A method for charging Internet protocol multimedia communication sessions
within a telecommunication system is disclosed. Charging records are
generated by a control element in the system with a same correlation
identifier for all the charging records produced for a communication
session between parties. A multi-sided correlation identifier and a
charging information field containing information related to a determined
charging plan is passed via session control protocol between control
elements. The charging plan information, along with the multi-sided
correlation identifier, is propagated between control elements in the
system. The multi-sided correlation identifier and selected charging data
is included in each charging record generated for the communication
session by each control element. The charge for the communication session
is calculated on the basis of the selected charging data received by via
the charging records including the multi-sided correlation identifier.