credit reservations involve competition between the subscriber-prioritized service and another service not prioritized by the subscriber, the node adjusts its licensing operations to favor the subscriber-prioritized service.

[0007] In one example embodiment, the method of operation is performed by a network node of a billing system for a communication network. The method includes receiving a request for permission to grant a service unit for authorizing consumption of a first communication service provided by the communication network to a UE associated with subscriber information maintained by or accessible to the network node. The method also includes the network node determining from the subscriber information that a subscriber associated with the subscriber information has designated the first communication service as a prioritized communication service. Furthermore, the method includes the network node applying a preference licensing scheme in which, in response to a request, a service unit is prioritized relative to a competing request for permission to grant a service unit for a second communication service that, according to the subscriber information, is not prioritized.

[0008] In another example embodiment, a network node is configured to operate in a billing system for a communication network and includes communication interface circuitry and processing circuitry operatively associated with the communication circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to receive, via the communication interface circuitry, a request for permission to grant a service unit for authorizing consumption of a first communication service provided by the communication network to a UE associated with subscriber information maintained by or accessible to the network node. The processing circuitry is also configured to determine from the subscriber information that a subscriber associated with the subscriber information has designated the first communication service as a priority communication service. Furthermore, the processing circuitry is configured to apply a preference licensing scheme in which permission to grant a service unit in response to a request is prioritized relative to a competing request for permission to grant a service unit for a second communication service, which, according to the subscriber information, is not prioritized.

[0009] In another example embodiment, the network node is configured to operate in a billing system for the communication network and includes multiple processing units or modules, such as those implemented using virtualization of computing and memory resources on a host in a data center. The processing units include a receiving unit configured to receive requests for licensed service units, the license of which authorizes consumption of a first communication service provided by the communication network to a UE associated with subscriber information maintained by or accessible to the network node. A determining unit is configured to determine from the subscriber information that a subscriber associated with the subscriber information has designated the first communication service as a prioritized communication service. Correspondingly, an application unit is configured to apply a preference licensing scheme in which a license for a service unit in response to a request is prioritized relative to a competing request for a license for a service unit used for a second communication service, which, according to the subscriber information, is not prioritized.

[0010] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the features and advantages described above. In fact, those skilled in the art will recognize additional features and advantages after reading the following detailed description and reviewing the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of one embodiment of a communication network.

[0012] Figure 2 This is a block diagram of an embodiment of an online billing system included in or associated with a communication network.

[0013] Figure 3 This is a block diagram of another embodiment of a network node in an online billing system, wherein the node is also referred to as a billing system node.

[0014] Figure 4This is a logic flowchart of one embodiment of a method executed by a network node of an online billing system.

[0015] Figure 5 This is a message sequence diagram illustrating the example implementation details executed by the network nodes of the online billing system.

[0016] Figure 6 This is a message sequence diagram illustrating the example implementation details of how an online billing system determines the priority of a service as assigned by the subscriber when another service is already in progress.

[0017] Figure 7 This is a message sequence diagram illustrating the example implementation details of an end-to-end message flow executed by network nodes of an online billing system.

[0018] Figure 8 It is used to continue Figure 7 A message sequence diagram detailing an example implementation of an end-to-end message flow. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Some embodiments contemplated herein will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, other embodiments are included within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein, and the disclosed subject matter should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.

[0020] Generally, all terms used herein should be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant art, unless explicitly given and / or implied from the context of their use. Unless otherwise expressly stated, all references to elements, devices, components, tools, steps, etc., should be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of that element, device, component, tool, step, etc. The steps of any method disclosed herein need not be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as occurring after or before another step, and / or, due to some dependency, a step must occur after or after another step. Any feature of any embodiment disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment. Similarly, any advantage of any embodiment may be applied to any other embodiment, and vice versa. Other objects, features, and advantages of the appended embodiments will become apparent from the following description.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a network diagram of one embodiment of a communication network 10, which is configured as a 3GPP 5G wireless communication network to provide communication services to various user equipment 12, shown here as user equipment (UE) 12-1 and 12-2 for illustrative purposes.

[0022] Unless a suffix is ​​required for clarity, a given UE is referred to as UE 12, and multiple given UEs are referred to as multiple UE 12s. Furthermore, the 5G example is non-limiting, and the techniques disclosed herein have broad applicability to online billing in a wide variety of networks.

[0023] In its example form, the communication network 10 includes a next-generation RAN (NG-RAN) 16 and a 5G core (5GC) 14. NG-RAN 16 may include a set of base stations 22, such as base stations 22-1 and 22-2, configured as gNodeBs (gNBs) that provide an air interface for communicating with a given UE 12 according to the 5G New Radio (NR) specification. Of course, NG-RAN 16 may provide other radio access technologies (RATs), such as by including base stations 22 of other types or configurations, where base stations 22-3 and 22-4 operate as “ng-eNBs” providing a Long Term Evolution (LTE) air interface according to applicable 3GPP specifications.

[0024] Base stations 22 are interconnected with each other via “Xn” interfaces and interconnected to one or more nodes in core network 14 via “NG” interfaces. As can be seen in example nodes 20-1 and 20-2, this diagram illustrates core network 14 as including network nodes operating as Access and Mobility Functions (AMF) and User Plane Functions (UPF). However, core network 14 may include multiple AMFs and / or UPFs, and may include various other nodes providing various types of Network Functions (NFs).

[0025] Each base station 22 provides radio coverage over a corresponding area 24, which may be statically determined by the location of the base station 22 and its antenna configuration, or may be dynamically determined, for example, using beam steering. The term "cell" may be used generally with reference to each coverage area 24, but it should be understood that such a cell may include beamforming coverage and may not be static.

[0026] Figure 2 Another embodiment of the communication network 10 is illustrated, showing it communicatively coupled to one or more external networks 26 associated with one or more communication services (e.g., voice calling, music and video services, web browsing, social media services, etc.). In this respect, the communication network 10 operates as an access network, providing each UE 12 with access to one or more types of communication services, at least some of which are subject to online billing.

[0027] in this regard, Figure 2A billing system 28 is depicted, which is configured to support online billing for the UE 12's use of the communication network 10 during access to one or more communication services or one or more types of services. Therefore, the billing system 28 may be referred to as OCS 28, which is denoted as "Online Billing System".

[0028] Although user equipment 12-1, 12-2, and 12-3 are shown in the figure for illustrative purposes, there is no limitation on the number of examples. Communication network 10 can support any number of UEs 12 at any given time. Furthermore, as noted, the reference number "12" is used herein to refer to UEs / user equipment in both singular and plural senses, and the suffix is ​​omitted where unnecessary for clarity.

[0029] Communication network 10 allows UE 12 to access one or more communication services, such as those available from servers, systems, or other devices accessible via the Internet or another external network 26. In an example scenario, communication network 10 is a wireless communication network that includes a radio access network (RAN) 16, which provides an air interface for communicatively coupling to UE 12. In this particular example, UE 12 includes radio transceiver circuitry configured to communicate with RAN 16 according to applicable radio signal types, structures, timings, and protocols. As a non-limiting example, communication network 10 operates according to fifth-generation (5G) specifications, and RAN 16 provides a new radio (NR) interface.

[0030] Billing system 28 includes one or more billing system nodes, including the illustrated example billing system node 30. Billing system node 30 contains or has access to a subscriber database 32 regarding subscriber accounts (also referred to as user accounts). In this context, a “subscriber” is an individual or other entity associated with stored credit used to “pay” for the use of one or more communication services provided by or through communication network 10. For example, a subscriber may have a direct account with the operator of communication network 10 to pay for communication services consumed by one or more UEs 12 owned by the subscriber or otherwise linked to and authorized for such use. Alternatively, a subscriber may have an account with another network operator, which in turn has an agreement with the operator of network 10.

[0031] exist Figure 2In the example, the billing system node 30 (also referred to as "network node 30") includes or has access to a subscriber database 32. The subscriber database 32 includes subscriber information 34 for individual subscribers, which includes one or more service priority specifications 36. These service priority specifications 36 are entered by the subscriber, for example, using a self-service application or a browser-based interface, and are configured to provide the subscriber with a mechanism for indicating priority for certain specific communication services or equivalent specific communication service types. As will be explained, in cases where a license for a service unit used to authorize UE 12 to consume one communication service competes with a license for a service unit used to authorize UE 12 to consume another communication service, the user-specified priority is considered in online billing operations.

[0032] Consider an example scenario where UE 12 attempts to establish a communication session via communication network 10 for using (consuming) a first communication service, where the service is subject to online billing. The Session Management Function (SMF) or other entity in communication network 10 sends an initial billing request to billing system node 30 to establish a billing session for authorizing UE 12 to consume the communication service. In response to the initial request, billing system node 30 grants a "quota" of service units, where the number of service units in the granted quota corresponds to a defined service quantity, such as defined in minutes, megabytes, or other units of measurement.

[0033] The number of units included in the initial license depends on various factors, including the service type, configuration rules, the number of units requested, and the availability of credits to "pay" for that unit. The value or quantity of credits depends on a "pricing function" that converts between service units used to measure consumption of the service in question and the credit units involved, which may or may not be monetary. Therefore, during the initial license, the billing system node 30 "reserves" a quantity of credits corresponding to the size of the license—the "licensed quota." Continuing the billing session requires the network unit to send subsequent billing requests, and the billing system node 30, in response to each such request, licenses the corresponding quota for the service unit, provided that sufficient credits are available for reservation in the billing-restricted credit repository 38. "Credit Rep." in the diagram represents the "credit repository." Reserved credits corresponding to consumed quotas are debited from the credit repository 38, while any reserved credits corresponding to unconsumed quota portions are cleared, making them available for new reservations.

[0034] However, when reservation is active, the corresponding reserved credits in credit repository 38 cannot be used for other purposes. Therefore, for a UE 12 that simultaneously uses or attempts to use two or more communication services, where both services are subject to online billing based on the same credit pool (e.g., the same credit repository 38), a license for one communication service "competes" with a license for another. As an example, suppose two communication services A and B have a credit pool containing 100 credit units. If the license requirement for a service unit used to authorize consumption of communication service A is, for example, a credit reservation of 75 credit units, then at least until the reservation of 75 credit units for communication service A is completed, only 25 credit units are available to authorize consumption of communication service B.

[0035] Therefore, service unit licenses for communication service A and communication service B can be considered to be in competition, because the credit reservation corresponding to the licensed quota for one service reduces the credit available for reservation when licensing a quota for the other service. According to one or more embodiments disclosed herein, in response to a competing request for a license for a service unit, a preference licensing scheme is applied to the licensed service unit quota, wherein the competing request involves a first communication service that the subscriber has designated as priority and a second communication service that the subscriber has not designated as priority. Of course, the preference licensing scheme can be easily extended to multiple priority levels (e.g., higher and lower priorities) and competition between any number of communication services or service types.

[0036] Before delving into the example details of preference licensing schemes that can be implemented in a billing system node, it is helpful to consider specific aspects of billing system node 30. First, billing system node 30 can be a single node, such as a single server or part of a server, or it can be distributed, such as implemented across two or more servers. Furthermore, based on the instantiation of virtualized processing and storage resources within a physical host computer, billing system node 30 can be implemented in a data center or other cloud computing environment, where billing system node 30 is a virtual machine or part of it.

[0037] Other points of flexibility include a subscriber database 32, which can be a centralized or distributed database and can be stored in the billing system node 30 or simply made accessible thereto. Furthermore, the subscriber database 32 can be implemented in or associated with another communication network (e.g., the home network of UE 12). Regardless of where or how it is implemented, the billing system node 30 uses subscriber information 34 linked to a given UE 12 to determine whether a subscriber associated with UE 12 has designated one or more communication services as priority. The billing system node 30 can make such a determination in the event of competition between online billing for two or more communication services involving UE 12.

[0038] Whether implemented as a single node or in a distributed configuration, the example billing system node 30 includes a communication interface circuitry 40 for communicating with other nodes within or outside the billing system 28. In a non-limiting example, the communication interface circuitry 40 includes one or more transmitter circuits 42 and one or more receiver circuits 44 implementing a wired or wireless physical interface for receiving and transmitting billing-related signaling, such as receiving requests for authorization to consume communication services for a service unit and sending return responses indicating a permitted quota (or rejection in case of insufficient credit). In at least one embodiment, the communication interface circuitry 40 includes physical layer interface circuitry, as well as one or more protocol processors, timing circuits, etc., for implementing the relevant communication protocols and signaling.

[0039] As coordinated by the operating system and virtualization software involved, the billing system node 30 also includes a processing circuit 46, which may or may not use "virtualization," involving the instantiation of virtualized processing resources using underlying processing hardware. Even in the case of virtualization, the processing circuit 46 includes physical circuitry, which may be fixed circuitry, programmable circuitry, or some combination of fixed and programmable circuitry.

[0040] In one or more embodiments, processing circuitry 46 includes one or more microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FGPAs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), or application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or any combination thereof. Furthermore, in at least one such embodiment, processing circuitry 46 is configured at least in part based on its execution of stored computer program instructions. For example, storage device 48 stores one or more computer programs (CPs) 50, which include program instructions for execution by one or more microprocessors or other types of computer processors used to form processing circuitry 46. Storage device 48 includes one or more types of computer-readable media, such as memory circuits and / or disk storage devices, and may also store various configuration data (CFG.data) 52. Example configuration data that may be provided within storage device 48 or temporarily stored in storage device 48 includes information regarding billing interval sizes for billing different types of communication services, pricing data for determining the price or cost of service units, rules for license quotas, and so on.

[0041] Considering the aforementioned points of flexibility and variability, the billing system node 30 is configured to operate within the billing system 28 associated with the communication network 10. The billing system node 30 includes a communication interface circuit 40, which includes a wired or wireless communication interface for exchanging billing-related messages with the billing system 28 or one or more other nodes in the communication network 10. Furthermore, the billing system node 30 includes processing circuitry 46 operably associated with the communication interface circuitry 40. In at least one example, the mention of processing circuitry 46 operably associated with communication interface circuitry 40 means that processing circuitry 46 is arranged or otherwise configured to send and receive messages or other signaling, which may be of various types and involve more than one protocol, via communication interface circuitry 46.

[0042] In an example embodiment, processing circuitry 46 is configured to receive a request for a license for a service unit, which authorizes consumption of a first communication service provided by communication network 10 to user equipment (UE) 12, which is associated with subscriber information 34 maintained by or accessible to billing system node 30. A “service unit” refers to a unit of service consumption. For example, a service unit can be expressed in minutes, megabytes, or any quantitative measure used to meter the communication service in question. To use or continue using the communication service, entities in communication network 10, such as charge trigger functions (CTFs), send a billing request to billing system 28. Billing system 28 responds to the request to determine the number of service units to be licensed. The size of the license is also called a quota. Service units are “priced” based on an applicable charging standard, which can depend on various factors to determine the “cost” of credit reservations required for the licensed quota. As mentioned earlier, reserved credit is "blocked" when it is at least temporarily unavailable for other purposes. That is, reserved credit that is restricted to being open or unbilled cannot be used to authorize other licenses.

[0043] The processing circuit 46 is also configured to determine from the subscriber information that the subscriber associated with the subscriber information has designated the first communication service as a priority communication service. Furthermore, the processing circuit 46 is also configured to apply a preference licensing scheme in which a licensed service unit is prioritized in response to a request for the first communication service relative to a competing request for a license for a service unit used for a second communication service, which, according to the subscriber information, is not prioritized.

[0044] In one example, to apply a preference-based licensing scheme, processing circuitry 46 is configured to increase the quota size used for licensed service units in response to a request for a first / prioritized communication service, wherein this increase is relative to the quota size that would be used in the event of license contention between unprioritized and non-prioritized communication services. As another example, to apply a preference-based licensing scheme, processing circuitry 46 is configured to decrease the quota size used for competitive licenses of service units, wherein this decrease is relative to the quota size that would be used in the event of license contention between unprioritized and non-prioritized communication services.

[0045] Increasing the license size for prioritized communication services is equivalent to making a more aggressive or larger credit reservation for prioritized communication services compared to not using a preference licensing scheme. Making a larger credit reservation for prioritized communication services leaves less credit available for non-priority communication services making competing (billing) requests. Similarly, reducing the license size used for non-priority communication services competing with prioritized communication services is equivalent to making a less aggressive credit reservation for non-priority communication services, thus leaving more credit available for licenses for prioritized communication services. Furthermore, as noted, preference licensing schemes can reduce the size of competing licenses for non-priority services, increase the size of licenses for prioritized communication services, or both.

[0046] As explained elsewhere, based on the fact that the UE 12 in question has or attempts to have overlapping sessions for the first and second communication services, and further based on the corresponding credit reservations from the same credit source required by the respective licensing requirements, a license for a service unit for the "second" communication service competes with a license for a service unit for the "first" communication service. Here, "session" refers to a communication session for a given communication service, and / or to a billing session running concurrently with the communication session for online billing of service consumption recorded during the communication session. Furthermore, "overlap" refers to temporal overlap, where the UE 12 has or attempts to have two or more concurrently active, online billing-restricted communication sessions.

[0047] Consider an example where, in a given situation and without a preference licensing scheme, the quota for a billing request received for "First Communication Service" is 10 megabytes (10 MB). However, in response to the application of a preference licensing scheme as a result of license contention, the preference licensing scheme increases the quota by 20%, in this case, to 2 MB. Alternatively, or additionally, if the preference licensing scheme is not applied, the preference licensing scheme will reduce the quota used for competing services by, for example, 20%, compared to the quota that would be used for those services.

[0048] Therefore, in at least one embodiment, for applying a preference licensing scheme, processing circuitry 46 is configured to temporarily override an existing licensing scheme that will be used when no prioritization for the first communication service is specified. As a specific example, for applying a preference reservation scheme, processing circuitry 46 is configured to override a Dynamic Service Configuration (DSC) scheme that dynamically adjusts the quota size for licensed service units based on the number of requests and uses of service units for communication services in use at UE 12. Overriding the DSC scheme includes, for example, performing one or more of the following: temporarily slowing the growth of the quota size allowed for non-priority communication services, temporarily accelerating the growth of the quota size allowed for priority communication services, temporarily changing the quota size used for non-priority communication services to a fixed value, such as a small value, or temporarily changing the quota size used for priority communication services to a fixed value, such as a large value.

[0049] In one example, processing circuitry 46 is configured to override an existing licensing scheme for the duration of a session established with respect to the consumption of a prioritized communication service by UE 12. Alternatively, processing circuitry 46 overrides an existing licensing scheme only in cases of license contention between prioritized and non-priority communication services, or more generally, in cases of license contention between two communication services with different priority assignments from the associated subscriber. As noted, the existing reservation scheme may be a DSC scheme, in which the corresponding quota size for licensing a service unit for each given communication service requested by UE 12 is dynamically determined based on ongoing quota usage.

[0050] For example, as runtime input to a billing system 28 that includes or contains billing system node 30, a priori designation is received, wherein the billing system 28 operates as an OCS. In at least one embodiment, the processing circuitry 46 is configured to receive input from a UE 12 associated with a subscriber or from a computer system associated with a subscriber, wherein the input indicates that a particular communication service has been prioritized by the subscriber.

[0051] Of course, a subscriber can designate more than one communication service as a priority, and the priority license can be activated when any prioritized communication service competes with a non-priority communication service in terms of online billing—that is, when the quota of licensed service units for a subscriber's priority communication service, used for authorization of service consumption and corresponding credit reservation, competes with the quota of licensed service units for a communication service that has not been prioritized by the subscriber or has been assigned a lower priority by the subscriber for authorization of service consumption and corresponding credit reservation.

[0052] In one or more embodiments, processing circuitry 46 is configured to maintain a database operable to register prioritization specifications entered by subscribers for various communication services or communication service types. See, for example, [link to documentation]. Figure 2 The subscriber database described in the text 32.

[0053] Figure 3 Another embodiment of a network node configured to operate in a billing system 28 of a communication network 10 is illustrated, wherein the network node includes a plurality of processing modules or units 300. The depicted set of processing units 300 can be, for example, via... Figure 2 The billing system node 30 shown is implemented by the processing circuitry 46. Typically, the processing unit 300 can be a virtual or non-virtual set of configured processing resources, such as programmed computing resources including physical processing circuitry or virtualized processing circuitry instantiated on the underlying physical processing circuitry.

[0054] In the illustrated processing unit 300, there is a receiving unit 302 configured to receive a request for permission to use a service unit, the permission being used to authorize consumption of a first communication service provided by the communication network 10 to the UE 12, the UE 12 being associated with subscriber information 34 maintained by or accessible to the network nodes included in the processing unit 300. It also includes a determining unit 304 configured to determine from the subscriber information 34 that a subscriber associated with the subscriber information 34 has designated the first communication service as a priority communication service; and an application unit 306 configured to apply a preference licensing scheme in which, in response to the request, a permission to use a service unit is prioritized relative to a competing request for permission to use a service unit for a second communication service, which is not prioritized according to the subscriber information 34.

[0055] Figure 4 This is a logical flowchart of one embodiment of a method operated by network node 30 of billing system 28. Method 400 includes the billing system node 30 receiving (block 402) a request for permission to grant a service unit, the permission being used to authorize consumption of a first communication service provided by communication network 10 to UE 12, UE 12 being associated with subscriber information 34 maintained by or accessible to network node 30. Furthermore, method 400 includes the billing system node 30 determining (block 404) from the subscriber information 34 that the subscriber associated with the subscriber information 34 has designated the first communication service as a priority communication service. Additionally, method 400 includes the billing system node 30 applying (block 406) a preference licensing scheme, in which, in response to the request, a service unit is prioritized relative to a competing request for permission to grant a service unit for a second communication service, which, according to subscriber information 34, is not prioritized.

[0056] Application preference licensing schemes, for example, include increasing the quota size used for licensed service units in response to a request, wherein the increase is relative to the quota size that would be used in the event of license contention between unpriorized and non-priorized communication services. As another example, application preference licensing schemes include reducing the quota size used for competing licenses for service units, wherein this reduction is relative to the quota size that would be used in the event of no license contention between prioritized and non-priority communication services. Of course, a combination of these two approaches can be used to implement license prioritization.

[0057] Based on the fact that UE 12 has or attempts to have overlapping sessions for a first communication service and a second communication service, and further based on the corresponding license requirements for corresponding credit reservations from the same credit source, a license for a service unit for the second communication service "competes" with a license for a service unit for the first communication service. For example, billing for the corresponding first and second communication services may target the same credit pool, which means that a credit reservation for one of the two services makes the reserved credit unavailable, at least temporarily, for use with the other of the two services.

[0058] Application preference licensing schemes may include, for example, temporarily overriding an existing licensing scheme that would be used in the absence of prioritization for a first communication service. In at least one embodiment, the application preference licensing scheme includes overriding a DSC scheme that dynamically adjusts the quota size used for licensed service units based on the number of requests and uses of service units for the corresponding communication service in use at UE 12. Without applying a preference licensing scheme, the DSC scheme may be a default or regular scheme used for at least some types of communication services.

[0059] Specifically, the existing licensing scheme can be a DSC scheme, which dynamically determines the corresponding quota size for each given communication service for which a service unit is requested for UE 12, based on ongoing quota usage. DSC improves efficiency by allowing the quota size to grow with successive licenses within the same billing session, based on the quota consumption rate. Regardless of whether the overridden licensing scheme is based on DSC or another method, the application preference licensing scheme involves overriding the existing licensing scheme for at least the duration of the session established for the consumption of the first communication service for UE 12.

[0060] In other words, for a given UE 12 linked to the corresponding subscriber information 34, in response to determining that a non-priority (or lower priority) communication service is competing for a license regarding a priority (or higher priority) communication service, the billing system node 30 overwrites any existing licensing schemes that would otherwise be used. As noted, the specification of priorities can be received as runtime input to the billing system 28, which includes the billing system node 30. The subscriber provides the input, for example, using the UE 12 or a computer system, which triggers a record of the subscriber-specified priorities in the subscriber database 32.

[0061] Figure 5 This is a message sequence diagram illustrating an example implementation of the charging system 28, which includes an Online Charging Function (OCF) operable to apply the preference licensing scheme described herein. The core network (CN) domain, service elements, and subsystem entities shown represent elements of the communication network 10, including or associated with the Charging Trigger Function (CTF), generally indicated as "CTF" in the diagram.

[0062] This example assumes a DIAMETER-based credit control operation and that UE 12 participates in or initiates a communication session with the Netflix media streaming service via communication network 10, resulting in an online billing session being opened for UE 12 in billing system 28 for online billing of the Netflix service. Subsequently, the same UE 12 attempts to initiate a communication session with the Amazon media streaming service, causing billing system 28 to open an online billing session for UE 12 for online billing of the Amazon service.

[0063] Furthermore, it can be assumed that the license quotas for the authorized use of both Netflix and Amazon services represent competing licenses, since the corresponding credit reservations involve the same credit pool, or equivalently, since the corresponding service unit reservations involve the same pool of available service units. The diagram illustrates how, as a result of the application preference licensing scheme, changing service unit availability corresponds to changing the quota size, where, as a final assumption, subscriber information 34 indicates that Amazon is designated as the prioritized communication service, while Netflix is ​​not.

[0064] In the message flow diagram, OCF returns a Credit Control Authorization (CCA) for the "NETFLIX" session. The CCA for the Netflix session includes a license quota size of 40MB, represented in the diagram as "GSU" to indicate "Licensed Service Unit". For example, the CCA returned for the Netflix session corresponds to... Figure 5The Early Credit Control Request (CCR), not shown, requests permission for a service unit to authorize initial or continued consumption of Netflix services.

[0065] The OCF then receives a CCR requesting the establishment of a charging session for concurrent use of the AMAZON service by the same UE12. That is, the charging session for AMAZON will overlap with an existing charging session for Netflix. Recognizing that the concurrent service use puts the licensing process for the AMAZON session in competition with the licensing process for the Netflix session, and further recognizing that the subscriber in question has prioritized the AMAZON service relative to the Netflix service, the OCF sends a Reauthorization Request (RAR) for the Netflix session, resulting in a Reauthorization Response (RAA) from the Charging Trigger Function (CTF) in the communications network 10 associated with the Netflix session and triggering a new CCR from the CTF. The new CCR will indicate that 20MB has been consumed from the previously licensed 40MB quota using a Service Unit (USU).

[0066] OCF responds to the CCR for the AMAZON session by sending a CCA for a 50MB quota for the AMAZON session, and also sends a CCA for a 5MB quota for the Netflix session. It's worth noting that the 5MB quota for the Netflix session represents a positive reduction in the quota size used for the Netflix session—that is, the application of a preference licensing scheme, in which user instructions prioritizing AMAZON communications services over Netflix communications services are given preferential treatment when licensing operations are performed on the AMAZON session relative to the Netflix session. Figure 5 The illustration shows that, at least during the overlap between Amazon and Netflix sessions, OCF continues to provide relatively small licenses, such as 5MB, for Netflix sessions, while providing relatively large licenses, such as 50MB, for Amazon sessions.

[0067] As a response Figure 5The illustrated example assumes that the default licensing scheme used by OCF is DSC, where the licenses for a Netflix session dynamically increase based on the license consumption rate during the session. This growth reduces the number of requests / licenses required for a Netflix session. However, in response to the establishment of a higher-priority Amazon session, OCF changes to a preferred licensing scheme that favors Amazon sessions by abandoning the DSC scheme and fixing the quota size for Netflix sessions to a defined small size, which can be defined by rules, policies, service types, etc. Furthermore, the quota size for Amazon sessions can be immediately set to a relatively large or lenient size, also defined by rules, policies, service types, etc. Alternatively, OCF can apply a DSC-based licensing scheme to Amazon sessions (i.e., dynamically adjusted quota sizes) while applying a fixed licensing scheme to Netflix sessions (i.e., fixed quota sizes).

[0068] in particular, Figure 5 The example shows that the quota size for prioritized services is defined as 50MB, and the quota size for non-priority services is defined as 5MB. Therefore, application preference licensing schemes may include temporarily overriding any currently active license / quota size scheme and applying a fixed 50MB / 5MB scheme to both prioritized and non-priority communication services. Furthermore, the quota size used to resolve competing license issues can be defined considering how many non-priority or lower-priority communication services are competing with prioritized or higher-priority communication services. For example, when multiple services are competing, a more aggressive reduction in quota size can be applied.

[0069] Figure 5 The service IDs visible in the document, along with “pricing groups,” can be used to differentiate different services for pricing and quota allocation. The topics disclosed herein can expose service IDs and / or pricing groups to subscribers through self-service tools (e.g., user portals or apps). When a subscriber wants a specific service to be prioritized, the user first selects that service and then registers the priority from the self-service portal or app.

[0070] Priorities can be persistent, meaning they apply until removed or overwritten by the subscriber or network operator. Alternatively, priorities can be non-persistent, such as one-off or temporary. As with... Figure 5 In a corresponding example, the subscriber in question prioritizes the AMAZON service. This priority applies only to the first use of the AMAZON service after priority is recorded in the subscriber database 32, or only to the first instance of the AMAZON service in a license contention for that subscriber.

[0071] Figure 6 This is another example of a message sequence diagram, executed by billing system 28, detailing sample implementation details for determining the priority assigned by the subscriber to a service when another service is already in progress. Figure 6 In the billing system 28, a list of service IDs / pricing group IDs is exposed, allowing users to specify service priorities. These service IDs / pricing group IDs are used in the operator's self-service application or app to list available services and pricing groups that subscribers can select for priority services. When a subscriber selects a service, the selected service is continuously returned to the billing system 28 based on subscription information. Subscription information can be stored in various locations, such as consumer and partner management systems or any other node accessible by the billing system 28.

[0072] refer to Figure 6 Billing system 28 sends a CCA indicating a licensed service unit (GSU = 10MB) for service ID = Netflix. During this ongoing session, the Netflix service sends a CCR to billing system 28 requesting additional quota allocation. The CCR further indicates an unused service unit count of 10MB (USU = 10MB). Applying DSC, billing system 28 doubles the previously licensed 10MB quota and returns a CCR to the Netflix service, GSU ​​= 20MB. On the next query, the Netflix service sends a CCR to billing system 28 indicating USU = 15MB, 5MB less than the allocated quota. Billing system 28 again applies DSC, doubles the previously allocated 20MB quota, and returns a CCR to the Netflix service for GSU = 40MB. This illustrates the use of a non-priority service not overridden by the "Priority Service Quota Limit" because, in this example, the Netflix service was not specified as priority by the user in the subscriber information.

[0073] Figure 7 and Figure 8 A message sequence diagram illustrating an example implementation detail of an end-to-end flow executed by network node 30 of billing system 28 is shown. Figure 7 In this process, the self-service function or app requests a list of services from the billing system 28, which can be prioritized by the subscriber. The billing system 28 returns a response indicating or including a list of services that can be used to specify the priority. Via the self-service / app, the subscriber selects the service to be prioritized from a list of service IDs / pricing group IDs. This selection is sent to the billing system 28, which stores the service ID / pricing group ID in the subscriber information 34. For example, a user can specify that the "AMAZON" service is prioritized, and the billing system 28 can store the prioritized service = "AMAZON" in the subscriber information 34 linked to the relevant subscriber.

[0074] Figure 8 It is used to continue Figure 7 The diagram shows a message sequence diagram illustrating the details of an example implementation of an end-to-end stream. Figure 8 In this scenario, the user initiates the "AMAZON" service and sends a CCR (Content Request Code) for the service ID "AMAZON" to the billing system 28. When the billing system 28 detects a request for a prioritized service session, it sends a RAR (Report Request) to the primary session. Sending this RAR can cause the service session to report a USU (User Usage Request) to the billing system 28. For example, the AMAZON service session's response to the RAR is a RAA (Report Request for Action).

[0075] Next, billing system 28 sends a CCA indicating GSU=50MB for the AMAZON service because the AMAZON service is prioritized and the priority service quota limit is 50MB. In the next billing interval / inquiry, billing system 28 receives a CCR indicating USU=40MB for the AMAZON service. Again, billing system 28 sends a CCA indicating GSU=50MB for the AMAZON service. This request and authorization process continues in one or more subsequent billing intervals. At the end of the sequence shown, billing system 28 receives a CCR indicating USU=10MB for the "Amazon" service, and the service is terminated. When the service ends, billing system 28 clears subscriber information 34 to revert to the default licensing scheme logic pre-configured in billing system 28. In this case, the DSC licensing scheme is used. Clearing subscriber information 34 is completed by setting the priority service = "" in the subscriber information.

[0076] The techniques disclosed herein can be extended to pre-assign priorities for specific time periods and / or service consumption volumes. For example, a subscriber may instruct, specify, or otherwise assign a priority to a given communication service at some point before using it. This could include instructing that a communication service (e.g., Netflix) should be given higher priority when used between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., but otherwise limited to a default priority. Therefore, in one or more embodiments, the billing system 28 adjusts its licensing scheme when applying consumption quotas for a given communication service based on whether there is competing licensing for communication services with different priorities assigned to subscribers and whether one or more other conditions for applying these priorities are met. Conditions include any one or more of the following: the service combination in use, the time of day, the date, or the location of the UE 12 involved in the consumption, etc.

[0077] It is worth noting that those skilled in the art will contemplate modifications and other embodiments of the disclosed invention that will benefit from the teachings given in the foregoing description and associated drawings. Therefore, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure. Although specific terminology may be used herein, it is used only in a general and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

1. A method (400) performed by a network node (30) of a billing system (28) for a communication network (10), the method (400) comprising: Receive (402) a request for permission for a service unit, the permission for which is used to authorize consumption of a first communication service provided by the communication network (10) to a user equipment (UE) (12), the user equipment (UE) (12) being associated with subscriber information (34) maintained by or accessible to the network node (30). It is determined (404) from the subscriber information (34) that the subscriber associated with the subscriber information (34) has designated the first communication service as a priority communication service; as well as The application (406) preference licensing scheme, in which a licensed service unit is prioritized in response to the request relative to a competing request for a license for a service unit used for a second communication service, which is not prioritized according to the subscriber information, means that the second communication service is not prioritized. The preference licensing scheme described in application (406) includes: increasing and / or decreasing the quota size used for licensing service units in response to the request. The increase and / or decrease mentioned therein are relative to the quota size that will be used in the event of license competition between non-priority and non-priority communication services.

2. The method (400) according to claim 1, wherein the license for the service unit for the second communication service competes with the license for the service unit for the first communication service based on the UE (12) having or attempting to have an overlapping session for the first communication service and the second communication service, and also based on the corresponding credit reservation from the same credit source for the corresponding license requirements.

3. The method (400) according to claim 1, wherein applying the preference licensing scheme (406) comprises: An existing license scheme will be temporarily overwritten if no prioritization is specified for the first communication service.

4. The method (400) according to claim 1, wherein applying the preference licensing scheme (406) comprises: The Dynamic Service Configuration (DSC) scheme is overridden, and the DSC scheme dynamically adjusts the quota size used for licensed service units based on the request and usage number of service units for the corresponding communication service in use by the UE (12).

5. The method (400) according to claim 3, wherein the prioritization designation is received as a runtime input to the billing system (28).

6. The method (400) of claim 1, wherein applying the preference licensing scheme (406) comprises: Overwrite the existing licensing scheme for the duration of the session established by the UE (12) for the consumption of the first communication service.

7. The method (400) according to claim 6, wherein the existing licensing scheme is a dynamic service configuration (DSC) scheme, wherein for each given communication service for which the UE (12) requests a license for a service unit, the corresponding quota size for the licensed service unit is dynamically determined based on the ongoing quota usage.

8. The method (400) according to claim 1, wherein the method (400) further comprises: Input is received from the UE (12) or from a computer system associated with the subscriber, the input indicating that the first communication service has been prioritized by the subscriber.

9. The method (400) of claim 1 further includes maintaining a subscriber database (32), the subscriber database being operable to register priority designations, the priority designations being entered by the subscriber for a corresponding communication service or communication service type.

10. A network node (30) configured to operate in a billing system (28) for a communication network (10), the network node (30) comprising: Communication interface circuit (40); as well as The processing circuit (46) is configured as follows: The communication interface circuit (40) receives a request for permission for a service unit, the permission of which is used to authorize consumption of a first communication service provided by the communication network (10) to a user equipment (UE) (12), the user equipment (UE) (12) being associated with subscriber information (34) maintained by or accessible to the network node (30). It is determined from the subscriber information (34) that the subscriber associated with the subscriber information (34) has designated the first communication service as a priority communication service; as well as The application employs a preference-based licensing scheme in which, in response to the request, a licensed service unit is prioritized over competing requests for a license for a service unit used for a second communication service, which is not prioritized based on the subscriber information (34). In order to apply the preference licensing scheme, the processing circuit (46) is configured to increase or decrease the quota size used for licensing service units in response to the request, wherein the increase or decrease is relative to the quota size to be used in the event of licensing competition between non-priority and non-priority communication services.

11. The network node (30) of claim 10, wherein the license for the service unit for the second communication service competes with the license for the service unit for the first communication service based on the UE (12) having or attempting to have an overlapping session for the first communication service and the second communication service, and also based on the corresponding credit reservation from the same credit source for the corresponding license requirements.

12. The network node (30) of claim 10, wherein the processing circuit (46) for applying the preference licensing scheme is configured to temporarily overwrite an existing licensing scheme that will be used in the absence of a priori specification for the first communication service.

13. The network node (30) according to claim 10, wherein the processing circuit (46) for applying the preference reservation scheme is configured to: override the Dynamic Service Configuration (DSC) scheme, wherein the DSC scheme dynamically adjusts the quota size used for the licensed service units based on the request and usage number of service units for the communication service in use by the UE (12).

14. The network node (30) according to claim 12, wherein the prioritization designation is received as runtime input to the billing system (28).

15. The network node (30) of claim 10, wherein the processing circuit (46) for applying the preference licensing scheme is configured to overwrite the existing licensing scheme for the duration of a session established with respect to the consumption of the first communication service by the UE (12).

16. The network node (30) according to claim 15, wherein the existing licensing scheme is a Dynamic Service Configuration (DSC) scheme, wherein for each given communication service for which the UE (12) requests a license for a service unit, the corresponding quota size for the licensed service unit is dynamically determined based on the ongoing quota usage.

17. The network node (30) of claim 10, wherein the processing circuit (46) is configured to receive input from the UE (12) or from a computer system associated with the subscriber, the input indicating that the first communication service has been prioritized by the subscriber.

18. The network node (30) according to any one of claims 10-17, wherein the processing circuitry (46) is configured to maintain a subscriber database (32), the subscriber database being operable to register priority settings, the priority settings being entered by the subscriber for a corresponding communication service or communication service type.

19. A network node (30) configured to operate in a billing system (28) for a communication network (10), the network node (30) comprising: The receiving unit (302) is configured to receive a request for permission for a service unit, the permission of which is used to authorize consumption of a first communication service provided by the communication network (10) to a user equipment (UE) (12), the user equipment (UE) (12) being associated with subscriber information (34) maintained by or accessible to the network node (30). The determining unit (304) is configured to determine from the subscriber information (34) that the subscriber associated with the subscriber information (34) has designated the first communication service as a priority communication service; as well as Application unit (306) is configured with an application preference licensing scheme in which, in response to the request, a licensed service unit is prioritized over a competing request for a license for a service unit used for a second communication service, which is not prioritized according to the subscriber information (34). The application unit (306) is further configured to increase or decrease the quota size used for the licensed service unit in response to the request, wherein the increase or decrease is relative to the quota size to be used in the event of license competition between non-priority and non-priority communication services.

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