CN1859534B - Charging method and system for traffic service - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is applicable to the communication field, and provides a method and system for business service billing, which is used for multiple user terminal businesses to use one account to apply for business services at the same time. The method includes the following steps: 1.1 User terminal to the service providing system Sending a business service request; 1.2 The service providing system receives the business service request of the user terminal, and sends a charging request message containing attribute parameters to the online charging system; the attribute parameter identifies the account reservation method of the business service; 1.3 Online The billing system allocates reserved units for the business services applied by the user terminal according to the current account balance, the account reservation method of the currently used business service, and the attribute parameters; 1.4 The service providing system provides the user terminal with the reserved units according to the reserved units Serve. Through the present invention, when multi-user services use the same user account to apply for business services at the same time, the user account balance can be fully utilized to provide business services for each user business.

Description

A charging method and system for business services

technical field

The invention belongs to the communication field, and in particular relates to a method for charging business services according to the usage time, a service providing system and an online charging system.

Background technique

With the development of telecommunication services, it has become a common billing scenario for users to apply for multiple services at the same time and use the same account for real-time billing. In some cases, members of a group or a family also wish to share the same account for payment when using the real-time billing service. At present, the prepayment customer service (Prepay Customer, PPC) based on the intelligent network adopts the method of reserving and deducting fees, which can ensure that there is no arrears. The reserved unit is a part of the unit allocated by the online billing system from the user account when the user applies for a service, and is specially used for the service applied for this time, and this part of the unit cannot be used when applying for other services. Usually, when the service provider system (Service Provide Platform, SPP) applies to the online charging system (Online Charging System, OCS) for business reservation quotas, OCS will reserve relatively more quotas for the applied business in order to reduce SPP The number of interactions with the OCS. However, SPP will only send a service usage status message to OCS when the user ends the service or the reserved unit has been used up this time, so the amount of money that has been used and deducted from the account is passed to OCS Previously, the OCS did not know how many cells were already used in the previous reserved cells. Therefore, during the call, the balance value of the account reflects a value smaller than the actual remaining value, which will lead to, for example: multi-user services all share the same prepaid account, but because the service exclusively occupies the reserved unit, even if the service The reserved units applied for have not been used up, and the remaining reserved units cannot be used for the application and use of other services, resulting in the situation that there is a balance in the account and the business cannot be used.

If there is such a business scenario: the balance of user A's prepaid account is 10 yuan, user A first applies for voice calls, and the online billing system uses real-time billing to reserve an amount of 6 yuan for voice calls. During the voice call, user B applies for an IP long-distance call, and uses user A's prepaid account to pay. The online billing system needs to reserve 5 yuan for the IP long-distance call of user B, but at this time the available balance of the user account is 4 yuan < 5 yuan, which makes the IP toll call service of user B unavailable. However, user A only needs to spend 3 yuan for a voice call, and the actual user account available balance is 7 yuan, which can meet the needs of user B for IP long-distance calls. It is precisely because the voice call monopolizes the balance of 6 yuan reserved at the time of application, so the balance of 5 yuan in the actual available account cannot be used for the application and use of user B's IP long-distance call service.

At present, in order to prevent the overdraft problem of the user account, the existing technology adopts the shared prepaid account method as shown in Figure 1 to realize the process, and the specific content is described in detail as follows:

1. The SPP sends a charging request message to the OCS, and the charging request message contains parameters related to this request;

2. OCS receives the billing request message, confirms whether the account balance meets the amount required for billing, and if so, sends the reserved unit in the reply message;

3. The SPP monitors the service usage. When the amount in the reserved unit is used up, the SPP reports a billing event message to the OCS. If the service is still needed, the SPP requests a new reserved unit from the OCS again;

4. OCS receives the billing request message, confirms whether the account balance meets the amount required for billing, and if so, sends the reserved unit in the reply message, and OCS requests a new reserved unit in response to the SPP;

5. After the service is used, the SPP sends a charging end request to the OCS.

After each service is used, if the fee applied by SPP is not used up in one service use, SPP sends the fee to OCS and returns to the application operation. The application contains the remaining fee for this service, and OCS will add the remaining fee to On the user's account, it is guaranteed that the user's account balance will not be lost.

In order to realize multiple services use the same account for billing at the same time, and maximize the use of user account balances, to avoid the problem that there is actually an available account balance, but the account balance cannot be used for the application and use of other business services. A method of minimum reserved unit reservation may be used. The smallest reserved unit refers to the smallest billing unit that a user can use for a certain telecommunication service. For telecommunication services billed by duration, such as fixed-line domestic long-distance calls in voice services, the billing is based on 6 seconds, and 6 seconds is the minimum reserved unit for fixed-line domestic long-distance calls. The specific reservation method of the minimum reserved unit is: the OCS allocates the minimum reserved unit required for this call to the SPP. When multiple calls are continuously triggered, the OCS allocates the minimum reserved unit to the SPP each time. When the allocated reserved unit for the call is used up or is about to be used up, the SPP immediately applies to the OCS for the fee again, and the application is repeated until the call ends or the balance of the account is used up.

Using the reservation method of the smallest reserved unit can make the user account amount be utilized to the greatest extent, and avoid the situation that a certain business monopolizes a large reserved amount. However, using the minimum reserved unit reservation will lead to excessive interaction frequency between OCS and SPP, and will cause interaction load of service provider equipment and message load between service provider network and OCS under a certain bandwidth. In the case of a large number of calls, it is easy to cause congestion and limit user use.

Contents of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a business service charging method, which aims to solve the problem in the prior art that the actual balance of the prepaid account cannot be fully utilized when multiple user services share a prepaid account at the same time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a business service providing system;

Another object of the present invention is to provide an online billing system for business services;

The present invention is implemented in this way. The method for charging business services is used for multiple user terminals to apply for business services using one account at the same time. The method includes the following steps:

1.1 The user terminal sends a business service request to the service providing system;

1.2 The service providing system receives the business service request of the user terminal, and sends a charging request message including attribute parameters to the online charging system; the attribute parameters identify the account reservation method of the business service;

1.3 The online billing system allocates reserved units for the business services applied by the user terminal according to the current account balance, the account reservation method of the business service currently in use, and the attribute parameters;

1.4 The service providing system provides services for user terminals according to the reserved units.

Said step 1.3 further comprises:

2.1 When the account balance is greater than or equal to the amount corresponding to the reserved unit of the business service application, the online billing system allocates a reserved unit for the business service application and sends it to the service providing system.

Said step 1.3 further comprises:

3.1 When the account balance is less than the amount corresponding to the reserved unit of the business service application, the online charging system judges the reservation mode of all business services currently in use according to the attribute parameters; If the reservation method of all business services is exclusive account reservation method, go to step 3.2;

3.2 The online charging system does not allocate reserved units for the current business service application, and sends a reserved unit failure message to the service providing system.

Said step 1.3 further comprises:

4.1 When the account balance is less than the amount corresponding to the reserved unit of the business service application, the online charging system judges the account reservation mode of all business services currently in use according to the attribute parameters; if the If the account reservation method of all business services currently in use includes the shared account reservation method, and the business service currently being applied for is an exclusive account reservation method, then perform step 4.2;

4.2 The online billing system inquires the service provider system about the status of the reserved unit used by the business service in the shared account reservation mode;

4.3 The service providing system sends to the online billing system the reserved units that have been used by the business service in the shared account reservation mode being used;

4.4 The online billing system calculates the amount corresponding to the unused reserved units of the business service based on the reserved units used by the business service, and incorporates the amount into the account balance. If the account balance after integration is greater than or equal to the amount corresponding to the smallest reserved unit of business services in the exclusive account reservation method currently applied for, then go to step 4.5; otherwise go to step 4.6;

4.5 The online billing system issues the reserved unit of the business service to the service providing system, and the reserved unit corresponds to the balance;

4.6 The online charging system sends a message of failure to reserve units of the business service to the service providing system.

Said step 1.3 further comprises:

5.1 When the account balance is less than the amount corresponding to the business service application reservation unit, the online charging system judges the account reservation mode of all business services currently in use according to the attribute parameters; The account reservation method of all business services includes the shared account reservation method, and the business service currently being applied for is the shared account reservation method, then perform step 5.2;

5.2 The online billing system inquires the service provider system about the status of the reserved units used by the business service in the shared account reservation mode;

5.3 The service providing system sends to the online billing system the reserved units that have been used by the business service of the shared account reservation mode being used;

5.4 The online billing system calculates the amount corresponding to the unused reserved unit of the business service according to the reserved unit, and incorporates the amount into the account balance. If the account balance after integration is greater than or equal to the current The amount corresponding to the minimum reserved unit of the business service of the shared account reservation method applied for, if yes, go to step 5.5; otherwise go to step 5.8;

5.5 The online billing system starts timer control respectively for the business service of the shared account reservation method and the business service of the currently applied for shared account reservation method, and issues the reservation unit corresponding to the timer interval;

5.6 When the business service of the reserved mode of the shared account being used, or the timer time interval of the business service of the currently applied for business service of the reserved mode of the shared account expires, the online billing system will reserve the mode of the shared account being used business service, or the business service of the currently applied shared account reservation method issues the reservation unit corresponding to the new timer interval;

5.7 When the account balance is less than the amount corresponding to the minimum reserved unit of the business service of the shared account reservation method or the business service of the currently applied for shared account reservation method, the online billing system fails to reserve the unit;

5.8 The online charging system sends a message of failure to reserve units to the service providing system.

Before the step 5.7, if the user terminal of the business service being used, or the user terminal of the business service currently being applied for, stops using the business service, the following steps are performed:

6.1 The service provider system returns to the online billing system the message that the business service in the shared account reservation mode is being used, or the currently applied business service in the shared account reservation mode has ceased to be used;

6.2 According to the stop-use message, the online billing system calculates that the business service in the reserved mode of the shared account being used, or the business service currently applying for the business service in the reserved mode of the shared account uses reserved units, is the The business service of the shared account reservation method used, or the business service of the shared account reservation method currently applied for issues a new reservation unit.

Said step 1.4 further comprises:

7.1 When the online charging system fails to issue the reserved unit, the service providing system does not provide business services for the user terminal.

Said step 1.4 further comprises:

8.1 When the online charging system delivers the reserved unit successfully, the service providing system provides business services for the user terminal.

The present invention also provides a business service providing system, which is used to receive a business service request from a user terminal, send a charging request message to the online charging system, and provide the user terminal with a business service according to the reserved unit issued by the online charging system , the service providing system includes:

The charging message management unit is used for converting and sending the charging message between sending or receiving and the online charging system;

A service providing unit, configured to provide business services for the user terminal, and send a charging application message including attribute parameters to the online charging system through the charging message management unit when the business service is applied for use;

The quota management unit is used to manage the reserved units issued by the online charging system, and detect the use of the reserved units when the service provider unit provides services. When the reserved units are used up, the charging message management unit sends the online The billing system applies for a new reserved unit.

The charging message management unit further includes:

An attribute parameter storage unit, configured to store the attribute parameter;

The attribute parameter identifies the account reservation mode of the business service applied for by the user terminal, and the account reservation mode includes exclusive account reservation or shared account reservation.

The present invention also provides an online charging system for business services, which is used to issue reserved units to the service providing system according to the charging request message of the service providing system. The online charging system includes:

A charging control module, configured to receive a charging application message including attribute parameters sent by the service providing system, and allocate a reserved unit for the business service application;

The account balance management module is used to manage user accounts;

Billing gateway module, used to process bills of business services;

The batch price processing module is used to calculate the fees corresponding to the charging events that occur in the online charging system;

The general access module is used for translating and sending the interactive messages between the service providing system and the online charging system.

The billing control module further includes:

The function control/scheduling module is used to control and schedule each module in the online charging system, so as to complete the charging control of the business service application of the online charging system;

The message management module is used to receive various messages reported by the service providing system, and send the function command generation message of the function control/scheduling module to the service providing system.

The billing control module further includes:

The timer management module is used to generate a timer for each business service application using the shared account reservation mode when using the shared account reservation control, and detect the usage status of the business service; when a timer event occurs, report to the function The control/scheduling module sends timing messages.

Through the method provided by the invention, when multi-user services use the same user account to apply for business services at the same time, the user account balance can be fully utilized to provide business services for each user business.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the realization flowchart of the shared prepaid account method of reserving and deducting fees in the prior art;

Fig. 2 is the flow chart of the implementation of the method of the service sharing account charged according to the duration of use in the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a flow chart of the implementation of the method for the user terminal to successively apply for business service charging in the form of an exclusive reserved account in the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a flow chart of the implementation of the method for the user terminal to successively apply for business service charging in the way of exclusive and shared reserved accounts in the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a flow chart of the implementation of the method for the user terminal to successively apply for business service charging in the way of sharing and exclusive reserved accounts in the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a flow chart of the method for successively applying for business service charging by the user terminal in the way of sharing reserved accounts in the present invention;

Fig. 7 is the realization flowchart of OCS tracking billing control in one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is an example diagram of the implementation process of OCS tracking and charging control in one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a system networking structure diagram for realizing business service charging;

Fig. 10 is a structural diagram of a system for providing business services in the present invention;

Fig. 11 is a structural diagram of an online charging system for realizing business services in the present invention.

Detailed ways

In order to make the object, technical solution and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described here are only used to explain the present invention, not to limit the present invention.

In the present invention, when a user applies for a business service from the SPP, the SPP sends to the OCS a billing request message carrying the account reservation mode parameter of the business service application; after the OCS receives the billing request message, when the OCS determines that the user account balance is not When it is sufficient, query the usage status of the reserved unit of the business service being used from the SPP, and use the unused amount in the reserved unit and the remaining amount in the user account as the actual balance of the user account, and reserve it for the concurrent use of the service. Multiple user services for an account.

The OCS in the prior art uses an exclusive account reservation method for all business service application account reservation methods. The reserved units requested by the general business service are sufficient to cover typical business usage. In the present invention, account reservation methods for business service applications are divided into two categories: exclusive account reservation and shared account reservation. Exclusive account reservation means: SPP applies to OCS for the reserved unit of the business to be exclusively used by the business, and other businesses are not allowed to preempt the reserved unit during the service use period. If the user actively terminates the service before the applied reserved units are used up, or the service provision is unsuccessful, the SPP will return the remaining reserved units to the OCS. Shared account reservation means: SPP applies to OCS for the reserved unit of this business, which is not exclusive to the business. When other businesses apply for account reserved unit from OCS, and the account balance on OCS is insufficient, OCS allows other businesses to preempt the reserved unit. Some reserved units.

In the present invention, an attribute parameter (Attribution ValueParameter, AVP) that identifies whether the service is an exclusive account reservation mode or a shared account reservation mode (Attribution ValueParameter, AVP) is added in the charging request message of each business service application, and the content of the AVP parameter is as follows surface:

AVP (attribute parameter) Description (description) Is_Share (whether it is a shared account reservation) "Y" reserved for shared accounts; "N" reserved for exclusive accounts

Fig. 2 shows the implementation process of the method of the service sharing account charged according to the duration of use in the present invention, which is described in detail as follows:

1. The terminal equipment (User Equipment, UE) sends a service request message to the SPP, and applies for business services to the SPP;

2. SPP sends to OCS a billing request message containing reserved account attribute parameters, and the reserved account attribute parameters indicate the account reservation method of the business service application;

3. OCS judges whether the actual balance of the prepaid account is sufficient according to the account reservation method of the business service currently in use, the usage of the reserved unit, and the remaining amount in the user account, so as to meet the requirements for the reservation of the business service application of the terminal device. the needs of the unit;

If the actual balance of the prepaid account is sufficient:

4. The OCS sends the business service reserved unit success message to the SPP, and issues the reserved unit;

5. The SPP provides business services to the terminal equipment.

If the actual balance of the prepaid account is insufficient:

6. The OCS sends a business service reservation unit failure message to the SPP;

7. The SPP sends a message of failure to provide business services to the terminal device.

When a user applies for a business service, if OCS can determine that the actual balance of the account is sufficient without inquiring about the usage of the reserved unit of the business service currently in use, no matter what account reservation method is used for the business service application request, OCS will Issue the required reservation unit for the business service requested by the user. If the actual balance of the account is insufficient, if the exclusive reservation method is adopted for the prior business service application, no matter whether the exclusive or shared reservation method is adopted for the subsequent business service application, the reserved unit of the business service application for the earlier application cannot be occupied, and OCS reserves Unit failed.

Figure 3 shows the implementation flow of the method in which the user terminal successively applies for business service charging in the way of exclusive reserved accounts in the present invention. Assuming that the UE first applies for the service of service A and then applies for the service of service B, the OCS first processes the application of UE service A. The details are as follows:

1. The UE requests the service of business A from the service providing system A (SPP A);

2. SPP A sends a billing request message to OCS, which contains attribute parameters, identifying that service A applies for billing in the form of an exclusive reserved account;

3. OCS calculates that the corresponding amount of the reserved unit α of the service application of A is a, the account balance is c, and c>=a;

4. OCS successfully reserves service for A, and issues the reserved unit α for SPP A;

5. A service delivery;

6. The UE requests the service of business B from the service providing system B (SPP B);

7. SPP B sends a billing request message to OCS, and the message carries attribute parameters, identifying that service B applies to OCS for billing in the form of an exclusive reserved account;

8. OCS calculates that the amount corresponding to the reserved unit β for service application B is b, the account balance c-a<b, and the balance is insufficient;

When c-a < the amount corresponding to the minimum reserved unit of B service:

9.1. The application for reserved units of business B fails, and OCS does not allocate reserved units for business B;

9.2.B Service is unavailable;

When c-a>=the amount corresponding to the minimum reserved unit of B service:

10.1. Issue a new B service reserved unit. According to the amount of c-a, the reserved unit can contain multiple B service minimum reserved units;

10.2.B Delivery of Services.

Figure 4 shows the implementation process of the method for user terminals to apply for business service charging successively in the way of exclusive and shared reserved accounts in the present invention. In this embodiment, two services A that are charged according to the length of time adopt the method of exclusive reservation , service B adopts the shared reservation method to apply for billing, assuming that the UE first applies for the service of service A, and then applies for the service of service B, and OCS first processes the application of UE service A. The specific content is detailed as follows:

1. The UE requests the service of business A from SPP A;

2. SPP A sends a billing request message to OCS, and the message carries attribute parameters, identifying that service A applies to OCS for billing in the form of an exclusive reserved account;

3. OCS calculates that the amount corresponding to the reserved unit α for service application A is a, and the account balance is c, and c>=a;

4. OCS successfully reserves the unit for A service, and issues the reserved unit α for SPP A;

5. A service delivery;

6. UE requests B service from SPP B;

7. SPP B sends a billing request message to OCS, and the message carries attribute parameters, identifying that service B applies to OCS for billing in the form of a shared reserved account;

8. OCS calculates that the amount corresponding to the reserved unit β for service application B is b, the account balance c-a<b, and the balance is insufficient;

When c-a < the amount corresponding to the minimum reserved unit of B service:

9.1. The application for reserved units of business B fails, and OCS does not allocate reserved units for business B;

9.2.B Service is unavailable;

When c-a>=the amount corresponding to the minimum reserved unit of B service:

10.1. Issue a new B service reserved unit. According to the amount of c-a, the reserved unit can contain multiple B service minimum reserved units;

10.2.B Delivery of Services.

When the account balance is insufficient, the shared account reservation method allows other businesses to occupy its reserved unit. Therefore, when the account balance is insufficient, in order to meet the needs of multiple businesses applying for services at the same time, OCS will allocate the amount corresponding to the reserved unit occupied by the business that has applied for the shared account reservation method to the exclusive account reservation method that will be applied later Business service application; or share this part of the amount with the business service application that shares the account reservation method applied later.

Fig. 5 shows the implementation process of the method in which the user terminal adopts the method of sharing and exclusive reserved accounts to successively apply for business service charging in the present invention. In this embodiment, two services A charged by duration adopt the shared reservation method, Service B adopts the exclusive reservation method to apply for billing. Assuming that the UE first applies for the service of service A, and then applies for the service of service B. OCS first processes the application of UE service A. The details are as follows:

1. The UE requests the service of business A from SPP A;

2. SPP A sends a billing request message to OCS, and the message carries an attribute parameter, which identifies that service A applies to OCS for billing in the form of a shared reserved account;

3. OCS calculates that the amount corresponding to the reserved unit α for service application A is a, and the account balance is c, and c>=a;

4. OCS successfully allocates reserved units for service A, and issues reserved units α for SPP A;

5. A service delivery;

6. The UE requests the service of business B from SPP B;

7. SPP B sends a billing request message to OCS, and the message carries attribute parameters, identifying that service B applies to OCS for billing in the form of an exclusive reserved account;

8. The OCS calculates that the amount corresponding to the reserved unit β of the B service application is b, the account balance c-a<b, and the balance is insufficient; OCS judges according to the attribute parameters carried in the A service application that the A service allows sharing of the reserved account;

9. OCS sends a query message to SPP A to query the usage status of A's service quota;

10. SPP A reports the used reserved unit α _used ;

11. OCS calculates that the corresponding amount of α _used is a _used , the account balance ca _used >= b, and the balance of the shared account meets the service requirements of B;

12. The OCS allocates the reserved unit for service B successfully, and sends the reserved unit β to SPP B;

13.B service delivery;

If ca _used -b>=A service minimum reserved unit corresponding amount:

14.1. OCS allocates reserved units for service A successfully, and issues a new reserved unit for service A to SPP A. According to the amount of ca _used -b, the reserved unit can contain multiple minimum reserved units for service A;

14.2. UE's A service delivery;

If ca _used -b<A service minimum reserved unit corresponding amount:

15.1.OCS sends a message to SPP A, informing SPP A to stop using A service;

15.2. SPP A suspends the use of the UE's A service.

When the account balance is insufficient, the business service of the shared account reservation method applied earlier allows other business services applied later to share its reserved units. If the business reservation method applied for later is the shared account reservation method, OCS allows These services share the account balance, and the method of tracking and charging is used to control the charging of these services.

OCS tracking billing means that when OCS reserves a part of the amount for a service whose usage increases linearly with time, OCS sets a timer for the service and monitors the usage time of the service. Since the usage of this service has the characteristic of increasing linearly with time, the OCS can obtain the service usage time information without the need for SPP to report the usage of the business service application reservation unit currently in use, and issue a new reservation for the business service. stay unit. When tracking charging is enabled, if the user terminal ends the use of the business service, the SPP reports a stop charging message to the OCS, and the OCS can calculate the service usage according to the timer duration. When the OCS detects that the reserved units of the service have been exhausted, the OCS notifies the SPP to suspend the provision of the service.

Fig. 6 shows the implementation flow of the method for the user terminal to apply for business service charging successively in the way of sharing reserved accounts in the present invention. Shared reservation method applies for billing; assuming that the UE first applies for the service of business A, and then applies for the service of business B, OCS first processes the application of UE business A, and the details are as follows:

1. The UE requests the service of business A from SPP A;

2. SPP A sends a billing request message to OCS, and the message carries an attribute parameter, which identifies that service A applies to OCS for billing in the form of a shared reserved account;

3. OCS calculates that the amount corresponding to the reserved unit α for service application A is a, and the account balance is c, and c>=a;

4. OCS successfully reserves service for A, and issues the reserved unit α for SPP A;

5. A service delivery;

6. The UE requests the service of business B from SPP B;

7. SPP B sends a billing request message to OCS, and the message carries attribute parameters, identifying that service B applies to OCS for billing in the form of a shared reserved account;

8. Calculate the amount corresponding to the reserved unit β for the B service application as b, the account balance c-a<b, and the balance is insufficient. According to the attribute parameters of the A service and the B service, it is judged that the A service and the B service are shared reserved accounts;

9. OCS sends a query message to SPP A to query the usage status of A's service quota;

10. SPP A reports the used reserved unit α _used ;

11. OCS calculates the corresponding amount of α _used as a _used ;

If ca _used < the amount corresponding to the smallest reserved unit of service B;

12.1. OCS returns a message of B service reservation failure to SPP B;

12.2.SPP B sends a message that the requested B service cannot be used to the UE.

If ca _used ＞= The amount corresponding to the minimum reserved unit of B service:

13.1. OCS reserves the reserved unit corresponding to ca _used for service B;

13.2. SPP B sends B service delivery and use message to UE;

13.3. OCS reserves the reserved unit corresponding to ca _used for service A;

13.4. SPP A sends A service delivery use message to UE;

The OCS sets timers for service A and service B respectively, enables tracking and charging control processing flow, and detects service provision.

Figure 7 shows the OCS tracking and charging control processing flow in the previous embodiment, and the specific content is described in detail as follows:

In step S701, the OCS reserves reserved units corresponding to the amount of ca _used for both service A and service B.

In step S702, the OCS notifies SPP A to provide service A for the UE; notifies SPP B to provide service B for the UE.

In step S703, OCS starts timer A and timer B for service A and service B respectively, the time interval a ^min of timer A corresponds to the minimum reserved unit of service A; the time interval b ^min of timer B corresponds to service B The smallest reserved unit of .

In step S704, it is judged whether the time interval a _min of timer A has expired or the time interval b _min of timer B has expired, whether one of them occurs, if yes, execute step S705; otherwise, return to step S704.

In step S705, it is judged whether the time interval a _min of timer A is up, if yes, execute step S706, otherwise execute step S707.

In step S706, the OCS deducts an amount corresponding to a minimum reserved unit of service A from the prepaid account.

In step S707, it is judged whether the time interval b _min of the timer B is up, if yes, execute step S708, otherwise return to step S704.

In step S708, the OCS deducts an amount corresponding to a minimum reserved unit of service B from the prepaid account.

In step S709, the OCS judges whether the prepaid account is less than the amount corresponding to a minimum reserved unit of service A, if yes, execute step S712, otherwise return to step S704.

In step S710, the OCS judges whether the prepaid account is less than the amount corresponding to a minimum reserved unit of service B, if yes, execute step S711, otherwise return to step S704.

In step S711, the OCS notifies SPP B to stop providing B services for the UE.

In step S712, the OCS notifies SPP A to stop providing A service for the UE.

In order to make the OCS tracking and charging control processing flow of the present invention easier to understand, the implementation process of OCS tracking and charging control is described in conjunction with specific service charging scenarios. An example of a charging scenario of the OCS tracking and charging control implementation process in the embodiment of successively applying for business service charging in the account mode.

Assume that in this billing scenario example, both service A and service B are in the form of shared reserved accounts, and service A provided by SPPA is an ordinary call service; service B provided by SPP B is an IP toll service; user C’s prepaid The fee account balance is $10. User C first applies for the ordinary voice call service of business A (the billing unit is 1 minute, the call fee is 0.2 yuan per minute, and it is marked as a shared reserved account), and the online billing system adopts the real-time billing method to reserve the amount for the voice call 6 yuan. During the voice call, user D applies for the IP long-distance call service of service B (the IP long-distance billing unit is 6 seconds, 0.1 yuan per 6 seconds, marked as a shared reserved account), and uses the prepaid account of user C to make a call. pay. OCS tracking and charging control processing flow is as follows:

1. The online billing system needs to reserve 5 yuan for the IP long-distance call of user D, and the available balance of the user account at this time is 4 yuan < 5 yuan. The OCS sends a message of querying the usage status of the reserved balance to the ordinary voice call service provision system of SPP A, and the ordinary voice call service provision system replies that it has been used for 15 minutes. OCS calculates that the reserved balance is 6-0.2*15=3 yuan, plus the original balance, the total is 3+4=7 yuan. The OCS calculates that the available time for 7 yuan for ordinary calls is 7/0.2=35 minutes, and the available time for IP long-distance calls is 6*7/0.1=6*70=420 seconds. The 35-minute reserved unit is issued to the SPP A ordinary call service provision system; at the same time, the 420-second reserved unit is issued to the SPP B IP toll service provision system.

2. OCS sets timer 1 for ordinary calls, with an interval of 1 minute; sets timer 2 for IP toll calls, with an interval of 6 seconds; when IP toll starts to be used, OCS first reserves 6 seconds for IP toll Every time 6 seconds have elapsed, timer 2 triggers a timing message to OCS, and OCS deducts 0.1 yuan from the shared account balance and reserves the next 0.1 yuan. When ordinary calls start to be used, OCS first reserves 0.2 yuan corresponding to 1 minute for ordinary calls. Whenever 1 minute arrives, timer 1 triggers a timing message to OCS, and OCS deducts 0.2 yuan from the shared account balance and reserves it. A 0.2 yuan. so repeatedly.

3. When there is no enough balance in the account balance for IP long-distance call reservation, the OCS notifies the IP long-distance service provisioning system to suspend the B service.

4. When there is no enough balance in the account balance for ordinary call service reservation, OCS notifies the ordinary call service provision system to suspend service A.

For ease of description, in the embodiments of this specification, no more than two business service application services are used as examples to illustrate and explain the present invention. It is not difficult to understand that the present invention can be used for simultaneous application of multiple services in actual use. use.

Fig. 9 shows the system networking structure for realizing business service charging. The system includes terminal equipment 100 requesting service provision system 200 to provide business services through a communication network, and service providing system 200 communicates with online charging system 300 through an online charging interface. connected, and apply to the online charging system 300 for charging requests such as authentication and reservation. The service providing system 200 provides business services for the terminal device 100 . When the terminal device 100 applies for a business service to the service providing system 200, the service providing system 200 sends to the online charging system 300 a charging request message carrying the attribute parameter of the account reservation mode identification of the business service application; the online charging system 300 After receiving the charging request message, when the online charging system 300 determines that the user account is not sufficient, it will query the service providing system 200 about the usage of the reserved units of the business service being used, and transfer the unused reserved units in the reserved units to the service provider system 200. The amount of the reserved unit and the remaining amount in the user account are reserved as the actual balance of the user account for multiple services used at the same time. The online charging system 300 performs tracking and charging control processing flow for multiple shared reserved mode services. The service providing system 200 may be a second generation communication system mobile switching center/service switching point (Second Generation Mobile Servicesswitching Center/Service Switching Point, 2G MSC/SSP); a third generation partner organization mobile switching center/service switching point (Third Generation Partnership Projects Services SwitchingCenter/Service Switching Point, 3G MSC Server/SSP), etc.

FIG. 10 shows the structure of the service providing system implementing the present invention, wherein the service providing system 200 includes: the service providing unit 201 is a service unit providing services for the user terminal 100 . The message management unit 202 sends a charging application message to the online charging system 300 through this unit when the business service is applied for use. The charging message management unit 202 is responsible for converting and sending charging messages between the sending/receiving service providing system 200 and the online charging system 300 . The charging message management unit 203 is responsible for managing the reserved units applied for, and detects the usage of the reserved units when the service providing unit 201 provides services, and reports to the online charging system 300 through the charging message management unit 202 before the reserved units are exhausted. Apply for a new reserved unit. The attribute parameter storage unit 2021 stores the account reservation mode of the service providing system 200, the attribute parameter being "Y" indicates the shared account reservation mode, and "N" indicates the exclusive account reservation mode. The quota management unit 203 saves the business service reservation unit issued by the online charging system 300, and detects the use of the reserved unit when the service provider 201 provides services, and passes the charging message management unit before the reserved unit is exhausted. 202 Apply to the online charging system 300 for a new reserved unit.

Fig. 11 shows the structure of the online charging system that realizes the business service in the present invention. The online charging system 300 includes: a general access module 301, which translates the message sent by the service providing system 200 to the online charging system 300 into conforming The message of the interface specification is sent to the online charging system 300, and various messages returned by the online charging system 300 are translated into messages conforming to the interface specification and sent to the service providing system. The charging control module 302 handles charging events in the online charging system 300 . The billing control module 302 includes: a message management module 3021 , responsible for receiving various messages reported by the service providing system 200 , and sending the function command generation message of the function control/scheduling module 3022 to the service providing system 200 . When the timer management module 3023 uses shared account reservation control, the timer management module 3023 generates a timer for each service charged by the shared account, and detects the service usage status. When a timer event occurs, a timing message is sent to the function control/scheduling module 3022 . The function control/scheduling module 3022 is the core function scheduling module of the charging control module 302, responsible for invoking each function module to complete the charging control function of the shared account balance. The account balance management function (Account Balance Management Function, ABMF) module 303 manages the user's account, including functions such as account withholding, rebate deduction, recharging, and real-time balance inquiry. The charging gateway (Charging Gateway Function, CGF) module 304 is the bill processing module of the online billing system 300, through the bill configuration rules, according to different services, generate bill files in different formats, for the accounting system 400 to do accounting-level Preferential processing, inquiry, statistical use. The Rating Function (RF) module 305 is the fee calculation module of the online billing system 300, which can support flexible tariff policies, real-time calculations, real-time discounts, forward calculation and reverse calculation through the configuration of charging rules and parameters There are two calculation methods.

As an embodiment of the present invention, when the user terminal 100 applies for a business service, the user account balance is sufficient, that is, the account balance is greater than the amount corresponding to the unit that the online billing system 300 calculates for the business service that the user terminal 100 applies for. Billing system 300 adopts common reserved charging control functions. The user terminal 100 sends a business service application to the service providing system 200 through the telecommunication network. The service providing unit 201 sends a charging request message including the attribute parameters stored in the attribute parameter storage unit 2021 to the online charging system 300 through the charging message management unit 202 . The universal access module 301 translates the message sent by the service providing system 200 into a message conforming to the interface specification and sends it to the billing control module 302 . The message management module 3021 receives the charging request message reported by the service providing system 200, and sends the charging request message to the function control/scheduling module 3022; the function control/scheduling module 3022 performs service identification and charging policy selection, and schedules batches The price processing module 305 calculates the amount required for the business service requested by the user terminal 100. The function control/scheduling module 3022 calls the function of the account balance management module 303 to deduct fees from the account balance, and then calls the billing gateway module 304 to generate a bill. The billing result, that is, the reserved unit required for the business service requested by the user terminal 100 is processed by the message management module 3021 and the general access module 301 , and then sent to the service providing system 200 . The quota management unit 203 saves the business service reservation unit issued by the online charging system 300 ; the service providing unit 201 provides business services for the user terminal 100 . When the quota management unit 203 detects that the reserved units provided by the service providing unit 201 will be exhausted, the charging message management unit 2021 applies for a new reserved unit to the online charging system 300 .

As another embodiment of the present invention, when the user terminal 100 applies for a business service, the user account balance is insufficient, that is, the account balance is less than the amount corresponding to the unit that the online billing system 300 calculates for the business service that the user terminal 100 applies for. The difference from the previous embodiment is that the service providing system 200 is currently providing services for another user terminal A, and the user terminal A and the user terminal 100 use the same account, both of which are shared account reservation methods. After the function control/scheduling module 3022 performs business identification and billing strategy selection, the dispatch batch price processing module 305 calculates the amount required for the business service applied by the user terminal 100; the function control/scheduling module 3022 calls the account balance management module 303 to query the account balance Insufficient, then the usage status of the business service quota of the user terminal currently in use is sent to the service providing system 200 through the message management module 3021 . The quota management unit 203 detects the usage status of the service provision reserved units of the service provision unit 201 , and sends the reserved units used by the service of the current user terminal to the online charging system 300 . The function control/scheduling module 3022 schedules the batch price processing module 305 to calculate the amount corresponding to the reserved unit used by the current business service, and judges whether the application can be provided for the user terminal 100 according to the amount and the account balance in the account balance management module 303 If possible, the function control/scheduling module 3022 starts the online charging system to track and charge the control process flow, and the scheduling timer module 3023 provides the service of the user terminal A currently in use and the user terminal 100 The application's business service sets the timer. Call the function of the account balance management module 303 to deduct fees from the account balance. The billing gateway module 304 is invoked to allocate the minimum reserved unit of a new service for the above two services, and generate a bill. Finally, the new minimum reserved units of the two business services are sent to the service providing system 200 after being processed by the general access module 301 through the message management module 3021; the quota management unit 203 saves the reserved units issued by the online charging system 300; The service providing unit 201 provides business services for the user terminal 100 . When the service providing system 200 starts to use the new minimum reserved unit to provide services for two services, the timer module 3023 starts timing. When the function control/scheduling module 3022 detects that the timing time of one of the business services is up, it issues a new minimum reserved unit for the service, and subtracts the corresponding amount in the account balance management module 303 . Repeat this until the balance in the account balance management module 303 is not enough to allocate the minimum reserved unit for the two services, then the function control/scheduling module 3022 sends a reserved unit failure message to the service providing system 200, and the service providing system 200 stops for A user terminal or user terminal 100 provides business services.

As another embodiment of the present invention, the difference from the previous embodiment is that when the user terminal 100 actively terminates the business service, the service providing system 200 reports a charging stop message to the online charging system 300 . The online charging system 300 calculates the service usage according to the time counted by the timer module 3023 .

The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection of the present invention. within range.

Claims (10)

1. the method that business service is chargeed is used for a plurality of teleservices and uses an account application business service simultaneously, it is characterized in that said method comprises the steps:

1.2 Online Charging System receives the charging request message that comprises property parameters that service provider system sends after receiving the business service request of user terminal; Said property parameters identifies the account reservation mode of said business service for sharing the account reservation mode;

1.3 the amount of money that does not also use in the reservation unit of said Online Charging System with current account balance and the current business service of using is as the real balance of user account, and is that the business service request of user terminal is distributed and reserved the unit;

So that said service provider system is that said user terminal provides said business service according to said reservation unit.

2. the method that business service as claimed in claim 1 is chargeed is characterized in that said step 1.3 further comprises:

2.1 when the amount of money of said account balance more than or equal to the reservation unit correspondence of the business service request application of said user terminal, Online Charging System is that the business service request of said user terminal is distributed the reservation unit, and is handed down to service provider system.

3. the method that business service as claimed in claim 1 is chargeed is characterized in that said step 1.3 further comprises:

5.1 reserve the corresponding amount of money in unit when said account balance less than said business service application, Online Charging System is judged the account reservation mode of current all business service of using according to said property parameters; Share the account reservation mode if the account reservation mode of said current all business service of using comprises, then execution in step 5.2;

5.2 Online Charging System has used the situation of reserving the unit to the business service of the said shared account reservation mode of using of service provider system inquiry;

5.3 service provider system sends the reservation unit that the business service of the said shared account reservation mode of using has been used to said Online Charging System;

5.4 Online Charging System calculates the corresponding amount of money in the untapped reservation of said business service unit according to said reservation unit; The said amount of money is incorporated in the account balance; If the account balance after incorporating into more than or equal to the corresponding amount of money in the minimum reservation unit of the business service of the shared account reservation mode of said current application, is an execution in step 5.5 then; Otherwise execution in step 5.8;

Start timer control respectively 5.5 Online Charging System is the business service of shared account reservation mode of business service and the current application of said shared account reservation mode, and issue and reservation unit that timer time is corresponding at interval;

5.6 business service when the said shared account reservation mode of using; Or the timer time of the business service of the shared account reservation mode of current application arrives at interval; Online Charging System is the business service of the said shared account reservation mode of using, or the business service of the shared account reservation mode of current application issues the corresponding at interval reservation unit of new timer time;

5.7 when said account balance less than the corresponding amount of money in the minimum reservation unit of the business service of the shared account reservation mode of the business service of said shared account reservation mode or current application, then Online Charging System is reserved the unit failure;

5.8 Online Charging System issues to service provider system and reserves the unit failed message.

4. the method that business service as claimed in claim 1 is chargeed is characterized in that said service provider system is that said user terminal provides said business service further to comprise according to said reservation unit:

7.1 reserve the unit failure when said Online Charging System issues, then service provider system does not provide business service for said user terminal.

5. the method that business service as claimed in claim 1 is chargeed is characterized in that said service provider system is that said user terminal provides said business service further to comprise according to said reservation unit:

8.1 reserve the unit success when said Online Charging System issues, then service provider system is that said user terminal provides business service.

6. a business service provides system; Be used to receive the business service request of user terminal, send charging request message to Online Charging System, the reservation unit that issues according to Online Charging System is that user terminal provides business service; It is characterized in that said service provider system comprises:

The charging message administrative unit, be used to send or reception and Online Charging System between the conversion and the transmission of charging message;

Service provides the unit; Be used to said user terminal business service is provided; When the business service application is used; Send the charging solicitation message that comprises property parameters through the charging message administrative unit to Online Charging System, said property parameters identifies the account reservation mode of said business service for sharing the account reservation mode;

The quotas administered unit; Be used to manage the reservation unit that the business service request for said user terminal that Online Charging System issues is distributed; And the service that detects provides the unit when service is provided; Reserve the operating position of unit, pass through the charging message administrative unit to the new reservation unit of Online Charging System application before the unit is used up when reserving.

7. service provider system as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that, said charging message administrative unit further comprises:

The property parameters memory cell is used to deposit said property parameters;

The account reservation mode of the business service of said property parameters identifying subscriber terminal application, said account reservation mode comprise that exclusively enjoying account reserves or share account and reserve.

8. the Online Charging System of a business service is used for the charging request message according to service provider system, issues the reservation unit to service provider system, it is characterized in that, said Online Charging System comprises:

The charging control module is used to receive the charging request message that comprises property parameters that service provider system sends after receiving the business service request of user terminal; Said property parameters identifies the account reservation mode of said business service for sharing the account reservation mode;

And the amount of money that does not also use in the reservation unit with current account balance and the current business service of using is as the real balance of user account, and is that the business service request of user terminal is distributed and reserved the unit; So that said service provider system is that said user terminal provides said business service according to said reservation unit;

The account balance administration module is used for user account is managed;

The charging gateway module is used for the ticket of business service is handled;

Criticize the valency processing module, be used for calculating the corresponding expense of charging event that Online Charging System takes place;

General AM access module is used to translate and send the interaction message between service provider system and the Online Charging System.

9. Online Charging System as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that, said charging control module further comprises:

Function control/scheduler module, each module that is used for controlling and dispatching Online Charging System is with the charging control of the business service application of accomplishing Online Charging System;

The message management module is used to receive the various message that reported by service provider system, and the command function generation message of function control/scheduler module is handed down to service provider system.

10. Online Charging System as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that, said charging control module further comprises:

The timer management module is used for when using shared account to reserve control, uses for each and shares timer of account reservation mode business service application generation, detects the behaviour in service of business service; When a timer event takes place, send timed message to function control/scheduler module, a said timer event points to the timing that reaches a business service.

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