Online charging mechanisms during OCS non-responsiveness

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10924520-B2
Application number	US-201715838980-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2017
Priority date	Dec 13, 2016
Publication date	Feb 16, 2021
Grant date	Feb 16, 2021

Abstract

A method of and system for accommodating non-responsiveness of an online charging node in a networked system. A request is received from a subscriber. An online charging node is identified to be non-responsive. A default quota is assigned to the subscriber, defining a service usage threshold for the subscriber. Service is provided to the subscriber based on the default quota.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of accommodating non-responsiveness of an online charging node in a networked system, comprising:
receiving a request from a subscriber;
identifying that an online charging node is non-responsive, wherein identifying that the online charging node is non-responsive comprises at least one of detecting a lack of a heartbeat from the online charging node or identifying a timeout of a request to the online charging node;
assigning a default quota to the subscriber, the default quota being assigned by an entity other than the online charging node while the online charging node is non-responsive, the default quota defining a service usage threshold for the subscriber;
providing service to the subscriber based on the default quota, wherein the providing service to the subscriber based on the default quota includes tracking a usage associated with the service;
identifying that the online charging node has become responsive; and
reconciling with the online charging node the usage associated with the service, wherein the reconciling with the online charging node the usage associated with the service includes reporting one or more of the tracked usage associated with the service or the default quota to the online charging node.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the online charging node comprises an online charging server (OCS).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying and assigning steps are performed by a charging enforcement node, and wherein the online charging node is configured to provide a control message to the charging enforcement node.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the charging enforcement node comprises a packet gateway (PGW).

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the charging enforcement node comprises a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN).

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising assigning the default quota to a session for the subscriber.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising assigning the default quota to at least one additional session.

8. A method of accommodating non-responsiveness of an online charging node in a networked system, comprising:
receiving a request for service from a subscriber;
transmitting a message to an online charging node to initiate a session for the subscriber;
identifying that the online charging node is non-responsive, wherein identifying that the online charging node is non-responsive comprises at least one of detecting a lack of a heartbeat from the online charging node or identifying a timeout of a request to the online charging node;
assigning a default quota to the subscriber, the default quota being assigned by an entity other than the online charging node while the online charging node is non-responsive, the default quota defining a service usage threshold for the subscriber;
providing service to the subscriber based on the default quota, wherein the providing service to the subscriber based on the default quota includes tracking a usage associated with the service;
identifying that the online charging node has become responsive; and
reconciling with the online charging node the usage associated with the service, wherein the reconciling with the online charging node the usage associated with the service includes reporting the default quota to the online charging node.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the online charging node comprises an online charging server (OCS).

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the transmitting, identifying, and assigning steps are performed by a charging enforcement node, and wherein the online charging node is configured to provide a control message to the charging enforcement node.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the charging enforcement node comprises a packet gateway (PGW).

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the charging enforcement node comprises a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN).

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising assigning the default quota to a session for the subscriber.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising assigning the default quota to at least one additional session.

15. A system that is configured to accommodate non-responsiveness of an online charging node, comprising:
one or more processors;
memory in electronic communication with the one or more processors; and
instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the one or more processors to:
receive a request for service from a subscriber;
transmit a message to the online charging node to initiate a session for the subscriber;
receive a control message from the online charging node;
provide service to the subscriber based on the control message;
identify that the online charging node is non-responsive, wherein identifying that the online charging node is non-responsive comprises at least one of detecting a lack of a heartbeat from the online charging node or identifying a timeout of a request to the online charging node;
determine an access point name (APN) and at least one policy and charging rules function (PCRF) associated with the subscriber;
assign a default quota to the subscriber, the default quota being assigned by an entity other than the online charging node while the online charging node is non-responsive, the default quota being assigned based at least in part on the APN and the at least one PCRF, the default quota defining a service usage threshold for the subscriber;
provide continued service to the subscriber based on the default quota, wherein the providing service to the subscriber based on the default quota includes tracking a usage associated with the service;
identify that the online charging node has become responsive; and
reconcile with the online charging node the usage associated with the service, wherein the reconciling with the online charging node the usage associated with the service includes reporting the default quota to the online charging node.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the online charging node comprises an online charging server (OCS).

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the transmitting, receiving, identifying, and assigning steps are performed by a charging enforcement node, and wherein the online charging node is configured to provide the control message to the charging enforcement node.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the charging enforcement node comprises a packet gateway (PGW).

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the charging enforcement node comprises a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN).

20. The system of claim 15 , further comprising assigning the default quota to the session for the subscriber.

21. The system of claim 20 further comprising assigning the default quota to at least one additional session.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technolgy Licensing Llc
• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Nair Girish
• Veldanda Narsi

Classifications

• H04L65/40 Primary

  Support for services or applications · CPC title

• H04M15/64 Primary

  On-line charging system [OCS] · CPC title

• H04M15/856

  Unsuccessful event · CPC title

• H04M15/66

  Policy and charging system · CPC title

• H04M15/854

  Available credit · CPC title