Patent · US Active

Converged offline charging and online charging

US7940904B2 · kind B2 · utility

21Cited by
1References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 27, 2005
Grant dateMay 10, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 9, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M2215/74
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Converged charging systems and methods are described. A converged charging system includes an offline charging system, an online charging system, a common rating function, and a common charging gateway function. When in operation, the online charging system receives online charging information for a first call and accesses the common rating function to determine a rating for the first call. The online charging system then transmits a rated charging data record (CDR) for the first call to the common charging gateway function. The offline charging system receives offline charging information for a second call, and accesses the common rating function to determine a rating for the second call. The offline charging system transmits a rated CDR for the second call to the common charging gateway function. The common charging gateway function buffers the rated CDRs for both online and offline calls, and then transmits the rated CDRs to a billing system.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.