Charging in communication networks having split control planes and user planes

   
   

A method of facilitating charging for communication in a telecommunication network, such as a network supporting GPRS, that has a node split into a control-plane entity and a user-plane entity includes the step of sending, from the control-plane entity to the user-plane entity, an event in accordance with a media gateway control protocol. The event orders the user-plane entity to notify the control-plane entity when a predetermined volume of communication has occurred. The method further includes the steps of determining, by the user-plane entity, whether the predetermined volume has occurred, and notifying the control-plane entity when that has occurred. The predetermined volume may be a number of octets, and the user-plane entity may notify the control-plane entity by sending a notify command in accordance with the media gateway control protocol. Also, the volume of communication may be selected such that signaling between the control-plane and user-plane entities is controlled, and the control-plane and user-plane entities may be a node supporting a general packet radio service. The network may be a traditional circuit-switched network that uses packet bearers and the predetermined volume of communication may be a predetermined number of octets or packets. The user-plane entity may be pre-provisioned with the event.

 
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