Design and implementation of an integrated accounting architecture for distributed UMTS and WLAN networks

Abstract

Accounting for resource and service usage in communication networks forms the basis of network operators' business, and is therefore essential. Within a heterogeneous, multidomain mobile environment of emerging new access technologies, the demand for a distributed accounting infrastructure becomes more relevant. Driven by the analysis of current accounting solutions in Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) networks, the newly developed approach presents an integrated accounting architecture based on the Diameter protocol, forming a flexible basis for charging UMTS and WLAN communication services. The system developed is described, discussed and evaluated by a prototypical implementation.

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“…The pricing schemes used by mobile operators are completely different from the flat-fee schemes used by ISPs for the fixed Internet, however, which means that also the research interest in (mobile) Internet accounting is again growing. Several studies already exist on generic accounting architectures, and how accounting data can be collected within networks [10]. There are also many papers that describe the design of accounting systems for the mobile Internet [11] [12].…”

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“…It is compatible with the IP Flow Information Export (IPFIX) [2] protocol and it is specified as a new Diameter protocol extension, enabling an easy integration and providing compatibility with the Diameter base protocol. Publications related to [9] address service-oriented accounting [14], [6], an accounting configuration architecture and protocol [3], [4], [5], mobility aspects in accounting [10], [12], and charging support [11], [13].…”