A charging method, apparatus and system are provided. The charging method includes: receiving a first request message from a Network Function (NF), wherein the first request message carries following information: first Quality of Service (QoS) information; or second QoS information; or second QoS information and updated first QoS information; the first QoS information comprises requested QoS information or negotiated QoS information; and the second QoS information comprises QoS information actually used after the NF sends a previous first request message; and performing charging according to the QoS information carried in the first request message.

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.

An ordering system (102) generates subscription offerings and receives an order entry in response thereto, for configuring a plurality of mobile communication devices (116) and gateways. A service management system (106) having a service management controller processes the order entry and establishes subscription services in response thereto. The subscription services are based on one or more of features, bearer providers, and capabilities associated with the plurality of mobile communication devices and gateways. The service management system (106) manages the selection of optimal bearer providers as the gateways for the transport of features requested in the order. A billing service (120) is adjusted in accordance with deployment and management of the mobile communication devices, including the transfer of mission critical functions from narrowband bearer providers to broadband bearer providers.

A method is performed by a control center that resides in a home network. Upon receiving, from access networks, attach requests from user equipments (UEs) when the UEs attempt to connect to the access networks, the control center computes a baseline attach failure rate for the attach requests. The control center initially sets a billing type for a UE of a subscriber to usage based billing. Upon receiving, from the access networks, attach requests from the UE when the UE attempts to connect to the access networks, the control center computes an individual attach failure rate for fulfilling the attach requests from the UE. The control center determines whether the individual attach failure rate for the UE exceeds the baseline attach failure rate. When the individual attach failure rate exceeds the baseline attach failure rate, the control center automatically switches the billing type for the UE to flat rate billing.

A computer-implemented system and method for automated traffic flow control using quality of service authorization based on type of radio access technology and other parameters for one or more devices enabled for connectivity over cellular network are disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes receiving credit control request for the one or more devices from a subscriber; receiving quality of service (QoS) configuration authorized for the one or more devices for the subscriber from a configuration database; combining the authorized QoS parameters for the subscriber; comparing them against the requested QoS by the subscriber; and updating charging rules for the subscriber as an answer to the credit control request.

The teachings presented herein disclose example methods and apparatuses for differentiating charging with respect to an aggregated radio access. In this context, an “aggregated radio access” aggregates two or more different radio accesses, such as two or more different carriers, for conveying user traffic between a wireless communication network and a user device. The ability to discount charges, apply premium billing, or to otherwise track and bill usage at a granularity level below the aggregated radio access—i.e., on a per access basis—allows the involved network operator(s) to offer discounts, apply premium pricing, etc.

Techniques are provided to communicate the serving Radio Access Network (RAN) element information to the packet core network to enable operators to provide differential treatment for fifth generation (5G) subscribers. The techniques presented herein fill these gaps and help drive faster adoption of Dual Connectivity New Radio (DCNR) subscribers by service operator to offer customized policy and quota management to address different business requirements in the 5G Non-Stand Alone (NSA) architecture.

A method is performed by a control center that resides in a home network. Upon receiving, from access networks, attach requests from user equipments (UEs) when the UEs attempt to connect to the access networks, the control center computes a baseline attach failure rate for the attach requests. The control center initially sets a billing type for a UE of a subscriber to usage based billing. Upon receiving, from the access networks, attach requests from the UE when the UE attempts to connect to the access networks, the control center computes an individual attach failure rate for fulfilling the attach requests from the UE. The control center determines whether the individual attach failure rate for the UE exceeds the baseline attach failure rate. When the individual attach failure rate exceeds the baseline attach failure rate, the control center automatically switches the billing type for the UE to flat rate billing.

Disclosed are technologies for optimally utilizing 5G-NSA network resources via an Aggregate Maximum Bitrate (AMBR) feedback mechanism. A User Equipment (UE) is registered with a 5G-NSA network environment and a 5G AMBR is negotiated. A bearer-specific timer is triggered in response to detecting one or more data flows to the UE. Next, a Secondary Radio Access Technology (RAT) Data Usage Report is monitored for. In response to the bearer-specific timer expiring without a Secondary RAT Data Usage Report being received, it is determined that the UE is not currently being served by a 5G RAT. Subsequently, local rate limiting is performed to reduce the negotiated 5G AMBR to a limited AMBR having a lower bitrate than the negotiated 5G AMBR. The UE connection to the 5G-NSA network environment is then configured with the limited AMBR.

Computer-implemented method for online charging telecommunication services in real time, comprising: (i) running a money-to-time algorithm, computing a time balance based on charging parameters and a wallet balance; (ii) if greater than zero, creating a charging data record, CDR, and writing a start timestamp therein, setting a terminate session timer based on the time balance, and confirming the communication session; (iii) if not greater than zero, or upon expiration of the terminate session timer, instructing to terminate the communication session, wherein upon expiration of the terminate session timer an end timestamp is written in the CDR. Online charging system, OCS, implementing the method.