Patent ID: 8849243

Claim:
A system for providing unified charging across different network interfaces, comprising: an online charging system (OCS), executing on one or more microprocessors; a SCIM, wherein the SCIM is operable to manage communication between a plurality of subscribers over a plurality of different network interfaces; wherein the SCIM comprises a plurality of interworking charging modules (ICMs) that use a unified charging structure and are configured to provide a same charging behavior to a plurality of different network protocols; said plurality of ICMs including a WIN ICM which, in response to communications from WIN network elements using WIN protocol, communicates charging requests to the OCS using Diameter protocol; said plurality of ICMs including a SIP ICM which, in response to communications with SIP network elements using SIP, communicates charging requests to the OCS using Diameter protocol; said plurality of ICMs including a CAP ICM which, in response to communications with CAP network elements using CAP protocol, communicates charging requests to the OCS using Diameter protocol.