Patent ID: 7391854
Filing Date: 2008-06-24
Classification: G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. Method for managing online charging in communications networks, the method comprising: receiving at least one first charging request relating to a service of at least one first charging session in a first network element, receiving at least one second charging request relating to a service of at least one charging session in at least one second network element, and setting charging model for the first and second charging sessions, characterized by following steps performed online during an end user session comprising at least one first charging session and at least one second charging session, identifying a common user of the at least one first charging session, and the at least one second charging session, determining the authorization of the user to the services during the end user session, and for authorized users using at least one combination pricing plan for setting charging for the end user session, using the combination pricing plan as response to the first and the second received charging requests, determining the charging by said combination pricing plan, the charging being different from the charge determined by the first charging request(s) and the second charging request(s) added together, and determining being carried through by using during the end user session different proxy components to identify service requests according to different service identification request rules, each proxy component using individual service identification rules, and including a method for creating charging model in communications network, comprising the steps of receiving at least one charging request from the network layer including a subscriber identifier, information of whether the user has been authenticated or not, a service identifier referring either access data, service session or a piece of content service, and checking whether the system includes a pricing plan for the received charging request(s).