Claims
- 1. A method for charging for services in a communication system comprising a charging entity, the method comprising:
sending a first message to a charging entity; generating a charging identity at the charging entity if it is determined that the first message does not include the charging identity.
- 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first message is an accounting request message.
- 3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first message is sent in response to an invite message from a first node.
- 4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first message is sent from a second node.
- 5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second node refers to a third node to determine an identity of the charging entity.
- 6. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first node is identified by the charging identity.
- 7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a connection in the communication system is identified by the charging identity.
- 8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the charging entity sends an accounting answer message in response to receiving said first message.
- 9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the charging identity is included in the accounting answer message.
- 10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second node sends an invite message to a fourth node, said invite message including the charging identity.
- 11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fourth node sends an accounting request message to the charging entity, said accounting request message including the charging identity.
- 12. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first node is a mobile terminal.
- 13. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second node is a Serving Call State Control Function (S-CSCF).
- 14. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the third node is a Home Subscriber Server (HSS).
- 15. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fourth node is an Application Server (AS).
- 16. A communication system comprising a charging entity configured to generate a charging identity in response to receiving a first message if it is determined that the first message does not include the charging identity.
- 17. A communication system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:
a first node and a second node, wherein the first node is configured to transmit an invite message to the second node, and the second node is configured to transmit the first message to the charging entity in response to receiving the invite message.
- 18. A communication system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a third node having storage means for storing identities of a plurality of charging entities.
- 19. A communication system as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a fourth node configured to receive a message including the charging identity and to transmit a second message including the charging identity, said charging entity being arranged to charge for services provided by said fourth node using said second message.
- 20. A communication system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first node comprises a mobile terminal.
- 21. A communication system as claimed claim 17, wherein the second node comprises a Serving Call State Control function.
- 22. A communication system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the third node comprises a Home Subscriber Server.
- 23. A communication system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the fourth node comprises an Application Server.
- 24. A charging entity for use in a communications system, said charging entity configured to generate a charging identity in response to receiving a first message if it is determined that the first message does not include a charging identity.
- 25. A communication system comprising:
sending means for sending a first message to a charging entity; generating means for generating a charging identity at the charging entity if it is determined that the first message does not include the charging identity.
- 26. A communication system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first message is an accounting request message.
- 27. A communication system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first message is sent in response to an invite message from a first node.
- 28. A communication system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the first message is sent from a second node.
- 29. A communication system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the second node refers to a third node to determine an identity of the charging entity.
- 30. A communication system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first node is identified by the charging identity.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/444,658 entitled, “Charging in a Communication System,” filed Feb. 4, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60444658 |
Feb 2003 |
US |