Account Server

The account server is the central data repository for the prepaid services demo. It maintains the different accounts and provides access for the other SRC components. The account server is a CORBA server with a data storage backend. In the prepaid services demo, data is stored on the local file system; in a real application you should use a relational database management system (RDBMS) for data storage.

The account server employs the SAE plug-in interface. The server publishes an object reference to a standard COS naming service or to a file in the local file system. It uses the managed accounts to authorize access to prepaid services and updates the accounts based on actual usage.

The model assumes that subscribers can log in and be authenticated. By default, all attempts to access the Internet are intercepted and captured by the portal. Subscribers pay for the service in advance of use by purchasing a valid access card. The subscriber then can activate the prepaid service. At activation, the portal prompts the subscriber for the account number and validates the access. The portal grants access if the account exists, has not expired, is not locked, and has a remaining balance (time or volume) greater than 0. When it grants access in response to a request, the account server locks the account against concurrent access. Charging starts as soon as the portal grants access.

Copyright © 2009, Juniper Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. Trademark Notice.