Unified Charging Measurement Parameter Set for Network Gateways
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing charging architecture in EPC networks requires separate implementation of offline and online charging functions on the forwarding plane gateway, leading to complexity in the gateway and control interface between the control and forwarding plane gateways.
Innovation Solution
A method where the control plane network element determines a unified charging measurement parameter set based on either online or offline charging parameters and sends it to the forwarding plane network element for charging measurement, allowing both functions to be unified on the forwarding plane network element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If offline charging function and online charging function are implemented separately on the forwarding plane gateway, then charging measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines offline charging function and online charging function into a unified implementation on the forwarding plane gateway. The control plane gateway delivers both offline charging parameters and online charging parameters to the forwarding plane gateway, which then performs both offline charging measurement and online charging measurement using a unified charging measurement parameter set, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The forwarding plane gateway is designed to perform multiple charging functions (both offline and online charging measurement) through a unified implementation. The gateway can handle different charging types (offline charging and online charging) and different measurement types (flow-based charging measurement and packet-based charging measurement) using the same charging measurement parameter set, achieving multi-functionality without increasing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate offline charging implementation and online charging implementation are used on the forwarding plane gateway, then charging function completeness is improved, but control interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface between the control plane gateway and forwarding plane gateway is designed to deliver a unified charging measurement parameter set that includes both offline charging parameters and online charging parameters. This universal parameter set enables the forwarding plane gateway to perform both offline charging measurement and online charging measurement through a single interface, achieving charging function completeness while reducing control interface complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a charging measurement method, apparatus, and system. The method may include obtaining, by a control plane network element, a traffic flow charging parameter, the traffic flow charging parameter is an online charging parameter or an offline charging parameter. The method may also include determining a charging measurement parameter based on the traffic flow charging parameter, a charging measurement parameter determined based on the online charging parameter and a charging measurement parameter determined based on the offline charging parameter are charging measurement parameters in one charging measurement parameter set. Furthermore, the method may include sending a first message to a forwarding plane network element, where the first message carries the charging measurement parameter set and a traffic flow identifier, and the first message is used to trigger the forwarding plane network element to perform, based on the charging measurement parameter set, charging measurement on a traffic flow indicated by the traffic flow identifier.