A method performed by a charging system includes receiving a message related to delivery of a service to an end user device. The charging system searches a local storage system to find a session identifier associated with the message. In response to determining that the session identifier is not at the local storage system, a backend storage system is queried for subscriber account data associated with the session identifier. As a result, despite the absence of the session identifier and associated subscriber account data at the local storage system, the charging system can grant service units for the end user device based on the subscriber account data retrieved from the backend storage system.

Systems and methods are provided for charging for resource usage by an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The method includes: creating a subscription for the IoT device; estimating, based at least in part on the subscription, a number of event notifications associated with resource usage by the IoT device expected over a period of time; transmitting a first message including the number of estimated event notifications associated with resource usage by the IoT device expected over the period of time towards an Online Charging System (OCS); and transmitting a second message including an actual number of event notifications associated with resource usage by the IoT device over the period of time towards the OCS.

Methods, apparatus, and systems for the process-efficient generation of data records for data communications involving groups or aggregates of user equipment (UE), such as IoT devices, are described. In one illustrative example, for each one of a plurality of UEs associated with a group or aggregation identifier (ID), a request which includes data indicative of a network resource usage event of the UE is received and the data are stored in association with the group or aggregation ID. In response to identifying a predetermined condition, the data indicative of the network resource usage events associated with the group or aggregation ID are aggregated, and a request for generating a data record based on the aggregated data is sent to a data function for generating the data record. The generated data record (e.g. a CDR) may be stored for subsequent retrieval for reporting, analysis, network/communications management, or billing.

A system for preserving charging event messages in a mobile telecommunications network when a charging server is unavailable includes a message broker comprising persistent storage. The system also includes a network element that generates a charging event message, attempts to send the charging event message to a charging server, and writes the charging event message to the message broker in response to determining that the attempt to send the charging event message to the charging server has failed. The system also includes a replay agent that subscribes to the message broker for notifications associated with the charging server, receives a notification from the message broker about the charging event message, reads the charging event message from the message broker, and causes the charging event message to be sent to the charging server when the charging server is available.

Systems and methods are provided for generating announcement information at a communication node. The method includes: generating a first announcement information associated with a first user; generating a second announcement information associated with a second user; and transmitting the first and second announcement information to a telephony application server, wherein the first announcement information and the second announcement information include at least one different element of data, further wherein both the first and second announcement information are used to generate or select announcements which are transmitted to the first and second users during a call between the first and second users.

One aspect provides a method performed by a network node implementing a network function repository function in a core network. A registration request message to register a CHF in a repository of network functions is received, the registration request message includes an indication of one or more sets of charging characteristics supported by the CHF and addressing information to reach the CHF. Each CHF in the repository is registered. A discovery request message including one or more search parameters for identifying a CHF, including at least an indication of a set of charging characteristics to be applied for the packet data connection is received. A CHF that supports the indicated set of charging characteristics is identified based on the one or more search parameters A discovery response message comprising the addressing information to reach the identified CHF is transmitted.

Systems and methods for a comprehensive online media marketplace are provided that increase the efficiency of media sharing between consumers and content producers. In one embodiment, a method comprising streaming media content from a streaming platform to a consumer device, creating a stream report for the media content based on a smart contract associated with the media content, wherein the smart contract identifies a media content producer of the media content, recording the stream report on a blockchain, issuing tokens based on a pre-determined rate of inflation, and distributing a portion of the tokens to the media content producer based on the stream report.

A policy control and resource function (PCRF) is subscribed (at a network entity) to receive notifications of events for a first set of presence reporting areas (PRAs) associated with a packet data network (PDN) connection involving a user equipment. An online charging system (OCS) is subscribed (at the network entity) to receive notifications of events for a second set of PRAs associated with the PDN connection involving the user equipment. The network entity notifies an off-line charging system (OFCS) in response to a first event occurring at one or more first PRAs that are in the first set of PRAs.

A QoS control method and related devices are provided. In a QoS control method, for the service for which the reflective applies, a PCF adds a reflective indication in a PCC rule. If the reflective QoS is based on a control plane, a SMF aggregates services for which the reflective QoS applies and does not apply in different data flows, and a UE may determine the service for which the reflective QoS applies based on QFI. If the reflective QoS is based on a user plane, a SMF aggregates services having a same QoS requirement in a same data flow, and configures a reflective indication to the service for which the reflective QoS applies, and the UE may apply the reflective QoS based on the reflective indication in the data packet.

A system described herein may track usage, on a per-User Equipment (“UE”) basis, in systems that provide for simultaneous connectivity to a given UE via multiple base stations. A cycle cutoff time may be determined, a master base station (to which the UE is connected) may be notified of the cycle cutoff time, and the master base station may notify one or more secondary base stations (to which the UE is connected) of the cycle cutoff time. The master base station and/or the one or more secondary base stations may track usage, of the UE, until the cycle cutoff time, and may report the usage such that the usage via each of the base stations may be able to be determined.