Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method, packet data network gateway (PGW), and server in a mobile communication system. and device for controlling charging in a mobile communication system. The method by a PGW in a mobile communication system includes identifying data usage information associated with a specific service for a terminal, determining whether the data usage information satisfies a predetermined condition, and transmitting a notification message including the data usage information if the data usage information satisfies the predetermined condition, to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) entity. The data usage information is used to display a message in the terminal.

Description:
[0001]    This is a continuation application of a prior application Ser. No. 13/981,474, filed on Jul. 24, 2013, which claimed the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §371 of an International application filed on Jan. 30, 2012, and assigned application number PCT/KR2012/000696, which claimed the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean patent application filed on Jan. 28, 2011 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial number 10-2011-0009062, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a billing control apparatus and method of a mobile communication system and, in particular, a billing control apparatus and method of charging for sponsor traffic in the mobile communication system. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    With the advance of network technologies, various types of electronic purchase transactions occur. Typically, the electronic purchase transaction is conducted in such a way that a user accesses a service provider via a communication network and buys products while viewing their information. In this case, the user may pay for the network access. For example, if the user accesses the service provider&#39;s server to purchase products, the mobile communication network operator charges the user for the network access. Particularly, it takes relatively long time to purchase the contents having a large volume of data such as electronic book and audio, resulting in increase of network utilization cost. 
       DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0006]    The present invention relates to a method for billing the service provider for traffic between the user and the service provider in the communication network including the service provider, network operator, and terminals. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0007]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method by a packet data network gateway (PGW) in a mobile communication system is provided. The method includes identifying data usage information associated with a specific service for a terminal, determining whether the data usage information satisfies a predetermined condition, and transmitting a notification message including the data usage information if the data usage information satisfies the predetermined condition, to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) entity. The data usage information is used to display a message in the terminal. 
         [0008]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method by a server in a mobile communication system is provided. The method includes receiving a notification message including data usage information associated with a specific service for a terminal, from a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) entity, and transmitting an alert message including the data usage information to the terminal. The data usage information is used to display a message in the terminal. 
         [0009]    In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a packet data network gateway (PGW) in a mobile communication system is provided. The PGW includes a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a signal, and a controller configured to control to identify data usage information associated with a specific service for a terminal, to determine whether the data usage information satisfies a predetermined condition, and to transmit a notification message including the data usage information if the data usage information satisfies the predetermined condition, to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) entity. The data usage information is used to display a message in the terminal. 
         [0010]    In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, a server in a mobile communication system is provided. The server includes a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a signal, and a controller configured to control to receive a notification message including data usage information associated with a specific service for a terminal, from a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) entity, and to transmit an alert message including the data usage information to the terminal. The data usage information is used to display a message in the terminal. 
       Advantageous Effects 
       [0011]    In the mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the network operator performs verification, filter installation, and charging rule configuration using the coupon issued by the service provider in response to the sponsor traffic request of the terminal, and the network operator charges the service provider for the sponsor traffic from the service provider to the terminal. Accordingly, the sponsor traffic processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention is advantageous in minimizing the dynamic configuration resource of the third party server information and the online transactions between the third party server and the server located in the operator network. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the concept of the sponsor traffic in a mobile communication network. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating exemplary sponsor traffic in a mobile communication network. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating Policy Charging Control-extended solution structure under discussion currently in 3GPP. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating the operation in the Policy Charging Control-extended solution structure under discussion currently in 3GPP. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the coupon-based sponsor charge scenario in the mobile communication network according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating exemplary sponsor coupon service subscription information planning according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating architecture of a mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating internal configuration the SNE server in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating the procedure of issuing and transmitting a coupon according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating the procedure of installing the packet filters and configuring charging rules for the sponsored traffic according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a procedure of processing sponsor traffic according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an operation procedure in the case where the coupon usage amount is expressed as data amount and/or time duration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating an operation procedure in the case where the coupon usage is terminated by the service provider according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating a procedure of deactivating the sponsored charge according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is a diagram illustrating a charging procedure between the network operator and the service provider according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is a diagram illustrating a coupon-based sponsor charge scenario in the mobile communication network according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail. The same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0029]    Although the description is made with specific terms such as service provider and coupon, such words are of description in order to help understand and it is obvious to skilled in the art that the present invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details. Detailed description of well-known functions and structures incorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention. 
         [0030]    In the following description, the term “terminal” denotes a user terminal requesting the service provider for a service and is used interchangeably with “UE,” the term “network operator” is used interchangeably with “operator,” and the term “service provider” is used interchangeably with “sponsor” and “3rd party services.” Also, the term “sponsor traffic” denotes the traffic occurring in association with the service provider, and the term “sponsored charge” denotes that the service provider pays the bill charged for the network access of the terminal. 
         [0031]    An embodiment of the present invention proposes a method for billing the service provider rather than the terminal for the sponsor traffic in the mobile communication network. The communication network may be composed of terminals, a network operator, and a service provider. For this purpose, in an embodiment of the present invention, a sponsor coupon is issued according to a contract between the sponsor and the operator, and the coupon is sent to the terminal or the network operator. For the former case, a method for the terminal to bypass the coupon to the operator server is proposed. Also, an embodiment of the present invention proposes a method for installing a filter and rule for the sponsored charge based on the contents/service server information in the coupon transmitted to the network operator. Also, an embodiment of the present invention proposes a method for checking the sponsorship expiry associated with the sponsored usage amount specified in the coupon and notifying the sponsorship expiry or arrival of the sponsorship expiry. 
         [0032]    In order to implement the present invention, the first embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that if the terminal requests for the sponsor traffic-based service, the service provider recognizes the sponsor traffic request and issues a sponsor coupon capable of being used in the mobile communication network to the terminal. The terminal sends the network operator the coupon, and the network operator configures the sponsor traffic filtering and charging rule based on the information contained in the coupon and notifies the terminal of the configuration result. Afterward, the terminal accesses the service provider via the network operator to receive the sponsor traffic service, and the network operator charges the service provider for the sponsor traffic consumed by the terminal. 
         [0033]    In order to implement the present invention, the second embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that if the terminal requests for the sponsor traffic-based service the service provider recognizes the sponsor traffic-service request and issues a sponsor coupon capable of being used in the mobile communication network and sends the sponsor coupon to the network operator. Then the network operator configures the sponsor traffic filter and charging rule and notifies the service provider of the configuration result. Afterward, the user accesses the service provider via the network operator to receive the sponsor traffic-based service, and the network operator charges the service provider for the sponsor traffic consumed by the terminal. 
         [0034]    A description is made of the operations according to the embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0035]    In the current 3GPP, a solution of supporting the sponsor traffic for charging the third party rather than the terminal consuming the corresponding traffic is under discussion.  FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the concept of the sponsor traffic. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sponsor traffic denotes the traffic which is consumed by the terminal and paid by a third party. 
         [0036]    For example, if the terminal accesses an online bookstore as a third party to search for and/or purchase an ebook, the third party pays for the ebook download traffic consumed by the terminal. At this time, the billing policy can be implemented in various manners. In the case that the terminal accesses the online bookstore to purchase an ebook, the entire cost of ebook search and download of purchased ebook may be charged to the online bookstore. Also, it is possible to charge the terminal for the ebook search traffic (reference number  210  of  FIG. 2 ) and the online bookstore for the purchased ebook download traffic since the push of the ebook purchase button (reference number  220  of  FIG. 2 ) as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating Policy Charging Control-extended solution structure under discussion currently in 3GPP. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the non-SIP ASP  310  as the third party server (bookstore store server in  FIG. 2 ) sends the information on the book download traffic to an operator network server (AF in  FIG. 3 ) processing the sponsor traffic. If this information is received, the operator network server (AF) sends the sponsor traffic information to a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) entity. The then the PCRF sends a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) a message to generate a billing record on the sponsor traffic with the sponsor ID. Then the PGW generates the billing record on the sponsor traffic with the sponsored ID other than the user ID. That is, the PGW charges the 3rd party other than the UE  100  for the sponsor traffic. 
         [0039]    The Policy and Charging Control extended solution of  FIG. 3  may cause the following issues. 
         [0040]    First, the third party server has to send the sponsor traffic information and a signal indicating the start and end of the sponsor traffic in order for the PGW to generate the billing data. Accordingly, the third party server has a connection with the server connected to the PGW in the operator network. In the case of providing a global service, the third party has to connect to all of the operator&#39;s servers as shown in  FIG. 4  and send, whenever the sponsor traffic occurs, the sponsor traffic information to the operator&#39;s servers. Since the connection between the non-SIP ASP and AF is out of the scope of 3GPP, it is necessary for the third party to support other preparatory protocols supported by the operator&#39;s servers, resulting in increase of the third party&#39;s burden (N:M connection). 
         [0041]    Second, it is necessary for the third party server to fix the session transmitted the traffic to be sponsored. By using the static address and port of the server to transmit the corresponding traffic and configure the PGW with the static information, it is possible, when the corresponding traffic occurs, to charge for the traffic with the sponsored ID. In order to accomplish this, however, the address and port of the server to transmit the corresponding traffic has to be fixed. However, if the third party is an enterprise company, it is likely to use Central Data Center (CDF) or Internet Data Center (IDC) and this means that it is difficult to fix the server address and port. 
         [0042]    There is therefore a need of consideration of minimizing the aforementioned issues, i.e. the dynamic configuration resource of the third party server information and online transaction between the third party server and the operator network server. 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the operation of processing the sponsor traffic in consideration of minimizing the dynamic configuration resource of the third party server information and online transaction between the third party server and the operator network server according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the operator provides a sponsor coupon service for the service provider starting the third party service, and the third party provider has to subscribe to the sponsor coupon service provided by the operator. 
         [0045]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating exemplary sponsor coupon service subscription information planning according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the coupon specifies a data model along with volume (total) and validity window). For example, every month—˜1G: 40$, ˜2G: 70$, ˜3G:100$. 
         [0047]    In order to process the sponsor traffic, the service provider  300  and the operator  200  should exchange the information for verifying the coupon in advance before issuing the coupon to the UE  100 . In order to accomplish this, the service provider  300  sends the operator the sponsor coupon subscription information and a public key for use in authenticating the validity of the signal of the coupon to be issued afterward at step  511 . Then the operator  200  sends the service provider  300  the operator ID to share additional security key at step  513 . Through steps  511  and  513 , the service provider  300  and the operator  200  are prepared for processing the sponsor traffic. 
         [0048]    Afterward, the UE  100  requests for the sponsor traffic-based service (service request) (e.g. click download button after payment for an ebook) at step  521 . When requesting the service at step  511 , the UE  100  sends the currently using operator ID together. If the service request is received from the UE  100 , the service provider  300  recognizes the sponsor traffic-based service request at step  523 , generates a sponsor coupon capable of being used in the corresponding operator network, and signs the issued coupon with a private key paired with the public key notified to the operator. It is also possible to encrypt the sponsor coupon with the shared security key in addition to the signature. The reason for signing the coupon with the private key is to prevent the UE  100  to modify the coupon for use in other purpose. That is, if the coupon is signed with the private key of the service provider, the user  100  cannot modify the information in the coupon and thus may use for the corresponding service. Afterward, the service provider  300  sends the UE  100  a retry command and the issued coupon in response to the service request at step  525 . At this time, the server address to access for the retry is identical with the server address included in the coupon. 
         [0049]    At this time, the coupon transmitted from the service provider to the UE  100  can be formatted as shown in table 1. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
             
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Example of Content-Provider-issued Sponsored Charging Coupon 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 - Issuer ID: Content Provider ID (Sponsor ID) 
               
               
                 - applied network: Operator ID 
               
               
                 - Coupon ID: Serial Coupon Number 
               
               
                 - Usage Model: one of (total amount, total duration, until signaling 
               
               
                 the end) 
               
               
                 -Usage Model Parameters includes at least one of followings 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 + Total amount: 300 MB if Usage Model is 
               
               
                   
                 + Total duration: n hours, n days or n months 
               
               
                   
                 + Until signaling the end 
               
             
          
           
               
                 - Sponsor Traffic Server: List IP address/Port and/or URL of the Server 
               
               
                 - Time Stamp 
               
               
                 - Signature by Issuer 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 + Signature of the coupon including all of the above parameter 
               
               
                   
                  (Signed by Issuer&#39;s private key shared with Operator) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0050]    The coupon issued as shown in table 1 includes a service provider ID, operator ID, coupon ID, usage model, service provider connection address, and coupon usage start time (time stamp), and all the parameters of the coupon are signed with the private key of the service provider. 
         [0051]    Upon receipt of the coupon, the UE  100  bypasses the received coupon to the operator  200  at step  527 . If the coupon formatted as shown in table 1 is received from the UE  100 , the operator  200  verifies the validity of the coupon with the public key of the service provider  300  which is received at the contract step (step  511  of  FIG. 5 ) at step  529 . If the validity of the coupon is verified successfully, the operator  200  configures a sponsor traffic filter using the server information included in the coupon and the charging to charge for the filtered traffic with the sponsor ID. At this time, the operator  200  may establishes a new bearer, if necessary, and configures the filtering and charging for the newly established bearer. 
         [0052]    After verifying the validity of the coupon and configuring the filtering and charging at step  529 , the operator notifies the UE of the filter configuration and coupon validation result at step  531 . Then the UE  100  requests for the service again to the retry address provided by the third party provider  300  at step  533 . At this time, the traffic generated according to the service request of the UE  100  is the sponsor traffic such that the operator  200  generates a charging record based on the subscription information of the sponsor ID for the sponsor traffic. That is, the operator  200  charges the third party provider  300  other than the UE  100  for the sponsor traffic. 
         [0053]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating architecture of a mobile communication system for processing sponsor traffic according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the UE  100  may include a user  110 , a content application  120 , and a mobile OS  130 ; and the operator  200  includes SNE server (SNES)  201 , a UDR  220 , a PCRF  230 , and PGW (GGSN)  240 , and an OFCS  250 . Here, the user  110  downloads a coupon and processes and displays the information related to the sponsor traffic. The content application  120  is the application for processing the sponsor traffic, and the mobile OS  130  is responsible for radio communication with the operator  200 . 
         [0055]    When processing the sponsor traffic, the SNE server  210  of the operator  200  verifies the coupon received from the UE  100 , and configures a sponsor traffic filter using the server information contained in the coupon, and generates the charging for charging for the filtered traffic with sponsor ID. The UDR (User Data Repository)  220  stores the charging, and the PCRF  230  generates a message for generating a billing record with the sponsor ID for the sponsor traffic, the PGW  230  generates the billing record with the sponsored ID other than user ID for the sponsor traffic according to the message transmitted by the PCRF  230 , and OFCS  250  issues a bill based on the billing record. 
         [0056]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating configurations of the SNE communication client module of the UE and the SNE server  210  of the operator  200  in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the mobile platform of the UE for processing the sponsor traffic includes the SNE communication client module which performs the following functions. First, the SNE communication client module requests the SNE server  210  of the operator network to install the coupon received from the third party application. If the SNE server  210  notifies of the expiry of the coupon, it sends the notification to the third party application. Also, the SNE communication client module is responsible for communication function with the SNE server  210  of the operator network. 
         [0058]    Also, the SNE server  210  includes four function modules and two repositories, the functions being as follows. 
         [0059]    The SNE client communication function  820  is responsible for communication with the SNE communication client module. The SNE client function  820  receives the coupon of the third party application transmitted by the UE and transfers the coupon to the coupon validity function  830  to verify the validity. If the sponsored charge charging is installed by the sponsor traffic policy controller, the SNE client communication function  820  notifies the SNE communication client module of the UE of the result and communicates with the SNE communication client module in the mobile platform of the UE. 
         [0060]    The sponsor communication function  840  is responsible for the server function when the third party makes a sponsorship contract with the operator, stores the information input by the sponsor in the sponsor certificate storage  850  along with the certificate including the public key of the sponsor, and stores the information on the coupons installed for the operator network and the actual operator network usage information in the sponsor coupon storage  860 . The sponsor communication function  840  is responsible for all communication functions between the third party and the operator such as operator network information update of the third party. 
         [0061]    The coupon validity function  830  verifies the validity of the coupon issued by the third party using the supplementary information such as third party&#39;s public key and shared security key stored in the sponsor authentication storage  850  and notifies of the verification result. 
         [0062]    The sponsor traffic policy controller  810  generates the TFT and charging using the information on the coupon verified by the coupon validity function  830  and installs the generated TFT and charging. In addition to this function, the sponsor traffic policy controller  810  is responsible for all functions interoperating with other entities of the operator network. 
         [0063]    The sponsor coupon storage  860  store all information as well as the certificate including the public key of the sponsor which has been input by the sponsor when the third party makes a sponsor contract with the operator. The sponsor certificate storage  850  stores the coupons received from the SNE communication client module in the mobile platform of the UE and the sponsor traffic information used by the UE for the coupon. 
         [0064]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a description is made of the sponsor traffic processing procedure in the order of coupon activation procedure (Activate Sponsored Charging Coupon), packet filter installation and charging configuration procedure, sponsor traffic processing procedure (expiration alerting), sponsor traffic process end procedure (Deactivate Sponsored Charging), and billing procedure (Cash the sponsored traffic). 
         [0065]    First, a description is made of the coupon issue and delivery.  FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating the procedure of activating sponsor-charging coupon according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0066]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , reference number  911  denotes the step of making a contract for processing the sponsor traffic between the service provider  300  and the operator  200 . That is, the operator  200  offers the sponsor coupon service, and the content provider  300  subscribes to the sponsor coupon service offered by the operator  200  at step  911 . In order to processor the sponsor traffic, the content provider  300  and the operator  200  exchange the information for verifying the coupon in advance. At this time, the content provider  300  sends the operator  200  the sponsor coupon subscription information as shown in table 1 and a public key for use in verifying the validity of the coupon, the operator  200  sends the content provider  300  the operator ID, and they may share the security key (Contractual agreement between content provider and the operator on the amount of the sponsored traffic and its charging rate. The operator has the certificate including the public key of the content providers.). 
         [0067]    Afterward, the UE  100  requests the content provider  300  for the service which uses the sponsored traffic and sends the currently used operator ID. If the service request is received from the UE  100 , the content provider  300  recognizes the sponsor traffic request, generates the sponsor coupon as shown in table 1 that can used in the operator network, and signs the coupon with the private key at step  915  (The contents provider issues the sponsored charging coupon signed by its private key). As aforementioned, the reason for signing the coupon with the private key is to prevent the UE  100  to modify the coupon for use in other purposes. Additionally, the coupon may be signed and encrypted using the shared security. Afterward, the content provider  300  sends the retrial command and the generated coupon in response to the service request from the UE  100  through inbound signaling at step  917 . At this time, the server address to access for retry is identical with the server address included in the coupon. The currently used operator ID is transmitted together. 
         [0068]      FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating the procedure of installing the packet filters and charging rules for the sponsored traffic at the operator  200  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0069]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , the user  110  of the terminal  100  receives the coupon and a retry command from the content provider  300  and transfers these to the content application  120  of the UE  100 . Then the content application  120  calls the sponsored charge method for providing the UE  100  with the received coupon as parameter and sends it to the OS  130  at step  1013 , and the mobile OS  130  sends a service request message including the application ID, user ID, and sponsor coupon to the SNES  210  of the server in the operator network at step  1015 . 
         [0070]    If the sponsored charge activation request is received, the SNES  210  verifies the validity of the sign of the coupon with the public key registered by the content provider at step  1017 . In addition, if it is signed and encrypted with the security key, the validity verification and description are performed using the shared security key. If the validity is verified successfully, the SNES  210  determines whether the charging rule for the sponsor traffic identified with the corresponding application id and sponsored id is installed in the charging rule of the user identified with the user id already and, if not installed, stores the charging rule in the UDR (check UDR if there is an existing record for user ID and coupon(sponsor ID, content ID). If there is no existing record, SNES adds(install) the sponsored charging coupon). 
         [0071]    At this time, in order to force the stored rule, it is necessary to install the rule in the PGW. For this purpose, the SNES  210  notifies the PGW  240  of this via the PCRF (send activate sponsored charging message to the PCRF with PCRF with subscription ID, TFT, sponsor ID, sponsor model and its parameters) at step  1021 , and the PGW  240  installs the sponsored charging model at step  1023 . 
         [0072]    In more detail, the SNES  210  requests the PCRF  230  for TFT including user&#39;s subscription information id, sponsor&#39;s subscription information ID, a packet filters for sponsor traffic and activating the sponsored charge with the usage models as parameters. In the case of using the legacy bearer, only the filter and charging rule are installed in the PGW  240  and, in the case of using a new bearer, a bearer using the corresponding filter and charging rule is generated for the PGW  240  through IP-CAN Session Modification procedure. The PGW  240  reports the installation result of the sponsored charge model to the SNES  210  via the PCRF  230 . 
         [0073]    If the result of the Activate sponsored charge request is received from the PGW  240 , the SNES  210  notifies the mobile OS  130  of the UE  100  of the sponsor coupon installation result (activate sponsored charging response (result=success) at step  1025 , and the mobile OS  130  transfers it to the content application  120  (return from API method call) at step  1027 . Accordingly, the execution result of the sponsored charge method called by the content application  120  is returned to the content application  120 . Then the content application  120  requests the content server matching the server address included in the sponsor coupon received in the retry command for the service, and the PGW  240  generates a charging record with the sponsored id for the sponsor traffic of the UE  100 . 
         [0074]    In the case that the content server address requested in the retry command of the content server  300  and the content server address included in the coupon are URIs, the SNES  210  performs DNS query for the corresponding URI, configures the packet filter for the sponsor traffic with the result address, and sends the result address to the UE  100  such that the UE  100  performs access to the service with the address transmitted by the server as the content server address. 
         [0075]    In the verification procedure, if the content provider  300  has subscribed to the sponsor traffic service in a prepaid manner and if the credit of the sponsor subscription information ID expires, the SNES  210  determines that the validity verification on the sponsor coupon for the content provider  300  has failed. 
         [0076]    Although  FIG. 10  is directed to the flows in which the user  100  sends the sponsored charge activation message to the SNES server  210  of the operator directly, the present invention is not limited thereto. 
         [0077]    In detail, the UE may transmit the sponsored charge activation message to the SNES  210  using NAS (Non-Access Stratum) protocol. For this purpose, if PCO (Protocol Configuration Option) is configured in the NAS message for activating the sponsored charge, the UE is capable of transmitting the sponsored charge activation message to the PGW  240  directly. Here, the sponsored charge activation message (NAS message) may include the parameter identical with that in the message specified at step  1015 . If the message is received, the PGW  240  forwards this message to the PCRF  230  and thus the PCRF  230  delivers this message to the SNES  210 . If the sponsored charge activation message is received from the PCRF  230 , the SNES  210  is capable of performing step  1017  and subsequent steps. 
         [0078]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a procedure of alerting expiry of sponsor traffic according to the usage model of the coupon in processing the sponsor traffic. 
         [0079]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , the download application  120  of the UE downloads the content data (e.g. streaming video data) from the content provider  300  at step  1111 . Here, the content data may be any of electronic book, movie, and music data. When the download application  120  of the UE downloads the content data, the PGW  240  determines whether the usage data record of the coupon installed in the PGW reaches a threshold (expires) and, if it reaches the threshold, notifies the PCRF of the expiry at step  1113 . Then the PCRF  230  receives the threshold reach notification from the PGW  240 , the notification including the sponsored ID, subscription information ID, charging ID, and usage data record. Then the PCRF  230  sends the SNES  210  an event notification (sponsored ID, subscription information ID, usage data record) at step  1117 . If the event notification is received, the SNES  210  sends the PCRF  230  an ACK message at step  1119 , and the PCRF  230  forwards the ACK message to the PGW  240  at step  1121 . 
         [0080]    Afterward, the SNES  210  sends the mobile OS  130  of the UE an alert message, i.e. the expiry alert message including the remained data usage amount information. Then the mobile OS  130  of the UE sends the SNES  210  an ACK at step  1125 . Also, the mobile OS sends the alert to the content application  120 , the content application  120  processes the alert message (Call the listener API if it was registered (for example Alert sponsored Charging going to expire), and the user  110  displays the alert message to the user at step  1129 . 
         [0081]    If the sponsor traffic reaches the usage amount configuration value of the coupon in the state that the UE is performing the sponsor traffic-based service, the operator alerts the UE  100  and thus the UE  100  displays alert message. At this time, the usage amount of the coupon may be expressed as the sponsor traffic size (total amount, time (total duration), and ‘until end signals’. 
         [0082]      FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an operation procedure in the case where the coupon usage amount is expressed as total amount and total duration, and  FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating an operation procedure in the case where the coupon usage amount is expressed as ‘until end signals’. 
         [0083]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , if the coupon usage amount is expressed as the total amount, or total duration, the operation is performed in similar procedure to  FIG. 11 . That is, if the content application  120  is using the sponsor traffic-based service at step  1211 , the PGW  240  checks whether the usage amount of the coupon installed in the PGW reaches the threshold and, if so, notifies the PCRF of this. Here, the usage amount of the coupon can be the total amount or total duration and, if the time or size reaches a predetermined degree of 90%, the expiry of the coupon usage amount is alerted (When the install usage data record reaches the threshold (total amount, total duration), it sends notification to the PCRF). 
         [0084]    Then, performing steps  1215  to  1221 , the PGW  240  sends the PCRF a threshold reach notification (Threshold reach notification for the sponsored charging records(sponsored ID, subscription ID (or charging ID), usage data record), and the PCRF  230  sends the SNES  210  the event notification (sponsored ID, subscription ID, usage data record). If the event notification is received, the SNES  210  sends the PCRF  230  an ACK message, and the PCRF  230  forwards the ACK message to the PGW  240 . 
         [0085]    Afterward, the SNES  210  sends the UE  100  an expiry alert message (Alert message, Remaining sponsored data usage) at step  1223 . Then the UE  100  sends the SNES  210  an ACK at step  1125 . The UE calls the listener API if it was registered (for example Alert sponsored Charging going to expire and displays the alert message to the user at steps  1227  and  1129 . 
         [0086]    Although  FIGS. 11 and 12  are directed to the case where an alert is output when a predetermined time elapses in the state that the total size of the sponsor traffic remained after use is at a predetermined level, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the alert may be output whenever a predetermined amount of the sponsor traffic is consumed. For example, the alert may be output whenever 5 Mbyte of sponsor traffic is consumed. Assuming that the total duration of the sponsor traffic contracted between the service provider and the operator is 1 hour, the alert may be output whenever the 5-minute traffic is consumed. 
         [0087]    Although an embodiment of the present invention is directed to the case where the operator alerts the user, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the operator may alert the user and the service provider simultaneously. If the alert is received, the service provider is capable of make an additional contract for the sponsor coupon with the operator such that the user received the sponsor service without inconvenience. 
         [0088]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , the content application  120  is using the sponsor traffic-based service at step  1211  and, in this state if the coupon usage among is expressed as ‘until end signal’, receives the sponsor traffic termination message from the content server of the content provider at step  1313 . That is, the content application  120  receives a bypass request message (sponsor traffic end) from the sever of the content provider  300 . That is, the content server sends the content application the network bypass request message (bypassed message is encrypted) of the sponsor traffic termination at the end time at step  1313 . Then the content application  120  displays the alert message to the user  110  (e.g. now data traffic is charged to you!!!) at step  1315 . The content application  120  bypasses the encrypted bypass message to the SNES  210  (sponsored traffic end!) at step  1317 . 
         [0089]    Once the total size or total duration of the coupon usage amount expires completely in  FIG. 12  or after performing step  1317  of  FIG. 13 , the operator  200  ends the sponsored charge procedure (deactivate sponsored charge). 
         [0090]      FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating a procedure of deactivating the sponsored charge. 
         [0091]    Referring to  FIG. 14 , the download application  120  of the UE is in the state capable of using the sponsor traffic service, i.e. the state capable of downloading content data from the content provider  300 , at step  1411 . In this state, if the sponsorship expiry is detected according to the coupon usage amount as described with reference to  FIGS. 11 to 13 , the SNES  210  notifies the PCRF  230  of the end of the sponsored charge at step  1413 , and the PCRF  230  notifies the PGW of this. Then the PGW  240  uninstalls the corresponding traffic filter and charging rule at step  1415  (When the installed usage data record reaches its data usage or receive the deactivate request from SNES, it de-install the sponsored data records, and sends notification to the PCRF). 
         [0092]    The PGW  240  notifies the PCRF  230  of the deactivation of the sponsored charge (deactivate sponsored charging (sponsored ID, subscription ID (or charging ID), usage data record), and the PCRF  230  sends the SNES  210  an event notification (sponsored ID, subscription information ID, usage data record) at step  1419 . If the event notification is received, the SNES  210  sends the PCRF  230  an ACK message at step  1421 , and the PCRF  230  sends the PGW  240  an ACK message at step  1423 . 
         [0093]    Afterward, the SNES  210  notifies the mobile OS  130  of the UE of the expiry of the sponsored charge (deactivation notification (deactivation message, consumed sponsored data usage)) at step  1425 . Then the mobile OS  130  of the UE sends the SNES  210  an ACK at step  1427 . The OS also sends the content application  120  the received alert, the content application  120  processes this (Call the listener API if it was registered (for example deactivated sponsored Charging), and the user  110  displays the alert to the user at step  1129 . 
         [0094]    After the deactivation of the sponsored charge, the operator  200  charges for the sponsor traffic.  FIG. 15  is a diagram illustrating a procedure of charging for the sponsored traffic after the end of the sponsored charge. 
         [0095]    Referring to  FIG. 15 , if the sponsored charge is terminated, the operator sends the content provider  300  the provider-issued coupon data to the content provider along with the bill at step  1511 . Then the content provider  300  verifies the validity of the coupon at step  1513  and, if the validity is verified, pays for the sponsor traffic consumed by the UE at step  1515 . 
         [0096]      FIG. 16  is a diagram illustrating the sponsor traffic processing procedure according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0097]    Referring to  FIG. 16 , the third party provider (service provider or content provider)  300  and the operator  200  first perform pre-processing operation for processing the sponsor coupon. That is, the operator  200  offers the sponsor service to the service provider  300  intending to start a third party service. The third party provider  300  subscribes to the sponsor service offered by the operator  200 . The service provider  300  sends the operator the public key (sponsor coupon service subscription information+public key) for use in transmitting messages to the operator and verifying validity at step  1611 . The operator  200  sends the address of the server of the operator to which the third party accesses (operator server address) and the protocol set used at the server. Through this procedure, the service provider  300  and the operator  200  prepare for processing the sponsor traffic. 
         [0098]    In the above state, the UE  100  may request for the sponsor traffic-based service (e.g. download button click after payment for ebook) at step  1621 . At this time, the current operator id is transmitted along with the sponsor traffic request. Then the service provider  300  recognizes the sponsor traffic request and issues a coupon at step  1623 . The coupon may be formatted as shown in table 2 and include a ID (e.g. phone number) for the operator to identify the UE and the address of the UE sponsored (IP address and port). Afterward, the service provider  300  sends the issued coupon to the server address received from the operator at step  1613  using the protocol set received at step  1613 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Issuer ID: Content Provider ID ( Sponsor ID) 
               
               
                   
                 -Applied network : Operator ID 
               
               
                   
                 -Applied User : User ID ( MSISDN or private ID assigned by the 
               
             
          
           
               
                 operator ) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 - Coupon ID: Serial Coupon Number 
               
               
                   
                 - Usage Model: one of {total amount, total duration, until signaling 
               
             
          
           
               
                 the end } 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 - Usage Model Parameters includes at least one of followings 
               
               
                   
                 + Total amount: 300 MB if Usage Model is 
               
               
                   
                 + Total duration: n hours, n days or n months 
               
               
                   
                 + Until signaling the end 
               
               
                   
                 - Sponsor Service Server : List IP address/Port and/or URL of the 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Server 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 - Client address/port 
               
               
                   
                 - Time Stamp 
               
               
                   
                 Singed By the Issuer 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0099]    If the coupon is received, the operator  200  verifies the validity of the coupon, at step  1627 , using the public key of the service provider  300  which has been received at step  1611 . The operator  200  also configures the sponsor traffic filter using the server information contained in the coupon and generates a charging rule for charging the filtered traffic with the sponsor id at step  1627 . At this time, the operator  200  establishes a new bearer, if necessary, and configures a filter and charging rule for the newly established bearer. The operations of coupon validity verification, filter installation, and charging rule configuration are performed in the procedure of  FIG. 10 . 
         [0100]    After performing step  1627 , the operator notifies the service provider  300  of the filter installation and coupon validation result at step  1629 . Then the service provider  300  responds to the UE which has requested for the service purchase at step  1631  and notifies the UE of the server address (download server info.) included in the coupon issued at step  1623  as shown in table 2. Then the UE  100  requests for the service with the server address received at step  1631  to receive the sponsor traffic service at step  1633 . At this time, payment for the sponsor traffic is recorded as a billing record associated with the subscription information identified by the sponsored ID but not being charged to the UE. 
         [0101]    As described above, the UE is capable of receiving the expiry alert information through one of the methods described with reference to  FIGS. 11 to 13  according to the usage model of the coupon in the state that the UE connected to the server of the service provider  300  through a mobile communication network is downloading the intended data. If the sponsor traffic service ends, the sponsored charge deactivation is performed through the procedure of  FIG. 14 , and the charge for the sponsor traffic is performed through the procedure of  FIG. 15 . 
         [0102]    The sponsor traffic processing procedure according to the second embodiment of the present invention is performed as shown in  FIG. 16  and is identical with that the first embodiment of the present invention in all aspects with the exception that the SNE communication client module of the mobile platform of the UE  100  exists in the SNE client program of the third party. 
         [0103]    Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described using specific terms, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense in order to help understand the present invention. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention.