Online charging for multi-user agent instances served by different telephony application servers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10972294-B2
Application number	US-201916393713-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2019
Priority date	May 10, 2018
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

Techniques for allowing access based online charging in cases of multiple user agents (multi-UAs) scenarios where the instances are registered to different telephony application servers (TASs) are discussed herein. For example, a user device may support a native number and multiple virtual numbers linked via a user account. When servicing a call, the user device may determine a served number to service the call from. If the served number is not the native number but a virtual number, the native-line server may handle the call session, but the online charging session will be handled by the virtual-line server. The native-line server may use session initiation protocol (SIP) information to send updated information for charging parameters to the virtual-line server including network access transfer for accuracy in online charging logic.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, from one or more computing devices, first session information of a communication session for a user equipment, wherein the first session information includes charging information and a served number;
determining a rating function for the communication session based at least in part on the first session information;
generating an online charging session using the rating function;
receiving, from the one or more computing devices, second session information of the communication session for the user equipment;
determining that the second session information includes a change in the charging information;
determining to update the rating function for the communication session based at least in part on the change in the charging information;
determining to update the online charging session using the rating function;
receiving an incoming communication session request for the served number from a new caller; and
determining one or more user equipment associated with the served number to transmit call-forking information associated with the incoming communication session request.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more computing devices include a telephony application server (TAS) or a service centralization and continuity application server (SCCAS).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first session information is associated with a Packet Switched (PS) network type and the second session information is associated with a Circuit Switched (CS) network type.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from the one or more computing devices, a third request to initiate a conference session with third session information, the third session information including the charging information and the served number; and
generating a second online charging session using the rating function.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from the one or more computing devices, a termination request for the communication session; and
terminating the online charging session.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
determining lack of call units based at least in part on the online charging session and the rating function;
determining to terminate the communication session based at least in part on the online charging session; and
transmitting, to the one or more computing devices, a termination request.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the charging information includes one or of instance information, access network information, visited network information, a time zone of the user equipment, the served number, or a called-party number.

8. A system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
receiving, from one or more computing devices, first session information of a communication session for a user equipment, wherein the first session information includes charging information and a served number, and wherein the first session information is associated with a Packet Switched (PS) network type;
determining a rating function for the communication session based at least in part on the first session information;
generating an online charging session using the rating function;
receiving, from the one or more computing devices, second session information of the communication session for the user equipment, wherein the second session information is associated with a Circuit Switched (CS) network type;
determining that the second session information includes a change in the charging information;
determining to update the rating function for the communication session based at least in part on the change in the charging information; and
determining to update the online charging session using the rating function.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more computing devices include a telephony application server (TAS) or a service centralization and continuity application server (SCCAS).

10. The system of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
receiving an incoming communication session request for the served number from a new caller; and
determining one or more user equipment associated with the served number to transmit call-forking information associated with the incoming communication session request.

11. The system of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
receiving, from the one or more computing devices, a third request to initiate a conference session with third session information, the third session information including the charging information and the served number; and
generating a second online charging session using the rating function.

12. The system of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
receiving, from the one or more computing devices, a termination request for the communication session; and
terminating the online charging session.

13. The system of claim 12 , the operations further comprising:
determining lack of call units based at least in part on the online charging session and the rating function;
determining to terminate the communication session based at least in part on the online charging session; and
transmitting, to the one or more computing devices, a termination request.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the charging information includes one or of instance information, access network information, visited network information, a time zone of the user equipment, the served number, or a called-party number.

15. A method comprising:
receiving, from one or more computing devices, first session information of a communication session for a user equipment, wherein the first session information includes charging information and a served number;
determining a rating function for the communication session based at least in part on the first session information;
generating an online charging session using the rating function;
receiving, from the one or more computing devices, second session information of the communication session for the user equipment;
determining that the second session information includes a change in the charging information;
determining to update the rating function for the communication session based at least in part on the change in the charging information;
determining to update the online charging session using the rating function;
receiving, from the one or more computing devices, a third request to initiate a conference session with third session information, the third session information including the charging information and the served number; and
generating a second online charging session using the rating function.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more computing devices include a telephony application server (TAS) or a service centralization and continuity application server (SCCAS).

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
receiving an incoming communication session request for the served number from a new caller; and
determining one or more user equipment associated with the served number to transmit call-forking information associated with the incoming communication session request.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first session information is associated with a Packet Switched (PS) network type and the second session information is associated with a Circuit Switched (CS) network type.

19. The method of claim 15 , furthe

Assignees

• T Mobile Usa Inc

Inventors

• Badar Saqib

Classifications

• H04L65/1104

  Session initiation protocol [SIP] · CPC title

• H04M15/51

  for resellers, retailers or service providers · CPC title

• H04M15/8228

  Session based · CPC title

• H04L65/1069

  Session establishment or de-establishment · CPC title

• H04M15/64

  On-line charging system [OCS] · CPC title