Multi-Enforcement Point Charging Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Telecommunications networks with multiple charging and enforcement components face challenges in coordinating charging information, leading to issues like double billing or charging for unserved data due to independent operation at different communication architecture layers, requiring effective coordination to ensure accurate billing.
Innovation Solution
The method involves receiving and processing user traffic and usage information across multiple charging and enforcement components, with components configured to operate at different layers, using techniques like packet marking, port routing, and VLANs to coordinate charging information, ensuring correct billing by correlating usage records and determining charges based on synchronized data flows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple charging and enforcement components operate independently at different layers, then each component can perform its charging function, but double charging or charging for unserved data occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where usage information is shared between multiple charging and enforcement components. The first component determines initial usage information and shares it with the second component, which then provides feedback by determining updated usage information based on actual traffic enforcement. This feedback loop ensures that charging reflects actual served data, preventing double charging while maintaining productive charging operations at multiple layers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism for coordinating between independent charging components. Usage information acts as an intermediary data structure that is exchanged between the first and second charging/enforcement components. This intermediary enables communication and coordination without requiring direct integration of the components, allowing them to maintain their independence while ensuring billing accuracy through shared usage information
2Productivity
If multiple components generate and report charging information independently, then comprehensive charging coverage is achieved, but coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging information generation process into distinct functional parts performed by different components at different layers. The first component segments out initial usage determination, while the second component segments out updated usage determination based on actual enforcement. This segmentation allows comprehensive charging coverage across layers while managing coordination complexity by giving each component a specific, manageable responsibility
Solution Approach 2:
The first charging/enforcement component performs preliminary action by determining initial usage information before the second component processes it. This preliminary determination of usage information provides a head start in the charging process, ensuring comprehensive coverage while reducing the coordination burden on the second component, which only needs to update based on actual enforcement rather than generate usage information from scratch
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for accomplishing charging operations in a communications network in which a plurality of charging and enforcement (CaE) components operate as enforcement points for a single data communication may include receiving in a server computing device usage records from a first CaE component and a second CaE component, generating correlated usage records by using a common Service Data Flow (SDF) to correlate the one or more usage records received from the first CaE component with the one or more records received from the second CaE component, and using the correlated usage records to determine a charge value that identifies correct charges to be applied.