JP5147601B2 - Billing method and system for identifying billing object packet using SIP server - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a charging method and system for identifying a charging target packet transmitted and received between a terminal and a server in order to control charging information for a user.

  Currently, a service that allows an information server to be accessed from a terminal via an IP network may employ a packet-based billing method according to the amount of packet communication. In particular, when accessing an IP network via a wireless access network such as a mobile phone network, packet-based charging is generally employed.

  In order to employ this packet-based charging, it is necessary to identify which page of which information server the terminal has accessed. At this time, the accounting server monitors the contents of these packets according to the protocol and confirms the access destination. The billing server controls pay-per-use billing according to the amount of packet communication for the user who uses the service.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram in the prior art.

  According to FIG. 1, the terminal 2 can access the information server and receive a service via the access network 6 and the IP network 7. At this time, the accounting server 4 identifies the accounting target packet on the route, and executes the metered accounting control according to the packet traffic. As a technique for identifying packets in this way, for example, “deep inspection” is used.

  Deep inspection is a technology that combines multiple packets as needed to analyze higher-level protocols. By using this deep inspection protocol analysis technology, the contents of packets are analyzed, and servers and billing targets are analyzed. The page can be specified.

  On the other hand, there is also a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) technology for the time-based usage system for voice calls. SIP is a call control protocol on the IP, and controls negotiation such as IP address, port number, encoding, etc., outgoing call, incoming call, etc. necessary for communication between terminals. According to SIP, since control signaling and data can be handled separately, it is possible to charge according to the communication time without analyzing the data packet. Therefore, the processing load on the billing server is extremely small compared to the case of deep inspection.

JP 2003-298615 A

  According to the deep inspection technology, the billing server requires extremely high processing capability in order to perform protocol analysis on a large number of packets in real time. Further, according to the SIP technology, although the processing load of the charging server is small, only time-based charging can be used, and packet-based charging cannot be used.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a charging method and system capable of identifying a charging target packet for packet-based charging with a relatively low processing capability.

According to the present invention, the terminal, the information server accessed from the terminal via the IP network, and the charging target packet transmitted and received between the terminal and the information server are identified and the charging for controlling the charging information for the user of the terminal In a packet charging method in a system having a server,
The terminal is a SIP compatible terminal,
The system further comprises a session control server,
A first step in which a SIP compatible terminal transmits a call connection request including a user identifier / terminal side address / server side address to a session control server before establishing a data connection with the information server;
The session control server transmits the user identifier / terminal side address / server side address included in the call connection request to the billing server as a billing target without controlling the establishment of the session between the terminal and the information server . And the steps
A third step in which the SIP-compatible terminal establishes a data connection with the information server using the server-side address;
The billing server includes a fourth step of identifying a billing target packet including the terminal side address and the server side address and controlling billing information in the user identifier.

  According to another embodiment of the charging method of the present invention, it is also preferable that the session control server returns a call connection response including the server-side address to the SIP-compatible terminal for the first step.

According to another embodiment of the charging method of the present invention,
The terminal side address is the IP address and port number of the SIP compatible terminal,
The server-side address is also preferably the IP address, port number, and access destination path of the information server.

According to another embodiment of the charging method of the present invention,
A proxy server is further connected to the IP network,
For the first step,
Before the SIP-compatible terminal establishes a data connection with the information server, it sends a call connection request including the user identifier / terminal-side address / server-side address to the session control server,
The session control server sends the terminal side address and server side address included in the call connection request to the proxy server,
The proxy server generates correspondence information between the terminal side address-proxy side address and the proxy side address-server side address,
The proxy server sends the correspondence information to the session control server,
The session control server returns a call connection response including the proxy side address to the SIP-compatible terminal,
For the third step,
The SIP-compatible terminal establishes a data connection with the proxy server using the proxy side address,
The proxy server establishes a data connection with the information server using the server side address,
Regarding the fourth step, it is also preferable that the charging server identifies the charging target packet including the proxy side address and the server side address, and controls the charging information in the user identifier.

According to the present invention, the terminal, the information server accessed from the terminal via the IP network, and the charging target packet transmitted and received between the terminal and the information server are identified and the charging for controlling the charging information for the user of the terminal In a system having a server,
The terminal is a SIP compatible terminal,
A session control server;
The SIP compatible terminal establishes a data connection between the SIP client means for transmitting a call connection request including the user identifier / terminal side address / server side address to the session control server and the information server using the server side address. A connection establishment means,
The session control server is a user included in the call connection request to the billing server without controlling the call connection request receiving means for receiving the call connection request from the SIP compatible terminal and the establishment of the session between the terminal and the information server. Charging object notification means for transmitting the identifier / terminal-side address / server-side address as the charging object;
The charging server includes a packet monitoring unit that monitors a charging target packet including a terminal side address and a server side address, and a charging unit that controls charging information in a user identifier according to the monitored packet.

  According to another embodiment of the system of the present invention, the session control server preferably further includes a call connection response return means for returning a call connection response including the server-side address to the SIP compatible terminal.

According to another embodiment of the system of the present invention,
The terminal side address is the IP address and port number of the SIP compatible terminal,
The server-side address is also preferably the IP address, port number, and access destination path of the information server.

According to another embodiment of the system of the present invention,
A proxy server is further connected to the IP network,
The session control server includes a proxy corresponding request transmitting means for transmitting the terminal side address / server side address / access destination path included in the call connection request to the proxy server, and the terminal side address-proxy side address and proxy side from the proxy server. A proxy response reception unit that receives correspondence information between the address and the server side address, and the call connection response return unit returns a call connection response including the proxy side address to the terminal.
The proxy server includes a proxy corresponding receiving unit that receives the terminal address / server side address / access destination path, and a correspondence information generating unit that generates correspondence information between the terminal side address-proxy side address and the proxy side address-server side address. Proxy response transmission means for transmitting correspondence information to the session control server, and address exchange means for exchanging the terminal side address-proxy side address and the proxy side address-server side address based on the correspondence information Is also preferable.

  According to the charging method and system of the present invention, in order to confirm only the IP address and port number, for example, for the charging target packet, the charging server has a relatively low processing capability and is charged for packet-based charging. Packets can be identified.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram according to the present invention.

  According to the system of FIG. 2, an access network 6, an IP network 7, and an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network including the SIP server 1 are connected to each other. The access network 6 is, for example, a mobile phone network, a wireless / wired broadband network, or the like. The terminal 2 is a SIP compatible terminal and can be connected to the SIP server 1 via the access network 6. An information server 3 accessed from the terminal 2 is connected to the IP network 7. In addition, a charging server is further provided that identifies charging target packets transmitted and received between the terminal 2 and the information server 3 and controls charging information for the user of the terminal 2.

  The SIP-compatible terminal 2 includes a SIP client unit and a connection establishment unit. These functional components are realized by executing a program that causes a computer installed in the terminal to function. The SIP client unit transmits a call connection request including the user identifier / terminal side address / server side address to the SIP server 1 before establishing a data connection with the information server 3. As a result, a route from the SIP compatible terminal 2 to the information server 3 is secured. Here, the terminal side address is the IP address and port number of the SIP compatible terminal 2, and the server side address is the IP address, port number and access destination path of the information server. The connection establishment unit establishes a data connection with the information server 3 using the server side address.

  The SIP server 1 includes a call connection request reception unit 11, a call connection response reply unit 12, and a billing target notification unit 13. These functional components are realized by executing a program that causes a computer mounted on the server to function.

  The call connection request receiving unit 11 receives a call connection request from a SIP compatible terminal. The call connection request is a SIP INVITE message and includes a user identifier / terminal side address / server side address. These pieces of information are output to the call connection response reply unit 12.

  The call connection response reply unit 12 returns a call connection response including the server side address to the SIP compatible terminal 2. Thereafter, the call connection response reply unit 12 outputs the user identifier / terminal side address / server side address to the billing target notification unit 13.

  The billing target notification unit 13 transmits the user identifier / terminal side address / server side address included in the call connection request to the billing server 4 as a billing target.

  The billing server 4 includes a packet monitor unit 41 and a billing unit 42. These functional components are realized by executing a program that causes a computer mounted on the server to function. The packet monitor unit 41 monitors the charge target packet including the terminal side address and the server side address. The charging unit 42 controls charging information in the user identifier according to the monitored packet.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram in the present invention.

(S30) The SIP compatible terminal 2 transmits a call connection request INVITE to the SIP server 1 before establishing a data connection with the information server 3. The INVITE message includes the following access information.
SIP-compatible terminal 2 IP address: IPa
Port number: Pa
IP address of information server 3: IPs
Port number: Ps
Access destination path: / charge /
The IP address IPa and the port number Pa of the SIP compatible terminal 2 are described in SDP (Subscribe Description Protocol) of the SIP body. In the From header, SIP-URI (Uniform Resource Indicator) as a user identifier is described.

(S31) In response to this, the SIP server 1 returns a call connection response 200OK message to the SIP compatible terminal 2. The 200OK message includes the following information.
IP address of information server 3: IPs
Port number: Ps
The IP address IPs and the port number Ps of the information server are described in the SDP of the SIP body.

(S32) In response to this, the SIP-compatible terminal 2 returns a confirmation ACK message to the SIP server 1.

(S33) Next, the SIP server 1 transmits the accounting object information to the accounting server 4. The billing target information includes the following information.
User's SIP-URI
Terminal address (source information: SIP compatible terminal 2)
IP address IPa, port number Pa
Server side address (destination information: information server 3)
IP address IPs, port number Ps, access path: / charge /

(S34) Thereafter, the SIP-compatible terminal 2 establishes a data connection with the information server 3 and transmits / receives a packet. At this time, the accounting server 4 monitors these packets and identifies the accounting target packet including the terminal side address and the server side address. This makes it possible to control charging information for the user's SIP-URI.

  FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram of the present invention via a proxy server.

  According to FIG. 4, as compared with FIG. 2, a proxy server 5 is further connected between the SIP compatible terminal 2 and the SIP server 1. On the other hand, compared with FIG. 2, the SIP server 1 further includes a proxy corresponding request transmission unit 14 and a proxy corresponding response receiving unit 15 in order to correspond to the proxy server 5.

  The proxy corresponding request transmission unit 14 transmits the terminal side address / server side address / access destination path included in the call connection request to the proxy server 5.

  The proxy response reception unit 15 receives from the proxy server 5 correspondence information between the terminal side address-proxy side address and the proxy side address-server side address. The correspondence information is output to the call connection response reply unit 12.

  Unlike FIG. 2, the call connection response reply unit 12 returns a call connection response including the proxy server side address to the SIP compatible terminal 2. Thereafter, the call connection response reply unit 12 outputs the user identifier / terminal side address / server side address to the billing target notification unit 13.

  On the other hand, the proxy server 5 includes a proxy response request reception unit 51, a response information generation unit 52, a proxy response response transmission unit 53, and an address exchange unit 54. These functional components are realized by executing a program that causes a computer mounted on the server to function.

  The proxy request receiving unit 51 receives the terminal side address / server side address / access destination path from the SIP server 1. These pieces of information are output to the correspondence information generation unit 52.

  The correspondence information generation unit 52 generates correspondence information between the terminal side address-proxy side address and the proxy side address-server side address. The correspondence information is output to the proxy correspondence response transmission unit 53 and the address exchange unit 54.

  The proxy response transmission unit 53 transmits the correspondence information to the session control server.

  The address exchange unit 54 exchanges the terminal side address-proxy side address and the proxy side address-server side address based on the correspondence information.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram of the present invention through a proxy server.

  According to FIG. 5, compared with FIG. 3, the sequence of S301-S303 and S341 with respect to the proxy server 5 is further included. The provision of the SIP-compatible proxy server is preferable from the viewpoint of security because the transfer to the information server 3 of packets not registered in the corresponding information is rejected.

(S30) This is exactly the same as S30 in FIG. 3, and the SIP compatible terminal 2 transmits a call connection request INVITE to the SIP server 1 before establishing a data connection with the information server 3.

(S301) Upon receiving the call connection request INVITE, the SIP server 1 transmits a proxy response request to the proxy server 5. The proxy correspondence request includes the following access information.
SIP-compatible terminal 2 IP address: IPa
Port number: Pa
IP address of information server 3: IPs
Port number: Ps
Access destination path: / charge /

(S302) On the other hand, the proxy server 5 generates correspondence information between the terminal side address-proxy side address and the proxy side address-server side address.
Proxy server IP address: IPp
Proxy port number for the terminal: Ppa
Proxy server port number for the server: Pps
Terminal address-proxy address
IPa: Pa−IPp: Ppa
Proxy address-server address
IPp: Pps−IPs: Ps: / charge /

(S303) The proxy server 5 returns a proxy response including the correspondence information to the SIP server 1.

(S31) The SIP server 1 returns a call connection response 200OK message to the SIP compatible terminal 2. At this time, the IP address IPp and the port number Ppa of the proxy server 5 are included in the 200OK message. The IP address IPp and the port number Ppa of the proxy server 5 are described in the SDP of the SIP body.

(S32) In response to this, the SIP-compatible terminal 2 returns a confirmation ACK message to the SIP server 1.

(S33) The SIP server 1 is the same as S33 in FIG. 3, and transmits the accounting object information to the accounting server 4.

(S34) Thereafter, the SIP-compatible terminal 2 establishes a data connection with the information server 3 and transmits / receives a packet. At this time, the accounting server 4 monitors these packets and identifies the accounting target packet including the terminal side address and the server side address. Further, the proxy server 5 performs conversion of the IP address and the port number between the SIP compatible terminal 2 and the information server 3 based on the generated correspondence information. If the packet to be converted is, for example, HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), the proxy server 5 executes the HTTP proxy process after confirming the access destination path, and if it is any other basic IP packet, the proxy server 5 Performs Transmission Control Protocol) proxy processing.

  At the end of communication, it may be explicitly notified by a BYE message or may be terminated by a timeout for a predetermined time.

  As described above in detail, according to the charging method and system of the present invention, in order to confirm only the IP address and the port number, for example, for the charging target packet, the charging server has a relatively low processing capability, A charging target packet for packet metering charging can be identified.

(1) The terminal only transmits a SIP call connection request INVITE before establishing a data connection to the information server. As a result, the terminal side address and server side address of the accounting target packet are specified. Since the billing server only needs to confirm the IP address (and port number), the billing target packet can be easily identified without executing a high-load process such as deep inspection.
(2) By providing a proxy server, general-purpose authentication using SIP becomes possible.

  In the various embodiments of the present invention described above, various changes, modifications, and omissions in the scope of the technical idea and the viewpoint of the present invention can be easily made by those skilled in the art. The above description is merely an example, and is not intended to be restrictive. The invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and the equivalents thereto.

It is a system block diagram in a prior art. It is a system configuration diagram in the present invention. It is a sequence diagram in the present invention. It is a system configuration figure of the present invention via a proxy server. It is a sequence diagram of the present invention through a proxy server.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 SIP server, session control server 11 Call connection request receiving part 12 Call connection response reply part 13 Charge object notification part 14 Proxy corresponding | compatible request transmission part 15 Proxy corresponding | compatible response receiving part 2 Terminal, SIP corresponding | compatible terminal 3 Information server 4 Charging server 41 Packet Monitor unit 42 Billing unit 5 Proxy server 51 Proxy support request receiving unit 52 Corresponding information generating unit 53 Proxy response sending unit 54 Address exchanging unit 6 Access network 7 IP network

Claims (8)

A system having a terminal, an information server accessed from the terminal via an IP network, and a charging server for identifying a charging target packet transmitted and received between the terminal and the information server and controlling charging information for a user of the terminal In the packet charging method in
The terminal is a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) compatible terminal,
The system further includes a session control server,
A first step of transmitting a call connection request including a user identifier / terminal side address / server side address to the session control server before the SIP compatible terminal establishes a data connection with the information server;
The session control server charges the user identifier / terminal-side address / server-side address included in the call connection request to the charging server without controlling the establishment of a session between the terminal and the information server. A second step of transmitting as a target;
A third step in which the SIP-compatible terminal establishes a data connection with the information server using the server-side address;
A billing method comprising: a fourth step in which the billing server identifies a billing target packet including the terminal side address and the server side address, and controls billing information in the user identifier.   The charging method according to claim 1, wherein in the first step, the session control server returns a call connection response including the server-side address to the SIP-compatible terminal. The terminal side address is an IP address and a port number of the SIP compatible terminal,
3. The accounting method according to claim 1, wherein the server side address is an IP address, a port number, and an access destination path of the information server. A proxy server is further connected to the IP network;
For the first step,
Before the SIP-compatible terminal establishes a data connection with the information server, it transmits a call connection request including a user identifier / terminal-side address / server-side address to the session control server,
The session control server transmits the terminal side address and the server side address included in the call connection request to the proxy server,
The proxy server generates correspondence information between a terminal side address-proxy side address and a proxy side address-server side address;
The proxy server sends the correspondence information to the session control server;
The session control server returns a call connection response including the proxy side address to the SIP-compatible terminal,
For the third step,
The SIP-compatible terminal establishes a data connection with the proxy server using the proxy-side address;
The proxy server establishes a data connection with the information server using the server-side address;
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the fourth step, the charging server identifies a charging target packet including the proxy side address and the server side address, and controls charging information in the user identifier. The billing method according to claim 1. A system having a terminal, an information server accessed from the terminal via an IP network, and a charging server for identifying a charging target packet transmitted and received between the terminal and the information server and controlling charging information for a user of the terminal In
The terminal is a SIP-compatible terminal;
A session control server;
The SIP-compatible terminal performs data connection between the SIP client means for transmitting a call connection request including a user identifier / terminal-side address / server-side address to the session control server, and the information server using the server-side address. A connection establishment means for establishing
The session control server does not control call establishment request reception means for receiving a call connection request from the SIP-compatible terminal , and establishment of a session between the terminal and the information server. Charging object notification means for transmitting the user identifier / terminal side address / server side address included in the connection request as a charging object;
The charging server has packet monitoring means for monitoring a charging target packet including the terminal side address and the server side address, and charging means for controlling charging information in the user identifier according to the monitored packet. Feature system.   6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the session control server further includes a call connection response return means for returning a call connection response including the server side address to the SIP-compatible terminal. The terminal side address is an IP address and a port number of the SIP compatible terminal,
7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the server side address is an IP address, a port number, and an access destination path of the information server. A proxy server is further connected to the IP network;
The session control server includes a proxy corresponding request transmission unit that transmits the terminal side address / server side address / access destination path included in the call connection request to the proxy server, and a terminal side address-proxy from the proxy server. Proxy response receiving means for receiving correspondence information between the side address and the proxy side address-server side address, wherein the call connection response reply means sends the call connection response including the proxy side address to the SIP compatible terminal. Reply to
The proxy server is a proxy-compatible receiving unit that receives the terminal-side address / server-side address / access destination path, and correspondence information that generates correspondence information between the terminal-side address-proxy-side address and proxy-side address-server-side address. A generating unit, a proxy response transmitting unit for transmitting the correspondence information to the session control server, and exchanging the terminal side address-proxy side address and the proxy side address-the server side address based on the correspondence information The system according to claim 5, further comprising an address exchange unit.

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