Network Exposure Function Session Billing for Wireless Data Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

The Network Exposure Function (NEF) in wireless communication networks does not effectively support the actual charging of users for wireless data services and fails to efficiently serve detailed session data, including service charges, promptly upon session delivery.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a Network Exposure Function (NEF) that exposes service capabilities and charges users by mapping service capabilities into network parameters, transferring network signaling, and efficiently serving detailed session data upon session delivery, utilizing a distributed ledger for immutably storing service delivery events.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the NEF only controls charging allocation without actual charging functionality, then the system complexity is reduced, but the charging effectiveness and user billing capability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveNEF system complexityVSAvoidcharging effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the charging control function and actual charging execution into a single integrated NEF system. The NEF now performs both functions by receiving charging requests, determining charging parameters, executing the charging process, and managing billing operations unified within one network function, eliminating the gap between charge allocation and actual charging

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The NEF is enhanced to perform multiple charging-related functions: it controls charging allocation, executes actual charging operations, manages billing processes, and interfaces with both application functions and charging systems. This multi-functional approach allows a single network function to handle the complete charging lifecycle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If the NEF does not serve detailed session data promptly, then the processing load is reduced, but the billing timeliness and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebilling efficiencyVSAvoidsession data delivery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The NEF proactively retrieves and prepares detailed session data in advance before billing is required. It monitors session delivery status, pre-fetches charging information, and maintains ready-to-use billing data, eliminating delays when billing needs to be processed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the NEF continuously monitors session delivery status and charging data availability. When session data becomes available, the NEF automatically triggers data retrieval and processing, ensuring billing information is ready promptly without manual intervention or delays

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12464325B2User charging over an exposure function in a wireless communication network

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 T MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC

AI summary

A Network Exposure Function (NEF) charges a user for a wireless data service. The NEF exposes a service charge for the wireless data service to the user. The NEF receives a user request for the wireless data service at the service charge. The NEF directs a wireless communication network to deliver the wireless data service to the user in response to the user request. The NEF receives network data from the wireless communication network that indicates a delivery of the wireless data service to the user. The NEF exposes service data to the user in response to the network data. The service data characterizes the delivery of the wireless data service and indicates the service charge.