Huawei Technologies Co., Limited

Zhijian Lu

Xin Hui Zhang

Qingchen Chu

Xiaozheng Guo

Youkun Chen

A general charging method includes establishing a charging strategy and performing the charging according to the charging strategy. The charging strategy includes at least one priority each of which includes at least one time period and each of the time periods is provided at least one rate segment in each of which there is at least one rate. Performing the charging includes: matching with a corresponding charging strategy upon the time a subscriber uses a service and/or the subscriber's current resource, and determining a charging mode; searching for a corresponding priority; performing the charging according to the charging mode. With such a structure of general charging strategy, the method can satisfy various charging demands and provide generality and adequate expansibility. Also, the method enables subscribers to configure different charging methods as necessary.

General charging method

A method for realizing charging includes setting up mapping relation between service attribute and charging rule acquiring service attribute of the to-be-charged service when it is demanded to charge the to-be-charged service acquiring charging rule of the to-be-charged service according to service attribute of the to-be-charged service, and charging the to-be-charged service according to the acquired charging rule. Also disclosed is a charging system having an acquiring charging rule module and charging processing module. When it is demanded to develop new services or modify charging rules of original services, it can be fulfilled by modifying the service information provided for charging processing module accordingly, thus charging requirements of various services can be satisfied. Charging processing module of charging system is independent of services, so that cost of charging system is reduced, and stability, reliability and versatility of charging system are improved.

Method of implementing account charging and account charging system

The present invention provides a general charging method applicable to a charging system in the communication field, comprising steps of establishing a charging strategy and performing the charging based upon the charging strategy. The charging strategy comprises a plurality of priorities each of which comprises a plurality of periods of time, and each of the periods of time corresponds to a type of rate segmentation and is provided a plurality of rate segments in each of which there are a plurality of rates. The step of performing the charging comprises steps of: searching for the highest priority in the charging strategy; searching for a corresponding period of time in the priority based upon the time a subscriber uses a service, and if found, performing the charging based upon the rate segments in the period of time; when the charging has been completed or the priorities have been searched through, and if there is any usage quantity that can't be charged, recording it and terminating the charging. With such a structure of general charging strategy, the present invention can satisfy various charging demands and provide generality and adequate expansibility. Also, the present invention enables subscribers to configure different charging methods as needed.

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Shenzhen, China

Zhijian Lu