CN102739409A - Internet traffic charging device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an Internet traffic billing device and method, wherein the device includes an authorized data management module, a traffic information classification and statistics module, and a data exchange module; the authorized data management module is used to store data service classification policies and data service Billing strategy, data service classification strategy records the definition of data service types, data service charging strategy records the corresponding relationship between data service types and charging policies; data exchange module, used to forward data between Internet devices and communication networks; traffic The information classification and statistics module is used to determine the statistical business type of the data forwarded by the data exchange module according to the data business classification policy, determine the charging policy corresponding to the data business type according to the data business charging policy, and calculate according to the charging policy Statistical traffic charges for forwarding data. The invention realizes the calculation of traffic charges according to the types of Internet access services.

Description

Device and method for billing Internet traffic

technical field

The invention relates to the field of communication billing, in particular to an Internet traffic billing device and method.

Background technique

With the increasing variety of services provided by communication networks and the maturity and popularity of IPV6 technology, more and more users require to access the network through household appliances and obtain various voice, video and pure data services provided by communication networks. When users obtain business services from the Internet through household appliances, they also need to pay corresponding service fees. At present, there are mainly two ways to calculate the user's service fee, one is billing by hour, and the other is billing by traffic.

For the method of calculating the user's service fee according to the flow rate, in the prior art, a broadband access server connected to the home appliance is usually used to charge the Internet traffic of the home appliance. After the broadband access server authenticates the authorized user account, counts the generated data traffic, and calculates the corresponding traffic fee according to the statistical data traffic. However, this traffic billing method does not distinguish between business types, which is not conducive to the development of network value-added services; it cannot display prompt information such as current Internet traffic charges, prepaid fees, and balance warnings to users in real time.

Contents of the invention

The invention provides an Internet traffic charging device and method to solve the technical problem of how to calculate the traffic fee according to the type of Internet business.

In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides an Internet traffic billing device, which includes an authorization data management module, a traffic information classification and statistics module, and a data exchange module, wherein,

The authorized data management module is used to store the data service classification strategy and the data service charging strategy; the data service classification strategy records the definition of the data service type; the data service charging strategy records the data service type and the charging policy Correspondence;

The data exchange module is used to forward the data between the Internet access device and the communication network;

The traffic information classification and statistics module is used to determine the statistical service type of the data forwarded by the data exchange module according to the data service classification policy; determine the corresponding data service type according to the data service charging policy Charge policy; calculate and count traffic charges for forwarded data according to the billing policy.

Further, the traffic information classification and statistics module is used to determine and count the service types of the data forwarded by the data exchange module according to the data service classification policy, including:

The traffic information classification and statistics module is used to receive the mirror data sent by the data exchange module for its own forwarded data; by combining the key information carried by the mirror data with the data service type recorded in the data service classification policy Define and match, and determine the statistical business type of the data forwarded by the data exchange module;

The key information includes one or more of the following:

Source address, destination address, source port number, destination port number and protocol type.

further,

The authorized data management module is also used to store data forwarding control rules;

The data exchange module for forwarding the data between the Internet access device and the communication network further includes:

The data exchange module is used to forward the data between the Internet access device and the communication network according to the data forwarding control rules.

further,

The data forwarding control rules stored by the authorized data management module include free service forwarding control rules;

The authorization data management module is also used to store the user's prepaid balance;

The traffic information classification and statistics module is further configured to update the user's prepaid balance stored in the authorized data management module after calculating the statistical traffic fee of the forwarded data, and notify the user when the user's prepaid balance is zero The data exchange module forwards the data between the Internet access device and the communication network according to the free service forwarding control rules.

Further, the device also includes a display module,

The display module is used to display traffic billing information through a display screen;

The traffic charging information includes: user prepaid balance and traffic charges.

further,

The authorization data management module is also used to store the alarm threshold of the prepaid balance;

The device also includes a prepaid balance warning module;

The prepaid alarm module is used to monitor the user's prepaid balance stored in the authorized data management module, and change the color of the display screen in the display module when the user's prepaid balance reaches its preset alarm threshold; and when When there are multiple preset warning thresholds for the user's prepaid balance, when the user's prepaid balance stored in the authorization data management module drops from one warning threshold to another, an alarm prompt tone is sent.

In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention also provides a method for billing Internet traffic, the method comprising:

Receiving a data service classification policy and a data service charging policy; the data service classification policy records the definition of the data service type; the data service charging policy records the corresponding relationship between the data service type and the charging policy;

Forwarding data between Internet-connected devices and communication networks;

Determining the service type of the statistically forwarded data according to the data service classification strategy;

determining a charging policy corresponding to the service type of the forwarded data according to the data service charging policy;

The traffic charges for the forwarded data are calculated according to the billing policy.

Further, it is characterized in that, according to the data service classification policy, determining the statistical forwarding data service type includes:

Receive the mirror data of the statistics forwarded data;

matching the key information carried by the mirrored data with the data service type definition recorded in the data service classification policy;

Use the data service type recorded in the consistent data service classification policy as the statistical service type of the forwarded data;

The key information includes one or more of the following:

Source address, destination address, source port number, destination port number and protocol type.

Further, the method also includes:

Receive data forwarding control rules;

The data forwarding between the Internet access device and the communication network further includes:

The data between the Internet access device and the communication network is forwarded according to the data forwarding control rule.

further,

The data forwarding control rules include free service forwarding control rules;

The method also includes:

Receive the user's prepaid balance;

After calculating the statistics of traffic charges for forwarding data, updating the user's prepaid balance;

Judging whether the user's prepaid balance is zero, when the user's prepaid balance is zero, forward the data between the Internet access device and the communication network according to the free service forwarding control rule.

Further, the method also includes:

The user's prepaid balance and traffic charges are displayed through a display screen.

Further, the method also includes:

The alarm threshold for receiving the prepaid balance;

Monitor the user's prepaid balance to determine whether the user's prepaid balance reaches a preset alarm threshold; when the user's prepaid balance reaches the alarm threshold, change the color of the display screen; When the fee balance drops from one alarm threshold to another, an alarm tone will be sent.

The above technical solution distinguishes the communication data between the user and the network according to the service type, and provides a charging strategy corresponding to the service type, realizing the charging method for the online data traffic by distinguishing the service type.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the Internet traffic billing device of the present embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the installation position of the Internet traffic billing device of this application example;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the method for billing Internet traffic in this embodiment.

Detailed ways

In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention more clear, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, in the case of no conflict, the embodiments in the present application and the features in the embodiments can be combined arbitrarily with each other.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the Internet traffic billing device of this embodiment.

The device includes an authorization data management module, a traffic information classification and statistics module, and a data exchange module, wherein,

The authorized data management module is used to store the data service classification strategy and the data service charging strategy; the data service classification strategy records the definition of the data service type; the data service charging strategy records the data service type and the charging policy Correspondence;

The data stored by the authorization data management module can come from the broadband access server, and receive the update operation of the authorization data from the broadband server;

The data exchange module is used to forward the data between the Internet access device and the communication network;

The traffic information classification and statistics module is used to determine the statistical service type of the data forwarded by the data exchange module according to the data service classification policy; determine the corresponding data service type according to the data service charging policy Fee policy; calculate and count traffic fees for forwarded data according to the billing policy;

The traffic information classification and statistics module can receive the mirror data sent by the data exchange module to forward data to itself, and compare the key information carried by the mirror data with the data service type definition recorded in the data service classification policy Matching, determining the statistical service type of the data forwarded by the data exchange module. The key information carried by the image data includes one or more of the following: data source address, destination address, source port number, destination port number, and protocol type. The traffic information classification and statistics module can reduce the impact on the normal data forwarding process by obtaining the mirror data of the data exchange module.

The above authorized data management module can also be used to store data forwarding control rules;

The above data forwarding control rules for controlling data forwarding by the data exchange module may include free service forwarding control rules. The free service forwarding control rules include: stipulating that the user's prepaid balance is zero, allowing free service forwarding; and even specifying the types of free services that are allowed to be forwarded, such as public service advertisements and free videos that are allowed to be forwarded.

In order to control the data exchange module to adopt the free service forwarding control rules in a timely manner, the authorized data management module in this embodiment needs to store the user's prepaid balance; the traffic information classification and statistics module needs to update the authorized data management module after calculating the traffic fee. The user's prepaid balance, and when the user's prepaid balance is zero, notify the data exchange module to forward the data between the Internet access device and the communication network according to the free service forwarding control rule.

The above device can also include a display module, which is used to display the user's prepaid balance, Internet traffic and traffic charges, etc. through the display screen, so as to facilitate users to know the Internet traffic situation in real time.

In order to realize the alarm function of the above-mentioned device on the user's prepaid balance, the authorization data management module in this embodiment also needs to store the alarm threshold of the prepaid balance; in addition, the above-mentioned device also needs to add a prepaid alarm module for monitoring all The user’s prepaid balance stored in the authorization data management module, and when the user’s prepaid balance reaches its preset alarm threshold, change the color of the display screen in the display module; if there are multiple alarm thresholds, different alarm thresholds are displayed on the display screen. The color distinguishes the different warning thresholds reached by the user's prepaid balance; and when the user's prepaid balance stored in the authorized data management module decreases from one warning threshold to another, an alarm prompt tone is sent.

The above-mentioned device may also include a billing information sending module, which is used to regularly report traffic billing information to the broadband access server, including Internet traffic, traffic charges, and user prepaid balance, so that the broadband access server will charge the received traffic The information is reported to the network accounting server.

In order to ensure the interests of users, the above-mentioned device may also include a user authentication information management module, which is used to complete the authentication operation of user information with the broadband access server when the device is powered on, and after the authentication is passed, the Other modules in the device are in working condition.

The above embodiment will be further described in detail below with an application example.

In this application example, the home Internet access device communicates with the broadband access server through the access network after being connected to the Internet traffic accounting device of the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 . The Internet traffic metering device can be a separate device, or a part of a small household router. The device includes a user authentication information management module, an authorization data management module, a data exchange module, a traffic information classification and statistics module, a display module, a prepaid alarm module and a billing information sending module.

Power on the device, the user authentication information management module in the device is used to send user authentication information to the broadband access server through network communication protocols such as PPPoE and DHCP when detecting that the device is powered on, and receive information from the A confirmation message from the broadband access server; and after receiving the confirmation message from the broadband access server, making other modules in the device work;

After the device is powered on and authenticated, the authorization data management module receives and stores the authorization data sent from the broadband server. The authorization data includes data service classification policy, data service charging policy, data forwarding control rules, user prepaid balance, user Prepaid balance alarm threshold, etc. Among them, the data service classification policy records the definition of the value-added data service type and its matching keywords, and the data that cannot match the matching keywords of all value-added data service types is the default ordinary network data; the data service charging policy marks the value-added service and Common network services adopt different billing policies; data forwarding control rules include free service forwarding control rules;

The data exchange module, according to the data forwarding control rules, forwards or discards the data between the Internet access device and the communication network;

The traffic information classification statistics module receives the mirror data of the business data transmitted from the data exchange module, and extracts key information of the mirror data, such as destination IP address, destination port number, source IP address, source port number and other information, and data Match the matching keywords of each value-added data service type recorded in the business classification strategy to determine which business type the data forwarded by the data exchange module belongs to; count the traffic of mirrored data, accumulate and update the user's business flow information; according to the data The service charging strategy determines the charging strategy corresponding to the data service type; calculates the traffic fee according to the charging strategy; obtains the user's prepaid balance stored in the authorized data management module, and deducts the calculated traffic fee from the user's prepaid balance to obtain Update the user's prepaid balance, and send the updated user's prepaid balance to the authorization data management module; judge whether the updated user's prepaid balance is 0, and when the updated user's prepaid balance is 0, notify the data exchange The module adopts free service forwarding control rules to forward the data between the Internet device and the communication network, that is, only free services are allowed to pass through the data exchange module;

The display module is used to display the user's prepaid balance, Internet service traffic and traffic charges through the display screen;

The prepaid alarm module is used to monitor the user's prepaid balance stored in the authorized data management module, and when the user's prepaid balance reaches the alarm threshold, change the color of the display screen in the display module; when it is judged that the user's prepaid balance has changed from When one of its alarm thresholds drops to another alarm threshold, an alarm prompt tone is sent;

The billing information sending module is used to regularly report traffic billing information to the broadband access server, including Internet traffic, traffic charges and user prepaid balance, so that the broadband access server will report the received traffic billing information to the network billing server.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the method for billing Internet traffic in this embodiment.

S301 receiving a data service classification policy and a data service charging policy;

The data service classification policy records the definition of data service types; the data service charging policy records the corresponding relationship between data service types and charging policies;

In step S301, data forwarding control rules, user prepaid balance, and alarm thresholds for prepaid balances may also be received; wherein, the data forwarding control rules may include free service forwarding control rules; the free service forwarding control rules include: If the fee balance is zero, free business forwarding is allowed; even the types of free business that are allowed to be forwarded can be specified, such as public service advertisements and free videos that are allowed to be forwarded;

The above service classification policy, data service charging policy, data forwarding control rules, user prepaid balance and alarm threshold of prepaid balance can come from the broadband access server;

S302 Forwarding data between the Internet access device and the communication network;

If the data forwarding control rule is received in step S301, step S302 can forward the data between the Internet access device and the communication network according to the data forwarding control rule; perform a forwarding operation on the data satisfying the forwarding condition, otherwise, directly discard the forwarded data;

S303 Determine according to the data service classification policy the statistical service type of the forwarded data;

Step S303 may include the following steps:

1) Receive the mirror image data of the statistically forwarded data;

2) matching the key information carried by the mirrored data with the data service type definition recorded in the data service classification strategy; the key information includes one or more of the following:

Source address, destination address, source port number, destination port number and protocol type;

3) The data service type recorded in the matching and consistent data service classification policy is used as the service type of the statistically forwarded data;

S304 Determine a charging policy corresponding to the service type of the forwarded data according to the data service charging policy;

S305 calculates the statistics of traffic charges for the forwarded data according to the charging policy.

After calculating the statistics of traffic charges for forwarding data, the user’s prepaid balance can be updated; and it can be judged whether the user’s prepaid balance is zero. data between networks. If the alarm threshold of the prepaid balance is set in step S301, the user’s prepaid balance can also be monitored to determine whether the user’s prepaid balance reaches the preset alarm threshold; when the user’s prepaid balance reaches the alarm threshold , changing the color of the display screen; when the user’s prepaid balance drops from one warning threshold to another warning threshold, sending a warning sound.

In this embodiment, the above-mentioned user prepaid balance and traffic fee can also be displayed on the display screen, so that the user can understand the Internet traffic situation in real time;

In this embodiment, the traffic billing information may also be regularly reported to the broadband access server, including Internet traffic, traffic charges, and user prepaid balance, so that the broadband access server reports the received traffic billing information to the network computer. fee server;

In order to ensure the interests of the user, before performing the above step S301, the user authentication information may be authenticated first, and subsequent operations may be performed after the authentication is passed.

Those skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the steps in the above method can be completed by instructing relevant hardware through a program, and the program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as a read-only memory, a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and the like. Optionally, all or part of the steps in the above embodiments can also be implemented using one or more integrated circuits. Correspondingly, each module/unit in the above embodiments can be implemented in the form of hardware, or can be implemented in the form of software function modules. The form is realized. The present invention is not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software.

It should be noted that the present invention can also have other various embodiments, without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make various corresponding changes and deformations according to the present invention, but these Corresponding changes and deformations should belong to the scope of protection of the appended claims of the present invention.

Claims (12)

1. an online charge on traffic device is characterized in that said device comprises authorization data administration module, flow information statistic of classification module and data exchange module, wherein,

Said authorization data administration module is used to store data service classification policy and data service billing strategy; The definition of said data service classification policy record data type of service; The corresponding relation of said data service billing strategy record data type of service and charging policy;

Said data exchange module is used to transmit the data between equipment for surfing the net and the communication network;

Said flow information statistic of classification module is used for confirming according to said data service classification policy the type of service of the data of transmitting through said data exchange module of statistics; Confirm the charging policy corresponding according to said data service billing strategy with this data service type; Traffic fee according to the forwarding data of this charging policy counting statistics is used.

2. device as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, said flow information statistic of classification module is used for confirming that according to said data service classification policy the type of service of the data of transmitting through said data exchange module of statistics further comprises:

Said flow information statistic of classification module is used to receive that said data exchange module sends that himself is transmitted the mirror image data of data; Mate through data recorded type of service definition in key message that said mirror image data is carried and the said data service classification policy, confirm the type of service of the data of transmitting through said data exchange module of statistics;

Said key message comprise following one or more:

Source address, destination address, source port number, destination slogan and protocol type.

3. according to claim 1 or claim 2 device is characterized in that,

Said authorization data administration module also is used to store the data forwarding control law;

Said data exchange module, the data that are used to transmit between equipment for surfing the net and the communication network further comprise:

Said data exchange module is used for transmitting the data between equipment for surfing the net and the communication network according to said data forwarding control law.

4. device as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that,

The data forwarding control law of said authorization data administration module storage further comprises coin free service forwarding control law;

Said authorization data administration module also is used to store the user prepayment remaining sum;

Said flow information statistic of classification module; Also be used for behind the traffic fee of the forwarding data of counting statistics; Upgrade the user prepayment remaining sum of said authorization data administration module storage; And when said user prepayment remaining sum is zero, notifies said data exchange module to transmit control law and transmit the data between equipment for surfing the net and the communication network according to said coin free service.

5. device as claimed in claim 4 is characterized in that said device also comprises display module,

Said display module is used for showing charge on traffic information through display screen;

Said charge on traffic information comprises: user prepayment remaining sum and traffic fee are used.

6. device as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that,

Said authorization data administration module also is used to store the alarming threshold of said balances of advance payments;

Said device also comprises the balances of advance payments alarm module;

Said pre-payment alarm module is used for monitoring the user prepayment remaining sum that said authorization data administration module is stored, and when the user prepayment remaining sum reaches its preset alarm thresholding, changes the color of display screen in the display module; And when there is a plurality of preset alarming threshold in the user prepayment remaining sum, when the user prepayment remaining sum of in said authorization data administration module, storing is reduced to another alarming threshold from its residing alarming threshold, send the alarm prompt sound.

7. online charge on traffic method is characterized in that said method comprises:

Receive data service classification policy and data service billing strategy; The definition of said data service classification policy record data type of service; The corresponding relation of said data service billing strategy record data type of service and charging policy;

Transmit the data between equipment for surfing the net and the communication network;

Confirm the type of service of the forwarding data of statistics according to said data service classification policy;

Confirm and the corresponding charging policy of type of service of transmitting data according to said data service billing strategy;

Traffic fee according to the forwarding data of this charging policy counting statistics is used.

8. method as claimed in claim 7 is characterized in that, said type of service according to the definite forwarding data of adding up of said data service classification policy further comprises:

The mirror image data of the forwarding data of receiving and counting;

Key message and the definition of said data service classification policy data recorded type of service that said mirror image data carries are mated;

The data service classification policy data recorded type of service that coupling is consistent is as the type of service of the forwarding data of statistics;

Said key message comprise following one or more:

Source address, destination address, source port number, destination slogan and protocol type.

9. like claim 7 or 8 described methods, it is characterized in that said method also comprises:

Receive the data forwarding control law;

Data between said forwarding equipment for surfing the net and the communication network further comprise:

Transmit the data between equipment for surfing the net and the communication network according to said data forwarding control law.

10. method as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that,

Said data forwarding control law further comprises coin free service forwarding control law;

Said method also comprises:

Receive the user prepayment remaining sum;

Behind the traffic fee of the forwarding data of counting statistics, upgrade said user prepayment remaining sum;

Judge that whether said user prepayment remaining sum is zero, when said user prepayment remaining sum is zero, transmits control law according to said coin free service and transmits the data between equipment for surfing the net and the communication network.

11. method as claimed in claim 10 is characterized in that, said method also comprises:

Show said user prepayment remaining sum and traffic fee usefulness through display screen.

12. method as claimed in claim 11 is characterized in that, said method also comprises:

Receive the alarming threshold of balances of advance payments;

Monitor said user prepayment remaining sum, judge whether said user prepayment remaining sum reaches the preset alarm thresholding; When said user prepayment remaining sum reaches said alarming threshold, change the color of said display screen; When its residing alarming threshold is reduced to another alarming threshold, send the alarm prompt sound in said user prepayment remaining sum.

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