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PCT IS E 0 3 I 0 1 1 2 2
`0 B -09- 2003
`
`REC'D 1 6 SEP 2003
`
`PCT
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`
`August 20, 2003
`
`THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT ANNEXED HERETO IS A TRUE COPY FROM
`THE RECORDS OF THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK
`OFFICE OF THOSE PAPERS OF THE BELOW IDENTIFIED PATENT
`APPLICATION THAT MET THE REQIDREMENTS TO BE GRANTED A
`FILING DATE UNDER 35 USC 111.
`
`APPLICATION NUMBER: 60/418,547
`FILING DATE: October 15, 2002
`
`PRIORITY DOCUMENT
`SUBMITTED OR TRANSMITTED IN
`COMPLIANCE WITH
`RULE 17.1(a) OR (b)
`
`By Authority of the
`COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
`
`Certifying Officer
`
`Cisco 1012
`U.S. Pat. 8,531,971
`
`001
`
`

`

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`'\.!forney's Docket No. 8197-4PR
`0
`
`COVER SHEET FOR FILING PROVISIONAL
`PATENT APPLICATION (37 CFR §1.51(c)(l))
`
`Box PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
`Commissioner for Patents
`Washington, DC 20231
`
`Date: October 15,2002
`
`This is a request for filing a PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION under 37 C.F.R
`§1.53(c).
`
`Docket No.
`'rype a plus sign (+) inside
`this box D
`
`8197-4PR
`
`+
`
`INVENTOR(s)/ APPLICANT(s)
`
`.,
`'
`
`·.
`
`Name:
`Address:
`
`Name:
`Address:
`
`Name:
`
`Name:
`
`Martin Korling
`Skuggviigen 12
`SE-191 45 Sollentuna
`SWEDEN
`
`Jan Lemark
`Lindhagensgatan 63
`SE-112 43 Stockholm
`SWEDEN
`
`Tormod Hegdahl
`Moserabben 14
`N-0752 Oslo
`NORWAY
`
`Magnus Hamesk
`Skoldviigen 35 B
`SE-186 40 Akersberga
`SWEDEN
`
`TITLE OF THE INVENTION (280 characters maximum)
`
`FLEXIBLE BEARER CHARGING
`
`ENCLOSED APPLICATION PARTS (check all that apply)
`
`[ZI
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`Specification (Number of Pages 25)
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`Drawing(s) (Number of Sheets_)
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`Copy provided by USPTO from the PACR Image Database on 08/18/2003
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`002
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`In re: Martin Korling et al;
`Filed: Concurrently Herewith
`Page2
`
`0
`
`D
`D
`
`)
`Claims (Number of Claims
`(A complete provisional application does not require claims 37 C.F.R. § 1.51(c)).
`
`Application Data Sheet. See 37 CFR §1.76
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`Applicant claims small entity status. See 37 CFR § 1.27.
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`Payment by c.redit card. Form PT0-2038 is attached.
`The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge filing fees or credit any overpayment
`to Deposit Account No. 50-0220.
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`The invention was made by an agency of the United States Government or under a contract
`with an agency of the United States Government.
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`Yes, the name of the U.S. Government agency and the Government contract number
`are:
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`Respectfully submitted,
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`IJ/1!114; I
`if{~~ ll~fiel
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`CERTIFICATE OF EXPRESS MAIL
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`Date ofDeposit: October 15,2002
`I hereby certifY that this correspondence is being deposited with the United States Postal Service "Express Mail Post Office tt?
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`
`~f?~·
`
`Joyce P h
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`Fiexible 'Bearer Charging· .. ·
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`·. The ba'sic questjon 'is: How to p~rform per-packet real-time .charging in a packet
`· switched commjmication system? Each packet should be charg~d differentially .
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`· · · _ ·
`· dependent on which service flow the packets belong to.
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`. Performing differentiated rating o~ the packet level raises a ~damental challenge:
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`rating is· a complex process involving many input parameters (tariff. plan, time and

`· volume thresholds, subscriber profile; etc), while .packet forwarding should be .

`executed with·lowest possiel~ latency. Typical rating engines may not be optimised ·
`for packet forwarding and, vice versa, typical packet forwarding engines may not be . . :
`. optimised to perform complexpricing calculations.

`· ..
`· The charging solutio~ has to have the "real-time" propertity,- meaning that the:·
`chargi_ng solution must be possible to use~ for so-~alled prepaid subscribers.
`Specifically, when a prepaid slibscriber's·(user's) credit account is empty, service
`execution (in this case packet forwarding) must be immediate affected.


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`·Herein we will call' the state-df-the-art solution a "multiple token bucket" solution.
`·Such· a solution consists ofa control system and a packet forwarding system (see
`Figure 1).
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`The control system ~onsists of a rating engine·and credit a~counts. The pa~ket
`·forwarding system contains multiple token buckets for·evezy logged-in user.
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`Figure~ ·Mu_ltlple token bucket solution·
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`.. · .... When a user logs into the communiCation system, the:pa~ketforwarding system.'
`'·: .
`. 'initates a control signalling sequence 'to the control system. The control system
`reserves an amount of credit towards the user's credit account. Let's call this amount' :·
`· ·. the "credit reservation": The control system det~rmines•·the set ofse~ices this user-is :.·
`allowed to use, The set of identifiers· for these allowed services are sent to the pac~et :
`forwarding system. For each service identifier, the packet forw~ding engine initiates :
`a resource reservation signalling sequence towards the control system. For each such . : ..
`sequence, the se':Vice is rated by ~e rating engine part of the control system, using a
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`tariffplan."The rating value i.s used to trans~ate parts ofthe·creditresenratiort into a .
`·~r.esource re~ervation" (typically data volume related), which is sent back to the ·:
`·packet forwarding system. Each resource reservation is put into a resource token
`bucket. 'Thus the packet forwarding system contains multiple token buckets, one for
`· ..
`. each allowed service.
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`When traffic is "flowing .through the commurilcatiori system the. packet forwarding
`system classifies each packet to determine wltich·service it- belongs to. Then the
`token bucket for that sendee is decremented ..
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`When a token bucket is empty; the usage is confirmed towards the control system and -
`.. a new resource reservation is done.


`..
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`. 'fh.e·multiple token bucket solution employs·a separate resource reservation
`..
`· ' signalling sequence for each service in the set of allowed ser\rices. This may create a ·
`large amount .of signalling traffic betWeen the control system and the packet
`forwarding system .. This may require high processing capabilities in the systems and
`hi~ ~apacit)r transport between them:·
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`··Furthermore, the. multiple token. bucket solutio~ m~y have drawbacks in.the area of
`"over~reser\ration". This is illustrated by the following· quantitative example: Assume
`that ari end-user ha~ a service mix according to the following list, including pricing
`inforffiation (note: cent could be euro-cents. or dollar-cents, 1 Ocents - 1 SEK): · :
`.· ·-.
`1. MMS, price 30cents per message, typically circa SOkB each, up to 1MB, typical
`"MMS session" co~tains S M¥S messages ·
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`2. W AP surfing· to ~'Intemer, uncontrol~ed sites;.price: 700cents per 1MB
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`3. WAPto controlled destination. I (e.g., WSJ), price: lOOcents per 1MB
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`S. WAP to controlled destin~tion 3 (e.g., top-up and heip pages), pr.ice: zero volume
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`In a multipie' bucket system, this example gives rise to the following reservations at.. · .. :
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`login(PDP·contextActivation).
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`2. WAP surfing to ~~Inte~et", uricontr~lled sites: for 'example a b~cket .of.l.OOkB
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`. . ·translates into a credit reservation of 70cen~s ·
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`3. WAP to controlled destination I( e.g.;, WSJ):·ror ex~ple a bucket ofSOkB·

`.'. ,
`· ·
`· translates into a credit reservation of Scents · ·
`. ... . . . . 4. W AP t~ ~ori.trolle·d dest~ation -~ {~.~.,· travel.~o~): f~r· exani~l~ a ·b~c~et- Qf 50~ ·. ·.: . · '
`: traneylates into a .9redit reservation of Scents



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`5. WAP-to controlied destination 3 (e.g., top~up and bel~ pages)~ f~r-example a· ..
`bucket of SOkB, 'no credit reservation · .

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`Let's say that ·an e~d-user has -1 OOce~ts left on the account. He logs in to send an · · .. · ·
`MMS. At -login, 80cents of credit is reserved. When he tries to send the ·MMS, the
`30cent message charge is refused. This is an exampl~ of the "over-reservation"
`•pr~blein, If the-operator wants to limit the total credit reservation toward the packet
`. fo~arding system (let's S<!-Y 50 cents), this has. to be translated into limits·in th~ ..
`volume reservat~on defaults for each serVice. The problem gets worse as .f4e number
`of senrices increases. ·
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`A proposed solution (se~·Figure 2) accordirig.to embodiments ofth~ present
`".invention can inclu~e a control-system and a packet forwarding system.
`.
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`The control system can include: ··
`•
`.a charging policy decision point(also callec'l rating engine) · ·
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`·•
`a credit account function, which.holds the users' ·credit accounts for real-time
`charging purpo~es.
`The packet forwarding system can inchide:
`. •
`a charging policy enforcement point
`· •
`a token bucket function per·Iogged-i~ ·user ..
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`· · ·
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`I:
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`Examples of packet forw~ding systems are: a switch, ~;t router, a GGSN node in ~e
`GPRS/UMTS system, a·:J;l:DSN node in the cdma2000 system, and a pro:XY·
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`. ·.
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`flows
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`· Figure 2 Single token bucket_ design with charg.ing poli~y · ..
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`Wbe~ a ~ser l~gs into the communic~tion syste~. the packet forwarding system
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`initates a control.signalling sequence to the control system. The. control system
`determines the set of services identifiers this user is allowed to use. The rating engine· .
`part ofthe control system ~alculates "charging policy'' based on a tariff plan and
`.
`\ ...
`other input data (for ~xample, .time-of-day, the user's. roaming status, the aggregated . :.

`transferred data volume for the user). This calculati~n is illustrated in Figilre 3 and is ;·
`called "dynamic pre-rating". A "charging policy'' includes of a "user rating table"

`and set of validity conditions. The user rating table includes rating.values for each
`"service class" the user is allo~ed to use. The "service class" concept is :introduced
`to limit the size of the user rating table part of the charging policy. A ~·seJ"Vice class"
`· · is a family of services with the commol) property that they have_ exa~tly th_e ~arne
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`· chargi~g p~ttern {tariff plan) .. The charging policy is sel)t back,to the packet
`forwarding·system.
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`Figure 3 Process of calculating the "charging policy"
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`Next; the packet forwarding system initiates a reservation signalling sequence .
`towards the credit account part of the control systein. The credit account function
`reserves an amount of credit towards the user's credit account. Let's call this amount· .
`. the "credit reservation". The credit reservation is sent .back to the .packet forwarding
`system and .put. into a user-specific token buck~t.· · ·
`..
`when trcrlnc. is .flowing through the communication system the packet forwarding .
`· .
`· · . system classifies each packet to determine which service it belongs to. Then the
`charging policy is used to determine which amount should be decremented from the .
`token bucket.
`· ·
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`The packet forWarding system continuously checks if the v~lidity. conditions are still
`satisfied. When that is no longet: true, a signalling sequence is i~itiated to get a new
`up-dated.charging policy: When a rate change should be performed ~t a certain time(cid:173)
`of-day, T, ·the ch~ging policy (user rating table part), contains the rate_values that
`. should .be used both before and aft~r T. Figure 4 shows an example of a c~arging .
`. policy .. ·





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`Figure 4 Charging policy, containing 1,1ser rating table and validity conditions
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`When a token bucket is empty, the-usage-is confirmed towards the control system and
`a new resource reservation is done. In the confirmation signal, information about the .-
`usage ofthed~fferent services is added explicitly:


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`A.ccorditig to embodiments or the pre~ent inv~ntion, a reduced amount of signalling
`· -traffic can be realized between the control system and the packet forwarding
`· · system.Reduced risk for over-reservation towards the credit accoimt function can be· _ ·
`realized by having a single token bucket that is ·shared by all service flows. Billing
`{post-paid) can be based on the real-time sigQalling,_using the explicit service usage.
`"information carried by the confl11riation messages. When a rate change should be
`:
`_performed at a certain time-of-day, T, the signalling load can be reduced by
`. including, in the charging policy (user rating table part), both rates before and after.
`T. When a user. credit account becomes empty, it is possible to apply a [me-grained-
`policy-control of the traffic since the charging policy is there." The size ·of the

`_.
`charging policy can ·be reduced by .i.Otrod':'cing a "service class" concept.
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`_ According to embodiments of the p~esent invention, a toke~ bucket ~ystem
`can be provided for bearer charging in a packet .switched communication .
`system comprising a control system and a packetfonvarding system. The·
`.
`·.; • . " • ". : packet _forwarding system can include a" token bucket function per logged-in • r~·O'• ·.
`. user with a single token bucket per user. -A charging policy decision point can ;
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`· · ~eside in the control system and a charging policy enforcement point can
`· · 1
`- reside in the packet forwarding system: - - . · . -·
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`According to 3dditional e~bodinierits of the presen. invention; a method to·.
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`reduce control signalling for real-time per-packet charging in a packet-swjtch · ;_ · .
`communi~ation system can be provided. In--addition, a method to reduce" an . ·. :
`·over-reservation problem for real-time per-packet charging in a packet~switch .! ·
`communication system can be provided. A single token bucket per logged-on· :
`user . .( or per logicat copnection for a user) in the packet fqrwarding system can: .... ·
`be provided .. A charging policy can, be provided expressing rating yalues fQr : ! .
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`different services (packet flows), ·rating values that are used to ded~ct tokens'·
`. .from the single token b~cket, ·an4 valid,ity co!lditions f~r these rating values. .' ·
`.
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`. Methods of applying·such a ·charging. policy to multiple simultaneous packet flows to
`. . determine the amc;mnt of tokens to be decri;mi.ented from $.e single token 'bucket can·
`· · als~ be provided. The. concept of a "service class~' can be provided as a method to ·
`·reduce the size.of a charging pqlicy. The concept of letting the charging policy
`· include rating values that are applicable both before and after a certain validity .
`condition is met can be.provided. In addition, methods can be provided to add
`information about service usage to the confirmation ·signalling towards to credit
`account function in the control system ... :.

`
`Multiple token bucket solutions· to perform per-packet .real-time-charging i~·a packet
`switched communication system, ·where·the packet sho~Jd be charged. differentially
`dependent on which service flow the packets belong to, may employ a separate
`resoirrce reservation signallmg sequence for each service in the set of allowed
`services~ These solutions may require a large amount of signaJling traffic and may· .
`-·
`have drawbacks in the area of"over-reservation" .. ·
`
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`. Embodiments ofth~ p~esent invention: may address one pr more· of these problems by
`introducing a control system' including:
`.
`.
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`• · a charging policy decision point (also ·cailed rating engine) · .
`a credit account function, which holds the users' credit acco~ts for real-time
`· •

`.charging purposes ·
`· . and a packet forwarding system including:
`. •
`a charging policy enforcement point' ·
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`•· a .token bucket function per logged-in user·
`..
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`· ·
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`In the drawings and specific~tion,there h~ve been disclosed typic~} preferred
`embodiments o:(the invention and, although specific temis are employed, they are
`used in a generic and· descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The ..
`·. following claims are provided to ensure that the present application meets all
`statutory requirements ~ a priority application in. all jurisdictions and shall not be
`· · construed· as setting forth the full scope of the present invention.
`. .
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`1 ~ ·:A 'token ·bucket system for flexible bearer charging comprising; ·: · · .
`a control system illcluding,

`·a cqarging policy decision point,: and
`: •
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`a credit account function; . .
`a packet forwarding system including, .
`. a charging policy enforcement poin~ and·
`· •
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`a·token bucket function per' logged-in user }Vith.a single
`token bucket per user; and
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`.· . and a protocol for communication between a ContJ:ol system and a . ·
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`ERICSSON. i5
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`· Sol~tion DescriPtiOn; Fle)dble Bearer
`. c·h·arg.i.n·g :and ·servi·c.~· Authoris·ati.on
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`ERICSSON_. :::::: ....
`
`Contents · ·. · · . . . .- ·
`_:Fie~ii~le bearer .charging and ~qnt~~i.: . .':.::.: ...... :::: ... :~~ ..... : .... .' .... ~.~ ..... ::.~~ ... : ... :.~~ . ." •.... ~ .... : .. :. 3·. ·
`. , 1
`· · E~icsson ~oluti~~ archite~ture· ... : .. : .... ·.~ ....... : ..... · .. ." ..... ·.-........ ~ .. :.:.· .. ·: ...... :.· .. : ............... : ....... : .. 3
`.· . .2
`.3 ·.·.Basic terminoiogy · .. :· .. · ........ :: .. ~ ..... -.. : ........ .":: ... :._.: ... :." .. : .... :.:·~· .. ·._.; ..... ~ ... _. ...... , .. ; ... : ... ~ . .-.~ ............. .-.• 4
`4 Main features ..... ::····· .. ,: .................... :· .•. ~.~ ...... ~ ... : ...... ~·~·················: ............. : ..... , ................ :. 5
`4.1
`. Differentiated Packet-Rating·······:·············:: .......................... : ........................ : .............. : ............... 5
`. Prepaid To_ken reservation.: ... : ................ .-......................... : .. .-.. ; ..................... ~ ............................... 5 .
`· · 4.2
`·service-Based Charging· and Control. (SBCC) ............ : ...................... : ........................................... 5
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`4.3
`:: ~ : · Major usage·c~ses.·.~ ..... ~ .. ~ ...... :·.: .... : ... ·.:·:.:.:·.-.. ~.: ........ :·: ... : ........... ~: ..... .' .... : .. : ........... : ... :.~.:·.: .. ." .. 6
`Oat~ ·structure and d~finitions .: .. ·:·.· .... ~.: ............ .-:.: ... : .... .-. .';'.: ...... : ... ::.: ......... :.".: ... .-: ......... : ..... 7
`. ·a·
`6.1 · Service and Ser\iice Class ........................................... : ....................... : ........ ~ .. : ............................. 7 · ·
`. 6:2 User Profile and User. SerVice Class Vector .... :.: .............. , ..... ::: ...... : .... _. . .' ....................... : ............. 8 ·
`· . · 6.3· .. -Tariff Plan, User Ra~ing Table, an~Validity Conditions ........ : .. :.::: ..... ,..: ................. :· ................ ~ ...... 9 ·
`Component functional descripti~n ... ~ ... : .. ; .... .' ... : .............. : ........................ : ........ :: .. · .. ~.' ... :: .. 11
`1·
`7.1
`SBCC in Advanced GGSN .......... : ....... : ..... , ............. : ....... : ............................ , .... : ......................... ;. 1.1 .
`. 7.2 Multi-Dimensionai.Rating Engine_ .................. : ................. : ........ : ........................................ : ........... 13
`7.3 Online-GW ..................... : ......................................... : ....................... : ... : .. : .......... : .. : ..................... 15
`7.4 Centralised b&M ................................... : ..... : ................... .-.. : ........................ .' ............. : ................... 15 ·
`fnterfaces: .. : . .-.: ...... .' .... ::.: ... ~.':.:· .. : .. ::·.' ............ : ........... : ................... : ................. ~ ... : ........... :.' ... 15 ·
`8
`8.1 GGSN-Multi-Dimensional Rating Engine ............... .-.. :.:·.: ..... :;.: •.. : .............. : ................................... 15'
`. 8.2 GGSN .... Online-GW .. : ........................................................................... : ..... , ................................ .-15
`8.3 . Online-GW...:. prepaid-system .................... : ... : ......... : .... : .................... : .... : .................................... 16 · .· ·
`: 8.4
`· O&M interfaces .... : ...... ~ .............................. : .......... 7 ................ : ....................................... ; ............ 16 ·

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`Service Autho~isation and Subscriber provisioning (PSE.M) .............. : .. _. .... : .. : ....... ~ ......... 16 ·
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`·Benefits of the Ericsson Flexible Bearer Charging solution ................ ~ ....... : ............ .-...... 16
`. Service Class concept ............................. ; ..... : ............................................ ~.: ................ ~ ........... 17 .. · .
`·10.1
`10.2
`Dynamic.Pre~rating at Subscriber connection ................................................ : ...... : ..... : .............. 17
`.: . =:. 10.3 Real-time packet rating based on Service Class ............ : ............. : ................................ : .......... 17
`· ·
`·10.4 Token bucket handling per Subscriber ........................... : .............................................. _. .......... 17.
`· Servic~ Filter and Protocol Inspection Filter concepts:: ............... ~ ............. · .... ~ .................... _ ...... 18
`10.5
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`:. GPRS operators may need to use service-based charging for operator-provided services and.
`· partner-provided services. These services should generally-not be charged also·by volume:
`.. Simultaneously, consumers will access services_ for which volume-related ch~rging is_ the·only ·
`possible (usage related) charging method. .


`. Using. several GPRS APNs for differentiating between different consumer service flow~- has
`·disadvantages due to APN configuration management (terminal and network) as well as _IP
`address handling. in the terminal.
`-


`· · ·
`· · '
`. · Therefore, there is a. need for Flexible Bearer Charging, whereby ser.Vice flows can be
`differentiated at the GPRS bearer level and volume charging can be applied in a. flexible way ..
`There is a need to suppqrt both prepaid and post-paid. charging -schemes. ·
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`Ther~ ·is -a possibility-to combine the Flexible. Bearer Charging with operator-side Service ·
`. Authorisation in order to control which services a subscriber can access.
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`·ericsson solution a-rchitecture
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`The Ericsson .Flexible E3earer Charging s9lution consists of the following components:. ·
`· ~ :. The Actvan~ed GGS.N, which inclu.des·-~he .Service-Bas~d Char~ in~ a~d Contror · · ;
`· .·
`(SBCC) feature with a prepaid rese_rvation_engine.
`· ·
`· ·
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`,~ · ·The Multi~Dimensional Rating.'Engi~e. whi~h lets the -~perator define seryices·and
`. tariff plans, and dynamically provides the Advanced GGSN with rating informati_on (c[ ·



`separate product description [MDR]) . .'.
`•. The Onlin-e Gateway, whi~h provides ·an· .integratid~ p~int. for inte~orking t<?wards(cid:173)
`the operator's prepaid system by means ·of flexible interface options. In the case.
`when the pre-paid system supports a :Radius interface, ·the Advanced GGSN can ·
`·interfaces directly-to it.

`•. Th~ O&M·s.olu~ion int~grated with·tbe' Core Ne~ork ass, CN .ass.
`-.
`If tti~ operator wants to employ servic~ authorisation (sometimes called -s~rvic~ selection), ..
`·Ericsson can provide the Subscriber Provisioning system PSEM.(cf. Section 9), including the·
`components:

`. .
`· ·

`• . . C~m~on. Directo~ se~er; f~r' storage 'of user profiie and seivr~e d~finition data
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`•. Subscriber portal, for allowing '_the_ s~bscriber~ to self-mana~e their service· _profiles ·
`The ~ol~tion interfaces the following operator system components: ..
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`• The Customer Administration System system, where primary subscriber information _is .
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`· ~anaged and stored
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`• · The Prepaid system, where the subscribers' credit accounts are kept
`• The Billing~GW·, ·whi~h is th~ g~teway to the billing sy~tem
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`• · The Location Enabling Server (LES)
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`3. · __ ·. _, :·. Basic terminology .
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`The following terminology is Important knowledge to understand the .Fiexible Bearer Charging
`. .

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`S~rvice; is ~~ything. that the Ope~ato~ ~ffers ·to ·its Subscriber th~t iri~oives pa~ket . · :
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`. ·. ~ · .. Service CJ~ss:·is the unique identifier-of an arbitrary group of Services.thatthe
`Operator wants to treat in the S?tme way regarding charging. A Se_rvice can only ..
`. belong to one Service Class.
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`. ·. Identifier is ~:~sed to map the Service to its Service Filter.
`· _-:· This termh1olog~ is further· described in the. ~hapter Data .~tru~ture ,~~d- definitions .
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`OifferE!ntiat~d· .Pa·cket Ratin·g
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`Performing. differentiated rating on the packet level raises ~· fundame~tal challe~ge: rating is .
`
`a complex process involving many input parameters (tariff plan, ·time and volume .thresholds,
`·subscriber profile, etc), while packet forwarding should be exe·cuted with lo.west possible
`latency. Typical rating· engines may not be optimised .for packet forwarding and, vice versa,
`typical packet forwarding engines may.not be·optimised·to perform complex:pricing
`calculations.


`. · ..
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`'
`To get the:best of both worlds, Ericsson's solut~on employs a two~stage rating process.
`1 '· Dynamic Pre~rating, which is performed' by an extern~ I rating .engine such as' the
`Ericsson Multi-Dimensional-Rating (MDR) product. ·

`2: Real-time packet rating p~rformed by the SBCC function in the Advanced' GGSN.'
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`,The Dynamic Pre:.rating process calculat~s a set Of atemporary" rati~g values for each .
`Service Class that a .subscriber can use. This calculation makes full·use of the tariff plan and
`the current subscriber situation (rpaming.status, ti~e-of~day, etcj. The rating values have a ·
`limi~ed lifetime an~ have to be renewed for example when a tariff thres~old is reaCJ~ed. · .· . . ·
`.
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`The Real-time packet rating is then performed by classifying a packet as belonging to a .
`·certain Service. Class and U!?ing the atemporary" ·rating values for that packet. This can be ·
`.
`. done with very small delay in the forwarding process. -· ·
`·. · For e~ample, we have the importa~t case of employing ~ero volum~-charge for services that
`. have service-based charging (e.g., MMS). For such services,' the Dynamic Pre .. rating process
`: would result in a "temporary" rating value of zero. The Real-time. packet rating will then use · ·
`the zero value and thus inc~r no prepaid charge for that tnaffic:


`
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`Prepaid Token reservation
`The Advanced GGSN's SBCC function includes' a reservation engine that interacts with 'the
`. operator's prepaid system. Tok~ns are reserved and confirmed when consumed. A Token
`bucket is maintained per user and changed according to the rating value defined for the ·
`.. · · · . ·

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`Service Class by the R~al-time packet rating;
`The Adv~nced GGSN ~ses th~ R~dius prot~col.ft>~-res~~~ti'~n·and c~nfirination .. To set
`. " .
`flexible· interworking, supporting a variety of optional interfaces, ·the Ericsson product, Onli~e-
`GW, is used as a·gateway between Radius and for example Parlay.
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`. The Advan~ed GGSN~s seed functio~ ~·l~s~ifie~ ·p~ckets.·usi~g Servi~e filte~ing b~sed on lP
`. header information.and higher-layer protocols. While the solution.architecture support$
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`· general :stateful inspection ~nd identification ·of URis, initial focus is put OR detecting MMS ·
`...
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`Service and Service Class, the Real-Time packet rating determines the rating value to
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`·. · · ·
`: · . . · .

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