Online Charging System Session Granularity Negotiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the PCC architecture, differences in charging session granularities between a gateway and a charging system can lead to charging processing errors and inaccurate billing due to incompatible charging information collection mechanisms and reporting occasions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a mechanism for charging session granularity negotiation between a gateway device and a charging system, allowing them to agree on a common granularity, thereby ensuring accurate and efficient charging by indicating the granularity of reported charging information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different charging session granularities are used between gateway and charging system, then device flexibility and adaptability are improved, but charging processing accuracy and billing accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a granularity indication parameter in the charging request message to explicitly specify the charging session granularity (IP-CAN session level or IP-CAN bearer level). This parameter change enables the charging system to correctly interpret and process charging information regardless of the gateway's native granularity, resolving the contradiction between supporting different granularities and maintaining charging accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If charging session granularity negotiation mechanism is implemented, then charging processing accuracy is improved, but device complexity and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs granularity indication in the initial charging request message (CCR-Initial) before actual charging processing begins. This preliminary action of specifying granularity upfront allows the charging system to configure appropriate processing parameters in advance, avoiding the need for complex runtime granularity detection and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high charging accuracy.
3Loss of information
If indication information for charging session granularity is added to messages, then information completeness and charging accuracy are improved, but message complexity and data transmission volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds granularity indication information only to specific charging request messages (CCR-Initial) where it is most critical for establishing the charging context, rather than uniformly adding it to all charging messages. This localized approach ensures charging information completeness where needed while minimizing unnecessary data transmission overhead in other message types.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a data service charging method, which is applied in a communications network of a policy and charging control mechanism, and includes: receiving, by an online charging system, a session setup request message sent by a gateway device, where the request message carries indication information indicating that the gateway device supports a charging session granularity of an IP-CAN session; and processing, by the online charging system, the session setup request message according to the indication information and according to the charging session granularity of an IP-CAN session, and adding, to a response message to be returned to the gateway device, indication information indicating that the online charging system performs charging according to the charging session granularity of an IP-CAN session. In the present invention, if the OCS may simultaneously support two charging session granularities, when setting up a charging session, the gateway device and the OCS can negotiate a session granularity and set up the charging session between the OCS and the gateway device according to the negotiated granularity, improving charging accuracy.