Abstract: A system of processing subscription based orders in a subscription billing management system. The system includes an order manager component for receiving order details and creating order objects of various types. Each of order object has a plurality of values associated with it, including at least a value identifying the type of order. The system also includes an order queue component for storing and ordering order objects created by the order manager component and a subscription manager component for selecting an order object from the order queue component and initiating actions within the subscription billing management systems. The actions are determined at least in part by type of order.

Abstract: A method of billing charges incurred by a customer having a subscription account maintained by subscription billing management system. The subscription account specifies at least one subscription to be charged according to a defined rate plan and the rate plan includes charge objects having attributes such as a charge type, a trigger condition, a unit of measurement, and a cost per unit of measurement. The method includes defining a charge segment associated with a charge object, the charge segment being a time-based application of the charge object, and includes attributes such as its associated charge object and the charge object's attributes, an effective start time, a quantity of units, and a cost. The customers use of the subscription is monitored and charge events in are generated according to the defined charge objects and segments.