Charging in communication networks

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for supporting a communication session of an user equipment, by means of a communication system that includes at least one entity between the user equipment and a node with which the user equipment is arranged to establish a session, the method including the steps of establishing a session between the user equipment and the node via the at least one entity, putting the session on hold, reserving resources for the session while the session is on hold, and resuming the session and distributing charging information.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 sending, from a user equipment, an invitation message to put on hold a communication session, the communication session established without preconditions to reserve resources for the communication session when the pre-conditions are not supported by the user equipment, the communication session established based on at least one of a session initiation protocol and a session data protocol; 
 reserving resources, at the user equipment, for the communication session while the communication session is on hold; and 
 resuming, based on another invitation message, the communication session, the another invitation message representing at least one of a confirmation that the resources have been reserved and a charging identifier for the communication session. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if the charging identifier is provided during an establishment of the communication session and proceeding with putting of the communication session on hold to the resuming of the communication session only when it has been determined that the charging identifier has not been provided. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the establishment of the communication session comprises operating in accordance with universal mobile telecommunications system standard. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the establishment of the communication session includes at least one entity comprising a gateway general packet radio service support node. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if the charging identifier is provided during a modifying of the communication session and proceeding with putting of the communication session on hold to the resuming of the communication session only when it has been determined that the charging identifier has not been provided. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 configuring the charging identifier to comprise at least a general packet radio service charging identifier. 
 
     
     
       7. The method as claimed  claim 1  further comprising:
 forwarding of the charging identifier for a first access network, the charging identifier provided in a charging vector. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the forwarding of the charging identifier for the first access network comprises forwarding the charging identifier for the first access network in the charging vector, wherein the charging vector comprises a p-charging vector. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus comprising:
 a user equipment configured to
 send, from a user equipment, an invitation message to put on hold a communication session, the communication session established without preconditions to reserve resources for the communication session when the preconditions are not supported by the user equipment, the communication session established based on at least one of a session initiation protocol and a session data protocol; 
 
 reserve resources, at the user equipment, for the communication session while the communication session is on hold; and 
 resume, based on another invitation message, the communication session, the another invitation message representing at least one of a confirmation that the resources have been reserved and a charging identifier for the communication session. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the user equipment is further configured to determine if the charging identifier is provided during an establishment of the communication session and proceeding with putting of the communication session on hold to the resuming of the communication session only when it has been determined that the charging identifier has not been provided. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the establishment of the communication session comprises operating in accordance with universal mobile telecommunications system standard. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the establishment of the communication session includes at least one entity comprising a gateway general packet radio service support node. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the user equipment is further configured to determine if the charging identifier is provided during a modifying of the communication session and proceeding with putting of the communication session on hold to the resuming of the communication session only when it has been determined that the charging identifier has not been provided. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the charging identifier is further configured to comprise at least a general packet radio service charging identifier. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the charging identifier is provided in a charging vector. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the charging vector comprises a p-charging vector. 
     
     
       17. A method comprising:
 sending, from a user equipment, an invitation message indicating at least one media stream of a communication session is inactive, the communication session established without preconditions to reserve at least one resource for the communication session when the preconditions are not supported by the user equipment, the communication session established based on at least one of a session initiation protocol and a session data protocol;   reserving the at least one resource, at the user equipment, for the communication session while the at least one media session of the communication session is inactive; and   sending, from the user equipment, another invitation message indicating the at least one media stream of the communication session is set to active, the another invitation message representing at least one of a confirmation that the at least one resource has been reserved and a charging identifier for the communication session.   
     
     
       18. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one processor, the at least one memory, and the computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to at least:
 send, from the apparatus, an invitation message indicating at least one media stream of a communication session is inactive, the communication session established without preconditions to reserve at least one resource for the communication session when the preconditions are not supported by the apparatus, the communication session established based on at least one of a session initiation protocol and a session data protocol; 
 reserve the at least one resource, at the apparatus, for the communication session while the at least one media session of the communication session is inactive; and 
 send, from the apparatus, another invitation message indicating the at least one media stream of the communication session is set to active, the another invitation message representing at least one of a confirmation that the at least one resource has been reserved and a charging identifier for the communication session. 
   
     
     
       19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform at least the following:
 send, from a user equipment, an invitation message indicating at least one media stream of a communication session is inactive, the communication session established without preconditions to reserve at least one resource for the communication session when the preconditions are not supported by the user equipment, the communication session established based on at least one of a session initiation protocol and a session data protocol;   reserve the at least one resource, at the user equipment, for the communication session while the at least one media session of the communication session is inactive; and   send, from the user equipment, another invitation message indicating the at least one media stream of the communication session is set to active, the another invitation message representing at least one of a confirmation that the at least one resource has been reserved and a charging identifier for the communication session.