WO2009149610A1 - Method and apparatus for online charging - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for online charging are disclosed, the method comprises that: a resource admission control entity receives the resource request, and drafts the resource reserve policy according to the resource request, and sends the resource request message having the resource reserve policy to the transmission function entity, in which the transmission function entity includes the policy function implement entity and the charging trigger entity; the transmission function entity receives the resource request message, and sends the credit control request message to the online charging system according to the resource reserve policy within the resource request message; the transmission function entity receives the credit control responding message sent by the online charging system, and sends the resource responding message to the resource admission control entity according to the credit control responding message; the resource admission control entity takes the following processes according to the resource request responding message.

Description

 Online charging method and device

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular to an online charging method and apparatus for a Next Generation Network (NGN). BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A next-generation network is a communication network that transmits packets, data, and multimedia, and can ensure quality of service and security. It integrates various access methods and enables third parties to conveniently provide applications. . At present, many international and regional standardization organizations are conducting NGN-related research, and operators in many countries are actively deploying NGN. With the deepening of research and the improvement and enhancement of equipment capabilities, the functions of NGN will be More and more powerful. The International Telecom Union (ITU) is the main research organization of NGN. The current version of the NGN Release 1 (Release) mainly supports the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) / integrated services. Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) simulation service, multimedia service, PSTN/ISDN analog service. 1 is a schematic diagram of an overall architecture of an NGN according to the related art. As shown in FIG. 1, the overall architecture of the NGN includes two levels: a service plane and a transport roof, which are connected to other networks and managed through these two layers. Features, end user features and applications. The transport layer transport control function includes the control functions, resource and license control functions of the network attached device, and the transport layer user attribute database function; the service layer includes the service control function, the business user attribute database, and the application/business support function, and is programmed through the application. An Application Programming Interface (API) accesses an application, where the service layer and the application are connected through an Application Network Interface (abbreviated as ΑΝΙ), and the terminal user function is unified with the service home and the transmission home. The network interface (Unified Network Interface, UNI for short) is connected, and the other network communicates with the service layer and the transport layer through the network interface (Network Network

Interface, referred to as NNI, is connected, "" indicates a control signal, indicating a media signal, and "" indicates a management signal. With the construction of broadband and the development of NGN services, the use of traffic, duration, content, etc. The fee method puts forward higher requirements for accurate billing of services. To this end, NGN is also stepping up research on billing related frameworks. The current NGN version 2 (Release 2) proposes a policy-based charging framework. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an NGN charging framework according to the related art. As shown in FIG. 2, a resource 4 Manpower Control Entity is introduced in this framework. (Resource Admission Control Function, referred to as RACF) As the accounting policy decision entity, different policies can be issued according to different broadband services for accurate charging. Among them, reference points Cx and Cy are still under study, related functional entities. The description is as follows: Service Control Function (SCF), which initiates a resource request to the PD-FE through the Rs reference point, and can receive related notifications after the resource is reserved or released; Policy Decision Function Entity (referred to as PD-FE), which processes the SCF and Rw reference points through the Rs reference point to receive the Quality of Service (QoS) resource request of the PE-FE; Policy Enforcement Function Entity , referred to as PE-FE), performs the policy received from the PD-FE; Billing Domain, or BD ), used to process user billing data, generate bills; Accounting Management Function (AMF), used to process account-related operations, such as checking balances, deducting amounts, etc.; Rating function ( Rating Function , referred to as RF), is based on business information and QoS related information for price processing; Online Charging Function (OCF), real-time collection of billing information, credit control; Charging Collection Function (CCF), collects user billing information, generates Charging Information Record (CIR), and Charging Gateway Function (CGF). The CDRs are generated according to the collected CIR, and the generated CDRs are sent to the BD; an Inter-Provider Charging Gateway Function (IP-CGF) is used to exchange between different network providers. Billing related information. Currently, the charging methods include: offline charging and online charging. The service types can be classified into: event-based services and session-based services. The offline charging is performed by the OFCS, and the online charging is performed by the OCS. The OFCS related functional entities are CCF and CGF, and the OCS related functional entities include OCF, AMF, RF, and CGF. The event type service means that the generated billing data is one-time and has nothing to do with the duration; and the session type service refers to the generated meter. Fee data is process-oriented and directly related to time. However, the current policy-based charging architecture does not have online charging standards and specifications, and needs to be developed and ^! good. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problem that the NGN cannot be charged based on a policy, an object of the present invention is to provide an online charging solution to solve the above problem. In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an online charging method is provided. The online charging method for the NGN according to the present invention includes: the resource authorization control entity receives the resource request, formulates a resource reservation policy according to the resource request, and sends a resource request message carrying the resource reservation policy to the transmission function entity, where The transmission function entity includes a policy execution function entity and a charging trigger function entity; the transmission function entity receives the resource request message, and sends a credit control request message to the online charging system according to the resource reservation policy carried in the resource request message; The function entity receives the credit control response message sent by the online charging system, and sends a resource response message to the resource authorization control entity according to the credit control response message; the resource authorization control entity performs subsequent processing according to the resource request response message. Preferably, after the transmission function entity sends the credit control request message to the online charging system, the method further includes a credit control process, which specifically includes: the online charging system receives the credit control request message; and the online charging system performs the credit quota reservation . Preferably, in the case that the credit quota is successfully reserved, the method further includes: the online charging system transmitting a credit control response message with a successful quota reservation to the transmission function entity; and the transmission function entity receiving the credit control response message with a successful quota reservation And sending a response message to the resource authorization control entity that the resource reservation is successful; the transmission function entity monitors the consumption of the credit line; the service starts. Preferably, in the case that the transmission function entity listens to the exhaustion of the credit limit, the method further includes: the transmission function entity resending the credit control request message to the online charging system; Re-run the credit control process. Preferably, in the case that the credit quota reservation fails, the method further includes: the online charging system transmitting a credit control response message that the quota reservation fails to the transmission function entity; and the transmission function entity receiving the credit control response message that the quota reservation fails And sending a resource response message that the resource reservation fails to the resource 4 Manpower Control Entity; the resource authorization control entity interrupts the service. Preferably, the foregoing resource request includes at least one of the following: an initial service resource request, and a resource request whose service changes. Preferably, if the resource request is a resource request for the service change, the credit control request message carries an unconsumed credit line, and the credit control process specifically includes: the online charging system receives the credit control request message; the online charging system will not The credit line consumed is recycled and the credit limit is re-reserved. Preferably, the method further includes: the resource authorization control entity receiving the resource release request, deleting the resource reservation policy, and sending the resource release request message to the transmission function entity; the transmission function entity receiving the resource release request message, and according to the resource release request message Deleting a resource reservation policy, and sending a resource release response message to the resource authorization control entity; the resource authorization control entity receives the resource release response message and performs subsequent processing; and the transmission function entity sends the credit carrying the credit limit consumption status to the online charging system Controlling the request message; the online charging system receives the credit control request message, performs an account operation according to the consumption situation of the credit amount carried in the credit control request message, and sends a credit control response message to the transmission function entity. According to another aspect of the present invention, a resource authorization control entity is provided. The resource authorization control entity according to the present invention includes: a first receiving module, configured to receive a resource request; a formulating module, configured to formulate a resource reservation policy according to a resource request received by the first receiving module; and a sending module, configured to be carried The resource request message of the resource reservation policy formulated by the module is sent to the transmission function entity, where the transmission function entity includes a policy execution function entity and a charging trigger function entity, and the second receiving module is configured to receive a resource request response from the transmission function entity. a processing module, configured to perform subsequent processing according to the resource request response message received by the second receiving module. According to another aspect of the present invention, a transport function entity is further provided, the transport function entity comprising a policy enforcement function entity and a billing trigger function entity. The transmission function entity according to the present invention includes: a first receiving module, configured to receive from a resource grant a resource request message of the right control entity; a first sending module, configured to send a credit control request message to the online charging system according to the resource reservation policy carried in the resource request message received by the first receiving module; Receiving a credit control response message sent by the online charging system; the second sending module is configured to send a resource response message to the resource authorization control entity according to the credit control response message received by the second receiving module. By means of at least one of the foregoing technical solutions, the present invention receives the credit control response message sent by the OCS through the transmission function entity, and sends a resource response message to the RACF according to the credit control response message, which solves the problem that the NGN in the prior art cannot be based on the policy. The problem of billing enables policy-based online charging. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are set to illustrate,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an overall architecture of an NGN according to the related art; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an NGN charging framework according to the related art; FIG. 3 is an online charging for NGN according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an initial service online charging method for NGN according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is an online diagram of a service change for NGN according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an online charging method for ending services of an NGN according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a resource 4 Manpower control according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a structural block diagram of a transmission function entity according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the RACF formulates a resource reservation policy according to the received resource request, and carries the resource pre-requisite. The resource request message of the legacy policy is sent to the transport function entity, where the transport function entity includes a PE-FE and a Charging Trigger Function (CTF), and the transport function entity receives the resource according to the received resource request message. The reservation policy sends a credit control request message to the OCS, and the transmission function entity sends a resource response message to the RACF according to the received credit control response message from the OCS, and the RACF performs subsequent processing according to the resource request response message. It should be noted that the embodiments in the present application and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other without conflict. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the preferred embodiments of the present invention are intended to illustrate and explain the invention. Method Embodiments According to an embodiment of the present invention, an online charging method is provided. 3 is a flow chart of an online charging method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The online charging method for the NGN according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, includes the following steps S302 to S308: Step S302, the RACF receives the resource request, formulates a resource reservation policy according to the resource request, and carries The resource request message with the resource reservation policy is sent to the transmission function entity, where the transmission function entity includes a PE-FE and a Charging Trigger Function (CTF); and in step S304, the transmission function entity receives the resource request message. And sending a credit control request message to the OCS according to the resource reservation policy carried in the resource request message; Step S306, the transmission function entity receives the credit control response message sent by the OCS, and sends a resource response message to the RACF according to the credit control response message; S308. The RACF performs subsequent processing according to the resource request response message. With the above embodiments, standards and specifications for policy-based online charging can be implemented. Wherein, after step S304, the method further includes a credit control process, which is specific Including: OCS receives credit control request message (Credit Control Request); OCS performs credit quota reservation. On the one hand, in the case that the credit quota is successfully reserved, the foregoing method further includes: the OCS sends a credit control response message (Credit Control Answer) to the PE-FE; the PE-FE receives the credit control successfully. Answering the message, and sending a response message to the RACF that the resource reservation is successful; the CTF in the transmission function entity monitors the consumption of the credit line; the service starts. Moreover, the CTF in the transmission function entity monitors the credit line exhaustion, and the method further includes: the transmission function entity resending the credit control request message to the OCS; and the OCS re-executes the credit control process. On the other hand, in the case that the credit quota reservation fails, the foregoing method further includes: the OCS sending a credit control response message that the quota reservation fails to the transmission function entity; and the transmission function entity receives the credit control response message that the quota reservation fails, And sending a resource response message that the resource reservation fails to the RACF; the RACF interrupts the service. The resource request received by the RACF may be an initial service resource request, or a resource request with a changed service. The online charging method according to the embodiment of the present invention is separately described by different service resource request types. 4 is a flow chart of an initial service online charging method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the method includes the following steps S402 to S422: Step S402, the RACF receives an initial service resource request (Resource Initiation Request); Step S404, the RACF formulates a corresponding resource reservation policy according to the initial service resource request.

(Scheme Decision); Step S406, the RACF sends a service resource request message carrying the resource reservation policy to the PE-FE; Step S408, the transmission function entity receives the resource reservation policy, and sends a credit control to the OCS according to the policy. a request message (Credit Control Request); Step S410, after receiving the credit control request message, the OCS performs a credit quota reservation, and returns a credit control response message (Credit Control Answer) to the transmission function entity; the credit quota reservation is unsuccessful ( In case of insufficient account balance, return the credit (incorrect) credit control response message; otherwise, return the normal credit control response message; Step S412, the transmission function entity sends a resource request response message (Resource Initiation Response) to the RACF according to the credit control response message from the OCS; if the credit line is insufficient, the resource reservation fails; otherwise, returns a normal resource request response. In step S414, the RACF performs processing according to the response message returned by the transport function entity: if the resource reservation is unsuccessful, the service is interrupted; otherwise, the service is normally performed; Step S416, the transport function entity starts the resource monitoring function, and is used for monitoring. In step S418, if the reserved credit line is exhausted, the transmission function entity re-initiates a credit control request to the OCS to perform resource reservation; in step S422, the OCS receives the transmission function. After the credit control request sent by the entity, the credit quota is re-reserved. The above embodiment provides a flow of an online charging method for an initial service in an NGN. In addition, if the resource request received by the RACF is a resource request for the service change, the credit control request message carries an unconsumed credit line, and the credit control process also changes accordingly. Specifically, the OCS receives the credit control request message; OCS recycles the unconsumed credit line and re-deposits the credit line. 5 is a flow chart of an online charging method in which a service (QoS) changes according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the method includes the following steps S502 to S514: Step S502, the service changes, and the RACF receives the resource tampering request when the service occurs.

(Remediate Modification Request); Step S504, the RACF formulates a new resource reservation policy; Step S506, the RACF sends a resource modification request message carrying the new resource reservation policy to the PE-FE; Step S508, the transmission function entity receives the a new resource reservation policy, re-initiating a credit control request message to the OCS; the request includes an unconsumed credit line; Step S510, after receiving the credit control request message sent by the transmission function entity, the OCS recovers the unconsumed credit line, and re-checks and reserves the credit line, and the OCS returns a credit control response message to the transmission function entity; If the credit reservation is unsuccessful (the account balance is insufficient), the error control (credit shortage) credit control response message is returned; otherwise, the normal credit control response message is returned; step S512, the transmission function entity according to the OCS credit control response message, Sending a resource request response message (Resource Modification Response) to the RACF: if the account credit line is insufficient, the resource reservation failure indication; otherwise, returning a normal response message; Step S514, the RACF returns the response according to the PE-FE The message is processed: if the resource reservation is unsuccessful, the service is interrupted; otherwise, the service is normally performed, and the following steps S518 to S522 are the same as the processes of steps S418 to S422 described in FIG. 4, and are not mentioned here. The above embodiment provides a flow of an online charging method in which a service changes in an NGN. It should be noted that, when the service ends, the resource request received by the RACF is a resource release request, and the online charging method according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include the following operations: the RACF receives the resource release request, and deletes the resource pre- And leaving a resource release request message to the transport function entity; the transport function entity receives the resource release request message, and deletes the resource reservation policy according to the resource release request message, and sends a resource release response message to the RACF; the RACF receives the resource release response The message is further processed; the transmission function entity sends a credit control request message carrying the consumption condition of the credit line to the OCS; the OCS receives the credit control request message, and performs an account operation according to the consumption situation of the credit amount carried in the credit control request message, and A credit control response message is sent to the transport function entity. 6 is a flow chart of an online charging method at the end of a service according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the method includes the following steps S602 to S612: Step S602, the RACF receives a resource release request (Resource Release Request) at the end of the service; Step S604, the RACF deletes the policy related to the service, and releases the resource. Sending a request message to the transport function entity; Step S606, after receiving the resource release request message, the transport function entity deletes the policy related to the service, and returns a resource release response message to the RACF (Resource Release Step S608, the RACF receives the response to the resource release response message, and returns a resource release response to the application house. Step S610, the transmission function entity sends a credit control request to the OCS, and returns the final resource consumption, including the consumed and not The credit line consumed; Step S612, after receiving the credit control request of the previous step, the OCS performs related operations of the account, and returns a credit control response message to the transmission function entity. The above embodiment provides a flow of the online charging method at the end of the service in the NGN. In summary, the above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention provide a policy-based online charging method, which can implement policy-based online charging. Apparatus Embodiments Embodiment 1 According to an embodiment of the present invention, a resource authorization control entity is provided. FIG. 7 is a structural block diagram of a resource 4 MANN control entity according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the resource 4 MANN control entity includes: a first receiving module 72, a formulating module 74, a sending module 76, and a second The receiving module 78 and the processing module 70 will be described below. The first receiving module 72 is configured to receive a resource request, and the setting module 74 is connected to the first receiving module 72, configured to formulate a resource reservation policy according to the resource request received by the first receiving module 72. The sending module 76 is connected to the determining module. The resource request message carrying the resource reservation policy formulated by the formulating module 74 is sent to the transmission function entity, where the transmission function entity includes a policy execution function entity and a charging trigger function entity; and the second receiving module 78 uses Receiving a resource request response message from the transport function entity; the processing module 70 is connected to the second receiving module 78 for performing subsequent processing according to the resource request response message received by the second receiving module 78. Through this embodiment, a resource authorization control entity in implementing a policy-based charging process is provided. Embodiment 2 According to an embodiment of the present invention, a transmission function entity, the transmission function entity package is further provided Including the policy enforcement function entity and the billing trigger function entity. FIG. 8 is a structural block diagram of a transmission function entity according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the transmission function entity includes: a first receiving module 82, a first sending module 84, a second receiving module 86, and a second sending module. 88. The above structure will be described below. The first receiving module 82 is configured to receive a resource request message from the resource authorization control entity. The first sending module 84 is connected to the first receiving module 82, and configured to use the resource carried in the resource request message received by the first receiving module 82. The reservation policy sends a credit control request message to the online charging system; the second receiving module 86 is configured to receive the credit control response message sent by the online charging system; the second sending module 88 is connected to the second receiving module 86, and is configured to Transmitting a resource response to the resource 4 Manpower Control Entity according to the credit control response message received by the second receiving module 86; With this embodiment, a transport function entity in implementing a policy-based charging process is provided. It should be noted that the resource authorization control entity and the transmission function entity described in the foregoing device embodiments may be used separately or in combination, for example, the resource authorization control entity and the transmission function entity are combined into an online charging system, and the specific structure thereof is The structure is the same as that described in the device embodiment, and details are not described herein again. In summary, the embodiment of the present invention receives the credit control response message sent by the OCS through the transmission function entity, and sends a resource response message to the RACF according to the credit control response message, which solves the problem that the NGN in the prior art cannot be calculated based on the policy. The fee issue enables policy-based online charging. Obviously, those skilled in the art should understand that the above modules or steps of the present invention can be implemented by a general-purpose computing device, which can be concentrated on a single computing device or distributed over a network composed of multiple computing devices. Alternatively, they may be implemented by program code executable by the computing device, such that they may be stored in the storage device by the computing device, or they may be separately fabricated into individual integrated circuit modules, or they may be Multiple modules or steps are made into a single integrated circuit module. Thus, the invention is not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software. The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention can be variously modified and modified. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made therein are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

 The invention provides an online charging method, comprising: a resource authorization control entity receiving a resource request, formulating a resource reservation policy according to the resource request, and sending a resource request message carrying the resource reservation policy a transmission function entity, where the transmission function entity includes a policy execution function entity and a charging trigger function entity;  The transmission function entity receives the resource request message, and sends a credit control request message to the online charging system according to the resource reservation policy carried in the resource request message; the transmission function entity receives the online a credit control response message sent by the charging system, and sending a resource response message to the resource authorization control entity according to the credit control response message;  The resource 4 Manpower Control Entity performs subsequent processing according to the resource request response message. The method according to claim 1, wherein after the transmitting function entity sends a credit control request message to the online charging system, the method further includes a credit control process, which specifically includes:  Receiving, by the online charging system, the credit control request message;  The online charging system performs credit quota reservation. The method according to claim 2, wherein, in the case that the credit reservation is successful, the method further comprises:  The online charging system sends a credit control response message with a successful reservation to the transmission function entity;  Receiving, by the transmission function entity, the credit control response message that the quota reservation is successful, and sending a response message to the resource authorization control entity that the resource reservation is successful;  The transmission function entity monitors the consumption of the credit line; The business started. The method according to claim 3, wherein, in a case that the transmission function entity monitors that the credit line is exhausted, the method further includes:  Transmitting the function entity to resend the credit control request message to the online charging system;  The online charging system re-executes the credit control process. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein, in the case that the credit limit reservation fails, the method further comprises:  The online charging system sends a credit control response message that the quota reservation fails to the transmission function entity;  Receiving, by the transmission function entity, the credit control response message that the quota reservation fails, and sending a resource response message that the resource reservation fails to the resource authorization control entity;  The resource 4 Manpower Control Entity interrupts the service. The method according to claim 1, wherein the resource request comprises at least one of the following: an initial service resource request, and a resource request with a changed service. The method according to claim 6, wherein if the resource request is a resource request for the service change, the credit control request message carries an unconsumed credit line, and the credit control The process specifically includes:  Receiving, by the online charging system, the credit control request message;  The online charging system recovers the unconsumed credit line and re-books the credit line. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: the resource authorization control entity receiving a resource release request, deleting the resource reservation policy, and sending a resource release request message To the transmission function entity;  The transmission function entity receives the resource release request message, and deletes the resource reservation policy according to the resource release request message, and sends a resource release response message to the resource 4 Manpower control entity; The resource 4 Manpower Control Entity receives the resource release response message and performs subsequent processing; Transmitting, by the transmission function entity, a credit control request message carrying a consumption situation of a credit line to the online charging system;  The online charging system receives the credit control request message, performs an account operation according to the consumption situation of the credit limit carried in the credit control request message, and sends a credit control response message to the transmission function entity. 9. A resource 4 Manpower control entity, characterized in that it comprises:  a first receiving module, configured to receive a resource request;  a module, configured to formulate a resource reservation policy according to the resource request received by the first receiving module;  a sending module, configured to send, to the transport function entity, a resource request message that carries the resource reservation policy that is formulated by the formulating module, where the transport function entity includes a policy enforcement function entity and a charging trigger function entity;  a second receiving module, configured to receive a resource request response message from the transport function entity;  And a processing module, configured to perform subsequent processing according to the resource request response message received by the second receiving module. A transmission function entity, the transmission function entity includes a policy enforcement function entity and a charging trigger function entity, wherein the transmission function entity comprises:  a first receiving module, configured to receive a resource request message from the resource authorization control entity, where the first sending module is configured to go online according to the resource reservation policy carried in the resource request message received by the first receiving module The charging system sends a credit control request message; the second receiving module is configured to receive the credit control response message sent by the online charging system;  And a second sending module, configured to send a resource response message to the resource 4 Manpower Control Entity according to the credit control response message received by the second receiving module.