Roaming Charging Account Synchronization for Low-Latency Billing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network charging systems face inefficiencies due to latency and fault issues during roaming, as network latency and faults during data routing between the two areas, affecting user experience and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a charging system and method that synchronizes user account information between charging devices in both the home and visited areas, allowing direct charging in the visited area to reduce latency and improve efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the charging device in the visited area routes the charging request to the home area charging device, then the charging can be performed using centralized user account information, but the network latency increases and charging efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling the visited area charging device to perform charging operations locally using synchronized user account information, rather than routing all requests to the home area. This allows the charging function to be executed at the local level (visited area) while maintaining data consistency through synchronization mechanisms, thereby reducing network latency while preserving charging reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by synchronizing user account information from the home area charging device to the visited area charging device before charging operations are needed. This advance synchronization ensures that the visited area charging device has the necessary user account information ready, enabling immediate local charging without real-time communication with the home area, thus reducing latency while maintaining data accuracy
2Reliability
If the charging request is routed between visited area and home area, then centralized charging control is maintained, but network faults or interruptions may cause routing failures and affect user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the visited area charging device to independently perform charging operations using locally stored synchronized user account information, reducing dependency on continuous communication with the home area charging device. This local execution capability ensures that charging can proceed even when network faults or interruptions occur, thereby mitigating the impact of network issues on user experience while maintaining centralized control through periodic synchronization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by synchronizing and storing user account information in the visited area charging device in advance, creating a buffer that protects against network faults or interruptions. This pre-synchronized information acts as a cushion, allowing the charging operation to continue uninterrupted even when network communication fails, thus reducing the harmful impact of network issues on charging reliability
3Productivity
If user account information is synchronized between home area and visited area charging devices, then direct charging in visited area is enabled, but the complexity of information synchronization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing a synchronization mechanism that transfers user account information from the home area charging device to the visited area charging device in advance, before charging operations are needed. This preliminary synchronization enables the visited area charging device to perform charging operations independently and efficiently without real-time communication with the home area, thereby improving charging productivity while managing synchronization complexity through scheduled rather than continuous operations
Data Source
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AI summary
This application relates to the field of mobile communication technologies, and discloses a charging method and system. The method includes: A first charging trigger device sends a charging request to a first charging device, where the first charging trigger device and the first charging device are located in a visited area of a user; the first charging device obtains corresponding user account information in response to the charging request, where the user account information in the first charging device is synchronized with user account information stored in a second charging device, and the second charging device is located in a home area of the user; and the first charging device performs charging processing based on the obtained user account information and service usage information. Both a charging device in the home area and a charging device in the visited area store user account information of a terminal device, and the information is synchronized. The charging device in the visited area may directly perform, based on the stored user account information, network charging on service usage information of the terminal device in a roaming state, to improve network charging efficiency.