Cost Cascade

The cascade records the truest cost available for each call.

  1. Actual
    Use provider-billed cost recovered from raw response usage, such as OpenRouter usage.cost.
  2. Computed
    Multiply actual tokens by resolved tariff.
  3. Estimated
    Estimate tokens from prompt and response text, then multiply by tariff.
  4. Covered
    Apply a flat-rate subscription window and store cost as zero while preserving tokens.
flowchart TD A[Call response] --> B{Actual billed cost?} B -->|yes| C[method actual] B -->|no| D{Actual tokens and tariff?} D -->|yes| E[method computed] D -->|no| F{Can estimate tokens?} F -->|yes| G[method estimated] F -->|no| H[unknown pricing] C --> I{Coverage window?} E --> I G --> I I -->|yes| J[method covered] I -->|no| K[ledger row]
Audit fields

Inspect cost_method, tokens_estimated, billed_cost, billed_currency, and frozen rate fields before comparing ledger values to provider invoices.

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