Various methods for a 3GPP defined Charging and Collection Function are employed that may use a microservices approach. The microservice approach may decompose the function of the network elements into component level functions that may be deployed as separate functional elements.

An intelligent gateway device provided at a premise (home or business) for providing and managing application services associated with use and support of a plurality of digital endpoint devices associated with the premises. The device includes a communications and processing infrastructure integrated with a peer and presence messaging based communications protocol for enabling communications between the device and an external support network and between the device and connected digital endpoint devices. A services framework at the gateway device implements the communications and processing infrastructure for enabling service management, service configuration, and authentication of user of services at the intelligent gateway. The framework provides a storage and execution environment for supporting and executing received service logic modules relating to use, management, and support of the digital endpoint devices. Thus, the gateway device provides a network-based services point of presence for a plurality of digital endpoint devices at the premises.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, identifying a first user associated with a first mobile device, and determining a first user type associated with the first user. Further embodiments can include identifying a first identity associated with the first user based on the first user type and identifying a second identity associated with the first user based on the first user type. Additional embodiments can include providing first alternate content to the first mobile device to mask the first identity and providing second alternate content to the first mobile device associated with the second identity. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Various methods for a 3GPP defined Charging and Collection Function are employed that may use a microservices approach. The microservice approach may decompose the function of the network elements into component level functions that may be deployed as separate functional elements.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, identifying a first user associated with a first mobile device, and determining a first user type associated with the first user. Further embodiments can include identifying a first identity associated with the first user based on the first user type and identifying a second identity associated with the first user based on the first user type. Additional embodiments can include providing first alternate content to the first mobile device to mask the first identity and providing second alternate content to the first mobile device associated with the second identity. Other embodiments are disclosed.

An example method for lockless communications network resource quota sharing occurs at a first charging node of a distributed charging system comprising multiple charging nodes. The example method comprises: receiving, from a requesting entity, a first communications network resource quota request for requesting a first resource amount from the shared resources plan; without confirming that the shared resources plan has enough available resources to allot the first resource amount, providing, to the requesting entity, a first communications network resource quota for the first member, wherein the first communications network resource quota indicates a second resource amount less than the first resource amount and/or wherein the first communications network resource quota is associated with a validity time indicating when the first communications network resource quota expires; and sending, to a second charging node, a first resource reservation request for reserving resources of the shared resources plan.

A distribution system includes: a gateway to be a kitting target; and a distribution server that distributes, to the gateway, kitting data associated with gateway identification information of the gateway, the distribution system further including a mobile terminal that acquires the gateway identification information wirelessly transmitted from the gateway and transmits the acquired gateway identification information to the distribution server, wherein the distribution server associates the gateway identification information transmitted from the mobile terminal, with the kitting data.

A communication apparatus includes: a monitor configured to monitor a first communication amount in first communication between a first communication apparatus and a terminal apparatus and/or a second communication amount in second communication between a second communication apparatus and the terminal apparatus, the second communication apparatus performs communication with the terminal apparatus; and a transmitter configured to transmit information relating to monitoring result by the monitor to a communication control apparatus that is able to perform policy control and charging control.

Unsolicited electronic communications such as robocalls and person-initiated solicitation calls are reduced by imposing tolls for completion of the connections to the called parties, and refunding the tolls to the entities indicated by the electronic communications as the calling parties. In this way, a dishonest originator of a spoofed call bears the cost of the toll, and the toll is not refunded to the dishonest originator. On the other hand, the toll collected from an honest originator of a non-spoofed call is refunded to the honest originator, making the toll transparent to the honest originator and avoiding annoyance of the honest caller caused by the toll. Unsolicited calls may be subjected to filtering, particularly filtering based on the indications of the origins of the calls.

An example method for lockless communications network resource quota sharing occurs at a first charging node of a distributed charging system comprising multiple charging nodes. The example method comprises: receiving, from a requesting entity, a first communications network resource quota request for requesting a first resource amount from the shared resources plan; without confirming that the shared resources plan has enough available resources to allot the first resource amount, providing, to the requesting entity, a first communications network resource quota for the first member, wherein the first communications network resource quota indicates a second resource amount less than the first resource amount and/or wherein the first communications network resource quota is associated with a validity time indicating when the first communications network resource quota expires; and sending, to a second charging node, a first resource reservation request for reserving resources of the shared resources plan.