Title: Trusted Convergence Operator – A Conciliate Solution to Accounting, Charging and Unified Billing in 4G Networks
Abstract: G networks or what it is rightly called today future networks could be treated as a composition of complicated heterogeneous networks. These heterogeneous networks on converged platform provide access to varied services over an IPv6 core. Charging, accounting and Billing are a few such major issues with such networks. Currently the users are confined to utilize the services provided only by their home network providers. Convergence would provide freedom to use compounded services from varied network operators. This paper discusses a Convergent Framework Architecture (CFA) which provides a unified bill to the user for all his compounded usage across varied network operators. The CFA introduces a trusted third party operator called the Convergent Network Operator (CNO) for unified billing and convergence monitoring. Sessions offering services are monitored to achieve a transparent charging, accounting and unified billing provisions. We have illustrated the functionality of the CFA over an IPv6 core integrated infrastructure. Transparent financial transactions and unified bill provisions have been realized utilizing remoting concepts in the prototype. The Open Business Model discussed would thrust development of future technologies; provide better Quality of Service (QoS) not only at competitive prices but also providing independence to the users and the network operators. Presently the charging schemes for mobiles are quite simple and are driven by the network operators to lure new consumers and maintain their existing consumers. Consumers are charged based on their usage and subscription. The inter network operator services have not been integrated except while on roaming. With the emergence of 4G networks the entire paradigm would result in an integrated billing architectures where consumers would be charged based on their usage of services via a single bill. A sample 4G network is as shown in Fig1.The services used could be from a particular network operator or from others. These kinds of architectures would result in consumer independence, better services, better quality and better support systems. The rapid developments in terms of the user equipment like mobiles, smart devices, hand-held terminals etc. have contributed greatly by accelerating the realization of 4G networks (28). The development of advance technologies like LTE and Wi-MAX will realize high speed switching with high quality of service and greater functionality. The (CFA) presented in this paper would address many issues related to the billing, accounting and a single bill for varied service usage from varied operators. The CFA would also provide freedom to the users in selecting varied operators for varied services, the transparent nature of the CFA would also thrust development of better communication technologies and add to the overall business growth. The convergence of the CFA is governed by the Convergent Framework Operator (CFO) which is established by the local or global governing bodies like the IEFT, 3GPP. The CFA considers all the network operators (NWO) with its service providers and other operational partners as a single entity.
Publication Year: 2014
Publication Date: 2014-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 1
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