Method and apparatus for online charging in an IP multimedia subsystem
US9338631B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 2011 |
| Grant date | May 10, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 15, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M15/64
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method is provided for online charging within an IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS. A first credit control request message is received (S-A) at an IMS charging node (30) from an IMS service network node (20) over a service charging interface (22) provided between the IMS service node (20) and the IMS charging node (30). In response to receipt of the first credit control message, it is determined (S-B) at the IMS charging node (30), with reference to one or more triggering conditions, that a replenishment of credit is to be offered for a user associated with the first credit control request message. Following such a determination, a credit replenishment service is initiated in the IMS service node (20) by sending (S-D) a replenishment request in a first credit control answer message over the service charging interface (22) from the IMS charging node (30) to the IMS service node (20), the first credit control answer message being in response to the first credit control request message. Alternatively, a credit replenishment service is initiated (S-E) in the IMS charging node (30). In this alternative, a second credit control request message associated with the user is received (S-F) from…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.