Patent ID: 8565721

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for facilitating Call Detail Record (CDR) based billing in a converged cellular network and Internet Protocol (IP)-based wireless access network, the method comprising: receiving a registration request with a network controller from a mobile device via an IP-based wireless access network of a converged wireless network for which CDR based billing is used; sending an access point identifier to the network controller, wherein the access point identifier is associated with a point of entry into the IP-based wireless access network for the mobile device; querying a database with the access point identifier; receiving a reply from the database in response to the query, wherein the reply includes a service zone identifier, wherein the service zone identifier is associated with the point of entry into the IP-based wireless access network, wherein the service zone identifier is identified, at least in part, using the access point identifier, and wherein the service zone identifier is associated with a billing rate for the mobile device on the IP-based wireless access network; storing the service zone identifier at the network controller; identifying a communication request from the mobile device over the IP-based wireless access network through the point of entry into the IP-based wireless access network; and communicating the service zone identifier to a switch for the identified communication request from the mobile device.