Realizing real-time charging

摘要

Real-time charging differs from non-real-time charging. Among other things, it is an integral, ongoing part of the service, not an after-service activity; it does not handle the aggregation of information; in converged networks, the subscriber identity is not necessarily the MSISDN; and it must accommodate different classes of service and content. With these differences in mind, Ericsson has defined a real-time charging mechanism and process for assessing charges for specific services. The author describes the real-time charging network along with its main components (serving elements, charging control, and business support systems). He also briefly describes operator scenarios, a logical evolution of real-time charging, benefits, and standardization.