CN100397820C - A method of billing in communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for charging in a communication system. The method includes: setting charging rules according to the access network type and user subscription attributes, and saving the correspondence between the access network type and user subscription attributes and the charging rules After the SGSN receives the attachment request sent by the MS that contains the current routing area identifier and its own user number, it determines the access network type and user subscription attributes of the MS according to the routing area identifier; after the PDP context of the MS is established, the SGSN Monitor the charging of the MS's business, and send the monitored charging information to the charging center through the charging gateway, which contains the MS's access network type and user subscription attributes; the charging center obtains the MS's Access the charging rules corresponding to the network type and user subscription attributes, and then use the rules for charging. This method can provide charging policies more reasonably, charge different users as fairly as possible, and improve customer satisfaction.

Description

A method of billing in communication system

technical field

The invention relates to the technical field of billing in a communication system, in particular to a method for billing in a communication system.

Background technique

With the domestic 3G approaching day by day, people pay more and more attention to how to integrate China's communication network, especially China's huge 2G network, to construct 3G pragmatically. For operators of traditional 2G networks, having a wide-coverage GSM/GPRS network and a huge user base is both an advantage and a limiting factor for 3G construction. Traditional GSM operators must not only maintain their network coverage and user advantages, but also minimize the adverse effects caused by the introduction of 3G. Their network planning and construction models must be different from those of emerging 3G mobile operators. It can be a huge advantage when building a 3G network as it already has a well-covered GSM network. Therefore, 2G and 3G will exist at the same time for a long time.

At present, from the perspective of network operation, operators have put forward the requirement of customizing different tariff policies for 2G and 3G. For example: in the early stage of 3G network construction, due to the high construction and maintenance costs of 3G networks, relatively high tariff policies need to be customized for 3G users; 3G users customize relatively low tariff policies. During the coexistence of 2G and 3G networks, it is necessary to provide a complete set of solutions so that operators can flexibly adjust tariff policies to meet actual operational needs.

The charging process in the prior art will be described below by taking 2G as GSM and 3G as WCDMA network as an example. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the network structure of the GSM and WCDMA network. Since the charging monitoring can be performed on the SGSN or the GGSN, hereby taking the SGSN as an example to illustrate its specific charging method. The specific charging process is as follows: After the SGSN receives the attachment request sent by the MS that contains the routing identifier and its own user number, the SGSN determines the type of access network of the user, and after the attachment is successful, the PDP between the user and the network side After the context is established, the SGSN monitors the charging of the MS, and generates S-CDR and M-CDR bills, and then the SGSN sends the generated bills to the CG, and the bills contain the access network type of the MS, and the CG After merging, the call bill is sent to the billing center, and then the billing center performs billing according to the type of the MS's access network.

Therefore, it can be seen from the above process that in the existing charging scheme, the charging strategy is selected according to the user's access network type, and there is no distinction between whether the user is a 2G user or a 3G user. Therefore, 2G and 3G users may be charged according to the same rate, or may be charged according to different rates.

Certainly, when charging the user, the operator may also separately adopt the method of charging according to the subscription attribute of the user. However, there are some defects in simply charging according to the attribute of the access network or simply according to the attribute of the user subscription. For example, simply relying on the attributes defined in the HLR to distinguish the rates of 2G and 3G users is unfair to 3G users who switch to the 2G network. After switching to the 2G network, the user uses the access service of the 2G network. At this time, the access network changes, and the service actually obtained by the user is supported by the 2G network. If the 3G network is still used for billing at this time, if the 3G If the network rate is high, then it may not be fair to the user.

Contents of the invention

In view of this, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for charging in a communication system, which enables charging a user according to the user's subscription attribute and access network type.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for charging in a communication system, the method includes:

Set charging rules according to the access network type and user subscription attributes, and save the corresponding relationship between the access network type, user subscription attributes and charging rules, including:

a. After the serving general packet radio service support node SGSN receives the attachment request sent by the user terminal MS containing the current routing area identifier and its own user number, it determines the access network type of the MS according to the routing area identifier, and according to the The user number determines the user subscription attribute of the MS;

b. After the packet data protocol PDP context of the MS is established, the SGSN monitors the charging of the MS's services, and sends the monitored charging information to the charging center through the charging gateway, which contains the MS's connection Network access type and user subscription attributes;

c. The charging center obtains the charging rule corresponding to the access network type of the MS and the subscription attribute of the user from the corresponding relationship, and then uses the charging rule and the received charging information to charge the user .

The corresponding relationship is set in the billing center or an independent server.

The step of sending the monitored billing information to the billing center through the billing gateway in step b includes:

b1. The SGSN sends the charging information obtained from the charging monitoring of the MS's service to the charging gateway, which contains the MS's access network type and user subscription attributes;

b2. After receiving the charging information, the charging gateway combines them, and sends the combined charging information to the charging center.

The access network type and user subscription attribute information of the MS mentioned in step b1 are included in the charging information of the mobile billing record M-CDR generated by the SGSN.

The determination of the user subscription attribute of the MS according to the user number in step a is determined according to the user subscription attribute information stored in the home location register.

The method of the invention comprehensively considers the attribute of the user's access network and the attribute of the subscription of the user, and sets the charging rule. Moreover, it is necessary to further add the subscription attribute of the user, that is, the identifier of whether it belongs to a 2G or a 3G user, in the bill of the user terminal sent by the SGSN to the CG. Then, the billing center uses this attribute to distinguish whether the user is a 2G or 3G user, and then uses the charging rate set in advance according to the access network attribute and user subscription attribute to charge the MS, so as to provide a more reasonable charging strategy , to charge different users as fairly as possible, and improve customer satisfaction.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the schematic diagram of the networking structure of GSM and WCDMA network;

Fig. 2 is a schematic flow chart for realizing the method of the present invention.

Detailed ways

In order to make the object, technical solution and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The core idea of the present invention is: set charging rules in advance according to the access network type and user subscription attributes, and save the corresponding relationship between the access network type and user subscription attributes and the charging rules; After the attachment request of the area identification and its own user number, determine the access network type of the MS according to the routing area identification, and determine the user subscription attribute of the MS according to the home location register (HLR); after the PDP context of the MS is established , the SGSN monitors the charging of the MS's services, and sends the monitored charging information to the charging center through the CG, which also includes the MS's access network type and user subscription attributes; In the corresponding relationship, the charging rule corresponding to the access network type of the MS and the subscription attribute of the user is obtained, and then the user is charged by using the charging rule and the received charging information.

The above charging rules can be set arbitrarily according to the access network type and user subscription attributes, and can be set in the charging center or in an independent server, as long as the charging center can obtain it. For example, as shown in Table 1, the access network attribute can be 2G network and 3G network, and the user subscription attribute can be 2G user and 3G user. Table 1 stipulates that if a 3G user accesses through a 3G network, the billing fee The rate is A; if a 2G user accesses through a 3G network, the billing rate is B; if a 2G user accesses through a 2G network, the billing rate is C; if a 3G user accesses through a 2G network, Then the billing rate is D. Charging rules can be rates, charging methods, or charging rules based on time, traffic, or a combination thereof. The charging rules corresponding to each access network type and user subscription attribute can be the same or different. The content of the specific charging rules does not affect the protection scope of the present invention.

  User Signing Attributes access attribute Billing rules 3G 3G A 3G 2G B

2G 2G C 2G 3G D

Table 1

Referring to shown in Figure 2, realizing the method of the present invention comprises the following steps:

Step 200: Set charging rules according to the access network type and user subscription attributes, and save the corresponding relationship between the access network type, user subscription attributes and charging rules.

Step 201: The MS sends an attach request to the SGSN, which contains the current routing area identifier and its own subscriber number.

Steps 202-203: After receiving the request, the SGSN authenticates the user, and if the authentication passes, sends an attach success message to the user, and determines the access network type of the MS according to the current routing area identifier of the user, And according to the subscriber number of the MS, determine the user subscription attribute of the MS from the HLR, that is, whether the subscriber number of the MS belongs to a 2G or 3G user.

Steps 204-206: MS sends activation request to SGSN, and after SGSN negotiates with GGSN, establishes PDP context, SGSN sends activation response to MS, and starts charging monitoring for the MS at the same time.

Step 207: The SGSN sends the monitored charging information to the CG, which contains the user's access information and user subscription attributes. Here, the SGSN can periodically send charging information through the CG according to traffic and time, that is, various generated charging bills.

Step 208: After receiving the charging information, the CG combines them and sends the combined charging information to the charging center.

Here, the CG can combine and process the various received bills, or directly transparently transmit them without any processing. The specific treatment does not affect the protection scope of the present invention.

Step 209: After receiving the billing information, the billing center obtains the billing rules according to the corresponding access information and user subscription attributes corresponding to the user, and then performs billing according to the obtained billing rules .

It can be seen from the above process that the difference between the method of the present invention and the prior art is that in the charging information sent by the SGSN to the CG in step 207, the subscription attribute of the user is further added, that is, the identification that the user belongs to a 2G or 3G user. For example, the subscription type (Subscription Type) can be further added to the call list of the Ga interface in the agreement, which indicates whether the user is a 2G user or a 3G user, as shown in Table 2.

field type describe record type necessary SGSN mobility management records service IMSI necessary International Mobile Subscriber Identity for Mobile Phones IMEI of the service optional The mobile phone's International Mobile Device Identity number SGSN address necessary SGSN current IP address User's subscription attributes optional The subscription attribute of the user indicates whether the user is a 3G user or a 2G user. system type optional Indicates whether the user attaches through the GSM air interface or the UTRAN air interface.

Table 1

In a word, the above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims (5)

1. A method for charging in a communication system, characterized in that charging rules are set according to the access network type and user subscription attributes, and the corresponding relationship between the access network type and user subscription attributes and the charging rules is saved, The method includes the following steps: a. After the serving general packet radio service support node SGSN receives the attachment request sent by the user terminal MS containing the current routing area identifier and its own user number, it determines the access network type of the MS according to the routing area identifier, and according to the The user number determines the user subscription attribute of the MS; b. After the packet data protocol PDP context of the MS is established, the SGSN monitors the charging of the MS's services, and sends the monitored charging information to the charging center through the charging gateway, which contains the MS's connection Network access type and user subscription attributes; c. The charging center obtains the charging rule corresponding to the access network type of the MS and the subscription attribute of the user from the corresponding relationship, and then uses the charging rule and the received charging information to charge the user . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the correspondence is set in a billing center or an independent server. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of sending the monitored billing information to the billing center through the billing gateway in step b comprises: b1. The SGSN sends the charging information obtained from the charging monitoring of the MS's service to the charging gateway, which contains the MS's access network type and user subscription attributes; b2. After receiving the charging information, the charging gateway combines them, and sends the combined charging information to the charging center. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, the access network type and user subscription attribute information of the MS described in step b1 are included in the charging information of the mobile bill M-CDR generated by the SGSN . 5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that determining the subscriber subscription attribute of the MS according to the subscriber number in step a is determined according to subscriber subscription attribute information stored in the HLR.

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