A charging method, apparatus, device and readable storage medium

Abstract

The application discloses a charging method, device and equipment and a readable storage medium, relates to the technical field of communication, and aims at improving charging flexibility. The method comprises the following steps: indicating the type information of a first network device and / or a cell to a second network device, so as to trigger the second network device to charge the first network device and / or the cell according to the type of the first network device and / or the cell, and / or to trigger the second network device to charge a terminal under the first network device and / or the cell. The embodiment of the application can improve the charging flexibility.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a billing method, apparatus, device and readable storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] To provide mobile users with higher data rates and lower service costs, and to compensate for the insufficient coverage of existing distributed cellular wireless communication systems, home base stations are typically installed in locations such as homes, factory parks, shopping malls, cafes, and office areas. Home base stations are small, low-power base stations with advantages such as practicality, convenience, and low power output.

[0003] In existing technologies, when macro base stations and femto base stations are deployed simultaneously, the billing system in the network provides the same service to both macro base stations and femto base stations, and charges them indiscriminately. Therefore, the existing billing method results in insufficient flexibility in billing femto base stations. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a billing method, apparatus, device, and readable storage medium to improve billing flexibility.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a billing method applied to a first network device, comprising:

[0006] Indicates information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, for triggering the second network device to charge the first network device and / or cell according to the type of the first network device and / or cell, and / or, for triggering the second network device to charge the terminals under the first network device and / or cell;

[0007] The first network device and / or cell type includes at least one of the following:

[0008] Base stations and / or cells in non-public networks;

[0009] CAG (Cell Access Group) base stations and / or cells;

[0010] SNPN (Standalone NPN) base stations and / or cells;

[0011] Home base stations and / or residential communities;

[0012] Base stations and / or cells of non-terrestrial networks;

[0013] Ground network base stations and / or cells.

[0014] The information indicating the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device includes:

[0015] During the process of establishing a connection with the second network device, the second network device is informed of the type information of the first network device and / or cell, which includes the type indication information of the first network device and / or cell.

[0016] The information indicating the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device includes:

[0017] During the tunnel establishment process of a terminal-oriented PDU (Protocol Data Unit) session, the second network device is informed of the type information of the first network device and / or cell, which includes one or more of the following:

[0018] The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier;

[0019] Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell.

[0020] The information indicating the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device includes:

[0021] The terminal is informed of the type of the first network device and / or cell, so that the terminal can inform the second network device of the type of the first network device and / or cell.

[0022] The information indicating the type of the first network device and / or cell to the terminal includes:

[0023] Broadcast information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the terminal; or

[0024] A PCI (Physical Cell Identifier) ​​range is reserved for the terminal so that when the terminal accesses the first network device and / or cell, it can determine the type information of the first network device and / or cell based on the reserved PCI range, and indicate the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device.

[0025] The information indicating the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device includes one or more of the following:

[0026] During the process of establishing a tunnel with the second network device, the network type of the first network device and / or cell is indicated by the identifier of the established target tunnel. The target tunnel is selected based on the network type of the first network device and / or cell and a first correspondence relationship, which is the correspondence relationship between the tunnel identifier and the network type of the first network device and / or cell.

[0027] The network type of the first network device and / or cell is carried in the header of the GTP-U (GPRS Tunneling Protocol - User Plane) packet;

[0028] The signaling used to establish the PDU session carries the network type of the first network device and / or the cell;

[0029] The network type of the first network device and / or cell is carried in the signaling established by the QoS (Quality of Service) flow.

[0030] The information indicating the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device includes one or more of the following:

[0031] During the process of establishing a tunnel with the second network device, the billing level of the first network device and / or cell is indicated by the identifier of the established target tunnel. The target tunnel is selected based on the network type of the first network device and / or cell and a second correspondence, which is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell.

[0032] The GTP-U packet header carries the billing rules for the first network device and / or cell;

[0033] The charging rules of the first network device and / or cell are carried in the signaling established by the PDU session;

[0034] The charging rules of the first network device and / or cell are carried in the signaling established by the QoS flow.

[0035] The method further includes:

[0036] When different first network devices and / or cells use the same PCI but different transmit unit modes, the beam information corresponding to the CSI-RS (CSI Reference Signal) used by the terminal to transmit and receive data is sent to the second network device; or...

[0037] When different first network devices and / or cells use the same PCI but different transmit unit modes, a target beam is selected based on the signal quality of the CSI-RS reported by the terminal, and indication information is sent to the second network device. The indication information is used to indicate that the target beam corresponds to the first network device and / or cell authorized to the terminal, or to indicate that the target beam corresponds to an adjacent first network device and / or cell.

[0038] The first network device has an independent AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) and connects to other network devices through an independent UPF (User Plane Function); or

[0039] The first network device shares an AMF with the macro base station and is connected to other network devices through a UPF shared with the macro base station; or

[0040] The first network device is connected to a standalone UPF via a home gateway, and is connected to other network devices via the standalone UPF, and is also connected to a standalone AMF via the home gateway.

[0041] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a billing method applied to a second network device, comprising:

[0042] Obtain information about the type of the first network device and / or cell;

[0043] Based on the information about the type of the first network device and / or cell, charge for the first network device and / or cell is triggered, and / or charge for the terminals under the first network device and / or cell is triggered.

[0044] Wherein, obtaining information about the type of the first network device and / or cell includes:

[0045] During the process of establishing a connection with the first network device, information on the type of the first network device and / or cell indicated by the first network device is obtained, wherein the type of the first network device and / or cell includes the type indication information of the first network device and / or cell.

[0046] Wherein, obtaining information about the type of the first network device and / or cell includes:

[0047] During the tunnel establishment process of a PDU session facing the terminal, information about the first network device and / or cell indicated by the first network device is obtained. The information about the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following:

[0048] The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier;

[0049] Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell.

[0050] The network device includes an AMF, and obtaining information about the type of the first network device and / or cell includes:

[0051] Information on the type of the first network device and / or cell indicated by the receiving terminal.

[0052] The method further includes:

[0053] Send information about the first network device and / or cell type to the billing-related network element nodes.

[0054] The acquisition of information on the first network device and / or cell type includes one or more of the following:

[0055] During the process of establishing a tunnel with the first network device and / or cell, the network type of the first network device and / or cell is obtained according to the identifier of the established target tunnel and the first correspondence relationship, wherein the first correspondence relationship is the correspondence relationship between the tunnel identifier and the network type of the first network device and / or cell;

[0056] Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the GTP-U packet header;

[0057] Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the PDU session;

[0058] Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the QoS flow.

[0059] The acquisition of information about the type of the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following:

[0060] During the process of establishing a tunnel with network devices, the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell are obtained based on the identifier of the established target tunnel and the second correspondence, wherein the second correspondence is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell.

[0061] Obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the GTP-U packet header;

[0062] Obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the PDU session;

[0063] Obtain the charging rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the QoS flow.

[0064] The method further includes:

[0065] Receive the beam information corresponding to the CSI-RS used by the terminal to transmit and receive data sent by the first network device and / or cell; or

[0066] The terminal receives indication information sent by the first network device and / or cell, the indication information being used to indicate that the target beam corresponds to the first network device and / or cell authorized to the terminal, or to indicate that the target beam corresponds to an adjacent first network device and / or cell, the target beam being selected by the first network device and / or cell based on the signal quality of the CSI-RS reported by the terminal.

[0067] The second network device includes an SMF (Session Management Function). The step of triggering billing for the first network device and / or cell based on the type of the first network device and / or cell, and / or triggering billing for terminals under the first network device and / or cell, includes:

[0068] Send a first request to the PCF (Policy Control Function). The first request is used to request the charging policy of the first network device and / or cell and enable the PCF to obtain the charging policy corresponding to the information of the first network device and / or cell and trigger the charging network element to perform charging.

[0069] The first request carries information about the first network device and / or cell, as well as a billing benchmark indication, which includes billing at the terminal level or billing at the first network device and / or cell level.

[0070] Wherein, the second network device includes an SMF, and the step of triggering billing for the first network device and / or cell based on the type of the first network device and / or cell, and / or triggering billing for terminals under the first network device and / or cell, includes:

[0071] Send a second request to the Policy Control Function (PCF), the second request being used to request the charging policy of the first network device and / or cell and cause the PCF to obtain the charging policy corresponding to the information of the first network device and / or cell and trigger the charging network element to perform charging;

[0072] The second request carries a charging base indication and information about the first network device and / or cell, wherein the information about the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following:

[0073] The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier;

[0074] Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing benchmark indication includes billing at the terminal level or billing at the first network device and / or cell level.

[0075] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a billing method applied to a terminal, including:

[0076] Obtain information about the type of the first network device and / or cell;

[0077] Indicates the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, for triggering the second network device to charge the first network device and / or cell according to the type information of the first network device and / or cell, and / or, for triggering the second network device to charge the terminals under the first network device and / or cell.

[0078] Wherein, obtaining information about the type of the first network device and / or cell includes:

[0079] Obtain information about the type of the first network device and / or cell broadcast by the first network device and / or cell; or

[0080] When accessing the first network device and / or cell, the type of the first network device and / or cell is determined based on the PCI range reserved by the first network device and / or cell.

[0081] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a billing device applied to a first network device, comprising:

[0082] The first sending module is configured to indicate information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, to trigger the second network device to charge the first network device and / or cell according to the type of the first network device and / or cell, and / or to trigger the second network device to charge the terminals under the first network device and / or cell.

[0083] The first network device and / or cell type includes at least one of the following:

[0084] Base stations and / or cells in non-public networks;

[0085] CAG's base stations and / or cells;

[0086] SNPN base stations and / or cells;

[0087] Home base stations and / or residential communities;

[0088] Base stations and / or cells of non-terrestrial networks;

[0089] Ground network base stations and / or cells.

[0090] The first sending module is used to indicate the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device during the process of establishing a connection with the second network device. The type information of the first network device and / or cell includes the type indication information of the first network device and / or cell.

[0091] The first sending module is configured to, during the tunnel establishment process of a terminal-oriented PDU session, indicate to the second network device information about the type of the first network device and / or cell, wherein the information about the type of the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following:

[0092] The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier;

[0093] Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell.

[0094] The first sending module is configured to indicate the type of the first network device and / or cell to the terminal, so that the terminal can indicate the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device.

[0095] The first transmitting module is configured to broadcast information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the terminal; or, to reserve a PCI range for the terminal so that when the terminal accesses the first network device and / or cell, it can determine the information about the type of the first network device and / or cell based on the reserved PCI range, and indicate the information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device.

[0096] The first sending module is configured to perform one or more of the following:

[0097] During the process of establishing a tunnel with the second network device, the network type of the first network device and / or cell is indicated by the identifier of the established target tunnel. The target tunnel is selected based on the network type of the first network device and / or cell and a first correspondence relationship, which is the correspondence relationship between the tunnel identifier and the network type of the first network device and / or cell.

[0098] The network type of the first network device and / or cell is carried in the header of the GPRS Tunneling Protocol-User Plane GTP-U packet;

[0099] The signaling used to establish the PDU session carries the network type of the first network device and / or the cell;

[0100] The network type of the first network device and / or cell is carried in the signaling established by the Quality of Service (QoS) flow.

[0101] The first sending module is configured to perform one or more of the following:

[0102] During the process of establishing a tunnel with the second network device, the billing level of the first network device and / or cell is indicated by the identifier of the established target tunnel. The target tunnel is selected based on the network type of the first network device and / or cell and a second correspondence, which is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell.

[0103] The GTP-U packet header carries the billing rules for the first network device and / or cell;

[0104] The charging rules of the first network device and / or cell are carried in the signaling established by the PDU session;

[0105] The charging rules of the first network device and / or cell are carried in the signaling established by the QoS flow.

[0106] The device further includes: a second transmitting module, used for:

[0107] When different first network devices and / or cells use the same PCI but different transmit unit modes, the beam information corresponding to the CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) used by the terminal for transmitting and receiving data is sent to the second network device; or...

[0108] When different first network devices and / or cells use the same PCI but different transmit unit modes, a target beam is selected based on the signal quality of the CSI-RS reported by the terminal, and indication information is sent to the second network device. The indication information is used to indicate that the target beam corresponds to the first network device and / or cell authorized to the terminal, or to indicate that the target beam corresponds to an adjacent first network device and / or cell.

[0109] The first network device has an independent Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and connects to other network devices through an independent User Plane Function (UPF); or

[0110] The first network device shares an AMF with the macro base station and is connected to other network devices through a UPF shared with the macro base station; or

[0111] The first network device is connected to a standalone UPF via a home gateway, and is connected to other network devices via the standalone UPF, and is also connected to a standalone AMF via the home gateway.

[0112] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a billing device applied to a second network device, comprising:

[0113] The first acquisition module is used to acquire information about the type of the first network device and / or cell;

[0114] The first processing module is configured to trigger actions on the first network device and / or cell based on information about the type of the first network device and / or cell.

[0115] The first acquisition module is used for:

[0116] During the process of establishing a connection with the first network device, information on the type of the first network device and / or cell indicated by the first network device is obtained, wherein the type of the first network device and / or cell includes the type indication information of the first network device and / or cell.

[0117] The first acquisition module is used for:

[0118] During the tunnel establishment process of a PDU session facing the terminal, information about the first network device and / or cell indicated by the first network device is obtained. The information about the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following:

[0119] The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier;

[0120] Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell.

[0121] The network device includes an AMF, and the first acquisition module is used for:

[0122] Information on the type of the first network device and / or cell indicated by the receiving terminal.

[0123] The device further includes:

[0124] The first sending module is used to send information about the first network device and / or cell type to the billing-related network element nodes.

[0125] The first acquisition module is configured to perform one or more of the following:

[0126] During the process of establishing a tunnel with the first network device and / or cell, the network type of the first network device and / or cell is obtained according to the identifier of the established target tunnel and the first correspondence relationship, wherein the first correspondence relationship is the correspondence relationship between the tunnel identifier and the network type of the first network device and / or cell;

[0127] Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the GTP-U packet header;

[0128] Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the PDU session;

[0129] Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the QoS flow.

[0130] The first acquisition module is configured to perform one or more of the following:

[0131] During the process of establishing a tunnel with network devices, the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell are obtained based on the identifier of the established target tunnel and the second correspondence, wherein the second correspondence is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell.

[0132] Obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the GTP-U packet header;

[0133] Obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the PDU session;

[0134] Obtain the charging rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the QoS flow.

[0135] The device further includes: a first receiving module, used for:

[0136] Receive the beam information corresponding to the CSI-RS used by the terminal to transmit and receive data sent by the first network device and / or cell; or

[0137] The terminal receives indication information sent by the first network device and / or cell, the indication information being used to indicate that the target beam corresponds to the first network device and / or cell authorized to the terminal, or to indicate that the target beam corresponds to an adjacent first network device and / or cell, the target beam being selected by the first network device and / or cell based on the signal quality of the CSI-RS reported by the terminal.

[0138] The second network device includes a Session Management Function (SMF), and the first processing module is used for:

[0139] Send a first request to the Policy Control Function (PCF). The first request is used to request the charging policy of the first network device and / or cell and enable the PCF to obtain the charging policy corresponding to the information of the first network device and / or cell and trigger the charging network element to perform charging.

[0140] The first request carries information about the first network device and / or cell, as well as a billing benchmark indication, which includes billing at the terminal level or billing at the first network device and / or cell level.

[0141] The second network device includes an SMF, and the first processing module is used for:

[0142] Send a second request to the Policy Control Function (PCF), the second request being used to request the charging policy of the first network device and / or cell and cause the PCF to obtain the charging policy corresponding to the information of the first network device and / or cell and trigger the charging network element to perform charging;

[0143] The second request carries a charging base indication and information about the first network device and / or cell, wherein the information about the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following:

[0144] The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier;

[0145] Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing benchmark indication includes billing at the terminal level or billing at the first network device and / or cell level.

[0146] Sixthly, embodiments of this application provide a billing device applied to a terminal, comprising:

[0147] The first acquisition module is used to acquire information about the type of the first network device and / or cell;

[0148] The first sending module is configured to indicate the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, to trigger the second network device to charge the first network device and / or cell according to the type information of the first network device and / or cell, and / or to trigger the second network device to charge the terminals under the first network device and / or cell.

[0149] The first acquisition module is used for:

[0150] Obtain information about the type of the first network device and / or cell broadcast by the first network device and / or cell; or

[0151] When accessing the first network device and / or cell, the type of the first network device and / or cell is determined based on the PCI range reserved by the first network device and / or cell.

[0152] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this application provide a billing device applied to a first network device, comprising: a processor and a transceiver;

[0153] The transceiver is used to indicate information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, to trigger the second network device to charge the first network device and / or cell according to the type of the first network device and / or cell, and / or to trigger the second network device to charge the terminals under the first network device and / or cell.

[0154] The first network device and / or cell type includes at least one of the following:

[0155] Base stations and / or cells in non-public networks;

[0156] CAG's base stations and / or cells;

[0157] SNPN base stations and / or cells;

[0158] Home base stations and / or residential communities;

[0159] Base stations and / or cells of non-terrestrial networks;

[0160] Ground network base stations and / or cells.

[0161] The processor is further configured to:

[0162] During the process of establishing a connection with the second network device, the second network device is informed of the type information of the first network device and / or cell, which includes the type indication information of the first network device and / or cell.

[0163] The processor is further configured to:

[0164] During the tunnel establishment process of a terminal-oriented Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session, the second network device is informed of the type information of the first network device and / or cell, wherein the type information of the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following:

[0165] The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier;

[0166] Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell.

[0167] The processor is further configured to:

[0168] The terminal is informed of the type of the first network device and / or cell, so that the terminal can inform the second network device of the type of the first network device and / or cell.

[0169] The processor is further configured to:

[0170] Broadcast information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the terminal; or

[0171] A Physical Cell Identifier (PCI) range is reserved for the terminal so that when the terminal accesses the first network device and / or cell, it can determine the type information of the first network device and / or cell based on the reserved PCI range, and indicate the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device.

[0172] The processor is further configured to perform one or more of the following:

[0173] During the process of establishing a tunnel with the second network device, the network type of the first network device and / or cell is indicated by the identifier of the established target tunnel. The target tunnel is selected based on the network type of the first network device and / or cell and a first correspondence relationship, which is the correspondence relationship between the tunnel identifier and the network type of the first network device and / or cell.

[0174] The network type of the first network device and / or cell is carried in the header of the GPRS Tunneling Protocol-User Plane GTP-U packet;

[0175] The signaling used to establish the PDU session carries the network type of the first network device and / or the cell;

[0176] The network type of the first network device and / or cell is carried in the signaling established by the Quality of Service (QoS) flow.

[0177] The processor is further configured to perform one or more of the following:

[0178] During the process of establishing a tunnel with the second network device, the billing level of the first network device and / or cell is indicated by the identifier of the established target tunnel. The target tunnel is selected based on the network type of the first network device and / or cell and a second correspondence, which is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell.

[0179] The GTP-U packet header carries the billing rules for the first network device and / or cell;

[0180] The charging rules of the first network device and / or cell are carried in the signaling established by the PDU session;

[0181] The charging rules of the first network device and / or cell are carried in the signaling established by the QoS flow.

[0182] The processor is further configured to:

[0183] When different first network devices and / or cells use the same PCI but different transmit unit modes, the beam information corresponding to the CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) used by the terminal for transmitting and receiving data is sent to the second network device; or...

[0184] When different first network devices and / or cells use the same PCI but different transmit unit modes, a target beam is selected based on the signal quality of the CSI-RS reported by the terminal, and indication information is sent to the second network device. The indication information is used to indicate that the target beam corresponds to the first network device and / or cell authorized to the terminal, or to indicate that the target beam corresponds to an adjacent first network device and / or cell.

[0185] The first network device has an independent Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and connects to other network devices through an independent User Plane Function (UPF); or

[0186] The first network device shares an AMF with the macro base station and is connected to other network devices through a UPF shared with the macro base station; or

[0187] The first network device is connected to a standalone UPF via a home gateway, and is connected to other network devices via the standalone UPF, and is also connected to a standalone AMF via the home gateway.

[0188] Eighthly, embodiments of this application provide a billing device applied to a second network device, comprising: a processor and a transceiver; the processor is configured to acquire information about the type of a first network device and / or cell; and to trigger a billing action on the first network device and / or cell based on the information about the type of the first network device and / or cell.

[0189] The processor is further configured to:

[0190] During the process of establishing a connection with the first network device, information on the type of the first network device and / or cell indicated by the first network device is obtained, wherein the type of the first network device and / or cell includes the type indication information of the first network device and / or cell.

[0191] The processor is further configured to:

[0192] During the tunnel establishment process of a PDU session facing the terminal, information about the first network device and / or cell indicated by the first network device is obtained. The information about the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following:

[0193] The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier;

[0194] Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell.

[0195] The network device includes an AMF, and the processor is further configured to:

[0196] Information on the type of the first network device and / or cell indicated by the receiving terminal.

[0197] The processor is further configured to:

[0198] Send information about the first network device and / or cell type to the billing-related network element nodes.

[0199] The processor is further configured to perform one or more of the following:

[0200] During the process of establishing a tunnel with the first network device and / or cell, the network type of the first network device and / or cell is obtained according to the identifier of the established target tunnel and the first correspondence relationship, wherein the first correspondence relationship is the correspondence relationship between the tunnel identifier and the network type of the first network device and / or cell;

[0201] Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the GTP-U packet header;

[0202] Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the PDU session;

[0203] Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the QoS flow.

[0204] The processor is further configured to perform one or more of the following:

[0205] During the process of establishing a tunnel with network devices, the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell are obtained based on the identifier of the established target tunnel and the second correspondence, wherein the second correspondence is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell.

[0206] Obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the GTP-U packet header;

[0207] Obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the PDU session;

[0208] Obtain the charging rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the QoS flow.

[0209] The processor is further configured to:

[0210] Receive the beam information corresponding to the CSI-RS used by the terminal to transmit and receive data sent by the first network device and / or cell; or

[0211] The terminal receives indication information sent by the first network device and / or cell, the indication information being used to indicate that the target beam corresponds to the first network device and / or cell authorized to the terminal, or to indicate that the target beam corresponds to an adjacent first network device and / or cell, the target beam being selected by the first network device and / or cell based on the signal quality of the CSI-RS reported by the terminal.

[0212] The second network device includes a Session Management Function (SMF), and the processor is further configured to:

[0213] Send a first request to the Policy Control Function (PCF). The first request is used to request the charging policy of the first network device and / or cell and enable the PCF to obtain the charging policy corresponding to the information of the first network device and / or cell and trigger the charging network element to perform charging.

[0214] The first request carries information about the first network device and / or cell, as well as a billing benchmark indication, which includes billing at the terminal level or billing at the first network device and / or cell level.

[0215] Wherein, the second network device includes an SMF, and the step of triggering billing for the first network device and / or cell based on the type of the first network device and / or cell, and / or triggering billing for terminals under the first network device and / or cell, includes:

[0216] Send a second request to the Policy Control Function (PCF), the second request being used to request the charging policy of the first network device and / or cell and cause the PCF to obtain the charging policy corresponding to the information of the first network device and / or cell and trigger the charging network element to perform charging;

[0217] The second request carries a charging base indication and information about the first network device and / or cell, wherein the information about the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following:

[0218] The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier;

[0219] Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing benchmark indication includes billing at the terminal level or billing at the first network device and / or cell level.

[0220] Ninthly, embodiments of this application provide a billing device applied to a terminal, comprising: a processor and a transceiver;

[0221] The processor is used to obtain information about the type of the first network device and / or cell;

[0222] The transceiver is configured to indicate information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, to trigger the second network device to charge the first network device and / or cell according to the information about the type of the first network device and / or cell, and / or to trigger the second network device to charge the terminals under the first network device and / or cell.

[0223] The processor is used for:

[0224] Obtain information about the type of the first network device and / or cell broadcast by the first network device and / or cell; or

[0225] When accessing the first network device and / or cell, the type of the first network device and / or cell is determined based on the PCI range reserved by the first network device and / or cell.

[0226] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this application also provide a communication device, including: a transceiver, a memory, a processor, and a program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor executes the program to implement the steps in the billing method described above.

[0227] Eleventhly, embodiments of this application also provide a readable storage medium storing a program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps in the billing method described above.

[0228] In this embodiment, the first network device indicates the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, so that the second network device can bill the first network device and / or cell, and / or the terminals under the first network device and / or cell, according to the type of the first network device and / or cell when performing billing. Therefore, by indicating the type information, the second network device can distinguish the first network device and / or cell from other network devices, thereby improving the flexibility of billing. Attached Figure Description

[0229] Figure 1 This is one of the flowcharts of the billing method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0230] Figure 2 This is the second flowchart of the billing method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0231] Figure 3 This is the third flowchart of the billing method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0232] Figure 4 This is one of the network architecture diagrams provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0233] Figure 5 This is the second network architecture diagram provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0234] Figure 6 This is the third network architecture diagram provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0235] Figure 7 This is a second structural diagram of the billing device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0236] Figure 8 This is a second structural diagram of the billing device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0237] Figure 9 This is the third structural diagram of the billing device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0238] Figure 10 This is the fourth structural diagram of the billing device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0239] Figure 11 This is the fifth structural diagram of the billing device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0240] Figure 12 This is the sixth structural diagram of the billing device provided in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0241] In the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" describes the relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three cases: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following associated objects have an "or" relationship.

[0242] In the embodiments of this application, the term "multiple" refers to two or more, and other quantifiers are similar.

[0243] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0244] See Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a billing method provided in an embodiment of this application, applied to a first network device. For example... Figure 1 As shown, it includes the following steps:

[0245] Step 101: Indicate the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, so as to trigger the second network device to charge the first network device and / or cell according to the type of the first network device and / or cell, and / or to trigger the second network device to charge the terminals under the first network device and / or cell;

[0246] The first network device and / or cell type includes at least one of the following:

[0247] Base stations and / or cells in non-public networks;

[0248] CAG's base stations and / or cells;

[0249] SNPN base stations and / or cells;

[0250] Home base stations and / or residential communities;

[0251] Base stations and / or cells of non-terrestrial networks;

[0252] Ground network base stations and / or cells.

[0253] In this embodiment of the application, the first network device may be a home base station, and the second network device may be an AMF, SMF, etc.

[0254] In the embodiments of this application, the type of the first network device and / or cell can be indicated to the second network device in different ways.

[0255] In one embodiment, during the process of establishing a connection with a second network device, the first network device indicates to the second network device information about the type of the first network device and / or the cell, wherein the information about the type of the first network device and / or the cell includes type indication information of the first network device and / or the cell.

[0256] In one embodiment, during the tunnel establishment process of a PDU session for a terminal, the first network device indicates to the second network device information about the type of the first network device and / or cell. This information includes one or more of the following: type indication information for the first network device and / or cell, a first identifier, and a second identifier. The first identifier indicates whether the terminal initiating the PDU session establishment is a member of the first network device and / or cell, and the second identifier indicates that the terminal initiating the PDU session establishment uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell. This priority can be set as needed.

[0257] In one approach, the first network device indicates the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the terminal, so that the terminal can indicate the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device. Specifically, in this approach, the first network device may broadcast the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the terminal; or, a PCI range may be reserved for the terminal, so that when the terminal accesses the first network device and / or cell, it can determine the type information of the first network device and / or cell based on the reserved PCI range and indicate the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device.

[0258] In one approach, during the process of establishing a tunnel with the second network device, the first network device indicates the network type of the first network device and / or the cell by the identifier of the target tunnel to be established, wherein the target tunnel is selected based on the network type of the first network device and / or the cell and a first correspondence relationship, the first correspondence relationship being the correspondence relationship between the tunnel identifier and the network type of the first network device and / or the cell;

[0259] In one embodiment, the first network device carries the network type of the first network device and / or the cell in the GTP-U packet header;

[0260] In one approach, the first network device carries the network type of the first network device and / or the cell in the signaling for establishing the PDU session;

[0261] In one approach, the first network device carries the network type of the first network device and / or the cell in the signaling for establishing the QoS flow.

[0262] In one approach, during the process of establishing a tunnel with the second network device, the first network device indicates the billing level of the first network device and / or cell by the identifier of the established target tunnel, wherein the target tunnel is selected based on the network type of the first network device and / or cell and a second correspondence, the second correspondence being the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell.

[0263] In one approach, the first network device carries the billing rules of the first network device and / or the cell in the GTP-U packet header;

[0264] In one approach, the first network device carries the charging rules of the first network device and / or the cell in the signaling for establishing the PDU session;

[0265] In one approach, the first network device carries the charging rules of the first network device and / or the cell in the signaling for establishing the QoS flow.

[0266] Indicating the type of the first network device and / or cell through the different methods described above can further enhance billing flexibility.

[0267] In this embodiment, the first network device indicates the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, so that the second network device can bill the first network device and / or cell, and / or the terminals under the first network device and / or cell, according to the type of the first network device and / or cell when performing billing. Therefore, by indicating the type information, the second network device can distinguish the first network device and / or cell from other network devices, thereby improving the flexibility of billing.

[0268] Based on the above embodiments, when different first network devices and / or cells use the same PCI but different transmit unit modes, the first network device may also send the beam information corresponding to the CSI-RS used by the terminal to transmit and receive data to the second network device; or, when different first network devices and / or cells use the same PCI but different transmit unit modes, the first network device selects a target beam according to the signal quality of the CSI-RS reported by the terminal and sends indication information to the second network device. The indication information is used to indicate that the target beam corresponds to the first network device and / or cell authorized to the terminal, or to indicate that the target beam corresponds to an adjacent first network device and / or cell.

[0269] In the embodiments of this application, different network architectures can be formed. For example, the first network device has an independent AMF and is connected to other network devices through an independent UPF; or, the first network device shares an AMF with a macro base station and is connected to other network devices through a UPF shared with the macro base station; or, the first network device is connected to an independent UPF through a home gateway, and is connected to other network devices through the independent UPF, and is also connected to an independent AMF through the home gateway.

[0270] See Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the billing method provided in the embodiments of this application, applied to a second network device, such as... Figure 2 As shown, it includes the following steps:

[0271] Step 201: Obtain information about the type of the first network device and / or cell.

[0272] In this step, depending on the different ways the first network device sends information about the type of the first network device and / or cell, the second network device may also obtain information about the type of the first network device and / or cell in different ways.

[0273] In one embodiment, the second network device may, during the process of establishing a connection with the first network device, obtain information about the type of the first network device and / or cell indicated by the first network device, wherein the type of the first network device and / or cell includes the type indication information of the first network device and / or cell.

[0274] In one embodiment, the second network device may, during the tunnel establishment process of a PDU session for a terminal, obtain information about the first network device and / or cell indicated by the first network device. The information about the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following: type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, a first identifier, and a second identifier. The first identifier indicates whether the terminal initiating the PDU session establishment is a member of the first network device and / or cell, and the second identifier indicates that the terminal initiating the PDU session establishment uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell.

[0275] If the second network device is an AMF (Advanced Management Function), then the second network device can receive information about the type of the first network device and / or cell as indicated by the terminal. In this case, the AMF can send the obtained information to other billing-related network devices. For example, the second network device can send information about the first network device and / or cell type, such as PCF (Publicly Registered Function), SMF (Small, Medium, and Large Scale Function), to billing-related network element nodes.

[0276] In one embodiment, during the process of establishing a tunnel with the first network device and / or cell, the second network device may obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell based on the identifier of the target tunnel and a first correspondence, wherein the first correspondence is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier and the network type of the first network device and / or cell.

[0277] In one embodiment, the second network device may obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the GTP-U packet header.

[0278] In one approach, the second network device may obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the PDU session;

[0279] In one approach, the second network device may obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established by the QoS flow.

[0280] In one approach, the second network device may, during the process of establishing a tunnel with the network device, obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell based on the identifier of the established target tunnel and a second correspondence, wherein the second correspondence is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell.

[0281] In one approach, the second network device may obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the GTP-U packet header;

[0282] In one approach, the second network device may obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the PDU session;

[0283] In one approach, the second network device may obtain the charging rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established by the QoS flow.

[0284] Obtaining relevant information through these multiple methods can further increase the flexibility of billing.

[0285] Step 202: Based on the information about the type of the first network device and / or cell, trigger billing for the first network device and / or cell, and / or trigger billing for the terminals under the first network device and / or cell.

[0286] Here, "triggering billing" means that the second network device itself can be triggered to perform corresponding billing, or that the second network device can trigger other network devices to perform billing.

[0287] If the second network device includes an SMF, then in this step, the second network device may send a first request to the Policy Control Function (PCF). The first request is used to request the charging policy of the first network device and / or cell and cause the PCF to obtain the charging policy corresponding to the information of the first network device and / or cell and trigger the charging network element to perform charging. The first request carries the information of the first network device and / or cell and a charging base indication, which includes charging at the terminal level or charging at the first network device and / or cell level. Alternatively, the second network device sends a second request to the Policy Control Function (PCF). This second request requests the charging policy of the first network device and / or cell, causing the PCF to acquire the charging policy corresponding to the information of the first network device and / or cell and trigger the charging element to perform charging. The second request carries a charging base indication and information about the first network device and / or cell. The information about the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following: type indication information for the first network device and / or cell, a first identifier, and a second identifier. The first identifier indicates whether the terminal initiating the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, and the second identifier indicates that the terminal initiating the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell. The charging base indication includes charging at the terminal level or charging at the first network device and / or cell level.

[0288] In this embodiment, the first network device indicates the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, so that the second network device can bill the first network device and / or cell, and / or the terminals under the first network device and / or cell, according to the type of the first network device and / or cell when performing billing. Therefore, by indicating the type information, the second network device can distinguish the first network device and / or cell from other network devices, thereby improving the flexibility of billing.

[0289] Based on the above embodiments, the second network device may also receive beam information corresponding to the CSI-RS used by the terminal to transmit and receive data, sent by the first network device and / or cell; or, receive indication information sent by the first network device and / or cell, the indication information being used to indicate that the target beam corresponds to the first network device and / or cell authorized to the terminal, or to indicate that the target beam corresponds to an adjacent first network device and / or cell, the target beam being selected by the first network device and / or cell based on the signal quality of the CSI-RS reported by the terminal.

[0290] See Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the billing method provided in the embodiments of this application, applied to a terminal, such as... Figure 3 As shown, it includes the following steps:

[0291] Step 301: Obtain information about the type of the first network device and / or cell.

[0292] Specifically, in this step, the terminal may obtain information about the type of the first network device and / or cell broadcast by the first network device and / or cell; or, when accessing the first network device and / or cell, determine the type of the first network device and / or cell based on the PCI range reserved by the first network device and / or cell.

[0293] Step 302: Indicate the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, so as to trigger the second network device to charge the first network device and / or cell according to the type information of the first network device and / or cell, and / or to trigger the second network device to charge the terminals under the first network device and / or cell.

[0294] In this embodiment, the first network device indicates the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, so that the second network device can bill the first network device and / or cell, and / or the terminals under the first network device and / or cell, according to the type of the first network device and / or cell when performing billing. Therefore, by indicating the type information, the second network device can distinguish the first network device and / or cell from other network devices, thereby improving the flexibility of billing.

[0295] In the following embodiments, a home base station is used as an example of a first network device. The home base station can be turned on and off at any time by user decision; or triggered by sensor detection; these application requirements introduce a flexible power-on registration process for the home base station. Simultaneously, to meet the separate billing requirements of the home base station, a slice of resources can be allocated from the existing network resources for its use; alternatively, an independent logical unit functional body can be provided for the operation of the home base station. This includes: access authentication, billing, and security checks, etc.

[0296] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a communication network model that includes home base stations, such as... Figure 4 As shown, in a home base station access service network, to meet the separate billing requirements of home base stations, they are connected to macro base stations via a shared UPF (which may only be a logical functional node), SMF, AUSF (Authentication Server Function), CHF, CCS, and Billing Domain. This architecture specifically includes the following steps:

[0297] Step 401: The home base station is powered on and connected to the public network; it obtains its own IP address through the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server; and it obtains the address of the network management server of the home base station, such as its IP address, through the Domain Name System (DNS) server.

[0298] Step 402: Establish a secure connection between the home base station and its network management server, and obtain the necessary initialization parameters from the network management server. During this process, the network management server provides the home base station with a core network node-related address, such as the UPF address.

[0299] Step 403: The home base station establishes a connection with the UPF, AMF, etc., and carries the type indication information of the home base station during the connection establishment process (e.g., carrying the type information of the home gNB in ​​the NG SETUP REQUEST message or RAN CONFIGURATION UPDATE message). During this process, the AMF, AUSF, and UDM (Unified Data Management) complete the identity authentication and authorization of the home base station.

[0300] Alternatively, when a terminal initiates a connection establishment under the home base station, the type indication information of the home base station and the identifier of whether it is a member of the home base station are carried when the tunnel of the PDU session to the terminal is established, or the identifier of the priority of using the home base station (e.g., the type information of the home gNB is carried in the PDU SESSION RESOURCE SETUP RESPONSE message or the UE CONTEXTRELEASE REQUEST message).

[0301] Alternatively, the base station can broadcast the type of home base station with a specific special charging policy in the system message, or reserve a PCI range for home base stations with special charging policies, so that the terminal can perceive that the home base station has a special charging policy when accessing it. Then, the terminal can directly indicate to the AMF that the home base station connected to it has a special charging policy by carrying an indication in the NAS (Non-Access Stratum) information. The AMF then transmits this information to charging-related network element nodes such as SMF, PCF, CCS (Converged Charging System), and CHF (Charging Function).

[0302] Step 404: During tunnel establishment, when the SMF detects network resource usage, the built-in CTF (Charging Trigger Function) in the SMF triggers the charging function: it obtains the charging policy from the PCF, carrying the home gNB type information and an indication of whether it is at the terminal or home base station level; the PCF selects the charging policy corresponding to the home base station and initiates a charging session establishment request to the CHF; the CCS side begins recording charging call details according to the charging policy corresponding to the home base station; the SMF selects the UPF and establishes a data plane transmission channel, while simultaneously issuing / activating the charging rules. The SMF issues the service quota obtained from the CHF to the UPF for monitoring.

[0303] Furthermore, during tunnel establishment, when the SMF detects network resource usage, its built-in CTF triggers the billing function. This includes: obtaining the billing policy from the PCF, carrying information such as the home gNB type, whether it is a member of a home base station, or the priority of using that home base station, and whether it is at the terminal or home base station level; the PCF selects the billing policy corresponding to the home base station and the different billing policies corresponding to the different priorities of different user terminals using that home base station, and initiates a billing session establishment request to the CHF. The CCS side begins recording billing call details based on the billing policies corresponding to the home base station and the different priorities of different user terminals using that home base station; then the SMF selects the UPF and establishes a data plane transmission channel, while simultaneously issuing / activating the billing rules. Finally, the SMF issues the service quota obtained from the CHF to the UPF for monitoring.

[0304] In the above process, the distinction between tunnels can be refined using the following granularity:

[0305] For example, different segments of tunnel IDs can be reserved to map different network types, such as home base stations on private networks, home base stations sharing other private networks, and sidelink relays. This allows for the differentiation of different billing rules based on the tunnel ID range to which the tunnel ID belongs, thus saving on explicit signaling instructions.

[0306] Alternatively, a network type indicator can be included in the GTP-U header of the data packet;

[0307] Alternatively, different network types can be indicated in the signaling for establishing a PDU session or QoS flow.

[0308] If the PCF pre-configures different billing rules for different network types and service types for the SMF / AMF, and indicates them with IDs, then:

[0309] For example, different tunnel IDs can be reserved and mapped to different billing levels, such as home base stations in private networks, home base stations sharing other private networks, sidelink relays, etc. This allows for the differentiation of different billing rules based on the tunnel ID range to which the tunnel ID belongs, which can save on explicit signaling instructions.

[0310] Alternatively, different billing levels can be carried in the GTP-U header of the data packet;

[0311] Alternatively, different billing levels can be indicated in the signaling that establishes a PDU session or QoS flow.

[0312] The billing type can be based on data traffic, time-based billing, or unlimited monthly or annual subscription services.

[0313] Furthermore, for home base stations, billing can be performed at the granularity of traffic passing through the tunnel between the home base station and the UPF, and a final bill can be generated; or, billing can be performed at the granularity of the number of terminals on the home base station, and the billing statistics of the terminals on the home base station and the billing statistics on the macro base station are generated together to generate a bill.

[0314] Furthermore, because 5G indoor coverage requires 4T4R and higher frequency bands, while most existing indoor distributed antenna systems (DAS) only support single-channel 1T1R, it's difficult to achieve high bandwidth throughput using existing systems. A multi-channel distributed system is needed. In addition, dense deployment of small cells limits PCI, and considering indoor wall losses, different home base stations may use the same PCI but different transmit unit modes. This means dedicated beams may correspond to different CSI-RS signals or transmit the same SSB code sequence at different times. Different terminal users have different permissions under different transmit units, corresponding to different billing rules. In this scenario, the base station needs to report the beam information corresponding to the CSI-RS used by the terminal for data transmission and reception to the AMF, or the base station may select the best beam based on the signal quality of the CSI-RS reported by the terminal for scheduling, distinguishing whether the beam belongs to the authorized home base station or is shared with a neighboring home base station, and reporting this information to the core network to achieve effective and granular traffic billing management.

[0315] Step 405: The UPF then reports the usage information of the terminal to the SMF.

[0316] Step 406: The SMF will report the received information to the CHF again. After the CCS completes the online deduction and generates the billing call detail record information, it will allocate a new quota to the SMF and start a new round of quota monitoring.

[0317] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a communication network model that includes home base stations, such as... Figure 5 As shown, in the home base station access service network, in order to meet the individual billing requirements of home base stations, home base stations are connected to SMF, AUSF, CSF, and billing domain through independent UPF (which may only be a logical functional node).

[0318] In the core network oriented towards home base stations, network operators control and manage data and users of home base stations, providing authentication, authorization, and account management services. AUSF-home base station and UDM-home base station are primarily responsible for providing authorization and authentication services to home base stations; while AUSF and UDM are primarily responsible for providing authorization and authentication services to terminals under the home base station; and the UPF, SMF, CHF, and CCS connected to the home base station provide billing triggering functions, issuing / activating billing rules, generating and sending service quotas, online deduction, generating billing call detail records (CDRs), and reporting to the billing system. This architecture specifically includes the following steps:

[0319] Step 501: The home base station is powered on and connected to the public network; it obtains its own IP address through the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server; and it obtains the address of the network management server of the home base station, such as its IP address, through the Domain Name System (DNS) server.

[0320] Step 502: Establish a secure connection between the home base station and its network management server, and obtain the necessary initialization parameters from the network management server. During this process, the network management server provides the home base station with a core network node-related address, such as the UPF address.

[0321] Step 503: The home base station establishes connections with UPF, AMF, etc. During this process, AMF, AUSF-home base station, and UDM-home base station perform identity authentication and authorization for the home base station.

[0322] Step 504: After the secure tunnel is established, when the SMF detects network resource usage, the built-in billing trigger function CTF in the SMF triggers the billing function: it obtains the billing policy from the PCF and initiates a request to establish a billing session with the CHF; the CCS side begins recording billing call details; then the SMF selects the UPF and establishes a data plane transmission channel, while simultaneously issuing / activating the billing rules. Then, the SMF issues the service quota obtained from the CHF to the UPF for monitoring.

[0323] The billing type can be based on data traffic, time-based billing, or unlimited monthly or annual subscription services.

[0324] Furthermore, for home base stations, billing can be performed on the granularity of traffic passing through the tunnel between the home base station and the UPF, forming the final bill. That is, the cost of traffic generated by each unit terminal under the home base station is not distinguished, and the bill is performed on the traffic generated by the home base station itself, forming the final bill for the home base station, and the traffic generated by the authorized terminals under the home base station is not billed. Alternatively, billing can still be performed on the granularity of the number of terminals under the home base station, and the billing statistics of the terminals on the home base station are calculated. That is, the cost of traffic generated by each unit terminal under the home base station is distinguished, and the billing is performed on the traffic generated by each unit terminal under the home base station. The billing standards for authorized terminals under the home base station, shared terminals under the home base station, and terminals under the macro cell are all different, forming the final bill. Alternatively, the bill can be generated together with the billing statistics of the UE on the macro base station to generate a bill for a unit time, such as a certain month, a certain quarter, or a certain year.

[0325] Step 505: The UPF reports the usage information of the terminal to the SMF.

[0326] Step 506: The SMF will report the received information to the CHF again. After the CCS completes the online deduction and generates the billing call detail record information, it will allocate a new quota to the SMF and start a new round of quota monitoring.

[0327] Figure 6 This is another network architecture diagram according to an embodiment of this application. Although home base stations are deployed by operators, in order to cope with the competition from WIFI (Wireless Fidelity), their specific placement is relatively flexible. That is, within a certain range, users can place them at any point, making them a plug-and-play device. Figure 6 The architecture shown allows for plug-and-play functionality for home base stations. The home base station connects to the AMF and UPF via a home gateway. Specifically, this architecture may include:

[0328] Step 601: After the home base station (similar to CPE (Customer Premise Equipment)) is powered on, it searches for the synchronization channel on the base station side of the home gateway. Once a connection is established, the home gateway has the function of a base station, providing wireless connection for the home base station, and also has the function of a network management server for the home base station, allocating IP addresses, port numbers, and initial resource configuration information for the home base station.

[0329] During this process, the home gateway node performs identity authentication on the home base station and requests the corresponding AUSF and UDM to authenticate and authorize access to the home base station.

[0330] Step 602: After authentication and tunnel establishment are completed through the home gateway node, subsequent billing steps and... Figure 5 The same as the architecture shown.

[0331] As can be seen from the above description, the solution using the embodiments of this application allows home base stations to be billed independently of macro base stations, thereby improving the flexibility of billing home base stations.

[0332] This application also provides a billing device applied to a first network device. For example... Figure 7 As shown, the billing device 700 includes:

[0333] The first sending module 701 is used to indicate information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, to trigger the second network device to charge the first network device and / or cell according to the type of the first network device and / or cell, and / or to trigger the second network device to charge the terminals under the first network device and / or cell.

[0334] The first network device and / or cell type includes at least one of the following:

[0335] Base stations and / or cells in non-public networks;

[0336] CAG's base stations and / or cells;

[0337] SNPN base stations and / or cells;

[0338] Home base stations and / or residential communities;

[0339] Base stations and / or cells of non-terrestrial networks;

[0340] Ground network base stations and / or cells.

[0341] The first sending module is used to indicate the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device during the process of establishing a connection with the second network device. The type information of the first network device and / or cell includes the type indication information of the first network device and / or cell.

[0342] The first sending module is configured to, during the tunnel establishment process of a terminal-oriented PDU session, indicate to the second network device information about the type of the first network device and / or cell, wherein the information about the type of the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following:

[0343] The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier;

[0344] Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell.

[0345] The first sending module is configured to indicate the type of the first network device and / or cell to the terminal, so that the terminal can indicate the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device.

[0346] The first transmitting module is configured to broadcast information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the terminal; or, to reserve a PCI range for the terminal so that when the terminal accesses the first network device and / or cell, it can determine the information about the type of the first network device and / or cell based on the reserved PCI range, and indicate the information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device.

[0347] The first sending module is configured to perform one or more of the following:

[0348] During the process of establishing a tunnel with the second network device, the network type of the first network device and / or cell is indicated by the identifier of the established target tunnel. The target tunnel is selected based on the network type of the first network device and / or cell and a first correspondence relationship, which is the correspondence relationship between the tunnel identifier and the network type of the first network device and / or cell.

[0349] The network type of the first network device and / or cell is carried in the header of the GPRS Tunneling Protocol-User Plane GTP-U packet;

[0350] The signaling used to establish the PDU session carries the network type of the first network device and / or the cell;

[0351] The network type of the first network device and / or cell is carried in the signaling established by the Quality of Service (QoS) flow.

[0352] The first sending module is configured to perform one or more of the following:

[0353] During the process of establishing a tunnel with the second network device, the billing level of the first network device and / or cell is indicated by the identifier of the established target tunnel. The target tunnel is selected based on the network type of the first network device and / or cell and a second correspondence, which is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell.

[0354] The GTP-U packet header carries the billing rules for the first network device and / or cell;

[0355] The charging rules of the first network device and / or cell are carried in the signaling established by the PDU session;

[0356] The charging rules of the first network device and / or cell are carried in the signaling established by the QoS flow.

[0357] The device further includes: a second transmitting module, used for:

[0358] When different first network devices and / or cells use the same PCI but different transmit unit modes, the beam information corresponding to the CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) used by the terminal for transmitting and receiving data is sent to the second network device; or...

[0359] When different first network devices and / or cells use the same PCI but different transmit unit modes, a target beam is selected based on the signal quality of the CSI-RS reported by the terminal, and indication information is sent to the second network device. The indication information is used to indicate that the target beam corresponds to the first network device and / or cell authorized to the terminal, or to indicate that the target beam corresponds to an adjacent first network device and / or cell.

[0360] The first network device has an independent Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and connects to other network devices through an independent User Plane Function (UPF); or

[0361] The first network device shares an AMF with the macro base station and is connected to other network devices through a UPF shared with the macro base station; or

[0362] The first network device is connected to a standalone UPF via a home gateway, and is connected to other network devices via the standalone UPF, and is also connected to a standalone AMF via the home gateway.

[0363] The apparatus provided in this application embodiment can execute the above method embodiment, and its implementation principle and technical effect are similar, so it will not be described again here.

[0364] This application also provides a billing device applied to a second network device. For example... Figure 8 As shown, the billing device 800 includes:

[0365] The first acquisition module 801 is used to acquire information about the type of the first network device and / or cell; the first processing module 802 is used to trigger processing of the first network device and / or cell based on the information about the type of the first network device and / or cell.

[0366] The first acquisition module is used for:

[0367] During the process of establishing a connection with the first network device, information on the type of the first network device and / or cell indicated by the first network device is obtained, wherein the type of the first network device and / or cell includes the type indication information of the first network device and / or cell.

[0368] The first acquisition module is used for:

[0369] During the tunnel establishment process of a PDU session facing the terminal, information about the first network device and / or cell indicated by the first network device is obtained. The information about the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following:

[0370] The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier;

[0371] Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell.

[0372] The network device includes an AMF, and the first acquisition module is used for:

[0373] Information on the type of the first network device and / or cell indicated by the receiving terminal.

[0374] The device further includes:

[0375] The first sending module is used to send information about the first network device and / or cell type to the billing-related network element nodes.

[0376] The first acquisition module is configured to perform one or more of the following:

[0377] During the process of establishing a tunnel with the first network device and / or cell, the network type of the first network device and / or cell is obtained according to the identifier of the established target tunnel and the first correspondence relationship, wherein the first correspondence relationship is the correspondence relationship between the tunnel identifier and the network type of the first network device and / or cell;

[0378] Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the GTP-U packet header;

[0379] Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the PDU session;

[0380] Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the QoS flow.

[0381] The first acquisition module is configured to perform one or more of the following:

[0382] During the process of establishing a tunnel with network devices, the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell are obtained based on the identifier of the established target tunnel and the second correspondence, wherein the second correspondence is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell.

[0383] Obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the GTP-U packet header;

[0384] Obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the PDU session;

[0385] Obtain the charging rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the QoS flow.

[0386] The device further includes: a first receiving module, used for:

[0387] Receive the beam information corresponding to the CSI-RS used by the terminal to transmit and receive data sent by the first network device and / or cell; or

[0388] The terminal receives indication information sent by the first network device and / or cell, the indication information being used to indicate that the target beam corresponds to the first network device and / or cell authorized to the terminal, or to indicate that the target beam corresponds to an adjacent first network device and / or cell, the target beam being selected by the first network device and / or cell based on the signal quality of the CSI-RS reported by the terminal.

[0389] The second network device includes a Session Management Function (SMF), and the first processing module is used for:

[0390] Send a first request to the Policy Control Function (PCF). The first request is used to request the charging policy of the first network device and / or cell and enable the PCF to obtain the charging policy corresponding to the information of the first network device and / or cell and trigger the charging network element to perform charging.

[0391] The first request carries information about the first network device and / or cell, as well as a billing benchmark indication, which includes billing at the terminal level or billing at the first network device and / or cell level.

[0392] The second network device includes an SMF, and the first processing module is used for:

[0393] Send a second request to the Policy Control Function (PCF), the second request being used to request the charging policy of the first network device and / or cell and cause the PCF to obtain the charging policy corresponding to the information of the first network device and / or cell and trigger the charging network element to perform charging;

[0394] The second request carries a charging base indication and information about the first network device and / or cell, wherein the information about the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following:

[0395] The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier;

[0396] Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing benchmark indication includes billing at the terminal level or billing at the first network device and / or cell level.

[0397] This application also provides a billing device applied to a terminal. For example... Figure 9 As shown, the billing device 900 includes:

[0398] The first acquisition module 901 is used to acquire information about the type of the first network device and / or cell;

[0399] The first sending module 902 is configured to indicate the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, to trigger the second network device to charge the first network device and / or cell according to the type information of the first network device and / or cell, and / or to trigger the second network device to charge the terminals under the first network device and / or cell.

[0400] The first acquisition module is used for:

[0401] Obtain information about the type of the first network device and / or cell broadcast by the first network device and / or cell; or

[0402] When accessing the first network device and / or cell, the type of the first network device and / or cell is determined based on the PCI range reserved by the first network device and / or cell.

[0403] The apparatus provided in this application embodiment can execute the above method embodiment, and its implementation principle and technical effect are similar, so it will not be described again here.

[0404] It should be noted that the division of units in the embodiments of this application is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used. Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated units described above can be implemented in hardware or as software functional units.

[0405] If the integrated unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a processor-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) or processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0406] This application also provides a billing device applied to a first network device. For example... Figure 10 As shown, the billing device includes: a processor 1001 and a transceiver 1002;

[0407] The transceiver 1002 is used to indicate information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, to trigger the second network device to charge the first network device and / or cell according to the type of the first network device and / or cell, and / or to trigger the second network device to charge the terminals under the first network device and / or cell.

[0408] The first network device and / or cell type includes at least one of the following:

[0409] Base stations and / or cells in non-public networks;

[0410] CAG's base stations and / or cells;

[0411] SNPN base stations and / or cells;

[0412] Home base stations and / or residential communities;

[0413] Base stations and / or cells of non-terrestrial networks;

[0414] Ground network base stations and / or cells.

[0415] The processor is further configured to:

[0416] During the process of establishing a connection with the second network device, the second network device is informed of the type information of the first network device and / or cell, which includes the type indication information of the first network device and / or cell.

[0417] The processor 1001 is further configured to:

[0418] During the tunnel establishment process of a terminal-oriented Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session, the second network device is informed of the type information of the first network device and / or cell, wherein the type information of the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following:

[0419] The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier;

[0420] Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell.

[0421] The processor 1001 is further configured to:

[0422] The terminal is informed of the type of the first network device and / or cell, so that the terminal can inform the second network device of the type of the first network device and / or cell.

[0423] The processor 1001 is further configured to:

[0424] Broadcast information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the terminal; or

[0425] A Physical Cell Identifier (PCI) range is reserved for the terminal so that when the terminal accesses the first network device and / or cell, it can determine the type information of the first network device and / or cell based on the reserved PCI range, and indicate the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device.

[0426] The processor 1001 is further configured to perform one or more of the following:

[0427] During the process of establishing a tunnel with the second network device, the network type of the first network device and / or cell is indicated by the identifier of the established target tunnel. The target tunnel is selected based on the network type of the first network device and / or cell and a first correspondence relationship, which is the correspondence relationship between the tunnel identifier and the network type of the first network device and / or cell.

[0428] The network type of the first network device and / or cell is carried in the header of the GPRS Tunneling Protocol-User Plane GTP-U packet;

[0429] The signaling used to establish the PDU session carries the network type of the first network device and / or the cell;

[0430] The network type of the first network device and / or cell is carried in the signaling established by the Quality of Service (QoS) flow.

[0431] The processor 1001 is further configured to perform one or more of the following:

[0432] During the process of establishing a tunnel with the second network device, the billing level of the first network device and / or cell is indicated by the identifier of the established target tunnel. The target tunnel is selected based on the network type of the first network device and / or cell and a second correspondence, which is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell.

[0433] The GTP-U packet header carries the billing rules for the first network device and / or cell;

[0434] The charging rules of the first network device and / or cell are carried in the signaling established by the PDU session;

[0435] The charging rules of the first network device and / or cell are carried in the signaling established by the QoS flow.

[0436] The processor 1001 is further configured to:

[0437] When different first network devices and / or cells use the same PCI but different transmit unit modes, the beam information corresponding to the CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) used by the terminal for transmitting and receiving data is sent to the second network device; or...

[0438] When different first network devices and / or cells use the same PCI but different transmit unit modes, a target beam is selected based on the signal quality of the CSI-RS reported by the terminal, and indication information is sent to the second network device. The indication information is used to indicate that the target beam corresponds to the first network device and / or cell authorized to the terminal, or to indicate that the target beam corresponds to an adjacent first network device and / or cell.

[0439] The first network device has an independent Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and connects to other network devices through an independent User Plane Function (UPF); or

[0440] The first network device shares an AMF with the macro base station and is connected to other network devices through a UPF shared with the macro base station; or

[0441] The first network device is connected to a standalone UPF via a home gateway, and is connected to other network devices via the standalone UPF, and is also connected to a standalone AMF via the home gateway.

[0442] The apparatus provided in this application embodiment can execute the above method embodiment, and its implementation principle and technical effect are similar, so it will not be described again here.

[0443] This application also provides a billing device applied to a second network device. For example... Figure 11 As shown, the billing device includes: a processor 1101 and a transceiver 1102; the processor is used to obtain information about the type of a first network device and / or cell; and to trigger a charge on the first network device and / or cell based on the information about the type of the first network device and / or cell.

[0444] The processor is further configured to:

[0445] During the process of establishing a connection with the first network device, information on the type of the first network device and / or cell indicated by the first network device is obtained, wherein the type of the first network device and / or cell includes the type indication information of the first network device and / or cell.

[0446] The processor is further configured to:

[0447] During the tunnel establishment process of a PDU session facing the terminal, information about the first network device and / or cell indicated by the first network device is obtained. The information about the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following:

[0448] The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier;

[0449] Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell.

[0450] The network device includes an AMF, and the processor is further configured to:

[0451] Information on the type of the first network device and / or cell indicated by the receiving terminal.

[0452] The processor is further configured to:

[0453] Send information about the first network device and / or cell type to the billing-related network element nodes.

[0454] The processor is further configured to perform one or more of the following:

[0455] During the process of establishing a tunnel with the first network device and / or cell, the network type of the first network device and / or cell is obtained according to the identifier of the established target tunnel and the first correspondence relationship, wherein the first correspondence relationship is the correspondence relationship between the tunnel identifier and the network type of the first network device and / or cell;

[0456] Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the GTP-U packet header;

[0457] Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the PDU session;

[0458] Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the QoS flow.

[0459] The processor is further configured to perform one or more of the following:

[0460] During the process of establishing a tunnel with network devices, the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell are obtained based on the identifier of the established target tunnel and the second correspondence, wherein the second correspondence is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell.

[0461] Obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the GTP-U packet header;

[0462] Obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the PDU session;

[0463] Obtain the charging rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the QoS flow.

[0464] The processor is further configured to:

[0465] Receive the beam information corresponding to the CSI-RS used by the terminal to transmit and receive data sent by the first network device and / or cell; or

[0466] The terminal receives indication information sent by the first network device and / or cell, the indication information being used to indicate that the target beam corresponds to the first network device and / or cell authorized to the terminal, or to indicate that the target beam corresponds to an adjacent first network device and / or cell, the target beam being selected by the first network device and / or cell based on the signal quality of the CSI-RS reported by the terminal.

[0467] The second network device includes a Session Management Function (SMF), and the processor is further configured to:

[0468] Send a first request to the Policy Control Function (PCF). The first request is used to request the charging policy of the first network device and / or cell and enable the PCF to obtain the charging policy corresponding to the information of the first network device and / or cell and trigger the charging network element to perform charging.

[0469] The first request carries information about the first network device and / or cell, as well as a billing benchmark indication, which includes billing at the terminal level or billing at the first network device and / or cell level.

[0470] Wherein, the second network device includes an SMF, and the step of triggering billing for the first network device and / or cell based on the type of the first network device and / or cell, and / or triggering billing for terminals under the first network device and / or cell, includes:

[0471] Send a second request to the Policy Control Function (PCF), the second request being used to request the charging policy of the first network device and / or cell and cause the PCF to obtain the charging policy corresponding to the information of the first network device and / or cell and trigger the charging network element to perform charging;

[0472] The second request carries a charging base indication and information about the first network device and / or cell, wherein the information about the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following:

[0473] The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier;

[0474] Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing benchmark indication includes billing at the terminal level or billing at the first network device and / or cell level.

[0475] The apparatus provided in this application embodiment can execute the above method embodiment, and its implementation principle and technical effect are similar, so it will not be described again here.

[0476] This application also provides a billing device applied to a terminal. For example... Figure 12 As shown, the billing device includes: a processor 1201 and a transceiver 1202;

[0477] The processor is used to obtain information about the type of the first network device and / or cell;

[0478] The transceiver is configured to indicate information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, to trigger the second network device to charge the first network device and / or cell according to the information about the type of the first network device and / or cell, and / or to trigger the second network device to charge the terminals under the first network device and / or cell.

[0479] The processor is used for:

[0480] Obtain information about the type of the first network device and / or cell broadcast by the first network device and / or cell; or

[0481] When accessing the first network device and / or cell, the type of the first network device and / or cell is determined based on the PCI range reserved by the first network device and / or cell.

[0482] The apparatus provided in this application embodiment can execute the above method embodiment, and its implementation principle and technical effect are similar, so it will not be described again here.

[0483] This application also provides a readable storage medium storing a program. When executed by a processor, this program implements the various processes of the above-described billing method embodiments and achieves the same technical effect. To avoid repetition, it will not be described again here. The readable storage medium can be any available medium or data storage device that the processor can access, including but not limited to magnetic storage (e.g., floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, magneto-optical disks (MO), etc.), optical storage (e.g., CDs, DVDs, BDs, HVDs, etc.), and semiconductor storage (e.g., ROMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, non-volatile memory (NAND flash), solid-state drives (SSDs)).

[0484] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element.

[0485] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware platforms. Of course, they can also be implemented by hardware, but in many cases the former is a better implementation method. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium (such as ROM / RAM, disk, optical disk) and includes several instructions to cause a terminal (which may be a mobile phone, computer, server, air conditioner, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in the various embodiments of this application.

[0486] The embodiments of this application have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. The specific embodiments described above are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can make many other forms under the guidance of this application without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and all of these forms are within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A charging method applied to a first network device, characterized in that, include: Indicates information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, for triggering the second network device to charge the first network device and / or cell according to the type of the first network device and / or cell, and / or, for triggering the second network device to charge the terminals under the first network device and / or cell; The first network device and / or cell type includes at least one of the following: Base stations and / or cells in non-public networks; Base stations and / or cells of the Cell Access Group (CAG); Base stations and / or cells of standalone NPN networks (SNPN); Home base stations and / or residential communities; Base stations and / or cells of non-terrestrial networks; Terrestrial network base stations and / or cells; The process of obtaining the billing rules for the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following: During the process of establishing a tunnel with the second network device, the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell are indicated by the identifier of the established target tunnel. The billing rules are selected based on the target tunnel, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and a second correspondence. The second correspondence is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell. The GTP-U packet header carries the billing rules for the first network device and / or cell; The charging rules of the first network device and / or cell are carried in the signaling established by the PDU session; The charging rules of the first network device and / or cell are carried in the signaling established by the QoS flow.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The information indicating the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device includes: During the process of establishing a connection with the second network device, the second network device is informed of the type information of the first network device and / or cell, which includes the type indication information of the first network device and / or cell.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, The information indicating the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device includes: During the tunnel establishment process of a terminal-oriented Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session, the second network device is informed of the type information of the first network device and / or cell, wherein the type information of the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following: The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier; Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the tunnel establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the tunnel establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, The information indicating the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device includes: The terminal is instructed with information about the type of the first network device and / or cell, so that the terminal may instruct the second network device to indicate the type of the first network device and / or cell.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, The information indicating the type of the first network device and / or cell to the terminal includes: Broadcast information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the terminal; or A Physical Cell Identifier (PCI) range is reserved for the terminal so that when the terminal accesses the first network device and / or cell, it can determine the type information of the first network device and / or cell based on the reserved PCI range, and indicate the type information of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The information indicating the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device includes one or more of the following: During the process of establishing a tunnel with the second network device, the network type of the first network device and / or cell is indicated by the identifier of the established target tunnel. The target tunnel is selected based on the network type of the first network device and / or cell and a first correspondence relationship, which is the correspondence relationship between the tunnel identifier and the network type of the first network device and / or cell. The network type of the first network device and / or cell is carried in the header of the GPRS Tunneling Protocol-User Plane GTP-U packet; The signaling used to establish the PDU session carries the network type of the first network device and / or the cell; The network type of the first network device and / or cell is carried in the signaling established by the Quality of Service (QoS) flow.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, The method further includes: When different first network devices and / or cells use the same PCI but different transmit unit modes, the beam information corresponding to the CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) used by the terminal for transmitting and receiving data is sent to the second network device; or... When different first network devices and / or cells use the same PCI but different transmit unit modes, a target beam is selected based on the signal quality of the CSI-RS reported by the terminal, and indication information is sent to the second network device. The indication information is used to indicate that the target beam corresponds to the first network device and / or cell authorized to the terminal, or to indicate that the target beam corresponds to an adjacent first network device and / or cell.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first network device has an independent Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and connects to other network devices through an independent User Plane Function (UPF); or The first network device shares an AMF with the macro base station and is connected to other network devices through a UPF shared with the macro base station; or The first network device is connected to a standalone UPF via a home gateway, and is connected to other network devices via the standalone UPF, and is also connected to a standalone AMF via the home gateway.

9. A charging method applied to a second network device, characterized in that, include: Obtain information about the type of the first network device and / or cell; Based on the information about the type of the first network device and / or cell, charge for the first network device and / or cell is triggered, and / or charge for the terminal under the first network device and / or cell is triggered. The process of obtaining the billing rules for the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following: During the process of establishing a tunnel with network devices, the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell are obtained based on the identifier of the established target tunnel and the second correspondence, wherein the second correspondence is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell. Obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the GTP-U packet header; Obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the PDU session; Obtain the charging rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the QoS flow.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, The step of obtaining information about the type of the first network device and / or cell includes: During the process of establishing a connection with the first network device, information on the type of the first network device and / or cell indicated by the first network device is obtained, wherein the type of the first network device and / or cell includes the type indication information of the first network device and / or cell.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein, The step of obtaining information about the type of the first network device and / or cell includes: During the tunnel establishment process of a PDU session facing the terminal, information about the first network device and / or cell indicated by the first network device is obtained. The information about the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following: The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier; Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal that initiates the tunnel establishment of the PDU session is a member of the first network device and / or cell, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal that initiates the tunnel establishment of the PDU session uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein, The second network device includes an AMF, and the acquisition of information about the type of the first network device and / or cell includes: Information on the type of the first network device and / or cell indicated by the receiving terminal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, The method further includes: Send information about the first network device and / or cell type to the billing-related network element nodes.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein, The acquisition of information on the first network device and / or cell type includes one or more of the following: During the process of establishing a tunnel with the first network device and / or cell, the network type of the first network device and / or cell is obtained according to the identifier of the established target tunnel and the first correspondence relationship, wherein the first correspondence relationship is the correspondence relationship between the tunnel identifier and the network type of the first network device and / or cell; Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the GTP-U packet header; Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the PDU session; Obtain the network type of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the QoS flow.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein, The method further includes: Receive the beam information corresponding to the CSI-RS used by the terminal to transmit and receive data sent by the first network device and / or cell; or The terminal receives indication information sent by the first network device and / or cell, the indication information being used to indicate that the target beam corresponds to the first network device and / or cell authorized to the terminal, or to indicate that the target beam corresponds to an adjacent first network device and / or cell, the target beam being selected by the first network device and / or cell based on the signal quality of the CSI-RS reported by the terminal.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein, The second network device includes a Session Management Function (SMF). The step of triggering billing for the first network device and / or the first network device and / or the first cell based on their type, and / or triggering billing for terminals under the first network device and / or the first cell, includes: Send a first request to the Policy Control Function (PCF). The first request is used to request the charging policy of the first network device and / or cell and enable the PCF to obtain the charging policy corresponding to the information of the first network device and / or cell and trigger the charging network element to perform charging. The first request carries information about the first network device and / or cell, as well as a billing benchmark indication, which includes billing at the terminal level or billing at the first network device and / or cell level.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein, The second network device includes an SMF. The step of triggering billing for the first network device and / or cell based on the type of the first network device and / or cell, and / or triggering billing for terminals under the first network device and / or cell, includes: Send a second request to the Policy Control Function (PCF), the second request being used to request the charging policy of the first network device and / or cell and cause the PCF to obtain the charging policy corresponding to the information of the first network device and / or cell and trigger the charging network element to perform charging; The second request carries a charging base indication and information about the first network device and / or cell, wherein the information about the first network device and / or cell includes one or more of the following: The type indication information of the first network device and / or cell, the first identifier, and the second identifier; Wherein, the first identifier is used to indicate whether the terminal initiating the PDU session establishment is a member of the first network device and / or cell, the second identifier is used to indicate that the terminal initiating the PDU session establishment uses the priority of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing benchmark indication includes billing at the terminal level or billing at the first network device and / or cell level.

18. A charging device applied to a first network device, characterized in that, include: The first sending module is configured to indicate information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, to trigger the second network device to charge the first network device and / or cell according to the type of the first network device and / or cell, and / or to trigger the second network device to charge the terminals under the first network device and / or cell. The first network device and / or cell type includes at least one of the following: Base stations and / or cells in non-public networks; CAG's base stations and / or cells; SNPN base stations and / or cells; Home base stations and / or residential communities; Base stations and / or cells of non-terrestrial networks; Terrestrial network base stations and / or cells; The first sending module is configured to perform one or more of the following: During the process of establishing a tunnel with the second network device, the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell are indicated by the identifier of the established target tunnel. The billing rules are selected based on the target tunnel, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and a second correspondence. The second correspondence is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell. The GTP-U packet header carries the billing rules for the first network device and / or cell; The charging rules of the first network device and / or cell are carried in the signaling established by the PDU session; The charging rules of the first network device and / or cell are carried in the signaling established by the QoS flow.

19. A charging device applied to a second network device, characterized in that, include: The first acquisition module is used to acquire information about the type of the first network device and / or cell; The first processing module is configured to trigger billing for the first network device and / or cell based on information about the type of the first network device and / or cell. The first acquisition module is configured to perform one or more of the following: During the process of establishing a tunnel with network devices, the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell are obtained based on the identifier of the established target tunnel and the second correspondence, wherein the second correspondence is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell. Obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the GTP-U packet header; Obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the PDU session; Obtain the charging rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the QoS flow.

20. A charging device applied to a first network device, characterized in that, include: Processor and transceiver; The transceiver is used to indicate information about the type of the first network device and / or cell to the second network device, to trigger the second network device to charge the first network device and / or cell according to the type of the first network device and / or cell, and / or to trigger the second network device to charge the terminals under the first network device and / or cell. The first network device and / or cell type includes at least one of the following: Base stations and / or cells in non-public networks; CAG's base stations and / or cells; SNPN base stations and / or cells; Home base stations and / or residential communities; Base stations and / or cells of non-terrestrial networks; Terrestrial network base stations and / or cells; The processor is further configured to perform one or more of the following: During the process of establishing a tunnel with the second network device, the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell are indicated by the identifier of the established target tunnel. The billing rules are selected based on the target tunnel, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and a second correspondence. The second correspondence is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell. The GTP-U packet header carries the billing rules for the first network device and / or cell; The charging rules of the first network device and / or cell are carried in the signaling established by the PDU session; The charging rules of the first network device and / or cell are carried in the signaling established by the QoS flow.

21. A charging device, applied to a second network device, characterized in that, include: Processor and transceiver; The processor is configured to acquire information about the type of the first network device and / or cell; and to trigger billing for the first network device and / or cell based on the information about the type of the first network device and / or cell. The processor is further configured to perform one or more of the following: During the process of establishing a tunnel with network devices, the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell are obtained based on the identifier of the established target tunnel and the second correspondence, wherein the second correspondence is the correspondence between the tunnel identifier, the network type of the first network device and / or cell, and the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell. Obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the GTP-U packet header; Obtain the billing rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the PDU session; Obtain the charging rules of the first network device and / or cell carried in the signaling established in the QoS flow.

22. A communication device comprising: A transceiver, a memory, a processor, and a program stored in the memory and executable on the processor; characterized in that the processor is configured to read the program in the memory to implement the steps in the billing method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8; or to implement the steps in the billing method as described in any one of claims 9 to 17.

23. A readable storage medium for storing a program, characterized in that, When the program is executed by the processor, it implements the steps of the billing method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8; or implements the steps of the billing method as described in any one of claims 9 to 17.

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