Charging for packet-switched network communication-motivation and overview

Packet-switched network technology is expected to form the integration laye r for future multi-service networks. The trend to integrate voice and data traffic can already be observed in the Internet and is expected to carry on until the full integration of all media types is achieved. At the same tim e it becomes obvious that the business model employed for current Internet usage is probably not sustainable for the creation of an infrastructure sui table to support a diverse and ever-increasing range of application service s. Currently, the Internet provides only a single class of best-effort serv ice and prices are mainly built on Bat-fee, access-based schemes. However, the large and increasing differentiation of demand for quality of transmiss ion services creates the necessity to differentiate service provision and, consequently, charging for network communications. In this article, we surv ey relevant service models and motivate the need for appropriate charging m echanisms. We give an overview on requirements for a charging system. its t echnical components, and issues for future business models that might by em ployed by service providers. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.