Online Charging System – The shift towards convergent billing entails a transition from traditional “Charging Systems” to more advanced “Network Charging” technologies. The network charging system can be implemented on its own or as a base for accommodating additional business needs like invoicing, time discounts, and re-rating through seamless integration with billing and revenue management software. IMS network charging systems and methods are accessible and obtainable.
Introduction – Online Charging System
In convergent billing, charging technologies are going to be “Network Charging” as opposed to a “Charging System”. Network Charging is capable of being deployed as a standalone application or offering a foundation and evolution path for more business requirements such as billing, invoicing, billing time discounts or re-rating, using the productive integration with Billing and Revenue Management. There is IMS network charging systems and methods available. The method includes;
- When a special charging identifier which indicates making charging processing is not present in the charging request received from a network element (NE), the charging entity adds a special charging identifier to the charging response sent to the NE based on the charging policy.
- A special charging identifier is present in the charging response, the NE adds the special charging identifier to the service request sent to the subsequent NE or to the service response sent to the previous NE.
- In the presence of a distinct charging identifier, the resultant network element (NE) and the antecedent NE jointly determine the necessity of forwarding a charging request to the relevant charging entity, with reference to both the specified charging identifier and the applicable charging policy.
Additionally, the special charging identifier is included in the service request dispatched to the subsequent NE or in the service response forwarded to the previous NE.
Charging System to Charging Network
After the corresponding charging entity identifies that a special charging identifier is present, it determines whether make charging processing based on the special charging identifier and the charging policy. Thus the repeated charging for the user service is avoided.
When the second generation OCS was deployed, the joint solution provides efficient data traffic management and revenue-generating opportunities to differentiate on personalized quality of service.
The integrated policy and charging solution is intelligently driven by customer knowledge and value enabled by the shared subscriber profile repository residing on the online charging system. The charging system originally forms part of the support network and can be regarded as a supporting platform for networks or services. In a converged environment, the charging system is unable to complete the entire charging process. Many network evolutions, however, are stimulated by changes in charging requirements.
Books + Other readings Referred
- Open Internet
- Hands on personal research work @AILabPage
