Access Gateway Signaling for Distributed Billing Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In network environments, accurate billing and synchronization of communication sessions are challenging due to unknown, inaccurate, or ambiguous policy, locale, or service levels, leading to incorrect billing and unauthorized access to information.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize an access gateway to establish PDP links and communicate messages related to quality of service, locale, or policy to a client services packet gateway, ensuring synchronization between accounting information and the state of PDP links, enabling precise billing and service management without affecting bandwidth or processing speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If distributed billing is implemented in a network environment, then billing accuracy for end-user sessions is improved, but synchronization issues between accounting information and network state may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by sending accounting commands to the billing system in advance of actual data flow processing. When a PDP link is established or modified, the access gateway proactively notifies the billing system of the upcoming accounting events, allowing the billing system to prepare and synchronize its state before actual billing occurs. This prevents synchronization issues by ensuring the billing system is ready to accurately measure and bill for the data flow from the outset.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the access gateway continuously monitors the state of PDP links and sends accounting commands to the billing system reflecting current network state. This feedback loop ensures that the billing system receives real-time updates about link establishment, modification, or termination, allowing it to maintain accurate synchronization with the actual data flow state and correct any potential billing discrepancies.
2Measurement precision
If signaling information is communicated to synchronize accounting information with PDP link state, then billing accuracy is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the accounting command structure to handle multiple billing scenarios through a single standardized mechanism. The same accounting command framework is used for PDP link establishment, modification, and termination events, as well as for different types of data flows and service types. This multi-functional approach improves billing accuracy across diverse network conditions while avoiding the need for separate complex signaling paths for each scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The access gateway serves as an intermediary that simplifies the signaling complexity by consolidating multiple accounting events into standardized accounting commands. Instead of requiring direct complex interactions between multiple network elements, the access gateway mediates by receiving detailed PDP link state information and translating it into standardized accounting commands that the billing system can process uniformly, thereby reducing overall network signaling complexity while maintaining billing accuracy.
3Manufacturing precision
If quality of service levels are differentiated for different end users, then service management precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing QoS management into distinct components: the access gateway handles PDP link establishment and basic QoS parameter assignment, while the billing system handles detailed service level differentiation and accounting. This segmentation allows precise service management for different end users through the billing system's ability to apply different accounting rates and policies, while the access gateway maintains a simpler structure focused on link management rather than complex service differentiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by using QoS parameters as the basis for differentiation rather than requiring complex device structures. The access gateway assigns QoS parameters to PDP links, and the billing system uses these parameters to determine appropriate accounting treatment. This approach enables precise service management across different user categories by changing accounting parameters (rates, priorities, limits) based on QoS levels, while keeping the access gateway's structural complexity manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for signaling information in a network environment is provided that includes an access gateway operable to establish one or more packet data protocol (PDP) links on behalf of an end user. The access gateway is operable to communicate a message associated with a change in quality of service, locale, or policy enforcement relating to a selected one of the PDP links to a client services packet gateway (CSPG). The CSPG responds to the message by providing an accounting command for the selected PDP link such that synchronization is achieved between accounting information and a state associated with the selected PDP link.