Real time streaming media communication system with improved session detail collection systems and methods

摘要

A communication service provider accounting server is used to track communication session usage by a client of the service provider. The accounting server receives an indication identifying a client that has commenced a communication session and an indication identifying that the client has terminated the communication session. The accounting server further provides periodic status request messages to the client and receives a sequence of status response messages in response thereto from the client. The accounting server determines a session termination time as the earlier of receipt of the indication that the client has terminated the communication session and making a determination that the sequence of status messages have ceased.