The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 10, 2011
Filed:
Jul. 27, 2005
Yigang Cai, Naperville, IL (US);
Xiang Yang LI, Beijing, CN;
Peng Wang, Beijing, CN;
Jay Z. Zhao, Beijing, CN;
Yigang Cai, Naperville, IL (US);
Xiang Yang Li, Beijing, CN;
Peng Wang, Beijing, CN;
Jay Z. Zhao, Beijing, CN;
Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
Converged charging systems and methods are described. A converged charging system includes an offline charging system, an online charging system, a common rating function, and a common charging gateway function. When in operation, the online charging system receives online charging information for a first call and accesses the common rating function to determine a rating for the first call. The online charging system then transmits a rated charging data record (CDR) for the first call to the common charging gateway function. The offline charging system receives offline charging information for a second call, and accesses the common rating function to determine a rating for the second call. The offline charging system transmits a rated CDR for the second call to the common charging gateway function. The common charging gateway function buffers the rated CDRs for both online and offline calls, and then transmits the rated CDRs to a billing system.