Network Access Server Protocol Resolution for Service Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile data service systems lack efficient charging mechanisms for non-WAP services, requiring users to manually configure IP addresses and port numbers, which is inconvenient and unsupported by most user terminals, leading to unmanaged mobile value chains.
Innovation Solution
A service charging method and system that involves a network access server and protocol resolving device, which separates control signaling and data packets, generates dynamic rules for traffic accumulation, and reports traffic or duration to facilitate charging, eliminating the need for user-configured service gateways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users manually configure IP addresses and port numbers of service gateways on user terminals, then service control and charging can be implemented, but user terminal complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The network access server automatically performs protocol resolution and generates dynamic rules without requiring user configuration. The system serves itself by autonomously extracting transport layer quintuples from protocol control packets and creating corresponding data packet forwarding rules, eliminating the need for manual user terminal configuration while maintaining service control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The network access server acts as an intermediary between the user terminal and the charging system. It receives protocol control packets, performs protocol resolution to extract transport layer parameters, generates dynamic rules, and coordinates with the protocol resolving device and charging subsystem, thereby shielding users from complex configuration requirements while enabling service control and charging
2Reliability
If a service gateway is configured for each non-WAP service, then service control is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network access server performs multiple functions including protocol resolution, dynamic rule generation, and coordination with charging subsystems. This single multi-functional device replaces the need for multiple dedicated service gateways for different non-WAP services, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining service control capability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of static pre-configured service gateways, the system dynamically generates forwarding rules based on protocol control packets. The network access server extracts transport layer quintuples from incoming control packets and automatically creates corresponding data packet forwarding rules, adapting the network configuration in real-time without requiring pre-configured service gateways for each service
3Measurement precision
If protocol resolution is performed on each service packet, then charging accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs protocol resolution only on protocol control packets before data packet transmission. By extracting transport layer quintuples from control packets in advance and generating forwarding rules beforehand, the system avoids time-consuming protocol resolution for each data packet while maintaining charging accuracy through pre-established rules
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates protocol control packets from data packets in the processing flow. Protocol resolution is applied only to control packets to extract transport layer parameters, while data packets are forwarded using pre-generated rules. This segmentation reduces the frequency of protocol resolution operations from every packet to only control packets, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining charging accuracy
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for carrying out service-charge includes receiving service message , carrying out protocol analysis on the message to obtain charge information when it is confirmed that protocol analysis is required to be carried out on the message, carrying out charging on the message according to obtained charge information and preset charge policy. The service-charge system used for realizing the method, network access server and protocol resolver are also disclosed. Using the present solutions, users are more convenience and speedy while using service, without realizing the complicated traffic compensatory scheme.