Cloud Core Network Procedure Charging for Accurate Tenant Billing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging models for cloud-based mobile communication networks do not accurately reflect the costs associated with control plane signaling, leading to inefficiencies and inappropriate pricing for network operators and tenants.
Innovation Solution
Implement a network-slice-aware, procedure-based charging model that tracks and charges for specific procedures within the core network instances, using a centralized or decentralized procedure state tracking function to monitor and calculate costs based on API calls and network functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flat fee charging model is used per end user, then the cloud infrastructure provider can simplify billing operations, but the charging does not accurately reflect the actual resource consumption and control plane signaling costs
Solution Approach 1:
The charging model is segmented into multiple components: a base fee for infrastructure access and additional procedure-based charges for specific control plane operations. This segmentation allows the system to maintain operational simplicity while accurately reflecting resource consumption through modular charge structures that can be independently configured and billed.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging parameters are changed from a single flat fee to a multi-parameter model that includes base fees, procedure-specific charges, and usage-based variables. This enables dynamic adjustment of charging rates based on actual resource consumption patterns while maintaining a structured billing framework that preserves operational simplicity.
2Measurement precision
If procedure-based charging is implemented to track specific control plane operations, then charging accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the charging system increases
Solution Approach 1:
A procedure charging tracking function is introduced as an intermediary component that sits between the network functions and the charging system. This mediator automatically tracks control plane procedures, correlates them with charging rules, and generates billing information, thereby achieving accurate procedure-based charging without requiring complex direct integration between all network components and the billing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system implements self-service mechanisms where the procedure charging tracking function automatically monitors its own operations, tracks resource consumption, and generates charging records without manual intervention. This automation reduces operational complexity while maintaining high charging accuracy through systematic tracking of control plane procedures.
3Productivity
If multi-tenant cloud-based core network instances are deployed, then resource utilization and economies of scale are improved, but it becomes difficult to accurately attribute and charge for individual tenant usage
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system segments billing attribution by tenant identifier, network slice, and procedure type, allowing precise tracking of resource consumption for each tenant even within shared multi-tenant core network instances. This segmentation enables accurate cost allocation while maintaining the resource pooling benefits of multi-tenant deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging model applies local quality by configuring tenant-specific charging parameters, procedures, and rates for different tenants and network slices. This allows each tenant to have customized charging rules tailored to their specific usage patterns and service level agreements, while the overall system maintains efficient multi-tenant resource sharing through centralized tracking and management.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for providing improved charging capabilities regarding at least one mobile communication network whose functionality is at least partly provided by means of the cloud infrastructure, wherein the at least one mobile communication network comprises or being related to or assigned to a radio access network and a core network, the core network being realized as or being a core network instance of or provided by the cloud infrastructure, the core network instance comprising a plurality of network functions, wherein the cloud infrastructure and/or the core network instance comprise a procedure charging system, the procedure charging system enabling the improved charging capabilities by means of detecting, regarding at least one specific kind of procedure and/or functionality provided by the core network, the execution of procedures and/or functionalities by the core network instance and/or its network functions, wherein the cloud infrastructure is configured such that the core network instance and/or its network functions transmit a procedure termination indication to the procedure charging system, wherein the procedure termination indication is related to the specific kind of procedure and/or functionality.