An Integrated Accounting and Charging Architecture for Mobile Grids

The adoption of the Internet Protocol (IP) by a number of non-IP network operators, such as telecom or cable TV operators, opens the path toward new business models. IP will allow operators to provide a unified wired as well as wireless access to a wide range of services to their users. Additionally, using the same communication protocols and standard interfaces, enables different providers to coordinate any type of resources in virtual organizations (VO) and supports the composition of services aggregated across multiple domains. On one hand, such an open environment requires new business models to be adopted by the involved parties. On the other hand, grid middleware infrastructure supporting integrated accounting, charging, pricing, and billing across multiple domains has to be in place to facilitate service provisioning in multiple VOs. Based on the relevant set of requirements derived, a new and extended A4C Architecture (Authentication, Authorization, Accounting, Auditing, Charging) has been developed, implemented, and evaluated for mobile grids providing pervasive access to knowledge.