Patent ID: 7649840

Claim:
A method for limiting and monitoring the use of a data communications connection subject to payment between at least two IP clients in a packet-switched connection network through which a mutual data communications connection is set between the at least two clients, the at least two clients including a client to be billed, the method comprising: setting a signalling connection between a connection-formation system in the connection network and at least the client to be billed, the signalling connection being separate from the mutual data communications connection; setting a traffic limiter in the connection network for the mutual data communications connection based on at least one header-field property of the packets being transmitted; monitoring the data communications connection individually for an active session established over the mutual data communications connection between the at least two clients, the data communications connection being monitored for data communications services being provided to the client to be billed; controlling the billing to be charged in a billing system session-specifically for the data communications connection based on the monitored data communications services; receiving a message at the connection-formation system via the signalling connection concerning the interruption or termination of the session being transmitted over the mutual data communications connection; in response to the message concerning the interruption or termination of the session, instructing the traffic limiter to break, interrupt, or close the session over the mutual data communications connection; and setting a two-way signalling link between the connection-formation system and the billing system through a mediator.