TWI504291B - System, server and method for calculating data volume of network access - Google Patents

Description

System, server and method for metering network access

The disclosure relates to a system, server and method for metering network access.

WiFi has become one of the mainstream technologies for wireless local area networks. Currently, there are many mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets that support WiFi technology. However, the deployment of WiFi networks is mostly limited to metropolitan areas. In more remote outdoor areas, only WiFi-enabled mobile devices cannot access the network.

A dual-mode mobile device supporting WiFi technology and 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) technology can be used as a mobile access point (M-AP) for WiFi only. The mobile device accesses the network through the mobile access point, but the promotion of such an application still has problems to be solved. For example, holders of dual-mode mobile devices may be reluctant to open the WiFi interface for strangers for power considerations. Moreover, the current technology is to calculate the cost of accessing the network of two mobile devices to the dual mode mobile device. If dual mode action The billing scheme of the device is based on the flow rate, and the holder of the dual mode mobile device may be reluctant to open the WiFi interface. If the dual-mode mobile device uses a simple monthly fee method that does not count traffic, the mobile network operator may not be happy to see the dual-mode mobile device open the WiFi interface.

The present disclosure provides a system, method and authentication server for metering of network access.

An embodiment of the network access metering system according to the present disclosure includes at least one base station and a core network. The base station is coupled to the first mobile device and the second mobile device. The core network is coupled to the base station and the computer network, including the first server and the second server. The first mobile device acts as an action access point for the second mobile device to access the computer network through the base station and the core network. The base station and the core network provide one of the first mobile device and the second mobile device to access the traffic statistics of the computer network to the second server. The first server provides separate information to the second server, and the separation information indicates a network address of the second mobile device and a connection relationship between the first mobile device and the second mobile device. The second server calculates the data traffic of the first mobile device and the second mobile device to access the computer network according to the traffic statistics information and the separation information.

The authentication server according to the present disclosure includes an implementation example of a communication interface and a processor. The communication interface is configured to communicate with the first mobile device and the second mobile device. The first mobile device acts as an action access point for the second mobile device to access the computer network through at least one base station, a core network, and the authentication server. Authentication server The processor is coupled to the communication interface, performs registration and authentication procedures through the first mobile device and the second mobile device, and obtains the link information according to the registration and authentication procedures. The link information indicates the connection relationship between the network address of the second mobile device and the first mobile device. The processor generates traffic statistics of the first mobile device and the second mobile device to access the computer network, and calculates data traffic of the first mobile device and the second mobile device to access the computer network according to the traffic statistics and the link information. .

An embodiment of the network access metering method according to the present disclosure includes the following steps Step: providing traffic statistics of one of the first mobile device and the second mobile device, wherein the first mobile device acts as an action access point for the second mobile device to pass through at least one base station and one core Network accessing a computer network; providing separate information, wherein the separation information indicates a network address of the second mobile device and a connection relationship between the first mobile device and the second mobile device; and separating and filtering according to traffic statistics The information separately calculates the data traffic of the first mobile device and the second mobile device to access the computer network.

Another embodiment of the network access metering method according to the present disclosure is an example The authentication server performs the following steps: performing registration and authentication procedures through the first mobile device and the second mobile device, wherein the first mobile device acts as an action access point for the second mobile device to pass through at least one base station and one core Network accessing a computer network; obtaining connection information according to a registration and authentication procedure, wherein the connection information indicates a connection relationship between the network address of the second mobile device and the first mobile device; generating the first mobile device and the second mobile device Accessing traffic statistics of the computer network; and calculating the first mobile device and the second mobile device according to the traffic statistics and the link information Take data traffic from the computer network.

In order to make the above features of the present disclosure more apparent, the following embodiments are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

110‧‧‧Action Access Point

121~123‧‧‧ mobile device

131, 132‧‧‧ base station

140‧‧‧core network

141‧‧‧Action Management Server

142‧‧‧Authentication Server

143‧‧‧Access network discovery and selection function server

144‧‧‧Billing Server

150‧‧‧ computer network

151‧‧‧Application Server

210, 230, 260‧‧ ‧ processors

220, 240, 270‧‧‧ regional access interface

250, 280‧‧‧ radio interface

305~355, 410~460, 505~555, 605~645, 710~760, 810~860‧‧‧ method steps

901‧‧‧Action Access Point

902‧‧‧ mobile device

905‧‧‧Authenticated server

910~955‧‧‧ method steps

1010‧‧‧ Processor

1020‧‧‧Communication interface

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network access metering system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

2 is a schematic diagram of a mobile device and a mobile access point in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

3 through 9 are flowcharts of various network access metering methods in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an authentication server in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network access metering system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 1, the mobile access point 110 itself is also a mobile device, and the mobile devices 121-123 and the mobile access point 110 may be smart phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and tablets ( Tablet computer) or laptop, and so on. The mobile access point 110 is coupled to the mobile devices 121-123. The base station (eNB) 131 is coupled to the mobile device 122 and the mobile access point 110. The base station 132 is coupled to the mobile device 123. The core network 140 is coupled to the base station 131, 132. Core network 140 is part of a telecommunications system that conforms to the 3GPP specifications or Long Term Evolution (LTE) specifications. The core network 140 may include a Mobility Management Entity (MME) 141, an authentication server 142, and an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function Server (hereinafter). Referred to as ANDSF 143, and billing server 144. The computer network 150 is coupled to the core network 140, and the computer network 150 includes an application server 151. The computer network 150 can be connected to a plurality of computers and network devices, such as the Internet (Internet) can be used as the computer network 150. The network access metering system of this embodiment is comprised of a core network 140 and at least one base station (131 and/or 132).

The mobile device 110 acts as an action access point for the mobile device 121~123 to pass through At least one base station (131 and/or 132) and core network 140 access computer network 150, such as application server 151 in computer network 150. 2 is a schematic diagram of mobile devices 121-123 and mobile access point 110 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The mobile device 121 includes a processor 210 and a regional access interface (local Access interface) 220. The area access interface 220 is used to communicate with the mobile access point 110. The processor 210 controls the operation of the mobile device 121, for example, the steps performed by the mobile device 121 in the flow of FIG. 3 are performed under the control of the processor 210.

The mobile device 122 includes a processor 230, an area access interface 240, and The cellular interface 250. The area access interface 240 is used to communicate with the mobile access point 110, and the radio interface 250 is used to communicate with the base station 131. The processor 230 controls the operation of the mobile device 122, for example, the steps performed by the mobile device 122 in the flow of FIGS. 5-8 are performed under the control of the processor 230. The internal structure of the mobile device 123 is the same as that of the mobile device 122.

The mobile access point 110 includes a processor 260, a regional access interface 270, and a telecommunications interface 280. The area access interface 270 is used to communicate with the mobile devices 121-123, and the radio interface 280 is used to communicate with the base station 131. The processor 260 controls the operation of the mobile access point 110, for example, the steps performed by the mobile access point 110 in the flow of FIGS. 4-8 are performed under the control of the processor 260.

Use between the mobile access point 110 of FIG. 1 and the mobile devices 121-123 The WiFi interfaces communicate with each other, but this embodiment does not limit the use of WiFi communication technology. The access point of the mobile access point 110 and the mobile devices 121-123 can communicate with each other by any kind of regional wireless communication technology, for example, wireless local area network (WLAN), Bluetooth, direct WiFi (Direct WiFi), or LTE-specific inter-device communication technology (LTE D2D). The mobile access point 110 and the mobile devices 122, 123 of FIG. 1 communicate with the base stations 131, 132 and the core network 140 using the 3GPP interface, but this embodiment does not limit the use of the 3GPP specifications. The mobile interface of the mobile access point 110 and the mobile devices 122, 123 can communicate with the base stations 131, 132 and the core network 140 using any type of wireless telecommunications communication technology, such as the 3GPP specifications or the LTE specifications.

The mobile devices 121-123 represent three application scenarios, respectively. A first application scenario represented by mobile device 121 is that a mobile device that does not have a radio interface seeks the mobile access point 110 to access the computer network 150. Figure 3 shows the first of the above The flow of the situation. The second and third applications represented by the mobile devices 122 and 123 respectively are that the dual-mode mobile device with the regional access interface and the radio interface is assisted by the core network 140 to find the mobile access point 110 to access the computer network. 150. 4 to 8 illustrate the flow of the second and third application scenarios described above. The difference between the second and third application cases described above is that in the second application case, the mobile device 122 and the mobile access point 110 are connected to the same base station 131, and in the third application case, the mobile device 123 is The mobile access point 110 is then connected to different base stations 131 and 132.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a network access measurement method according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates a flow of the first application scenario in which the mobile device 121 accesses the application server 151 in the computer network 150 through the mobile access point 110. The mobile device 121 discovers the mobile access point 110 by the M-AP scan at step 305. For example, if both mobile device 121 and mobile access point 110 support WiFi, mobile device 121 can use WiFi access point scanning to discover mobile access point 110. The mobile device 121 then issues a local connection request at step 310 to connect to the mobile access point 110. Then, at step 315, the authentication server 142 and the mobile device 121 perform an authentication procedure via the mobile access point 110. The holder of the mobile device 121 can establish an account number in the authentication server 142 in advance for the authentication procedure of step 315. Alternatively, the holder of the mobile device 121 may also establish an account number in the authentication procedure of step 315.

The authentication server 142 can obtain the binding information of the mobile device 121 and the mobile access point 110 according to the authentication procedure of step 315. This one The link information indicates that the mobile device 121 will access the computer network 150 through the mobile access point 110. Authentication server 142 may determine that mobile device 121 is used to access network address AD2 of computer network 150. The authentication server 142 can provide the connection information to the action management server 141 of the core network 140 in step 320. The link information at this time indicates the network address AD2 of the mobile device 121 and the identification code ID1 of the mobile access point 110. Link relationship. In addition, the above connection information may also include a user profile of the mobile device 121. The authentication server 142 can dispatch the network address AD2 to the mobile device 121 at step 325. The order of steps 320 and 325 can be interchanged.

Next, the mobile access point 110 sends a request to the mobile management server 141 to establish a bearer for the mobile device 121 at step 330, which is assigned by the core network 140 to connect the mobile device 121 and the computer network. 150 exclusive resources. The above request to establish a bearer includes the network address AD2 of the mobile device 121, and the action management server 141 has received the link information in step 320. It is known that AD2 is the network address of the mobile device 121, so the action management server 141 may accept the above request to establish a bearer for the mobile device 121 according to the above connection information. In the 3GPP specifications, the above bearer is called a packet data protocol context (PDP context). In the LTE specification, the bearer is called an evolved packet system bearer (abbreviated as EPS bearer).

Next, in step 335, the mobile device 121 performs data transfer through the mobile access point 110, the base station 131, and the core network 140 and the application server 151. At step 340, the base station 131 and the core network 140 generate access to the action access point 110. Traffic statistics for computer network 150. At step 345, the base station 131 and the core network 140 provide the traffic statistics information to the accounting server 144.

Application server 151 can generally refer to any server of computer network 150. base The ground station 131 and the core network 140 measure the data traffic of the mobile device 121 and the mobile access point 110 accessing the computer network 150 on the mobile access point 110, so that the traffic statistics information includes the mobile device 121. The network address AD2, the identification code ID1 of the mobile access point 110, and the data volume and time duration of the mobile device 121 and the mobile access point 110 accessing the computer network 150.

At step 350, the authentication server 142 provides separate information to the charging server. 144. The separation information indicates the connection relationship between the network address AD2 of the mobile device 121 and the mobile device 121 itself. The separation information includes the network address AD2 and the identification code ID2 of the mobile device 121. The accounting server 144 can separately measure the mobile access point 110 and the mobile device 121 according to the traffic statistics information of step 345 and the separated information of step 350 in step 355, that is, calculate the mobile access point 110 and the mobile device 121 respectively. The 335 accesses the data traffic of the computer network 150. The data of step 335 is packaged in the form of a network packet. The charging server 144 may further charge the mobile access point 110 and the mobile device 121 according to the traffic statistics and the separation information in step 355, that is, calculate the mobile access point 110 and the mobile device 121 to access the computer respectively. The cost of the network 150. In this manner, the accounting server 144 can correctly calculate the cost of accessing the computer network 150 by the mobile device 121 on the holder of the mobile device 121, and the charging server 144 can correctly accumulate the service providing amount of the mobile access point 110. . In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the sequence of step 350 may be in step 315. Arrange arbitrarily between steps 355.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a network access measurement method according to another embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates a first part of the flow of the second application scenario and the third application scenario described above. In the second and third application scenarios, the ANDSF 143 maintains an M-AP list and assists the mobile device 122 or 123 in finding or selecting an action access point based on the mobile access point list. The above list of mobile access points records the regional network information and location information of each mobile access point. For example, the list of mobile access points may be stored in a form, wherein each record corresponds to an action access point, and each record may include an identifier of the corresponding action access point itself, a regional network of corresponding action access points. Road information, and the location information of the corresponding action access point. The above-mentioned regional network information may be information such as a regional network identification code, an address, a support version, etc.; the location information may be a location coordinate of an action access point, such as a global positioning system (GPS) coordinate, or The identification code of the base station serving the corresponding mobile access point.

Figure 4 illustrates the flow of the ANDSF 143 maintenance action access point list. When the holder activates the regional access point function of the mobile access point 110 in step 410, or if the regional access point function is enabled but the local area network information or the location information is necessary to be updated, the action Access point 110 transmits a corresponding local AP configuration to ANDSF 143 in step 430. The regional access point configuration may include an identification code ID1 of the mobile access point 110, a notification to enable the regional access point function, and other related information, such as the regional network information and location required for the mobile access point list described above. News. Then ANDSF 143 can be based on the regional access point The configuration adds a record corresponding to the action access point 110 to the list of mobile access points, or updates the original record.

When the holder disables the area of the mobile access point 110 at step 440 The access point function, the mobile access point 110 transmits the corresponding regional access point configuration to the ANDSF 143 in step 460. The regional access point configuration described above may include the identification code ID1 of the mobile access point 110, the notification of the deactivated area access point function, and the aforementioned related information. The ANDSF 143 can then delete the record of the corresponding action access point 110 in the list of mobile access points according to the regional access point configuration.

FIG. 5 is a network access measurement method according to an embodiment of the disclosure. flow chart. FIG. 5 illustrates a second portion of the above-described second application scenario and a third application scenario, wherein the mobile device 122 seeks the mobile access point 110 with the assistance of the ANDSF 143 to access the computer network 150. The flow of FIGS. 5-8 is represented by mobile device 122, wherein mobile device 122 can also be replaced with mobile device 123.

The mobile device 122 performs an attach procedure with the core network 140 at step 505. The core network 140 completes the authentication of the mobile device 122 in this attach procedure and dispatches the network address AD2 to the mobile device 122. The mobile device 122 issues a regional connection request to the ANDSF 143 at step 510, the regional connection request including the identification code ID2 and location information of the mobile device 122. The ANDSF 143 provides a local M-AP scan list to the mobile device 122 based on the location information provided by the mobile device 122 in step 515. The ANDSF 143 can view the action access points in the list of action access points maintained by itself, and select the appropriate mobile device 122 according to factors such as the location and workload of each action access point. One or more action access points, and the identification codes of the access points are added to the regional mobile access point scan list of step 515 to inform the mobile device 122.

Mobile device 122 scans each of the action access points in the regional mobile access point scan list at step 520. The mobile device 122 can determine which one or more of the action access points are appropriate according to the scan result, and then use the scan result of the appropriate action access point as the scan report, and send the scan report to the ANDSF 143 in step 525. The scan report may include the network address AD2 of the mobile device 122 and the scan results for one or more of the action access points in the regional mobile access point scan list. For example, the scan results described above may include the signal strength of each of the mobile access points received by the mobile device 122.

After receiving the scan report, the ANDSF 143 selects one of the action access points in the scan report as the action access point 110 in step 530. For example, the ANDSF 143 can select an action access point based on factors such as received signal strength, location, and workload. The ANDSF 143 then sends a zone connection request to the mobile device 110 at step 540 to the mobile access point 110, which includes the address AD2 of the mobile device 122. If the mobile access point 110 accepts the request, a local connection response is sent to the mobile device 122 via the ANDSF 143 at steps 545 and 550. The ANDSF 143 provides the connection management information to the action management server 141 of the core network 140 in step 555, which indicates the connection relationship between the identification code ID2 of the mobile device 122 or the network address AD2 and the identification code ID1 of the mobile access point 110. .

Figure 6 depicts a variation of the flow of Figure 5. Step 605 of FIG. 6 is the same as step 505 of FIG. 5 and will not be described again. Then, the mobile device 122 proceeds to step 610. The mobile access point scan is performed and a scan report is provided to the ANDSF 143 at step 615. The scan report includes scan results of the mobile device 122 for at least one of the nearby mobile access points. The mobile device 122 can determine which one or more of the action access points are appropriate according to the scan result, and then use the scan result of the appropriate action access point as the scan report. For example, the scan results described above may include the signal strength of each of the mobile access points received by the mobile device 122.

ANDSF 143 selects the action access point in the scan report at step 620 One of them acts as an action access point 110. For example, the ANDSF 143 can select an action access point based on factors such as received signal strength, location, and workload. The ANDSF 143 then sends a zone connection request to the mobile access point 110 for the mobile device 122 at step 630. Steps 630 to 645 of FIG. 6 are the same as steps 540 to 555 of FIG. 5, respectively, and are not described again.

FIG. 7 is a network access measurement method according to an embodiment of the disclosure. flow chart. FIG. 7 illustrates the second application scenario and the last portion of the third application scenario. First, the mobile access point 110 sends a request to the mobile management server 141 of the core network 140 to establish a bearer for the mobile device 122 in step 710. The above request to establish a bearer includes the network address AD2 of the mobile device 122, and the action management server 141 has received the link information in the flow of FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, and it is known that AD2 is the network address of the mobile device 122. Therefore, the action management server 141 can accept the above request based on the above link information.

Next, at step 720, the mobile device 122 transmits the action access point 110, The base station 131 and the core network 140 and the application server 151 perform data transfer. At step 730, the base station 131 and the core network 140 generate traffic statistics for the mobile access point 110 to access the computer network 150. At step 740, the base station 131 and the core network 140 provide the traffic statistics information to the billing server 144.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the base station 131 and the core network 140 connect the data traffic of the mobile device 122 to the computer network 150 to the mobile access point 110. Therefore, the traffic statistics information includes the network of the mobile device 122. The road address AD2, the identification code ID1 of the mobile access point 110, and the amount of data and duration of the mobile device 122 accessing the computer network 150 through the mobile access point 110.

At step 750, the ANDSF 143 provides separate information to the billing server 144. The separation information indicates the connection relationship between the network address AD2 of the mobile device 122 and the mobile device 122 itself. The separation information includes the network address AD2 and the identification code ID2 of the mobile device 122. The accounting server 144 can separately measure and charge the mobile access point 110 and the mobile device 122 according to the traffic statistics and the separated information, that is, calculate the mobile access point 110 and the mobile device 122 to access the computer respectively. The data traffic of the network 150 and the cost of accessing the computer network 150 by the mobile access point 110 and the mobile device 122, respectively. In this manner, the billing server 144 can correctly calculate the cost of the mobile device 122 accessing the computer network 150 on the holder of the mobile device 122, and the billing server 144 can also correctly accumulate the service provision of the mobile access point 110. .

Figure 8 illustrates a variation of the flow of Figure 7. Steps 810 and 820 of Figure 8 They are the same as steps 710 and 720 of FIG. 7, respectively, and will not be described again. Then, in step 830, the base station 131 and the core network 140 generate the mobile device 122 to access the computer network 150. Traffic statistics. At step 840, the base station 131 and the core network 140 provide the traffic statistics information to the billing server 144. The traffic statistics information includes the network address AD2 of the mobile device 122 and the identification code ID2, and also includes the amount and duration of the data accessed by the mobile device 122 to the computer network 150.

At step 850, the ANDSF 143 provides separate information to the charging server. 144. The separation information indicates the connection relationship between the network address AD2 of the mobile device 122 and the mobile access point 110, that is, the mobile device 122 is accessed through the mobile access point 110. The separation information includes the network address AD2 of the mobile device 122 and the identification code ID1 of the mobile access point 110. The charging server 144 can separately measure and charge the mobile access point 110 and the mobile device 122 according to the traffic statistics and the separated information in step 860, and can correctly accumulate the service providing amount of the mobile access point 110.

FIG. 9 is a network access measurement method according to another embodiment of the disclosure. Flow chart. The embodiment is the same as the previous embodiment in that the mobile device 901 is used as a mobile access point for the mobile device 902 to access the computer network 150 through the at least one base station and the core network 140, wherein the mobile device 901 has both Similar to the function of the Foreign Agent (FA: Foreign Agent) in the Mobile Internet Protocol (Mobile IP Protocol, Mobile IP, MIP), the tunnel encapsulation of the nested Internet Protocol (IP in IP) can be performed. Decapsulation. The at least one base station described above may be the base station 131 (as in the second application case described above) or the base stations 131 and 132 (as in the third application case described above). The difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment is that an authentication server 905 is added to replace the previous one. The authentication server 142 and the charging server 144 of the embodiment. The authentication server 905 has similar functions as a home agent (HA: Home Agent) in a mobile internet protocol, can perform channel packaging and unpacking of nested internet protocols, and for the mobile device 902 to the computer network 150. Access for packet data measurement. The authentication server 905 can be a separate server, and the authentication server 905 can be located within the core network 140 or outside of the core network 140.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the authentication server 905 of the embodiment. The authentication server 905 includes a processor 1010 and a communication interface 1020 coupled to each other. The communication interface 1020 is for communicating with the mobile access point 901 and the mobile device 902, and the processor 1010 controls the authentication server 905 to perform the method steps of FIG.

The flow of FIG. 9 is described below, and the mobile device 902 can discover the mobile access point 901 in two ways. Step 910 is the first mode, which is similar to steps 305 and 310 of FIG. Step 915 is the second mode, which is like steps 510 to 550 of FIG. 5 or steps 610 to 640 of FIG. In the case of the second discovery method, the authentication server 905 replaces the aforementioned ANDSF 143. Steps 910 and 915 need only perform one of them.

Next, the authentication server 905 performs a registration and authentication procedure through the mobile access point 901 and the mobile device 902 in step 920. Authentication server 905 dispatches network address AD2 to mobile device 902 in step 925. In step 930, the authentication server 905 obtains the connection information of the mobile access point 901 and the mobile device 902 according to the registration and authentication procedure, and the connection information indicates the identifier of the network address AD2 of the mobile device 902 and the mobile access point 901. The link relationship of ID1, and this ID1 can be an IP address. In steps 941, 942, and 943, the mobile device 902 and the application server 151 transmit data through a nested Internet Protocol channel. In step 942, the mobile device 901 is responsible for the nested Internet Protocol channel encapsulation of the upstream packet, and the nested Internet Protocol channel decapsulation of the downstream packet, and the authentication server 905 is responsible for the nested Internet of the upstream packet. The route protocol channel depackages, and the nested internet protocol channel of the downstream packet, and in the process counts the data traffic of the action access point 901 and the mobile device 902 in steps 941, 942, 943 to generate traffic. Statistical information.

The authentication server 905 measures and charges the mobile access point 901 and the mobile device 902 based on the traffic statistics and the connection information described above in step 955, and can correctly accumulate the service provision amount of the mobile access point 901.

The core network 140 of this embodiment may calculate the data traffic of the mobile access point 901 and the mobile device 902 all over the mobile access point 901. However, in this case, the service provided by the authentication server 905 may be provided. The amount compensates the holder of the action access point 901.

In summary, the disclosure can solve the problem of separate measurement when the core network solves the mobile device accessing the Internet through the mobile access point. For mobile devices, the mechanism proposed by the present disclosure enables a mobile device to access a network using a nearby dual mode mobile device to increase its network access point. The holder of the mobile device does not need to know the holder of the dual-mode mobile device, and does not even need to know where there is a dual-mode mobile device nearby.

For dual-mode mobile devices, the present disclosure can utilize its more power-efficient regional network access interface to access the network through another dual-mode mobile device in the vicinity to save Electricity, extending its network access time.

For the dual-mode mobile device providing the network access service, because of the separate metering mechanism of the present disclosure, the holder of the dual-mode mobile device does not have to bear the cost of surfing the Internet, and can accurately accumulate the service provision in exchange for the reward. This will increase the willingness of holders of dual-mode mobile devices to open Internet services.

For mobile network operators, the disclosed automatic separation metering mechanism can increase the number of mobile access points, the number of network users, and revenue.

The present disclosure has been disclosed in the above embodiments, but it is not intended to limit the disclosure, and any person skilled in the art can make some changes and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The scope of protection of this disclosure is subject to the definition of the scope of the appended claims.

110‧‧‧Action Access Point

121‧‧‧Mobile devices

131‧‧‧Base station

140‧‧‧core network

142‧‧‧Authentication Server

144‧‧‧Billing Server

151‧‧‧Application Server

305~355‧‧‧ method steps

Claims (35)

A network access metering system includes: at least one base station coupled to a first mobile device and a second mobile device; and a core network coupled to the at least one base station and a computer network, including a a first server and a second server, wherein the first mobile device acts as an action access point for the second mobile device to access the computer network through the at least one base station and the core network, the at least a base station and the core network provide traffic statistics of the first mobile device and the second mobile device to access the computer network to the second server, where the first server provides a separate information to The second server, the separation information indicates a network address of the second mobile device and a connection relationship between the first mobile device and the other of the second mobile device, and the second server is configured according to the traffic statistics The information and the separation information respectively calculate data traffic of the first mobile device and the second mobile device to access the computer network. The network access metering system of claim 1, wherein the second server calculates the first mobile device and the second mobile device to access the computer network according to the traffic statistics and the separate information. The cost of the road. The network access metering system of claim 1, wherein the second mobile device comprises an area access interface for communicating with the first mobile device, the first mobile device comprising an area access interface Communicating with the second mobile device, the first mobile device further includes a radio interface to communicate with the at least one base station. The network access metering system of claim 1, wherein the The core network further includes an action management server, the first server provides a link information to the action management server, and the link information indicates a network address of the second mobile device and the first mobile device a relationship, the action management server accepts, according to the connection information, a request for establishing a bearer for the second mobile device, wherein the bearer is an exclusive network assigned by the core network to connect the second mobile device and the computer network Resources. The network access metering system of claim 1, wherein the first server is an authentication server, and the second mobile device discovers and connects the first mobile device by scanning a mobile access point. And then the first server and the second mobile device perform an authentication procedure, and then the first server assigns the network address to the second mobile device, wherein the traffic statistics information is traffic of the first mobile device Statistical information, the traffic statistics information includes the network address of the second mobile device and the identification code of the first mobile device, the separation information including the network address and the identification code of the second mobile device. The network access metering system of claim 1, wherein the first server is an access network discovery and selection function server, the first server maintains a list of mobile access points and according to the The action access point list selects the first mobile device as an action access point of the second mobile device, and the mobile access point list records regional network information and location information of each mobile access point, wherein the location information It is the location coordinate of the corresponding mobile access point or the identification code of the base station serving the corresponding mobile access point. The network access metering system of claim 6, wherein the The core network assigns the network address to the second mobile device in the attaching procedure of the second mobile device. The network access metering system of claim 6, wherein the first server provides a regional mobile access point scan list to the second mobile device according to the location information provided by the second mobile device, and Receiving a scan report from the second mobile device, the scan report including a scan result of the second mobile device for at least one mobile access point in the regional mobile access point scan list, the first server selecting the scan report One of the action access points is the first mobile device, and a regional connection request is sent to the second mobile device to the first mobile device. The network access metering system of claim 6, wherein the second mobile device performs an action access point scan to provide a scan report to the first server, the scan report including the second action a scan result of the device for at least one mobile access point, the first server selects one of the action access points in the scan report as the first mobile device, and sends a regional connection for the second mobile device The line requests to the first mobile device. The network access metering system of claim 6, wherein the traffic statistics information is traffic statistics information of the first mobile device, where the traffic statistics information includes the network address of the second mobile device The identification code of the first mobile device, the separation information including the network address and the identification code of the second mobile device. The network access metering system of claim 6, wherein the traffic statistics information is traffic statistics information of the second mobile device, the traffic statistics information including the network address of the second mobile device Identification of the second mobile device And the separation information includes the network address and the identification code of the first mobile device. An authentication server includes: a communication interface for communicating with a first mobile device and a second mobile device, wherein the first mobile device acts as an action access point for the second mobile device to pass through at least one base a server, a core network, and the authentication server accessing a computer network; and a processor coupled to the communication interface to perform a registration and authentication process through the first mobile device and the second mobile device, according to The registration and authentication process obtains a link information, wherein the link information indicates a network address of the second mobile device and a connection relationship of the first mobile device, wherein the processor generates the first mobile device and the second The mobile device accesses the traffic statistics of the computer network, and calculates data traffic of the first mobile device and the second mobile device to access the computer network according to the traffic statistics and the link information. The authentication server of claim 12, wherein the processor maintains a list of mobile access points and selects the first mobile device as the mobile access of the second mobile device according to the list of mobile access points. Point, the action access point list records area network information and location information of each action access point, wherein the location information is a location coordinate of the corresponding action access point or a base serving the corresponding action access point The identification number of the station. The authentication server of claim 13, wherein the processor provides a regional mobile access point scan list to the second mobile device according to the location information provided by the second mobile device, and receives the second mobile device Scanning device The scan report includes a scan result of the second mobile device for at least one mobile access point in the regional mobile access point scan list, and the processor selects one of the action access points in the scan report as The first mobile device. The authentication server of claim 13, wherein the processor receives a scan report generated by the second mobile device performing an action access point scan, the scan report including at least one of the second mobile device pair As a result of the scan of the mobile access point, the processor selects one of the action access points in the scan report as the first mobile device. The authentication server of claim 12, wherein the processor assigns the network address to the second mobile device after the registration and authentication process, and calculates the traffic statistics and the link information separately. The first mobile device and the second mobile device access the computer network. The authentication server of claim 16, wherein the second mobile device and the computer network transmit data through a nested internet protocol channel between the first mobile device and the authentication server, The processor performs nested internet protocol channel unpacking of upstream packets and nested internet protocol channel wrappers for downstream packets. The authentication server of claim 17, wherein the first mobile device performs nested internet protocol channel encapsulation of the uplink packet and the nested internet protocol channel decapsulation of the downlink packet. A network access metering method includes: providing one of a first mobile device and a second mobile device to access a computer The traffic statistics of the network, wherein the first mobile device acts as an action access point for the second mobile device to access the computer network through at least one base station and a core network; providing a separate information, wherein the Separating information indicating a network address of the second mobile device and a connection relationship between the first mobile device and the other of the second mobile device; and calculating the first action according to the traffic statistical information and the separated information The device and the second mobile device access data traffic of the computer network. The network access measurement method of claim 19, further comprising: calculating, according to the traffic statistics information and the separation information, a fee for accessing the computer network by the first mobile device and the second mobile device, respectively. . The network access measurement method of claim 19, further comprising: providing a link information, wherein the link information indicates a connection relationship between a network address of the second mobile device and the first mobile device And accepting, according to the connection information, a request for establishing a bearer for the second mobile device, wherein the bearer is a dedicated resource allocated by the core network to connect the second mobile device and the computer network. The method for measuring network access according to claim 19, further comprising: performing an authentication procedure with the second mobile device, and then assigning the network address to The second mobile device, wherein the traffic statistics information is traffic statistics information of the first mobile device, where the traffic statistics information includes the network address of the second mobile device and an identifier of the first mobile device, the separation The information includes the network address and an identification code of the second mobile device. The method for measuring network access according to claim 19, further comprising: maintaining a list of mobile access points; and selecting the first mobile device as the second mobile device according to the list of mobile access points; An action access point, wherein the action access point list records area network information and location information of each action access point, where the location information is a location coordinate of the corresponding action access point or serves the corresponding action access The identification code of the base station of the point. The network access metering method of claim 23, further comprising: assigning the network address to the second mobile device in the attaching procedure of the second mobile device. The network access metering method of claim 23, further comprising: providing a regional mobile access point scan list to the second mobile device according to the location information provided by the second mobile device; receiving the a scan report of the second mobile device, wherein the scan report includes a scan result of the second mobile device for at least one mobile access point in the mobile access point scan list of the regional mobile device; Selecting one of the action access points in the scan report as the first mobile device; and transmitting a regional connection request to the first mobile device for the second mobile device. The network access metering method of claim 23, further comprising: receiving a scan report generated by the second mobile device performing an action access point scan, wherein the scan report includes the second mobile device Scanning results for at least one mobile access point; selecting one of the action access points in the scan report as the first mobile device; and transmitting a regional connection request to the first mobile device to the first Mobile device. The network access measurement method of claim 23, wherein the traffic statistics information is traffic statistics information of the first mobile device, where the traffic statistics information includes the network address of the second mobile device The identification code of the first mobile device, the separation information including the network address and the identification code of the second mobile device. The network access measurement method according to claim 23, wherein the traffic statistics information is traffic statistics information of the second mobile device, where the traffic statistics information includes the network address of the second mobile device An identification code of the second mobile device, the separation information including the network address and an identification code of the first mobile device. A network access metering method is performed by an authentication server, comprising: performing a registration and authentication procedure through a first mobile device and a second mobile device, wherein the first mobile device is used as an action access point for The second mobile device is transparent Accessing a computer network through at least one base station and a core network; obtaining a link information according to the registration and authentication procedure, wherein the link information indicates a network address of the second mobile device and the first mobile device a link relationship; generating traffic statistics information of the first mobile device and the second mobile device accessing the computer network; and calculating the first mobile device and the second mobile device according to the traffic statistical information and the link information Access data traffic on this computer network. The network access metering method of claim 29, further comprising: maintaining a list of mobile access points; and selecting the first mobile device as the second mobile device according to the list of mobile access points An action access point, wherein the action access point list records area network information and location information of each action access point, wherein the location information is a location coordinate of the corresponding action access point or serves the corresponding action save Take the identification code of the base station. The network access metering method of claim 30, further comprising: providing a regional mobile access point scan list to the second mobile device according to the location information provided by the second mobile device; receiving the a scan report of the second mobile device, wherein the scan report includes a scan result of the second mobile device for at least one mobile access point in the regional mobile access point scan list; and selecting an action access point in the scan report One of them is the first mobile device Set. The network access metering method of claim 30, further comprising: receiving a scan report generated by the second mobile device performing an action access point scan, wherein the scan report includes the second mobile device Scanning results for at least one mobile access point; and selecting one of the action access points in the scan report as the first mobile device. The method for measuring network access according to claim 29, further comprising: assigning the network address to the second mobile device after the registration and authentication procedure; and calculating the information and the connection information according to the traffic information Calculating the cost of accessing the computer network by the first mobile device and the second mobile device respectively. The network access metering method of claim 33, wherein the second mobile device and the computer network pass a nested internet protocol channel between the first mobile device and the authentication server The data is transmitted, and the network access metering method further comprises: a nested internet protocol channel unpacking of the uplink packet and a nested internet protocol channel wrapper of the downlink packet. The network access metering method of claim 34, wherein the first mobile device performs a nested internet protocol channel encapsulation of the uplink packet and a nested internet protocol channel decapsulation of the downlink packet.