Interworking Credit Control Function for Multi-Network Charging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current policy and charging control architectures in telecommunications networks are limited in their ability to make decisions using inputs from multiple credit control servers, especially when these servers are in different networks, due to security, compatibility, or legislative constraints, which complicates scenarios involving Virtual Network Operators and parent operators.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an interworking credit control function, or Credit Control Proxy, that aggregates credit control requests from multiple Online Charging Systems and presents a unified interface to the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, using standard DIAMETER-based interfaces, allowing for simultaneous online charging sessions across different networks and enabling coordinated quota management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If direct access to policy control resources is granted to multiple credit control servers in different networks, then policy control decisions can be made using inputs from multiple servers, but security constraints are violated
Solution Approach 1:
A home credit control server is introduced as an intermediary between visiting credit control servers and policy control resources. The home credit control server receives requests from visiting servers, retrieves data from local subscription repositories, and provides the requested information without allowing direct access to policy control resources by external servers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple online charging systems are used for charging control, then charging flexibility and network protection are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple online charging systems are merged through a common home credit control server architecture. The home credit control server consolidates subscription data management and policy control for multiple visiting networks, allowing multiple charging systems to operate with coordinated quota management while reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The home credit control server is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple visiting credit control servers from different networks. It provides universal subscription data retrieval, policy control, and quota management services to various online charging systems, reducing the need for separate infrastructure for each charging system.
3Measurement precision
If visiting credit control servers access subscription data directly from home networks, then policy control accuracy is improved, but network security and data protection are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The home credit control server acts as a secure intermediary that receives authenticated requests from visiting credit control servers. It retrieves subscription data from local repositories using secure internal interfaces and returns only the necessary information to the visiting servers, ensuring data protection while maintaining policy control accuracy.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for enhanced policy and charging control when a telecommunications network is used by a User Equipment, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function and a first Online Charging System, the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function and the first Online Charging System being configured to communicate via an online charging interface, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a second Online Charging System being configured to communicate via an online charging interface, wherein the telecommunications network further comprises an interworking credit control function, wherein the interworking credit control function communicates via a first online charging interface with the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function, via a second online charging interface with the first Online Charging System, and via a third online charging interface with the second Online Charging System.