Base Station Charging Accuracy via Handover Packet Volume Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telecommunications networks, especially those using LTE technology, face challenges in accurately tracking and charging for data usage due to packet discarding at air interfaces, leading to inaccuracies in charging information, particularly during handovers between base transceiver stations.
Innovation Solution
A method where base transceiver stations detect and transmit non-delivered packet data volumes to each other during handovers, allowing for precise aggregation and reporting of undelivered data packets, thereby enhancing charging information accuracy without relying on the core network for initial transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If reliable packet exchange protocols (e.g., TCP/IP) are used to accurately monitor and charge for data exchanged, then charging information accuracy is improved, but protocol overhead increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the charging information collection function from the core network gateway and relocates it to the base transceiver station level. This allows accurate monitoring of non-delivered packets at the air interface termination point without requiring complex reliable protocols throughout the entire network path, thereby reducing overall protocol overhead while maintaining charging accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the base transceiver station acts as a mediator between the air interface and the core network. It collects and reports non-delivered packet information locally, serving as an intermediate charging point that eliminates the need for end-to-end reliable protocols while ensuring accurate charging data collection.
2Measurement precision
If packet discarding is avoided by proper dimensioning of network equipment and transport lines, then charging information accuracy is improved, but this solution is not feasible in mobile networks due to unreliable air interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the base transceiver station proactively count and record non-delivered packets at the point of air interface transmission failure. Instead of waiting for packets to be discarded downstream in the core network, the system preemptively identifies and reports undelivered packets at the source, ensuring accurate charging information is captured before packets are lost in the unreliable air interface environment.
3Device complexity
If charging is done at hierarchically higher network nodes like gateways, then network architecture simplicity is maintained, but charging information accuracy deteriorates due to intermediate network equipment discarding data packets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging information collection function from the centralized gateway and distributes it to individual base transceiver stations. This segmentation allows each base station to independently monitor and report non-delivered packets for its own air interface, providing accurate charging data at the granular level where packets are actually transmitted, while maintaining overall network architectural simplicity.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for improving charging information accuracy in a telecommunications network with respect to a target user equipment, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a core network, a first base transceiver station and a second base transceiver station, wherein the target user equipment receives data traffic from the core network in the form of data packets, the data traffic being related to a data connection established between the target user equipment and the telecommunications network, wherein in case that the target user equipment camps on the telecommunications network using the first base transceiver station, the first base transceiver station comprises a first non-delivered packet data volume information, the first non-delivered packet data volume information being specific to the target user equipment and related to data packets to be sent to the target user equipment but unsuccessfully transmitted to the target user equipment, wherein in case that the target user equipment camps on the telecommunications network using the second base transceiver station, the second base transceiver station comprises a second non-delivered packet data volume information, the second non- delivered packet data volume information being specific to the target user equipment and related to data packets to be sent to the target user equipment but unsuccessfully transmitted to the target user equipment, wherein in case of a handover or cell change procedure from the first base transceiver station to the second base transceiver station regarding the target user equipment, the first non-delivered packet data volume information is transmitted from the first base transceiver station to the second base transceiver station and is taken into account for determining the second non-delivered packet data volume information, the first non- delivered packet data volume information being transmitted from the first base transceiver station to the target user equipment and from the target user equipment to the second base transceiver station.