Convergent Charging Session for SMF Online Offline Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing charging architectures for 3G and 4G mobile communications technologies face complexity in coordinating online and offline charging systems, limiting flexibility in service provisioning and industry application support, especially in 5G technologies where external system intervention complicates the charging process.
Innovation Solution
A convergent charging method and device that utilize an online-offline convergent charging session to simplify the charging architecture by determining charging types for data flows and sending requests through a Session Management Function (SMF) to a charging server, allowing for simultaneous online and offline charging within a unified session.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If online charging and offline charging are implemented as separate systems in 3G and 4G architectures, then each system can be independently managed, but the coordination and cooperation between multiple systems becomes complex and limits service provisioning flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separate online charging system (OCS) and offline charging system into a unified charging system. The SMF (Session Management Function) is configured to support both online charging indication and offline charging indication, allowing a single system to handle both charging modes. This eliminates the need for complex coordination between separate systems while maintaining the ability to perform both online and offline charging operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system is designed with multi-functionality to perform both online charging and offline charging through a unified architecture. The SMF can be configured with different charging indications based on service requirements, making the system universal in handling various charging scenarios without requiring separate dedicated systems for each charging mode.
2Reliability
If external systems intervene in online charging and offline charging processes, then charging can be performed, but the processing complexity in the charging system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the charging indication determination logic from external intervention points and integrates it directly into the SMF configuration. By configuring the SMF with charging indications locally, the system reduces the need for complex external system interventions and associated processing complexity while maintaining reliable charging operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A convergent charging method includes determining, by a session management function (SMF), a charging type of a first data flow and a charging type of a second data flow, where the charging type is online charging or offline charging. The method further includes sending, by the SMF, a first message to a charging server using an online-offline convergent charging session based on the charging types of the first data flow and the second data flow, where the first message includes a first online charging request of the first data flow or a first offline charging request of the second data flow, and the online-offline convergent charging session is used to send the first online charging request and the first offline charging request.