An analytical approach to charging mechanisms using control theory

We suggest how control theory may be used to model and analyse telecommunication network charging mechanisms. We propose a control theory model which was used to analyse the dynamic (also known as `smart market´ or `free market´) charging scheme. We show how the analytical model was formalised and analysed to determine the long term or steady state (SS), in control theory terminology, and short term or transient responses of the mechanism. We show how the system´s performance varies as the parameters change. We also discuss the limitations of this method of analysis and in particular how this affects the results of the dynamic charging scheme analysis