An edge network gateway, located in an edge network and connected to a core network, receives packets for a local breakout (LBO) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session associated with a mobile subscriber. The edge network gateway sends, based on receipt of the packets for the LBO PDU session, a request for charging to a core network node, and forwards the packets for the LBO PDU session to a network or multi-access edge computing (MEC) data center connected to the edge network. The edge network gateway sends, via an online charging interface, charging data counts for the packets of the LBO PDU session to the core network node for reporting to an Online Charging System and charging to the mobile subscriber.

Methods and systems for an online charging system to grant resources to a session with a terminal device when the session includes a large file or the session has a long duration. Embodiments the invention include methods performed by an electronic device for online charging in a wireless network. In one embodiment, the electronic device receives a request message for resources to set up a session with a terminal device, where the request message is sent from a core network interface to an online charging function (OCF), and where the request message indicates that the session includes a large file or that the session has a long duration. The electronic device determines that the terminal device has enough credit for the session based on the request message and grants the resources for the session with the terminal device based on the determination.

Embodiments of this application provide a charging session method and an apparatus. A control plane function entity determines to request a charging function (CHF) entity to establish a service-based interface (SBI) charging session for a 4G data connection. The control plane function entity requests, through the SBI charging session, to perform online charging and/or offline charging in the 4G data connection. According to the method, the SBI charging session that is requested by the control plane function entity to establish for the 4G data connection may support performing the online charging in the 4G data connection, and support performing the offline charging in the 4G data connection. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments simplify a procedure of charging online data and offline data in the 4G data connection by using different charging sessions.

It is provided a method, comprising monitoring if one of an input payload for a subscription and an output payload from the subscription is delivered; incrementing a payload counter by if one of the input payload and the output payload is delivered; providing the payload counter and an identifier of the subscription to a charging system at at least one of a predefined time and a predefined event.

Methods, a policy node and a charging node for enabling spending limit control for a user equipment in a telecommunication network. The policy node obtains an identifier related to the user equipment, an identifier of a policy counter and a set of policy counter statuses to be monitored by the policy node. The set of policy counter statuses are related to the identifier of the policy counter. The policy node sends, a request for reporting of policy counter statuses related to the user equipment for the policy counter. The request includes the identifier related to the user equipment, the identifier of the policy counter and the set of policy counter statuses. A policy counter status of the set of policy counter statuses is determined. The policy counter status has changed as determined by the charging node. A response to the request is sent and includes the policy counter status that has changed.

A method may include receiving, by a charging function (CHF) from a policy control function (PCF), a first request for charging policy information for a packet data unit (PDU) session of a wireless device. The method may also include sending, by the CHF to the PCF, a message comprising the charging policy information. The charging policy information may indicate a charging method that includes: online charging, offline charging, converged charging, or a combination thereof. The method may further include receiving, by the CHF from a session management function (SMF), a second request to establish a charging session, wherein the second request comprises the charging method. The method may additionally include sending, by the CHF to the SMF, a confirmation for the charging method.

A method for reducing wireless network congestion including receiving, at a network node, an initial request for network access from a mobile device from an initial location of the mobile device. In response to receiving the initial request for network access, the method includes determining whether a data allocation for the mobile device has been exceeded and denying, by the network node, the initial request for network access when the data allocation for the mobile device has been exceeded. The method includes receiving, at the network node, a subsequent request for network access from the mobile device from a subsequent location of the mobile device. The method includes denying, by the network node, the subsequent request for network access when the subsequent location is in the same geographic region as the initial location and a request time of the subsequent request is outside a customer support time period.

A method for managing an application exchange platform includes receiving, from a developer, a service function, wherein the service function includes configuration details for an application available through an online application exchange. The method includes deploying the service function in the application exchange, identifying a first domain event requesting access to the service function from a user, and calling the service function in the online application exchange, in response to the first domain event. The method also includes recording a metric associate with the service function and a return parameter, emitting a second domain event indicative of a completion of the service function, and charging, with a billing tool, an appropriate party based on a usage metadata for the service function. A system and a non-transitory, computer-readable memory storing instructions to cause the system to perform the above method are also provided.

A method and an apparatus for information exchange in online charging in order to reduce frequency of information exchange between a Charging Trigger Function (CTF) device and an Online Charging System (OCS), and reduce a pressure of information transmission between the CTF device and the OCS, where the method includes receiving, by a CTF device, a credit control answer (CCA) message that carries a non-real-time Trigger and sent by an OCS, recording, by the CTF device, charging information before and after a corresponding event of the non-real-time Trigger happens each time before sending a credit control request (CCR) message to the OCS next time, and sending, by the CTF device, the CCR message to the OCS.

Example charging methods and apparatus are described. One example method includes sending first request information to a charging system by a charging trigger apparatus. The charging trigger apparatus receives a first response information sent by the charging system. The first request information is used to request the charging system to create a resource for a session between a user equipment and a data network. The first response information comprises a first resource identifier that is used to identify the resource. The resource is used to manage: requesting for a quota for an online charging service in the session, or reporting of usage information of an online charging service in the session, or reporting of usage information of an offline charging service in the session.