Charging in communication networks

Abstract

A method of communication includes the step of requesting at least one service having a plurality of parts. The method also includes determining if the at least one service is providable by taking into account credit information relating to a user. If not, the method also includes providing only one or some of the plurality of parts of the at least one service.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
     
     
         20 . A method of communication, the method comprising the steps of: 
 requesting at least one service having a plurality of parts;    determining if said at least one service is providable by taking into account credit information relating to a user; and    if not, providing at least one of said plurality of parts of said at least one service.    
     
     
         21 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said requesting step includes at least one of said plurality of parts comprising at least two different services or at least two components of a service.  
     
     
         22 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said at least two of said components of the service comprise audio and video components.  
     
     
         23 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said determining step includes determining said credit information is that of said user requesting the at least one service.  
     
     
         24 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said determining step includes determining said credit information is that of another user being called by the user requesting the at least one service.  
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said determining step includes determining said credit information comprising an amount of money prepaid by the user.  
     
     
         26 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said determining step is comprises taking into account a cost for each of said plurality of parts.  
     
     
         27 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , comprising dropping at least one part of said plurality of parts which is most expensive and not providing the at least one part of said plurality of parts in said providing step.  
     
     
         28 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said determining step is comprises determining which of said plurality of parts is to be dropped.  
     
     
         29 . A method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said determining step comprises determining which of said plurality of parts is to be dropped based on a predetermined policy.  
     
     
         30 . A method as claimed in  claim 29 , comprising taking into account at least one of said credit information and user equipment capability in said predetermined policy.  
     
     
         31 . A method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said determining step comprises determining which of said plurality of parts is to be dropped based on a predetermined policy, wherein said predetermined policy is specific to the user.  
     
     
         32 . A method as claimed in  claim 28 , comprising defining said predetermined policy by an operator of a communications network associated with said user.  
     
     
         33 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said determining step comprises taking place in at least one of user equipment, a charging node, and a node intermediate said user equipment and said charging node.  
     
     
         34 . A method as claimed in  claim 33 , comprising the step of storing at a least part of said predetermined policy in the at least one of said user equipment, said intermediate node and said charging node.  
     
     
         35 . A method as claimed in  claim 34 , comprising defining said predetermined policy in said charging node.  
     
     
         36 . A method as claimed in  claim 35 , comprising storing part of said predetermined policy in at least one of the user equipment and said intermediate node, said part of said predetermined policy selected based on the credit information.  
     
     
         37 . A method as claimed in  claim 34 , further comprising the step of modifying the at least part of said predetermined policy stored in said at least one of said user equipment and said intermediate node if said credit information changes.  
     
     
         38 . A communication system comprising: 
 user equipment to request at least one service having a plurality of parts;    means for determining if said at least one service is providable taking into account credit information relating to a user; and    means for providing at least one of said plurality of parts of said at least one service if not providable.    
     
     
         39 . A communication system as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein said determining means are provided in at least one of a charging node, said user equipment and an intermediate node between said user equipment and said charging node.  
     
     
         40 . A charging node for use in a communications system, said charging node configured: 
 to receive information for a user indicating at least one service requested, said at least one service having a plurality of parts,    to check for said user associated credit information to determine if all of the requested at least one service is providable, and    if not, to determine which of said plurality of parts is to be dropped.    
     
     
         41 . A charging node as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein said charging node is provides at least one of information indicating which of said parts of said plurality of at least one service is to be provided and a granted monetary unit.  
     
     
         42 . A charging node for use in a communications system, said charging node determines information for a user indicating which at least one service or components of the at least one service are providable together, taking into account user associated credit information and to provide said credit information to another node.  
     
     
         43 . User equipment for use in a communication system, said user equipment determines if at least one service having a plurality of parts is providable, taking into account credit information associated with a user of said user equipment, and, if not, to request at least one of said plurality of parts.  
     
     
         44 . A charging node in a communication system, said charging node comprising: 
 receiving means to receive information for a user indicating at least one service requested, said at least one service having a plurality of parts;    checking means to check for said user associated credit information to determine if all of the requested at least one service is providable; and    determining means to determine which of said plurality of parts is to be dropped if all of the requested at least one service is not providable.