Network Sharing Resource Occupation Charging via Access Element Reporting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In network sharing scenarios involving multiple operators or public land mobile networks, there is an inability to accurately charge user equipment (UE) for the usage of shared network resources due to restricted load capacities and shared resource management limitations.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that involve an access network element acquiring and reporting information about the occupation of shared network resources, using identifiers like static UE identifiers, C-RNTI, connection context, and interfaces such as X2/Iur or Sn/Gn, to distinguish and charge the network sharing party, enabling accurate billing based on data traffic, resource usage, and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple operators share network elements and spectrums to reduce costs, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but the ability to accurately charge UEs for network resource usage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging management by introducing separate charging identifiers (first charging identifier for network element sharing, second charging identifier for spectrum sharing) and distinct charging data collection mechanisms. This segmentation allows independent tracking and charging for different sharing scenarios, resolving the contradiction between resource sharing efficiency and charging accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces charging data collection nodes as intermediaries between the shared network resources and the charging system. These nodes collect, aggregate, and forward charging data from multiple operators' network elements and spectrums, enabling accurate charging measurement while maintaining the shared resource architecture.
2Device complexity
If network resources are shared among multiple operators without dedicated charging tracking, then device complexity is reduced, but information accuracy about resource occupation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal charging data collection framework that handles both network element sharing and spectrum sharing through a common architecture. The charging data collection nodes perform multiple functions including data collection, aggregation, identification, and forwarding, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining information accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary charging data collection and identification at the network edge (access network elements and charging data collection nodes) before data reaches the core charging system. This preliminary action ensures accurate resource occupation information is captured and organized in advance, reducing the burden on the core charging system.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for managing network sharing, where the method includes: acquiring, by an access network element, information about occupation of a resource of an access network element by a network sharing party; and reporting, by the access network element, the occupation information to a core network device, where the occupation information is used by the core network device to charge a user equipment UE that accesses the access network element. By acquiring and reporting information about occupation of a resource of an access network element by a network sharing party, the present invention enables a core network device such as a charging system to perform accurate charging according to the information about occupation of the resource of the access network element by the network sharing party.