Online Charging System Announcement Control in IMS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current online charging systems in IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS) lack the flexibility to initiate specific and customizable announcements for prepaid users, primarily providing general low-balance indications without control over announcement content or timing.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allow the Online Charging System (OCS) to determine and initiate announcements based on triggering conditions, sending announcement requests with detailed information, including timing and content, to the IMS service node, enabling more flexible and user-specific announcements such as welcome messages, account balance information, and call-related alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the OCS sends only general low-balance indications to the AS, then the system is simple to operate, but the announcement service lacks flexibility and customization
Solution Approach 1:
The announcement information is segmented into multiple independent AVP fields (announcement_id, play_alternative, timing_indicator, announcement_server_URI). This segmentation allows the system to provide detailed customization without increasing overall complexity, as each field can be independently configured and processed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an announcement server as an intermediary component that handles the complex announcement content delivery. The OCS sends structured requests to this intermediary, which then manages the actual announcement playback, thereby isolating the complexity from the core charging system.
2Reliability
If the OCS initiates specific announcements with detailed information, then user experience is improved, but the signaling overhead between OCS and AS increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the most essential announcement parameters into a standardized set of AVP fields, separating critical information from optional details. This extraction ensures reliable delivery of core announcement data while minimizing unnecessary signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The announcement request structure is designed as a universal template that can accommodate multiple types of announcements (low-balance warnings, welcome messages, campaign information) through a single standardized interface, reducing the need for multiple specialized signaling protocols.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system provides comprehensive announcement control, then operator flexibility is enhanced, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables local quality control by allowing operators to configure specific announcement parameters (timing, content, target users) on a per-announcement basis rather than requiring global configuration changes. This localized control approach enhances flexibility while maintaining operational simplicity through modular configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Online charging within an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). A method comprises, at an IMS charging node: (a) receiving a credit control request message from an IMS service network node over a service charging interface provided between the IMS service node and the IMS charging node; (b) determining with reference to one or more triggering conditions that an announcement is to be provided to a user associated with the credit control request message and/or another user; and (c) following such a determination, initiating an announcement service in the IMS service node by sending an announcement request in a credit control answer message over the service charging interface to the IMS service node, the credit control answer message being in response to the credit control request message and the announcement request comprising announcement information relating to the announcement to be provided.