FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present subject matter relates to a communication network and,
particularly but not exclusively, to chargeable unit based credit control in the
communication network.
BACKGROUN5 D
[0002] Services, such as voice calls and data usage provided by network
providers to users subscribed with the network providers are generally charged based
either on time or volume of usage. For instance, a voice call may be charged based on
either minutes/seconds consumed or number of calls made. The network providers
10 generally implement an online charging system in a communication network for realtime
credit control of the services being rendered to a user. The online charging
systems are generally communicatively coupled to a gateway, such as a gateway
general packet radio service support node (GGSN) rendering the service to the users.
Real time credit control involves monitoring of number of units, for example, time
15 and volume consumed while a service is being rendered by the gateway to the user.
SUMMARY
[0003] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to chargeable
unit based credit control in a communication network. This summary is not intended
to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in
20 determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0004] In one implementation, a method for chargeable unit based credit
control is described. The method comprises receiving, from a gateway, a credit
control request update (CCR-U) message indicating number of requested service
units (RSU) requested, for one or more ratable units, for continuing a service being
25 rendered to a user. The method further comprises ascertaining, for each of the one or
more ratable units, if an updated value of a granted service unit (GSU) is less than the
3
number of RSU. The GSU indicates number of service units that can be granted for
each of the one or more ratable units. Further, the method comprises generating a
credit control answer update (CCA-U) message on ascertaining the value of GSU
being less than the number of RSU. The CCA-U message includes a value of GSU
granted for continuing the service, a final unit indication, and an attribute value pai5 r
indicating a chargeable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, based on
which the service has to be charged. The method further comprises transmitting the
CCA-U message to the gateway for continuing the service based on the CCA-U
message.
10 [0005] In another implementation, a method for chargeable unit based credit
control is described. The method comprises transmitting, to an online charging
system, a credit control request update (CCR-U) message indicating number of
requested service units (RSU) requested, for one or more ratable units, for continuing
a service being provided to a user. The method further comprises receiving a credit
15 control answer update (CCA-U) message in response to the CCR-U message. The
CCA-U message includes a value granted service unit (GSU) granted for each of the
one or more ratable units, a final unit indication, and an attribute value pair indicating
a chargeable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, based on which the
service has to be charged. Further, the method comprises ascertaining, for each of the
20 one or more ratable units, whether the corresponding GSU is exhausted before
completion of the service. The method further comprises determining whether the
ratable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, for which the GSU has
exhausted, is the chargeable unit indicated in the CCA-U message. Further, the
method comprises rendering the service based on the determining.
25 [0006] In another implementation, an online charging system for chargeable
unit based credit control of a service being rendered to a user is described. The online
charging system comprises a processor and a credit control module coupled to the
4
processor to ascertain, for each of one or more ratable units, if an updated value of a
granted service unit (GSU) is less than a number of requested service units (RSU)
requested for continuing the service. The GSU indicates number of service units that
can be granted for each of the one or more ratable units. The credit control module
further is to generate a credit control answer update (CCA-U) message o5 n
ascertaining the updated value of GSU being less than the number of RSU. The CCAU
message includes a value of GSU granted for continuing the service, a final unit
indication, and an attribute value pair indicating a chargeable unit, from among the
one or more ratable units, based on which the service has to be charged. The online
10 charging system further comprises a communication module coupled to the processor
to transmit the CCA-U message to a gateway for continuing the service based on the
CCA-U message.
[0007] In yet another implementation, a gateway is described. The online
charging system comprises a processor and an interaction module coupled to the
15 processor to transmit, to an online charging system, a credit control request update
(CCR-U) message indicating number of requested service units (RSU) requested, for
one or more ratable units, for continuing the service being provided to the user. The
interaction module further is to receive a credit control answer update (CCA-U)
message in response to the CCR-U message. The CCA-U message includes a value
20 granted service unit (GSU) granted for each of the one or more ratable units, a final
unit indication, and an attribute value pair indicating a chargeable unit, from among
the one or more ratable units, based on which the service has to be charged. The
gateway further comprises a service rendering module coupled to the processor to
ascertain, for each of the one or more ratable units, whether the corresponding GSU is
25 exhausted before completion of the service. The service rendering module further is
to determine whether the ratable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, for
which the GSU has exhausted, is the chargeable unit indicated in the CCA-U
5
message. Further, the service rendering module is to render the service based on the
determining.
[0008] In yet another implementation, a non-transitory computer-readable
medium having embodied thereon a computer program for executing a method of
chargeable unit based credit control is described. The method includes receiving5 ,
from a gateway, a credit control request update (CCR-U) message indicating number
of requested service units (RSU) requested, for one or more ratable units, for
continuing a service being rendered to a user. The method further comprises
ascertaining, for each of the one or more ratable units, if an updated value of a
10 granted service unit (GSU) is less than the number of RSU. The GSU indicates
number of service units that can be granted for each of the one or more ratable units.
Further, the method comprises generating a credit control answer update (CCA-U)
message on ascertaining the value of GSU being less than the number of RSU. The
CCA-U message includes a value of GSU granted for continuing the service, a final
15 unit indication, and an attribute value pair indicating a chargeable unit, from among
the one or more ratable units, based on which the service has to be charged. The
method further comprises transmitting the CCA-U message to the gateway for
continuing the service based on the CCA-U message.
[0009] In yet another implementation, a non-transitory computer-readable
20 medium having embodied thereon a computer program for executing a method of
chargeable unit based credit control is described. The method includes transmitting,
to a charging system, a credit control request update (CCR-U) message indicating
number of requested service units (RSU) requested, for one or more ratable units, for
continuing a service being provided to a user. The method further comprises
25 receiving a credit control answer update (CCA-U) message in response to the CCR-U
message. The CCA-U message includes a value granted service unit (GSU) granted
for each of the one or more ratable units, a final unit indication, and an attribute value
6
pair indicating a chargeable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, based on
which the service has to be charged. Further, the method comprises ascertaining, for
each of the one or more ratable units, whether the corresponding GSU is exhausted
before completion of the service. The method further comprises determining whether
the ratable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, for which the GSU ha5 s
exhausted, is the chargeable unit indicated in the CCA-U message. Further, the
method comprises rendering the service based on the determining.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0010] The detailed description is described with reference to the
10 accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number
identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers
are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some
embodiments of system and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the
present subject matter are now described, by way of example only, and with reference
15 to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0011] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary communication network
environment implementing an online charging system for chargeable unit based credit
control, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0012] Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary call flow diagram for indicating
20 chargeable unit based credit control, according to an embodiment of the present
subject matter; and
[0013] Figure 3 illustrates a method for chargeable unit based credit control,
according to an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0014] Figure 4 illustrates a method for chargeable unit based credit control,
25 according to another embodiment of the present subject matter.
7
[0015] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean
"serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment or
implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not
necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
[0016] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any bloc5 k
diagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative systems embodying the
principles of the present subject matter. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow
charts, flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudo code, and the like represent
various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable
10 medium and so executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer
or processor is explicitly shown.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The present subject matter relates to chargeable unit based credit
control in a communication network. Credit control is generally implemented in a
15 communication network to facilitate monitoring and charging of network usage by a
user while availing services provided by a network provider. The network provider
generally provides various services, such as voice call, video call, data usage, and text
messaging to the user subscribed to the network provider. In order to avail these
services, the user connects through a communication device to a gateway, such as a
20 gateway general packet radio service support node (GGSN) for availing the service.
The gateway further connects the user to other network entities rendering the services
being availed by the user. As will be understood, data packets exchanged between the
gateway and the network entities are traversed via the gateway, thus facilitating the
gateway in monitoring the data packets for various purposes, such as determining
25 network usage by the user and user eligibility for using the service.
[0018] Network usage by the user for availing the services are generally
monitored using one or more ratable units, such as time and volume of usage. For
8
instance, data usage may be monitored based on either the number of seconds for
which data service has been availed or number of bytes of data downloaded and
uploaded for availing the data service. For instance, if a user subscribes for a service
plan entitling the user for usage of 300 megabyte (Mb) of data per month for a
predetermined monthly charge, the network provider may allow the user to avail th5 e
service of data usage until the 300 Mb of data are exhausted. The ratable units may
thus be used by the network provider for performing credit control for services
rendered to the user.
[0019] A conventional technique of credit control based on the ratable units
10 involves an online charging system communicatively coupled to the gateway. The
online charging system maintains service information corresponding to each user
based on which eligibility of the user to avail the service may be determined by the
gateway. The service information typically includes information about types of
services availed by the user and number of available service units corresponding to
15 each ratable unit subscribed by the user. As will be understood, service units refers to
a measurable quantity, such as number of seconds or the numbers of bytes of data
based on which the network provider monitors a duration of network usage for the
service being rendered to the user. Thus, before rendering a service to a user, the
gateway may interact with the online charging system to determine if the user has any
20 available service units corresponding to the ratable units used to monitor the service.
[0020] For instance, if a user wishes to access a website, the user may
transmit to the gateway, through the communication device, data packets that have to
be exchanged for accessing the website. On receiving the data packets, the gateway
may determine the number of data bytes and seconds that may be utilized for
25 accessing the website. The gateway may then request the online charging system to
confirm if the user has the desired number of service units available for the ratable
units, i.e., time and volume. In case, the user has the desired number of service units,
9
the online charging system may assign the service units to the gateway, based on
which the gateway may start rendering the service, i.e., allow the user to access the
website. In case, the user does not have the desired number of service units for a
particular ratable unit, the online charging system may assign the service units to the
gateway and inform the gateway a final action that the gateway may perform upo5 n
exhaustion of the service units before completion of the service. Examples of final
action include redirecting the user service connection to a predetermined web
address, terminating user service connection, and provide restricted access to the data
usage service.
10 [0021] As will be understood, in such a case the gateway may perform the
final action upon exhaustion of the service units for the particular ratable unit even if
the service units for other ratable units are not exhausted. Performing said final action
in cases where service units for a ratable unit are not exhausted may cause
inconvenience to the user in cases where the ratable units, for which the service units
15 are still available, is a charging unit. The charging unit may be defined as the ratable
unit based on which the network provider may charge the user for rendering the
service. For instance, the service provider may monitor network usage by a user
based on time and volume of data usage but may charge the user based only on the
volume of data usage. Time and volume may be ratable units in such a case, while
20 volume may also be the chargeable unit. As previously described, the conventional
technique involves monitoring both the ratable units and performing the final action
upon exhaustion of service units of either of the ratable units. The users in such a case
may feel inconvenient as they may not be able to avail a service in spite of having
credits in their user account. The user may thus either file complains with the network
25 provider asking the network provider to increase their service units for the nonchargeable
ratable units or switch to different network providers, thus causing
customer and revenue loss to the network provider.
10
[0022] According to an implementation of the present subject matter, methods
and systems for chargeable unit based credit control in a communication network are
described. The present subject matter allows a network provider to perform credit
control based on a chargeable unit while rendering a service to a user. Performing the
credit control based on the chargeable unit instead of non-chargeable ratable unit5 s
facilitates in improving customer experience.
[0023] In one embodiment, a gateway, such as the GGSN may send a credit
control request update (CCR-U) message to an online charging system to obtain
predetermined number of service units for rendering a service, say, web browsing, to
10 a user. In one implementation, the gateway may send the CCR-U message at
occurrence of a predetermined event, such as upon receiving a request from the user
for availing the service and exhaustion of service units while rendering the service.
Further, the gateway may request the service units for one or more ratable units, such
as time and volume, used the network provider to monitor network usage by users.
15 [0024] In one implementation, the CCR-U message indicates number of
requested service units (RSU), for one or more ratable unit, such as time and volume,
which the user needs to avail the service. Further, in case the CCR-U message is sent
upon exhaustion of service units while rendering the service, the CCR-U message
may include a value of used service units (USU) for each of the one or more ratable
20 units. In one implementation, the USU indicates number of service units used since a
previous grant of service units for performing the service. On receiving the CCR-U
message, the online charging system ascertains, for each of the one or more ratable
units, if an updated value of a granted service unit (GSU) is less than the number of
RSU. The GSU indicates number of service units available for each of the one or
25 more ratable units.
[0025] In case the updated value of GSU is more than the RSU for all the
ratable units, service units equal to the RSU may be granted to the gateway for
11
continuing rendering the service. In one implementation, the online charging system
may transmit a credit control answer update (CCA-U) message indicating the grant of
the RSU to the gateway. In case the updated value of GSU is less than the RSU for at
least one ratable unit, the CCA-U message may include an attribute value pair
indicating a chargeable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, based o5 n
which the service has to be charged. The CCA-U message may further include a final
unit indication for informing to the gateway a final action that the gateway may
perform upon exhaustion of the service units, corresponding to the chargeable unit
before completion of the service.
10 [0026] Upon receiving the CCA-U message, the gateway may ascertain to
have received the RSU and thus continue rendering the service. In case, the service
units for any of the ratable units exhausts before completion of the service, the
gateway may determine if the ratable unit is the chargeable unit. In one
implementation, the gateway may analyze the attribute value pair to identify the
15 chargeable unit. If the ratable unit for which the GSU has exhausted is the chargeable
unit, the gateway may perform the final action indicated in the CCA-U message. If
the ratable unit for which the GSU has exhausted is not the chargeable unit, the
gateway may continue providing the service to the user.
[0027] The present subject matter thus facilitates a network provider to
20 provide high level of Quality-of-service (QoS) for its users as the user may now
continue availing the service even if service units for a non-chargeable ratable unit
are exhausted. Performing the final action upon exhaustion of service units
corresponding to the chargeable unit facilitates in ensuring that the customers may
enjoy availing the service as per the service charges paid by them. Increase in the
25 QoS may facilitate in increase in the customer satisfaction, thus facilitating customer
retention.
12
[0028] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the
principles of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled
in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly
described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and
are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein ar5 e
principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in
understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts
contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being
without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all
10 statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present subject
matter, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents
thereof.
[0029] It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the words
during, while, and when as used herein are not exact terms that mean an action takes
15 place instantly upon an initiating action but that there may be some small but
reasonable delay, such as a propagation delay, between the initial action and the
reaction that is initiated by the initial action. Additionally, the words “connected” and
“coupled” are used throughout for clarity of the description and can include either a
direct connection or an indirect connection.
20 [0030] The manner in which the systems and the methods of the present
subject matter may be implemented has been explained in details with respect to the
Figures 1 to 4. While aspects of described system(s) and method(s) of the present
subject matter can be implemented in any number of different computing systems,
environments, and/or configurations, the embodiments are described in the context of
25 the following system(s).
[0031] Figures 1 illustrates an exemplary communication network
environment 100 implementing an online charging system 102 for chargeable unit
13
based credit control, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. In
said embodiment, a gateway 104 interacts with one or more user devices 106-1, 106-
2, …., 106-n, hereinafter collectively referred to as user devices 106 and individually
referred to as a user devices 106. The gateway 104 interacts with the user devices 106
over a communication network 108. The gateway 104 further interacts with th5 e
online charging system 102 over the communication network 108.
[0032] The communication network 108 may be a wireless or a wired
network, or a combination thereof. The communication network 108 can be a
collection of individual networks, interconnected with each other and functioning as a
10 single large network (e.g., the internet or an intranet). Examples of such individual
networks include, but are not limited to, Global System for Mobile Communication
(GSM) network, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network,
Personal Communications Service (PCS) network, Time Division Multiple Access
(TDMA) network, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, Next
15 Generation Network (NGN), Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). Depending on the technology, the
communication network 108 includes various network entities, such as gateways and
routers; however, such details have been omitted for ease of understanding.
[0033] Further, examples of the user devices 106, include but are not limited
20 to, smart phones, mobile phones, PDA, tablets, hand-held devices, laptops, desktop
computers, and network computers. The user devices interact with each other and
other network devices (not shown in the figure) over the communication network
108. Further, in order to avail one or more services offered by a network provider
with which users of the user devices 106 are subscribed, the user devices 106 may
25 interact with the gateway 104. The gateway 104 may be, for example, a GGSN
implemented in the network for facilitating the network provider in rendering
services to the user devices 106. Example, of the services include, but are not limited
14
to, voice call, video call, data usage, and text messaging. In one implementation, the
gateway 104 facilitates in data packet transfer from the user devices 106 to other
network devices as a part of rendering the services to the users. The gateway 104 may
further interact with the online charging system 102 to monitor network usage by the
user while availing paid services, i.e., the services, from among the one or mor5 e
services, for which the network provider charges the user.
[0034] In one implementation, the online charging system 102 and the
gateway 104 include processor(s), device I/O interface(s), and memory coupled to the
processors. For example, the online charging system 102 includes processor(s) 110-1,
10 I/O interface(s) 112-1, and memory 114-1 coupled to the processor 110-1; while the
gateway 104 includes processor(s) 110-2, I/O interface(s) 112-2, and memory 114-2
coupled to the processor 110-2. The processors for the online charging system 102
and the gateway 104 are hereinafter collectively referred to as the processor(s) 110.
The I/O interface(s) for the online charging system 102 and the gateway 104 are
15 hereinafter collectively referred to as the I/O interface(s) 112. The memory for the
online charging system 102 and the gateway 104 are hereinafter collectively referred
to as the memory 114. The processors 110 may be implemented as one or more
microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central
processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate
20 signals based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the processor(s)
110 is configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions stored in the
memory 114.
[0035] The functions of the various elements shown in the figure, including
any functional blocks labeled as “processor(s)”, may be provided through the use of
25 dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association
with appropriate software. When provided by a processor, the functions may be
15
provided by a single dedicated processor, by a single shared processor, or by a
plurality of individual processors, some of which may be shared.
[0036] The I/O interfaces 112 may include a variety of software and hardware
interfaces that allow the online charging system 102 and the gateway 104 to interact
with each other and the communication network 108. Further, the I/O interfaces 115 2
may enable the gateway 104 to communicate with user devices 106 and other
communication and computing devices, such as web servers and external repositories.
The memory 114 may include any computer-readable medium known in the art
including, for example, volatile memory (e.g., RAM), and/or non-volatile memory
10 (e.g., EPROM, flash memory, etc.).
[0037] Further, the online charging system 102 and the gateway 104 include
modules and data. For example, the online charging system 102 and the gateway 104
include modules 116-1, 116-2 and data 118-1, 118-2, respectively, collectively
referred to as modules 116 and data 118, respectively. The modules 116 include
15 routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and the like, which perform
particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The modules 116 further
include modules that supplement applications on the online charging system 102 and
the gateway 104, for example, modules of an operating system.
[0038] Further, the modules 116 can be implemented in hardware,
20 instructions executed by a processing unit, or by a combination thereof. The
processing unit can comprise a computer, a processor, such as the processor 108, a
state machine, a logic array or any other suitable devices capable of processing
instructions. The processing unit can be a general-purpose processor which executes
instructions to cause the general-purpose processor to perform the tasks or, the
25 processing unit can be dedicated to perform the functions.
16
[0039] In another aspect of the present subject matter, the modules 116 may
be machine-readable instructions (software) which, when executed by a
processor/processing unit, perform any of the described functionalities. The machinereadable
instructions may be stored on an electronic memory device, hard disk,
optical disk or other machine-readable storage medium or non-transitory medium. I5 n
one implementation, the machine-readable instructions can be also be downloaded to
the storage medium via a network connection. The data 118 serves, amongst other
things, as a repository for storing data that may be fetched, processed, received, or
generated by one or more of the modules 116.
10 [0040] In an implementation, the modules 116-1 of the online charging
system 102 include a communication module 120, a credit control module 122, and
other module(s) 124. Further, the data 118-1 of the online charging system 102
include communication data 126, credit control data 128, and other data 130. The
modules 116-2 of the gateway 104 include an interaction module 132, a service
15 rendering module 134, and other module(s) 136. Further, the data 118-2 of the
gateway 104 include interaction data 138, service rendering data 140, and other data
142. The other data 130, 142 comprise data corresponding to one or more other
module(s) 124, 136.
[0041] As previously described, the gateway 104 facilitates the network
20 provider in rendering one or more services to the users of the user device 106, while
the online charging system 102 facilitates in monitoring network usage by the user
while availing the paid services from among the one or more services. In one
embodiment, for rendering a service to a user of the user device 106, the interaction
module 132 of the gateway 104 may send a credit control request (CCR) message to
25 the online charging system 102 to obtain predetermined number of service units. In
one implementation, the interaction module 132 may send the CCR message at
occurrence of a predetermined event, such as upon receiving a service request from
17
the user for availing the service and exhaustion of service units while rendering the
service. Further, the CCR message may be CCR-initial request (CCR-I) message or a
CCR-update (CCR-U) message depending on whether the CCR message is being sent
upon receiving the service request from the user or upon exhaustion of service units
while rendering the service5 .
[0042] For instance, in order to avail the service the user may send a service
request to the gateway 104 using the user device 106. The service may be, for
example, web browsing. Upon receiving the service request, the service rendering
module 134 of the gateway 104 may determine the number of data bytes and seconds
10 that may be utilized for web browsing. The interaction module 132 of the gateway
104 may then send a CCR-I message to the online charging system 102 requesting a
grant of service units, for one or more ratable unit, such as time and volume, which
the user desires to avail the service. In one implementation, the CCR-I message may
be received by the communication module 120 of the online charging system 102.
15 The communication module 120 may save the CCR-I message in the communication
data 126.
[0043] Upon receiving the CCR-I message, the credit control module 122 of
the online charging system 102 may analyze the CCR-I to determine a number of
requested service units (RSU), i.e., service units requested, for the one or more
20 ratable units, for rendering the service to the user. In case, the user has the desired
number of service units, the credit control module 122 may reserve the RSU for the
service. The credit control module 122 may then generate a credit control answer
(CCA) message indicating a number of granted service unit (GSU) assigned to the
user for availing the service. The credit control module 122 may further save the
25 value of GSU in the credit control data 128. The communication module 120 may
subsequently send the CCA message to the gateway 104.
18
[0044] Upon receiving the CCA message, the interaction module 132 may
save the CCA message in the interaction data 138. The CCA message may be further
analyzed by the service rendering module 134 to determine the value of GSU granted
by the online charging system 102. The service rendering module 134 may save the
value of GSU in the service rendering data 140 and subsequently initiate renderin5 g
the service to the user.
[0045] During the rendering of the service by the gateway 104, if the GSU
exhausts or is about to exhaust before the service is completely rendered to the user,
the gateway 104 may request the online charging system 102 for further grant of
10 service units. In one implementation, the service rendering module 134 may initially
determine the number of service units that the user may require for continuing
availing the service. The service rendering module 134 may subsequently generate
the CCR-U message indicating the number of the RSU that may be utilized for
continuation of the service. In one implementation, the CCR-U may further include a
15 value of used service units (USU) for each of the one or more ratable units. The USU
indicates the number of service units used since a previous grant of service units for
performing the service. The interaction module 132 may subsequently transmit the
CCR-U message to the online charging system 102.
[0046] The communication module 120 of the online charging system 102
20 may receive the CCR-U message and save it in the communication data 126 for
further processing. The credit control module 122 may subsequently analyze the
CCR-U message to ascertain the value of the USU and the number of RSU requested
by the gateway 104. In one implementation, the credit control module 122 may
analyze the CCR-U message to ascertain the value of the USU and the number of
25 RSU for each ratable unit. Upon determining the value of USU, the credit control
module 122 may compute an updated value of GSU for each ratable unit using the
corresponding value of the USU. In one implementation, the credit control module
19
122 may compute the updated value of GSU for each ratable unit based on the
corresponding value of USU and a corresponding current value of available service
units. The current value of available service units may indicate number of service
units available with the user for availing a service. In one implementation, the current
value of available service units may be determined based on, for example, a servic5 e
package subscribed by the user.
[0047] The credit control module 122 may compute the updated value of
GSU by subtracting the value of the USU from the current value of available service
units. The credit control module 122 may subsequently compare the updated value of
10 GSU with the number of RSU indicated in the CCR-U message to ascertain if the
updated value of GSU is less than the number of RSU. In case the credit control
module 122 determines that the updated value of GSU is more than the RSU for all
the ratable units, the credit control module 122 may grant the service units equal to
the RSU. In one implementation, the credit control module 122 may generate a credit
15 control answer update (CCA-U) message indicating the grant of the RSU for
continuation of the service. The credit control module 122 may save the CCA-U
message in the service rendering data 140. The CCA-U message may be subsequently
transmitted by the interaction module 132 to the gateway 104.
[0048] In case the updated value of GSU is less than the RSU for at least one
20 ratable unit, the credit control module 122 may determine that the user is about to
exhaust a credit limit authorized to the user by the network provider. The credit
control module 122, in such a case, may add a final unit indication and an attribute
value pair indicating a chargeable unit in the CCA-U message. The chargeable unit
may be defined as a ratable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, based on
25 which the service has to be charged. The final unit indication may be defined as an
indication for informing to the gateway 104, a final action that the gateway 104 may
perform upon exhaustion of the service units corresponding to the chargeable unit
20
before completion of the service. Examples of final action include redirecting the user
service connection to a predetermined web address, terminating user service
connection, and provide restricted access to the data usage service. The
communication module 120 may subsequently transmit the CCA-U message to the
gateway 1045 .
[0049] In one implementation, the CCA-U message may be received by the
interaction module 132 of the gateway 104. The interaction module 132 may save the
CCA-U message in the interaction data 138 for further processing. On receiving the
CCA-U message, the service rendering module 134 may determine the number of
10 service units granted by the online charging system 102 and continue rendering the
service to the user. In case, while rendering the service, the service units for any of
the ratable units exhausts before completion of the service, the service rendering
module 134 may analyze if the final unit indication has been provide in the CCA-U
message. In one implementation, the service rendering module 134 may determine
15 the service units to have exhausted based on the GSU, for each ratable unit,
mentioned in the CCA-U message and the number of service units used since the
receipt of the CCA-U message. The service rendering module 134 may compare the
number of service units used with the GSU to determine if the GSU is equal to the
number of service units. If the number of service units is less than the GSU, the
20 service rendering module 134 may determine the service units to have not exhausted
and continue rendering the service. If the number of service units is equal to the GSU,
the service rendering module 134 may determine the service units to have exhausted.
The service rendering module 134 may then analyze the CCA-U message to
determine if the final unit indication has been provide in the CCA-U message.
25 [0050] On determining the final unit indication to be present in the CCA-U
message, the service rendering module 134 may ascertain if the ratable unit, for
which the service units have exhausted, is the chargeable unit. In one implementation,
21
the service rendering module 134 may identify the chargeable unit based on the
attribute value pair provided in the CCA-U message. The service rendering module
134 may analyze the attribute value pair to identify the chargeable unit. For instance,
if the service being provided is monitored based on two ratable units time and
volume, the service rendering module 134 may analyze the attribute value pair t5 o
identify which ratable unit from among time and volume is the chargeable unit. If the
attribute value pair in the CCR-U message indicates time, the service rendering
module 134 may determine time as the chargeable unit.
[0051] If the service rendering module 134 ascertains that the ratable unit for
10 which the GSU has exhausted is the chargeable unit, the service rendering module
134 performs the final action indicated in the CCA-U message. For instance, if the
final unit indication indicates termination of user service connection, the service
rendering module 134 terminates the service. If the ratable unit for which the GSU
has exhausted is not the chargeable unit, the service rendering module 134 may
15 continue providing the service to the user. In one implementation, the service
rendering module 134 in such a case may transmit a new CCR-U message to the
online charging system 102 to request for further allocation of service units for the
ratable unit whose service units have exhausted.
[0052] Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary call flow diagram 200 for indicating
20 chargeable unit based credit control, according to an embodiment of the present
subject matter. The various arrow indicators used in the call-flow diagram 200 depict
the transfer of data between the various entities in the communication network
environment 100 and between the online charging system 102 and the gateway 104.
Although the description of Figure 2 has been made in considerable detail with
25 respect to diameter protocol implemented in a 3rd Generation Partnership Project
(3GPP) based network, it will be understood that the chargeable unit based credit
control can be implemented in other networks as well, albeit with few alterations.
22
Further, certain trivial steps have been omitted in the sequence diagrams, for the sake
of brevity and clarity.
[0053] In one implementation, the gateway 104, such as the GGSN, may
transmit a first CCR-U message to the online charging system 102 and the same is
indicated by step 202. The first CCR-U message in one implementation includes 5 a
multiple service credit control (MSCC) attribute value pair (MSCC-AVP) having one
or more attribute value pairs related to credit control services rendered by the
gateway 104. For instance, the MSCC-AVP may include a RSU-AVP indicating the
number of RSU requested by the gateway 104 for providing a service to the user and
10 a rating group (RG-AVP) indicating the type of the service requested by the user.
[0054] On receiving the first CCR-U message, the online charging system
102 may determine if user can be granted service units as requested in the RSU-AVP.
On determining that the user has sufficient number of service units, the online
charging system 102 may generate a first CCA-U message indicating allowance of
15 the RSU. Accordingly, the online charging system 102 may transmit the first CCA-U
message to the gateway 104 and the same is indicated by step 204. The first CCA-U
message in one implementation includes a result code indication and another MSCCAVP
having one or more attribute value pairs, such as a result code (RC)-AVP and a
GSU-AVP. The GSU-AVP indicates that the user has sufficient service units for
20 availing the service.
[0055] Further, as described in Figure 1, on receiving the CCA-U message,
the gateway 104 may start rendering the service, for which the service units have
been requested. While rendering of the service, if the gateway 104 determines that the
service units have exhausted or are about to get exhausted before the service is
25 completely rendered to the user, the gateway 104 may request the online charging
system 102 for further grant of service units. In one implementation, the gateway 104
may subsequently generate a second CCR-U message indicating the number of RSU
23
that may be utilized for continuation of the service. The second CCR-U may include
another MSCC-AVP having one or more attribute value pairs, such as a USU-AVP
and a RSU-AVP for each of the one or more ratable units. The USU-AVP indicates
the number of service units used since a previous grant of service units for
performing the service. The RSU-AVP indicates the number of RSU requested by th5 e
gateway 104 for continuing rendering the service to the user. The gateway 104 may
subsequently transmit the second CCR-U message to the online charging system 102
and the same is indicated by step 206.
[0056] Upon receiving the second CCR-U message, the online charging
10 system 102 may determine if the user can be granted service units as requested in the
RSU-AVP. In one implementation, the online charging system 102 ascertains, for
each of the one or more ratable units, if an updated value of GSU is less than the
number of RSU. The online charging system 102 may compute the updated value of
GSU based on the USU and service units currently available with the user. In case the
15 updated value of GSU is more than the RSU for all the ratable units, service units
equal to the RSU may be granted to the gateway for continuing rendering the service.
In case the updated value of GSU is less than the RSU for at least one ratable unit, the
online charging system 102 determine that the service might not be completed and
inform the gateway 104 accordingly. In one implementation, the online charging
20 system may transmit a second CCA-U message indicating the grant of the RSU to the
gateway and the same is indicated at step 208.
[0057] The second CCA-U message may include another MSCC-AVP
having, a rate-unit AVP, a final unit indication AVP, the GSU-AVP, the RC-AVP,
CC-time, and CC-unit AVPs. The rate-unit AVP indicates a chargeable unit, from
25 among the one or more ratable units, based on which the service has to be charged.
The final unit indication AVP indicates a final action that the gateway may perform
upon exhaustion of the service units, corresponding to the chargeable unit before
completion of the service. The CC-time AVP indicates amount of time requested for
24
the service. The CC-unit indicates number of units requested for the service. Upon
receiving the second CCA-U message, the gateway 104 may continue rendering the
service to the user. In case, the service units for any of the ratable units exhausts
before completion of the service, the gateway 104 may determine if the ratable unit is
the chargeable unit. If the ratable unit for which the GSU has exhausted is th5 e
chargeable unit, the gateway 104 may perform the final action indicated in the CCAU
message. If the ratable unit for which the GSU has exhausted is not the chargeable
unit, the gateway 104 may continue providing the service to the user. The gateway
104 in such a case may transmit a third CCR-U message to the online charging
10 system 102 to request for further allocation of service units for the ratable unit whose
service units have exhausted as is indicated by step 210.
[0058] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate methods 300 and 400 for chargeable unit
based credit control, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. The
order in which the method is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation,
15 and any number of the described method blocks can be combined in any order to
implement the methods 300 and 400 or any alternative methods. Additionally,
individual blocks may be deleted from the methods without departing from the spirit
and scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, the methods can be
implemented in any suitable hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof.
20 [0059] The methods may be described in the general context of computer
executable instructions. Generally, computer executable instructions can include
routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, procedures, modules,
functions, etc., that perform particular functions or implement particular abstract data
types. The methods may also be practiced in a distributed computing environment
25 where functions are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a
communications network. In a distributed computing environment, computer
executable instructions may be located in both local and remote computer storage
media, including memory storage devices.
25
[0060] A person skilled in the art will readily recognize that steps of the
methods 300 and 400 can be performed by programmed computers. Herein, some
embodiments are also intended to cover program storage devices, for example, digital
data storage media, which are machine or computer readable and encode machineexecutable
or computer-executable programs of instructions, where said instruction5 s
perform some or all of the steps of the described methods. The program storage
devices may be, for example, digital memories, magnetic storage media, such as a
magnetic disks and magnetic tapes, hard drives, or optically readable digital data
storage media. The embodiments are also intended to cover both communication
10 network and communication devices configured to perform said steps of the
exemplary methods.
[0061] Figure 3 illustrates the method 300 for chargeable unit based credit
control, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0062] At block 302, a credit control request update (CCR-U) message is
15 received from a gateway. For example, an online charging system, say, the online
charging system 102 may receive the CCR-U message from the gateway 104. In one
implementation, the CCR-U message indicates a number of requested service units
(RSU) requested by the gateway, for one or more ratable units, for continuing a
service being rendered to a user by the gateway.
20 [0063] At block 304, it is ascertained if an updated value of a granted service
unit (GSU), for each of the one or more ratable units, is less than the number of RSU.
In one example, the GSU indicates number of service units available for each of the
one or more ratable units. For instance, upon receiving the CCR-U message from the
gateway, the online charging system may determine the value of GSU and compare
25 the same with the RSU indicated in the CCR-U message.
[0064] At block 306, a credit control answer update (CCA-U) message is
generated on ascertaining the value of GSU being less than the number of RSU. In
26
one example, the online charging system 102 may generate the CCA-U. In one
implementation, the CCA-U message includes a value of GSU granted for continuing
the service, a final unit indication, and an attribute value pair. The attribute value pair
may indicate a chargeable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, based on
which the service has to be charged5 .
[0065] At block 308, the CCA-U message is transmitted to the gateway for
continuing the service based on the CCA-U message. In one example, the online
charging system 102 may transmit the CCA-U message to the gateway 104.
[0066] Figure 4 illustrates the method 400 for chargeable unit based credit
10 control, according to another embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0067] At block 402, a credit control request update (CCR-U) message is
transmitted to a charging system. For example, a gateway, say, the gateway 104 may
transmit the CCR-U message to the online charging system 102. In one
implementation, the CCR-U message may indicate number of requested service units
15 (RSU) requested, for one or more ratable units, for continuing a service being
provided to a user by the gateway.
[0068] At block 404, a credit control answer update (CCA-U) message is
received in response to the CCR-U message. In one example, the gateway 104 may
receive the CCA-U message from the online charging system 102. The CCA-U
20 message includes a value granted service unit (GSU) granted for each of the one or
more ratable units, a final unit indication, and an attribute value pair indicating a
chargeable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, based on which the
service has to be charged.
[0069] At block 406, for each of the one or more ratable units it is ascertained
25 whether the corresponding GSU is exhausted before completion of the service. In one
example, the gateway may determine the service units to have exhausted by
comparing the GSU with the number of service units used since the receipt of the
27
CCA-U message to determine if the GSU is equal to the number of service units. If
the number of service units is equal to the GSU it is determined that the service units
have exhausted. If the number of service units is less than the GSU, it is determined
that the service units have not exhausted.
[0070] At block 408, it is determined whether the ratable unit, from amon5 g
the one or more ratable units, for which the GSU has exhausted is the chargeable unit
indicated in the CCA-U message. In one implementation, gateway may identify the
chargeable unit based on the attribute value pair provided in the CCA-U message. For
instance, if the service being provided is monitored based on two ratable units time
10 and volume, the gateway may analyze the attribute value pair to identify which
ratable unit from among time and volume is mentioned as the chargeable unit in the
attribute value pair.
[0071] At block 410, the service is rendered based on the determining. In one
implementation, the gateway may render the service to the user based on the ratable
15 unit for which the service units have exhausted is the chargeable or not. For instance,
if it is determined that the ratable unit for which the GSU has exhausted is the
chargeable unit; the gateway performs the final action indicated in the CCA-U
message. If the ratable unit for which the GSU has exhausted is not the chargeable
unit, the gateway may continue providing the service to the user. In one
20 implementation, the gateway may transmit a new CCR-U message to the online
charging system to request for further allocation of service units for the ratable unit
whose service units have exhausted.
[0072] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been
described in a language specific to structural features or method(s), it is to be
25 understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific features or
method(s) described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as
embodiments for the present subject matter.

CLAIMS:1. A method comprising:
receiving, from a gateway (104), a credit control request update (CCR-U) message indicating number of requested service units (RSU) requested, for one or more ratable units, for continuing a service being rendered to a user;
ascertaining, for each of the one or more ratable units, if an updated value of a granted service unit (GSU) is less than the number of RSU, wherein the GSU indicates number of service units that can be granted for each of the one or more ratable units;
generating a credit control answer update (CCA-U) message on ascertaining the value of GSU being less than the number of RSU, wherein the CCA-U message includes a value of GSU granted for continuing the service, a final unit indication, and an attribute value pair indicating a chargeable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, based on which the service has to be charged; and
transmitting the CCA-U message to the gateway for continuing the service based on the CCA-U message.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more ratable units is one of time and volume.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the CCR-U message further includes value of used service units (USU) for each of the one or more ratable units, and wherein the USU indicates number of service units used since receiving a previous CCA-U message.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ascertaining comprises:
obtaining a current value of available service units (ASU); and
computing the updated value of GSU based on the value of the USU and the current value of ASU.
5. A method comprising:
transmitting, to an online charging system (102), a credit control request update (CCR-U) message indicating number of requested service units (RSU) requested, for one or more ratable units, for continuing a service being provided to a user;
receiving a credit control answer update (CCA-U) message in response to the CCR-U message, wherein the CCA-U message includes a value granted service unit (GSU) granted for each of the one or more ratable units, a final unit indication, and an attribute value pair indicating a chargeable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, based on which the service has to be charged;
ascertaining, for each of the one or more ratable units, whether the corresponding GSU is exhausted before completion of the service;
determining whether the ratable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, for which the GSU has exhausted is the chargeable unit indicated in the CCA-U message; and
rendering the service based on the determining.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rendering further comprises continuing providing the service if the ratable unit for which the GSU has exhausted is not the chargeable unit.
7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rendering further comprises performing a final unit action indicated in the final unit indication of the CCA-U message if the ratable unit for which the GSU has exhausted is the chargeable unit.
8. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ascertaining further comprises:
comparing, for each of the one or more ratable units, the corresponding GSU with number of service units consumed; and
determining the GSU to be exhausted if the number of service units consumed is equal to the GSU.
9. An online charging system (102) for chargeable unit based credit control of a service being rendered to a user, the online charging system (102) comprising:
a processor (110);
a credit control module (122) coupled to the processor (110) to,
ascertain, for each of one or more ratable units, if an updated value of a granted service unit (GSU) is less than a number of requested service units (RSU) requested for continuing the service, wherein the GSU indicates number of service units that can be granted for each of the one or more ratable units; and
generate a credit control answer update (CCA-U) message on ascertaining the updated value of GSU being less than the number of RSU, wherein the CCA-U message includes a value of GSU granted for continuing the service, a final unit indication, and an attribute value pair indicating a chargeable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, based on which the service has to be charged; and
a communication module (120) coupled to the processor (110) to transmit the CCA-U message to a gateway (104) for continuing the service based on the CCA-U message.
10. The online charging system (102) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the communication module (120) further is to receive, from the gateway (104), a credit control request update (CCR-U) message indicating the number of RSU requested, for the one or more ratable units, for continuing the service.
11. The online charging system (102) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the credit control module (122) further is to:
analyze the CCR-U message to ascertain a value of used service units (USU) for each of the one or more ratable units, wherein the USU indicates number of service units used since receiving a previous CCA-U message;
obtain a current value of available service units (ASU); and
compute the updated value of GSU based on the value of the USU and the current value of ASU.
12. A gateway (104) comprising:
a processor (110);
an interaction module (132) coupled to the processor (110) to,
transmit, to an online charging system (102), a credit control request update (CCR-U) message indicating number of requested service units (RSU) requested, for one or more ratable units, for continuing the service being provided to the user; and
receive a credit control answer update (CCA-U) message in response to the CCR-U message, wherein the CCA-U message includes a value granted service unit (GSU) granted for each of the one or more ratable units, a final unit indication, and an attribute value pair indicating a chargeable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, based on which the service has to be charged; and
a service rendering module (134) coupled to the processor (110) to,
ascertain, for each of the one or more ratable units, whether the corresponding GSU is exhausted before completion of the service;
determine whether the ratable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, for which the GSU has exhausted is the chargeable unit indicated in the CCA-U message; and
render the service based on the determining.
13. The gateway (104) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the service rendering module (134) further is to perform at least one of:
providing the service if the ratable unit for which the GSU has exhausted is not the chargeable unit; and
performing a final unit action indicated in the final unit indication of the CCA-U message if the ratable unit for which the GSU has exhausted is the chargeable unit.
14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program for executing a method of chargeable unit based credit control, the method comprising:
receiving, from a gateway, a credit control request update (CCR-U) message indicating a number of requested service units (RSU) requested, for one or more ratable units, for continuing a service being rendered to a user;
ascertaining, for each of the one or more ratable units, if an updated value of a granted service unit (GSU) is less than the number of RSU, wherein the GSU indicates a number of service units that can be granted for each of the one or more ratable units;
generating a credit control answer update (CCA-U) message on ascertaining the value of GSU being less than the number of RSU, wherein the CCA-U message includes a value of GSU granted for continuing the service, a final unit indication, and an attribute value pair indicating a chargeable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, based on which the service has to be charged; and
transmitting the CCA-U message to the gateway for continuing the service based on the CCA-U message.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program for executing a method of chargeable unit based credit control, the method comprising:
transmitting, to a charging system, a credit control request update (CCR-U) message indicating a number of requested service units (RSU) requested, for one or more ratable units, for continuing a service being provided to a user;
receiving a credit control answer update (CCA-U) message in response to the CCR-U message, wherein the CCA-U message includes a value granted service unit (GSU) granted for each of the one or more ratable units, a final unit indication, and an attribute value pair indicating a chargeable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, based on which the service has to be charged;
ascertaining, for each of the one or more ratable units, whether the corresponding GSU is exhausted before completion of the service;
determining whether the ratable unit, from among the one or more ratable units, for which the GSU has exhausted is the chargeable unit indicated in the CCA-U message; and
rendering the service based on the determining.