Session anchor timestamp for interim accounting requests

摘要

Systems and methods that handle failover between peer charging functions for offline charging. In one embodiment, a Charging Trigger Function (CTF) of a network element detects an interim chargeable event during a session, and generates an interim accounting request for the session responsive to the interim chargeable event. The CTF inserts a session anchor timestamp in the interim accounting request indicating the start time for the session, and transmits the interim accounting request to a charging function. The charging function then monitors a time limit trigger for closing a Charging Data Record (CDR) for the session based on the session anchor timestamp.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a network element for a communication network that serves User Equipment (UE); the network element including a processor comprising a Charging Trigger Function (CTF) configured to identify an initial chargeable event responsive to a start of a session, to generate an initial accounting request for the session responsive to the initial chargeable event, to insert a start timestamp in the initial accounting request indicating a start time for the session, and to transmit the initial accounting request to a first charging function to initiate session-based offline charging for the session; the CTF configured to identify a failure involving the first charging function, to detect an interim chargeable event during the session, to generate an interim accounting request for the session responsive to the interim chargeable event, to insert a session anchor timestamp in the interim accounting request indicating the start time for the session, and to transmit the interim accounting request to a second charging function.