Patent ID: 8290471
Filing Date: 2012-10-16
Classification: H04L,H04M

Abstract:
1. A method for initialing record-keeping processes for usage of communication services by subscribers, wherein two or more types of subscription plans are available to the subscribers, wherein the two or more types of subscription plans comprise an unlimited-use subscription plan and at least one other type of subscription plan, the method comprising: receiving, at an access gateway, a connection request from a subscriber to engage in a communication session via an access network; responsive to the request, the access gateway making a determination as to whether or not the subscriber is enrolled in an unlimited-use subscription plan; if the determination is that the subscriber is not enrolled in the unlimited-use subscription plan, then the access gateway initiating a process to generate one or more enhanced usage detail records (E-UDRs) for the communication session, wherein the one or more E-UDRs are generated by a deep packet inspection (DPI) system; if the determination is that the subscriber is enrolled in the unlimited-use subscription plan, then the access gateway refraining from initiating the process to generate one or more E-UDRs for the communication session; and regardless of whether the subscriber is enrolled in the unlimited-use subscription plan, the access gateway generating and sending one or more usage detail records (UDRs) for the communication session, wherein generating and sending the one or more UDRs comprises sending the one or more UDRs to an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server, wherein the AAA server periodically sends the UDRs it has received to an Enhanced Accounting Management System (EAMS), and wherein the EAMS uses the UDRs from the AAA server to generate one or more IP Data Records (IPDRs) for the communication session and sends the one or more IPDRs to an Accounting Mediation System (AMS).