Split Charging Ratio Service for Multi-Vendor 5G Billing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G network architectures face challenges in efficiently managing charging operations for data-intensive services like mobile video, gaming, and Augmented/Virtual Reality content, which require innovative methods to split charging between multiple vendors and subscribers.
Innovation Solution
The proposed method involves creating a content specification that identifies multiple vendors and conditions for charging, allowing for the division of charging costs between vendors and subscribers. This is facilitated by a new service, 'Nnef_SplitChargingRatio,' which enables network functions to manage and implement charging policies based on vendor agreements and subscriber conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single vendor sponsors content delivery, then charging management is simple, but multiple vendors cannot collaborate to share charging costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging management function by introducing a dedicated Charging Function (CHF) network element that handles charging-specific operations separately from other network functions. This segmentation enables multiple vendors to be associated with different content items independently, while the CHF coordinates the overall charging process, thus supporting vendor collaboration without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The Charging Function (CHF) acts as an intermediary between the Content Delivery Network (CDN), vendors, and subscribers. It receives charging requests from AFs, manages vendor associations, determines charging splits, and coordinates with the SMF for policy enforcement. This intermediary role enables multiple vendors to collaborate on content delivery charging while maintaining manageable complexity through centralized coordination.
2Adaptability or versatility
If charging is split between multiple vendors and subscribers, then cost sharing is enabled, but charging policy management becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic charging policy management where the CHF can flexibly associate different vendors with different content items based on commercial agreements. The system dynamically determines charging splits between vendors and subscribers on a per-content-item basis, allowing adaptable charging models without requiring complex static configurations. The AF can update vendor associations and charging parameters dynamically as business agreements evolve.
3Measurement precision
If vendor identification and charging conditions are embedded in content specification, then accurate charging splits are achieved, but information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding vendor identification and charging condition information in the content specification before content delivery. The AF receives the content specification with vendor information, creates appropriate charging requests, and associates vendors with content items in advance. This preliminary processing distributes the information handling workload across multiple network functions (AF, CHF, SMF) rather than concentrating it in one element, thus achieving accurate charging splits while managing information processing requirements through distributed preprocessing.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method (200) for managing a charging operation in a communication network is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a content specification identifying content, vendors and a condition relating to charging the vendors for provision of the content to a UE (210). The method further comprises creating a charging policy for provision of the content (220), which specifies division of charging for provision of the content to a UE between the vendors in accordance with the condition, receiving, from a UE, a request for provision of content over the network (230) and retrieving a charging policy corresponding to the requested content (240). The method further comprises creating a charging entry for provision of the requested content, the charging entry dividing charging for provision of the requested content between vendors identified in the retrieved charging policy and a subscriber account associated with the UE in accordance with the retrieved policy (270). Also disclosed are a controller and computer program product for carrying out a method for managing a charging operation.