IP Library Granted Patent US 11,659,097
Granted Patent B2
US 11,659,097 · App. 17/340,796 · Granted May 23, 2023

Charging policy information for a packet data unit session of a wireless device

Inventors: Weihua Qiao (Herndon, VA); Esmael Hejazi Dinan (McLean, VA); Kyungmin Park (Vienna, VA); Peyman Talebi Fard (Sterling, VA); Jayshree Bharatia (Plano, TX)
Assignee: Ofinno, LLC
H04M15/66H04M15/64H04M15/65H04W8/22H04W84/042
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,659,097
App. No.
17/340,796
Granted
May 23, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A charging function (CHF) receives, from a policy control function (PCF), a first request for charging policy information for a packet data unit (PDU) session of a wireless device. The charging policy information is determined for the PDU session of the wireless device. The charging policy information indicates a charging method comprising one or more of: online charging; offline charging; and converged charging. A message comprising the charging policy information is sent to the PCF. The CHF receives from a session management function (SMF), a second request to establish a charging session. The second request comprises the charging method. A confirmation for the charging method is sent to the SMF.

Claims (89)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a charging function (CHF) from a policy control function (PCF), a first request for charging policy information for a packet data unit (PDU) session of a wireless device;

determining, by the CHF, the charging policy information for the PDU session of the wireless device, wherein the charging policy information indicates a charging method comprising one or more of:

online charging;

offline charging; and

converged charging;

sending, by the CHF to the PCF, a message comprising the charging policy information;

receiving, by the CHF from a session management function (SMF), a second request to establish a charging session, wherein the second request comprises the charging method; and

sending, by the CHF to the SMF, a confirmation for the charging method.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first request comprises at least one of:

an identifier of the wireless device;

a UE IP address; or

an identifier of the PDU session.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the CHF from the PCF, the first request via a network function.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining is based on at least one of:

an identifier of the wireless device;

a type of PDU session;

an access type;

a radio access technology (RAT) type;

a public land mobile network (PLMN) identifier;

an application identifier;

a data network name (DNN);

a single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI);

the identifier of the PDU session; or

user location information.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the charging policy information further comprises a charging rate applied to the PDU session.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second request comprises the charging rate.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the charging policy information further comprises an address of the CHF applied to the PDU session.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second request comprises the address of the CHF.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second request further comprises a requested charging method indication, wherein the requested charging method indication comprises at least one of:

an information element indicating a requested online charging;

an information element indicating a requested offline charging; or

an information element indicating a requested converged charging.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, by CHF to the SMF, a charging data response message comprising an accepted charging method indication, wherein the accepted charging method indication comprises at least one of:

an information element indicating an accepted online charging;

an information element indicating an accepted offline charging; or

an information element indicating an accepted converged charging.

11. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause a charging function (CHF) to:

receive, from a policy control function (PCF), a first request for charging policy information for a packet data unit (PDU) session of a wireless device;

determine the charging policy information for the PDU session of the wireless device, wherein the charging policy information indicates a charging method comprising one or more of:

online charging;

offline charging; and

converged charging;

send, to the PCF, a message comprising the charging policy information;

receive, by the CHF from a session management function (SMF), a second request to establish a charging session, wherein the second request comprises the charging method; and

send, to the SMF, a confirmation for the charging method.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first request comprises at least one of:

an identifier of the wireless device;

a UE IP address; or

an identifier of the PDU session.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to receive, from the PCF, the first request via a network function.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the determination is based on at least one of:

an identifier of the wireless device;

a type of PDU session;

an access type;

a radio access technology (RAT) type;

a public land mobile network (PLMN) identifier;

an application identifier;

a data network name (DNN);

a single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI);

the identifier of the PDU session; or

user location information.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the charging policy information further comprises a charging rate applied to the PDU session.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the second request comprises the charging rate.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the charging policy information further comprises an address of the CHF applied to the PDU session.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the second request further comprises a requested charging method indication, wherein the requested charging method indication comprises at least one of:

an information element indicating a requested online charging;

an information element indicating a requested offline charging; or

an information element indicating a requested converged charging.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to send, to the SMF, a charging data response message comprising an accepted charging method indication, wherein the accepted charging method indication comprises at least one of:

an information element indicating an accepted online charging;

an information element indicating an accepted offline charging; or

an information element indicating an accepted converged charging.

20. A system comprising:

a policy control function (PCF);

a session management function (SMF); and

an apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause a charging function (CHF) to:

receive, from the PCF, a first request for charging policy information for a packet data unit (PDU) session of a wireless device;

determine the charging policy information for the PDU session of the wireless device, wherein the charging policy information indicates a charging method comprising one or more of:

online charging;

offline charging; and

converged charging;

send, to the PCF, a message comprising the charging policy information;

receive, by the CHF from the SMF, a second request to establish a charging session, wherein the second request comprises the charging method; and

send, to the SMF, a confirmation for the charging method.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2025
From: OFINNO, LLC
To: PENINSULA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 069849/0289 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2021
From: QIAO, WEIHUA; DINAN, ESMAEL HEJAZI; PARK, KYUNGMIN; FARD, PEYMAN TALEBI; BHARATIA, JAYSHREE A
To: OFINNO, LLC
Reel/Frame 058460/0620 →