Title: A billing system for aeronautical passenger communications via heterogeneous wireless networks

Authors: Andrea Lorelli, Massimo De Sanctis, Paul Febvre, Yim-Fun Hu

Addresses: Ericsson Telecommunicazioni Spa, Via Anagnina, 20300040 Morena – Rome, Italy. ' Ericsson Telecommunicazioni Spa, Via Anagnina, 20300040 Morena – Rome, Italy. ' Systems Architect, Inmarsat Ltd, 99 City Road, London EC1Y 1AX, UK. ' School of Informatics, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK

Abstract: This paper proposes a business model and a billing architecture for a heterogeneous wireless network architecture on board commercial aircrafts to provide aircraft passengers and the cabin crew with wireless multimedia communications services. The model builds on the inter-relationships of all the actors involved including aircraft passengers, airlines, service providers and network operators of the satellite networks, the terrestrial backbone networks and the PSTN networks, taking into account the different requirements of individual actors, the services offered and different accounting service scenarios. A billing architecture is then derived in accordance with the business model to handle both pre-paid and post-paid services. In addition, the billing architecture adopts the IP standard protocol RADIUS for Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) purposes to enable a convergent billing infrastructure for a diverse set of wireless networks.

Keywords: billing system; CDR; operator; pre-paid; post-paid; RADIUS; AAA; services; standards; business model; commercial aircraft; heterogeneous wireless network architecture; wireless communications; multimedia communications; billing architecture; wireless networks; commercial airlines.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSS.2004.005690

International Journal of Services and Standards, 2004 Vol.1 No.1, pp.83 - 97

Published online: 18 Nov 2004 *

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