Redknee which provides mission-critical software and solutions for communications service providers, has been issued US Patent No. 7,457,865 for its Method for implementing an Internet Protocol (IP) charging and rating middleware platform and gateway system.
The patent, one of more than 50 issued patents or pending patent applications controlled by Redknee, enables network operators to charge for services and applications delivered via their IP infrastructure in real-time to both pre-paid and post-paid subscribers. Redknees innovation allows for charging based on a number of attributes, including service type, quality of service and time of day, as well as protocol-specific attributes. 
Among other capabilities, the patent enables network operators to charge their subscribers for services and applications delivered via their IP infrastructure in a perceptually meaningful manner.
The technologies prescribed by this patent enable network operators to benefit from the growth in IP services and applications by facilitating a number of billing and charging options in real-time, says Redknee CTO, Bohdan Zabawskyj. It is another example of how Redknee has demonstrated thought-leadership by developing innovative products that meet both existing and evolving market requirements.
Redknee says that technologies associated with the real-time rating and charging of IP traffic will be increasingly relevant, as a growing proportion of network operator revenues are derived from data services and applications. Analysts have noted that operators will have to transform their IP infrastructure from dumb-pipes to smart pipes in order to support the growing demand for global data services, estimated to be worth $252 billion (156 billion) by 2012 (sources: Portio Research and Juniper Research).