Accounting method and apparatus for communications network
US7092696B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 4, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 8, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2215/52
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An accounting framework is provided for a communications system having a plurality of service providers, including cellular service providers and/or data network service providers, e.g., Internet service providers. Accounting units containing accounting information are exchanged between service providers to allow the service providers to charge for usage of services. The accounting units have a predetermined format to allow them to be exchanged between different service providers. Each accounting unit includes a plurality of fields, including a service type field, a usage of radio interface field, a usage of a visited or external network field, a usage of mobility management field, a quality of service field, a usage of a packet data protocol field, and other fields. Users may be charged for services based on these fields.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.