Shared Charging Reference for Real-Time PDU Session Billing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network resource charging systems struggle to provide real-time information on service delivery components due to the complexity and number of processing steps required to correlate charging events, making it difficult to determine which functions and nodes have been part of the service delivery.
Innovation Solution
A method where the Access Management Function (AMF) shares a charging data resource reference with the Session Management Function (SMF) and Charging Function (CHF) to track and manage charging for network resources used during PDU sessions, allowing real-time management by using a shared reference across multiple sessions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If charging information events are sorted and correlated based on UE and time of events, then charging information can be consolidated, but the event information becomes inaccessible in real-time or near real-time due to substantial processing steps required
Solution Approach 1:
The charging data resource reference is created and shared in advance during network attach and PDU session establishment, before charging events need to be correlated. This preliminary sharing of the reference enables real-time charging tracking without requiring subsequent post-processing of charging events.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging data resource reference acts as an intermediary that connects multiple network functions (AMF, SMF, CHF) and charging events. By using this shared reference, the system can correlate charging information in real-time without requiring extensive post-processing steps, thus resolving the contradiction between consolidation reliability and real-time availability.
2Measurement precision
If a new charging request is initiated for each UE by each network function, then charging can be tracked for specific functions, but it becomes difficult to determine which functions and nodes have been part of the service delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The charging data resource reference is designed to be universal and can be used by multiple network functions (AMF, SMF, CHF) across different charging events. This single reference serves multiple functions by linking all charging events related to a UE's service delivery, enabling complete tracking of which functions and nodes participated without requiring separate tracking mechanisms for each function.
3Quantity of substance
If charging information is processed and correlated through multiple processing steps, then comprehensive charging data can be obtained, but the processing complexity increases making the system less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential charging correlation information into a single charging data resource reference that is shared among network functions. By taking out only the necessary reference information rather than processing and correlating complete charging event datasets, the system reduces processing complexity while maintaining charging information completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
An AMF of a communications system responds to receipt of a network attach request message of a UE requesting attachment to a network of the communication system, by sending a charging data request message toward a CHF containing a notification for the CHF to keep a charging data resource to track charging for network resources used for communications associated with UE while attached to the network. The AMF receives a response message of the CHF containing a reference for the charging data resource associated with the UE while attached to the network. The AMF responds to receiving a PDU session establishment request message of the UE, by sending a PDU session establishment request message containing the reference for the charging data resource toward a SMF. Related SMF and CHF of the communications system are disclosed.