AAA Entity Mediator for WiMAX Online Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The WiMAX standard lacks support for specific services, particularly in managing charging capabilities within communication networks, leading to issues with online charging capabilities, especially for mobile stations in roaming scenarios and those with unsupported services.
Innovation Solution
A communication network architecture that includes an Access Service Network (ASN), Policy and Charging Rules (PCRF) entity, and Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) entity, where ASN provides charging capabilities to AAA, and AAA decides on activation, with decisions communicated to PCRF, enabling online and offline charging, and integrating these capabilities into existing network architectures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If WiMAX standard is used for wireless broadband access, then wireless data transmission capability is provided, but support for specific services particularly charging capabilities is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an AAA entity as an intermediary between the ASN entity and the PCRF entity. The AAA entity receives capability information from the ASN entity, makes authorization decisions about charging capabilities, and communicates these decisions to the PCRF entity. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by enabling charging capability support in WiMAX networks without requiring changes to the core WiMAX standard itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The AAA entity serves multiple functions: it acts as an authentication server, a capability information receiver from ASN, a decision-maker for charging capabilities, and a communicator with PCRF. By making the AAA entity multi-functional, the system can support various services including charging capabilities within the existing WiMAX framework, thereby improving service versatility while maintaining standard compliance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If charging capabilities are added to WiMAX network, then online charging support is enabled, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The AAA entity autonomously receives capability information from the ASN entity, independently makes authorization decisions about charging capabilities based on received information, and self-manages the communication with PCRF entity. This self-service approach enables charging capability support without requiring complex coordination mechanisms or additional control entities, thereby limiting the increase in network complexity.
3Reliability
If capability information is exchanged between ASN and PCRF, then charging capability activation is enabled, but communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the capability information exchange and authorization decision-making function from the direct ASN-PCRF communication path and places it in the AAA entity. The ASN entity sends capability information to AAA, and AAA sends authorization decisions to PCRF, rather than having ASN and PCRF exchange extensive capability information directly. This extraction reduces communication overhead by centralizing the information processing in AAA.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication network (100) comprising an access service network entity (102), a policy and charging rules entity (104), and an authentication, authorization and accounting entity (106), wherein the access service network entity (102) is adapted for providing charging capabilities to the authen- tication, authorization and accounting entity (106), wherein the authentication, authorization and accounting entity (106) is adapted for deciding whether the charging capabilities are to be activated and for providing the decision to the access service network entity (102), and wherein the access service network entity (102) is adapted for providing the decision to the policy and charging rules entity (104).