System and Method for Processing Settlement Information in a Network Environment Including IMS

1 . A network node operable in a network environment including an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, said network node comprising:

a component configured to include a suitable a Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) type with respect to identifying a settlement information payload for transferring in a communication protocol message to a recipient disposed in said network environment; and

a component configured to include an indicator for identifying at least one version with which a body part of said communication protocol message containing said settlement information payload is compatible, wherein said body part can exist in multiple versions.

2 . The network node as recited in claim 1 , wherein said settlement information payload is a charging information payload.

3 . The network node as recited in claim 1 , wherein said settlement information payload is a cost information payload.

4 . The network node as recited in claim 1 , wherein said settlement information payload is an Advice of Charge (AoC) information payload.

5 . The network node as recited in claim 1 , wherein said MIME type comprises “application/vnd.etsi.sci+xml” MIME type.

6 . The network node as recited in claim 1 , wherein said recipient comprises a Charge Determination Point (CDP) disposed in said network environment.

7 . The network node as recited in claim 1 , wherein said communication protocol message comprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message and further wherein said body part comprises an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document.

8 . The network node as recited in claim 7 , wherein said indicator comprises a schema version parameter operable to determine an XML schema for validating said XML document.

9 . The network node as recited in claim 7 , wherein said indicator is provided in an Accept header field associated with said SIP message.

10 . The network node as recited in claim 7 , wherein said indicator is provided in a Content-Type header field associated with said SIP message.

11 . The network node as recited in claim 1 , wherein said indicator comprises a schema version parameter that is adapted to be coded in at least one of: one or more digits, one or more alphanumeric characters, and one or more textual strings.

12 . A method operable with a network node for processing charging information in a network environment including an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, said method comprising:

including a suitable a Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) type with respect to identifying a settlement information payload for transferring in a communication protocol message to a recipient disposed in said network environment; and

providing an indicator for identifying at least one version with which a body part of said communication protocol message containing said settlement information payload is compatible, wherein said body part can exist in multiple versions.

13 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said settlement information payload is a charging information payload.

14 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said settlement information payload is a cost information payload.

15 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said settlement information payload is an Advice of Charge (AoC) information payload.

16 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said MIME type comprises “application/vnd.etsi.sci+xml” MIME type.

17 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said recipient comprises a Charge Determination Point (CDP) disposed in said network environment.

18 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said communication protocol message comprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message and further wherein said body part comprises an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document.

19 . The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein said indicator comprises a schema version parameter operable to identify an XML schema for validating said XML document.

20 . The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein said indicator comprises a schema version parameter operable to identify an XML schema used for generating said XML document.

21 . The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein said indicator is provided in an Accept header field associated with said SIP message.

22 . The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein said indicator is provided in a Content-Type header field associated with said SIP message.

23 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said indicator comprises a schema version parameter that is adapted to be coded in at least one of: one or more digits, one or more alphanumeric characters, and one or more textual strings.

24 . A computer-accessible medium having a set of instructions which when executed by a processing entity operate to facilitate processing of charging information in a network environment including an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, said computer-accessible medium comprising:

instructions for including a suitable a Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) type with respect to identifying a settlement information payload for transferring in a communication protocol message to a recipient disposed in said network environment; and

instructions for providing an indicator for identifying at least one version with which a body part of said communication protocol message containing said settlement information payload is compatible, wherein said body part can exist in multiple versions.