Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for enhancement to an internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS). According to an embodiment, an application server (AS) of the IMS receives from a terminal device a first request for initiating a call service and an internet service which are to be integrated with each other. The AS of the IMS sends a second request for initiating the internet service to a gateway server that acts as a gateway to an internet AS capable of providing the internet service. In response to a reply from the gateway server, the AS of the IMS handles the first request based on the reply.

Systems and methods described herein enable distribution of a Charging Function group identifier (“CHF-Group-ID”) and other CHF selection data to CHF consumers during Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment in a 5G network. A Unified Data Repository (UDR) is provisioned with CHF-Group-ID details for each subscriber of the network. In one aspect, during PDU session establishment, CHF consumers obtain CHF-Group-ID information as part of a subscriber profile that is provided to all CHF consumers. No additional step or hop is needed for the CHF consumers to obtain the CHF-Group-ID. Thus, regionally segmented CHFs can be implemented without replication of data between CHFs in different regional segments and without additional signaling between network functions.

A session management function (SMF) receives, from an access and mobility management function (AMF): a request to establish at least one packet data unit (PDU) session for a wireless device; and a device type of the wireless device. The SMF sends to a policy control function: a request for at least one charging policy for the at least one PDU session; and the device type received by the SMF from the AMF. The SMF receives, from the policy control function, the at least one charging policy determined based on the device type. The SMF selects a user plane function based on the device type received by the SMF from the AMF. The SMF sends, to the user plane function, reporting rules based on the at least one charging policy.

A user equipment (UE) includes a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver is configured to receive, from a network, a paging message including an indication for delayed paging. The indication for delayed paging indicates that the UE is allowed to delay a response to the paging message. The processor is configured to identify the indication for delayed paging in the paging message.

Techniques for distributed charging in digital telecommunications networks are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method that includes provisioning a data path that carries a plurality of network flows, receiving a shared usage quota associated with the plurality of network flows, and allocating the shared usage quota among the plurality of network flows. For each network flow among the plurality of network flows, the method includes providing the data path with data indicative of an amount of the shared usage quota allocated to the network flow, configuring the data path to collect metering data associated with the network flow, and configuring the data path to enforce the shared usage quota based on the metering data associated with the network flow and the amount of the shared usage quota allocated to the network flow.

This disclosure proposes a network function node in a core network, comprising: means for receiving, from User Equipment, UE, a non access stratum, NAS, message including identity information for the UE, and a plurality of user identity information, each of which includes a user identifier for a user that uses the UE; and means for sending, to a policy control and charging function node in the core network, the plurality of the user identity information for creating a Policy and Charging Control, PCC, rule based on the plurality of the user identity information.

Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products provide for specifying, in quality of service (QoS) requests, alternative QoS-related parameter sets and/or alternative traffic pattern parameter sets. In the context of one method, the method receives a QoS request comprising one or more QoS parameters and/or one or more traffic pattern parameters, and one or more alternative QoS parameter sets and/or one and more alternative traffic pattern parameter sets. The method also selects the one or more QoS parameters or an alternative QoS parameter set of the one or more alternative QoS parameter sets based on a supporting capability of a network. The method also causes transmission of a Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rule based on the selected parameters and transmits an indication of the selected parameters.

A technique involves modular storage of network service plan components and provisioning of same. A subset of the capabilities of a service design system can be granted to a sandbox system to enable customization of service plan offerings or other controls.

Device Assisted Services (DAS) for protecting network capacity is provided. In some embodiments, DAS for protecting network capacity includes monitoring a network service usage activity of the communications device in network communication; classifying the network service usage activity for differential network access control for protecting network capacity; and associating the network service usage activity with a network service usage control policy based on a classification of the network service usage activity to facilitate differential network access control for protecting network capacity.

A spectrum access system (SAS) grants one or more channels of a shared spectrum to a base station, e.g., in response to receiving a registration request from the base station. The SAS increments a usage of a connection between the base station and the SAS in response to the SAS receiving information indicating that the base station has an active connection with the apparatus during a service time interval. The processor does not increment the usage if the base station does not have an active connection with the apparatus during the service time interval. In some cases, the active connection is indicated by heartbeat messages exchanged between the base station and the SAS. A customer associated with the base station is charged a cost based on the usage determined by the SAS.