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).

Abstract: A communication system for supporting a communication session of a terminal, the communication system comprising: at least one charging unit arranged to monitor the communication session and generate a plurality of charging messages together indicating a total charge for the communication session; a primary charging data collection unit, a secondary charging data collection unit and a backup charging data collection unit, each charging collection unit being capable of receiving and correlating charging messages for the communication session; wherein: the or each charging unit is arranged to transmit the charging messages to the primary charging data collection unit or, if the charging unit determines that a charging message for the communication session has not been correctly received by the primary charging data collection unit, to die secondary charging data collection unit; and the primary and secondary charging data collection units are arranged to, if they have received only some of the charging messages

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for transferring charging information in telecommunication system, the method comprising establishing a call between a first terminal and a second terminal, the establishment of the call being performed by the transmission of call setup messages according to a messaging protocol between the first network and the second network; and transmitting charging data between first and second charging units to indicate the basis of charging for the support of the call; wherein the call setup messages and the charging data are transferred according to the same messaging protocol.

Abstract: A method for transferring charging information in a telecommunication system comprising a first network having a charging unit for collecting information on charges made to subscribers of the first network, a second network having a call charge generation unit for generating data records indicative of charges levied for calls, and a third network; the method comprising: determining that a call is to be established between a first terminal operating in the first network under a subscription to the first network and a second terminal operating in the third network under a subscription to the second network; transmitting from the first network to the call charge generation unit of the second network a charging address whereby messages may be directed to the charging unit of the first network; supporting the call between the first terminal operating in the first network and the second terminal operating in the third network; generating at the call charge generation unit of the second network a data record for cha

Abstract: A method for charging for services in a communication system comprising a charging entity and at least two connection Support entities for providing resources to support connection in the communication system. the method comprising: detecting initiation of a connection for provision by the connection support entities: generating a charging identity for identifying the connection: determining according to a first stored tariff a first charge for the support of the connection by the first connection support entity: determining according to a second stored tariff a second charge for the support of the connection by the second connection support entity; transmitting a first charging message from the first connection support entity to the charging entity. the message specifying the first charge and including the charging identity; and transmitting a second charging message from the second connection support entity to the charging entity, the message specifying the second charge and including the charging identity.

Abstract: A communications network system and a corresponding method for starting an AoC service of a user are disclosed. The system comprises a control means for sending a protocol message comprising a MIME indication of an AoC application to a user equipment (UE). The user equipment receives the protocol message and activates the AoC application by using the MIME indication.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and network element for accounting chargeable signaling in a communication network, wherein a signaling message is detected in a call processing network element (7), and an amount of data carried in said signaling message is determined based on a message description provided in said signaling message. A counting function is then selected and updated based on said message description. Thereby, an inter-operator accounting can be provided even for data carried in signaling messages.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for enabling prepaid service in a packet-based communications system, in particular in an All-IP network which comprises one or more subscriber terminals. At least one subscriber database stores subscriber information including identification data of one or more server means, and the at least one server means stores prepaid accounts for subscribers. When a subscriber terminal is initiating the establishment of a connection to another network entity, the server means is adapted to transmit a subscriber-prepaid-account related value informing a control means on an available charge threshold value for the connection to be established.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system implementing the method for arranging subscriber billing in a multi-provider environment wherein a subscriber desiring a service uses both a first network (A) and a second network (T). In order to bill the subscriber, either a tariff of the second network (T) is transmitted to the first network (A), a tariff of the first network is combined with the tariff of the second network and the subscriber is billed according to the combined tariff, or a billing identifier is generated in the first network (A) to be transmitted to the second network (T), the billing identifier is attached to billing information in both networks and the pieces of the billing information that comprise the same billing identifier are combined in order to bill the subscriber. The invention thus enables a subscriber in a multi-provider environment to be billed using a single bill.

Abstract: In a first embodiment of the invention, when an Activate PDP Context Request message is forwarded to a Service GPRS Support Node (SGSN), the SGSN creates a Create PDP Context Request message and forwards it to a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN). In response to the Create PDP Context Request forwarded by the SGSN, the GGSN creates a Create PDP Context Response message. When a PDP context is created by the GGSN, the GGSN associates a Globally Unique Charging Identification (GCI) with the PDP context. Then, the Create PDP Context Response including the GCI is forwarded to the SGSN. The GCI is sent from the SGSN to the UE and from the UE to the CSCF. In a second embodiment of the invention, the GCI is sent from the SGSN or the GGSN directly to the Call State Control Function (CSCF). Sending the GCI can be performed either autonomously or based on a request from the CSCF.