Telecommunications Charging Accuracy via Base Station Packet Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telecommunications networks, especially those using LTE technology, face challenges in accurately tracking and charging for data usage due to packet discarding at air interfaces, leading to inaccuracies in charging information, particularly in mobile environments where packet loss occurs across multiple base transceiver stations during handovers.
Innovation Solution
A method to accurately count and consolidate undelivered data packet volumes by detecting non-delivered packet data volumes at each base transceiver station and aggregating this information across stations, enabling precise determination of chargeable data volume, even during handovers, by transmitting non-delivered packet data volume information between base transceiver stations and the core network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If packet-oriented protocols like UDP are used in mobile communication systems, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but charging information accuracy deteriorates due to packet discarding at air interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging information collection process by having each base transceiver station independently detect and report non-delivered packet data volumes for its served user equipment. This segmentation allows accurate tracking at distributed points without requiring complex end-to-end verification protocols, thus maintaining protocol simplicity while improving charging accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where base transceiver stations detect non-delivered packets and report this information back to the core network. This feedback loop enables the network to compensate for packet loss without changing the underlying UDP protocol, maintaining low complexity while achieving accurate charging information through continuous monitoring and reporting.
2Productivity
If intermediate network equipment discards data packets due to overload or congestion, then network productivity is improved by maintaining flow control, but charging information accuracy deteriorates due to loss of actual delivered volume information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having base transceiver stations detect and record non-delivered packet volumes before packets are discarded due to congestion or overload. By proactively monitoring and reporting at the air interface level, the system captures charging-relevant information before intermediate network equipment discards packets, preventing information loss while maintaining network productivity.
3Device complexity
If charging is done at hierarchically higher network nodes like gateways, then device complexity is reduced by centralizing charging functions, but charging information accuracy deteriorates due to packet discarding between base stations and gateways
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary reporting mechanism where base transceiver stations act as intermediaries between the air interface and the core network charging functions. These stations detect non-delivered packets and transmit this information to the core network, serving as intermediaries that bridge the gap between distributed air interface monitoring and centralized charging, thus improving accuracy without complicating the overall charging architecture.
4Measurement precision
If reliable packet exchange protocols are used to verify data exchanged between network points, then charging information accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases significantly due to protocol overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the charging information collection function from the data plane protocol stack and places it in a separate monitoring and reporting mechanism. Instead of using complex reliable protocols for every data packet, the system extracts only the essential charging-relevant information (non-delivered packet volumes) at the base transceiver station and reports it separately, thus achieving accurate charging without the overhead of end-to-end reliable protocols.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for improving charging information accuracy in a telecommunications network with respect to a target user equipment, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a core network, a first base transceiver station and a second base transceiver station, wherein the target user equipment receives data traffic from the core network in the form of data packets, the data traffic being related to a data connection established between the target user equipment and the telecommunications network, wherein in case that the target user equipment camps on the telecommunications network using the first base transceiver station, the first base transceiver station comprises a first non-delivered packet data volume information, the first non-delivered packet data volume information being specific to the target user equipment and related to data packets to be sent to the target user equipment but unsuccessfully transmitted to the target user equipment, wherein in case that the target user equipment camps on the telecommunications network using the second base transceiver station, the second base transceiver station comprises a second non-delivered packet data volume information, the second non- delivered packet data volume information being specific to the target user equipment and related to data packets to be sent to the target user equipment but unsuccessfully transmitted to the target user equipment, wherein in case of a handover or cell change procedure from the first base transceiver station to the second base transceiver station regarding the target user equipment, the first non-delivered packet data volume information is transmitted from the first base transceiver station to the second base transceiver station and is taken into account for determining the second non-delivered packet data volume information, the first non- delivered packet data volume information being transmitted by means of using at least one out of the following: - an X2 interface between the first base transceiver station and the second base transceiver station, - an S1 interface between the first base transceiver station and the core network and the S1 interface between the core network and the second base transceiver station, - an user equipment history information regarding the target user equipment.