Abstract: A method of communication comprising the steps of: requesting at least one service having a plurality of parts; determining if said at least one service can be provided taking into account credit information relating to a user; and if not providing only one or some of said plurality of parts of said at least one service.

Abstract: For controlling charging in an Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem, it is detected whether a session initiated in the Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem is associated with a service requiring special charging control, and charging information is added to messages signalling establishment or modification of the session in the Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem in accordance with the detection result.

Abstract: A method of communication comprising the steps of: requesting at least one service having a plurality of parts; determining if said at least one service can be provided taking into account credit information relating to a user; and if not providing only one or some of said plurality of parts of said at least one service.

Abstract: A method of communication comprising the steps of: requesting at least one service having a plurality of parts; determining if said at least one service can be provided taking into account credit information relating to a user; and if not providing only one or some of said plurality of parts of said at least one service.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for multiplexing different sessions using the same authorized contexts for media. The method includes distinguishing different control plane sessions by a user equipment, and identifying media flows of a same application among the different control plane sessions by the user equipment by setting a service identifier. The method further includes sending the service identifier by the user equipment to a call state control function including a policy decision function, and authorizing quality of service for a user plane context by the policy decision function. Furthermore, the method includes enabling, by the policy decision function based on the service identifier, the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application to share the same user plane context with the authorized quality of service to multiplex the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method and device for charging of data reaching a network element of a communication network during a data session, the data session comprising a plurality of data flows, with each flow being distinguishable by a set of flow parameters. The method includes enforcing a charging policy at the network element to be applied to the data, wherein the charging policy defines charging rules per flow, observing the data reaching the network element and detecting at least one flow of data, matching the detected flow of data to an enforced charging policy, and applying the matching charging policy to the data flow, thereby generating charging information. A method and device is also provided for supplying a network element with a charging policy to be enforced at the network element for charging of data reaching the network element of a communication network during a data session.

Abstract: For controlling charging in an Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem, it is detected whether a session initiated in the Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem is associated with a service requiring special charging control, and charging information is added to messages signalling establishment or modification of the session in the Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem in accordance with the detection result.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for charging for services in an IP based communication system, comprising: establishing an accounting session between a network element and a charging function for the session; and initiating a change in the accounting session at the charging function.

Abstract: An online charging management server comprising: receiving means arranged to receive at least one account request message transmitted from a network service provider; and transmitting means arranged to transmit an online account balance message to a further separate server based on the received account request.

Abstract: A method is provided for handling a service of a predetermined type within a charging system comprising a server and a client. The method includes receiving, at the client, a request for the service of the predetermined type from a terminal, transmitting said request from the client to the server in a charging control request in which the service of the predetermined type is indicated, checking, at said server, whether the requested service of the predetermined type can be granted, and if granted, responding, by said server, with a control message to the client, and measuring, by the client, the usage of resources consumed by the granted service in response to said control message, and reporting the measured used resources for the service at a predetermined condition from the client to the server in a report message. The present invention relates also to a corresponding system and network entities.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for multiplexing different sessions using the same authorized contexts for media. The method includes distinguishing different control plane sessions by a user equipment, and identifying media flows of a same application among the different control plane sessions by the user equipment by setting a service identifier. The method further includes sending the service identifier by the user equipment to a call state control function including a policy decision function, and authorizing quality of service for a user plane context by the policy decision function. Furthermore, the method includes enabling, by the policy decision function based on the service identifier, the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application to share the same user plane context with the authorized quality of service to multiplex the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application.

Abstract: A method of multiplexing different sessions using the same authorized contexts for media, comprising: distinguishing the sessions to be multiplexed, by a device; creating a new session on a control plane; indicating media flows of different sessions; and enabling the sessions to share the same authorized context for media, thus being multiplexed.

Abstract: A method of communication comprising the steps of: requesting at least one service having a plurality of parts; determining if said at least one service can be provided taking into account credit information relating to a user; and if not providing only one or some of said plurality of parts of said at least one service.

Abstract: For controlling charging in an Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem, it is detected whether a session initiated in the Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem is associated with a service requiring special charging control, and charging information is added to messages signalling establishment or modification of the session in the Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem in accordance with the detection result.

Abstract: A method is provided for handling a service of a predetermined type within a charging system comprising a server and a client. The method includes receiving, at the client, a request for the service of the predetermined type from a terminal, transmitting said request from the client to the server in a charging control request in which the service of the predetermined type is indicated, checking, at said server, whether the requested service of the predetermined type can be granted, and if granted, responding, by said server, with a control message to the client, and measuring, by the client, the usage of resources consumed by the granted service in response to said control message, and reporting the measured used resources for the service at a predetermined condition from the client to the server in a report message. The present invention relates also to a corresponding system and network entities.

Abstract: An online charging management server comprising: receiving means arranged to receive at least one account request message transmitted from a network service provider; and transmitting means arranged to transmit an online account balance message to a further separate server based on the received account request.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for charging of data reaching a network element of a communication network during a data session, the data session comprising a plurality of data flows, with each flow being distinguishable by a set of flow parameters, the method comprising the steps of: enforcing a charging policy at the network element to be applied to said data, wherein said charging policy defines charging rules per flow; observing said data reaching said network element and detecting at least one flow of data; and matching said detected flow of data to an enforced charging policy, applying said matching charging policy to said flow, thereby generating charging information. Also, the present invention concerns a method for supplying a network element with a charging policy to be enforced at said network element for charging of data reaching said network element of a communication network during a data session. Additionally, corresponding devices are concerned by the present invention.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for charging for services in an IP based communication system, comprising: establishing an accounting session between a network element and a charging function for the session; and initiating a change in the accounting session at the charging function.

Abstract: A method and system of flow based charging for IP multimedia system services are disclosed. The system includes a call processing server, and a session charging functionality. The method comprises negotiating media to be used within a session during a session initiating signaling. The method also includes generating a set of charging flow identifiers according to a predefined mechanism. The set of charging flow identifiers are associated with respective charging identifiers of the IP multimedia system identifying the session. A charging identifier of the IP multimedia system and a charging flow identifier globally uniquely identify a media component within a session. The call processing server and the session charging functionality generate the same charging flow identifiers by using the predefined mechanism so that the charging flow identifiers are known before any resource reservation occurs.

Abstract: A method for charging users in a communication system includes initiating set-up of a communication session between a first party and a second party by sending, from the first party associated with a first charging entity to the second party associated with a second charging entity, a message inviting the second party to joint the communication session. The method further includes sending a response to the message that includes information regarding the second charging entity, and based on the response, providing the first charging entity with the information regarding the second charging entity. Lastly, the method includes establishing a communication interface between the first and second charging entities based on the information from the response. A system is also disclosed for performing the method. The response may use session initiation protocol (SIP).