Patent · US Active

Hierarchical metering policy attributes

US8694629B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
4References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 3, 2011
Grant dateApr 8, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 16, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L41/0894
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a policy and charging rules node for managing usage of a subscriber. The method may include: defining a primary metering policy having a first applicability condition and a first quota; defining a secondary metering policy having attributes including a second applicability condition and at least one inherited attribute that references an attribute of the primary metering policy; determining that the second metering policy is applicable when the first applicability condition and the second applicability condition are true; selecting the secondary metering policy as an active metering policy; and managing subscriber usage according to the attributes of the secondary metering policy. In various alternative embodiments, the step of managing subscriber usage includes: measuring subscriber usage according to a rating factor of the secondary metering policy; and charging the measured subscriber usage to both the primary metering policy and the secondary metering policy.

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