The invention provides a method and system for sharing Wi-Fi in a Wi-Fi network using a cloud platform. To start with, the method and system enables registration of one or more Wi-Fi access points on the cloud platform and enables a client device to rent a Wi-Fi connection from owner of a Wi-Fi access point. Subsequently, the method and system enables the client device to select a Wi-Fi access point registered on the cloud platform based on usage fee, properties and signal quality. Further, the method and system performs offload optimization using an AI module by deciding whether data offloading from licensed spectrum to unlicensed spectrum is desirable or not. In response to deciding that data offload is desirable, the client device is allowed to connect to the selected Wi-Fi access point and transact with the Wi-Fi access point owner using cryptocurrencies in a blockchain-based network.

A wireless communication device associated with a mobile operator network transmits an authentication request for network access via a wireless access point (AP) using a transceiver other than the cellular network transceiver. Device authentication can occur directly with the mobile operator network or via a proxy server. Upon authentication, the requesting device may access a wide area network in a data off-load operational mode and the data flow to and from the device via the AP is monitored and reported to mobile operator network associated with the requesting device. The wireless communication device can communicate with any of a plurality of APs distributed in a venue during the data off-load operational mode.

The method includes obtaining charging related information of a proximity based service used by user equipment; generating a charging request for the proximity based service used by the user equipment based on the charging related information; and transmitting the charging request to a charging system of the wireless communication network.

In a telecommunication network, a method is carried out for assisting a first user terminal (100.sub.1) in benefiting from a data connectivity. A second user terminal (100.sub.2) indicates (s10), to a connectivity donation server (200), that it is willing to sponsor data connectivity of the first terminal (100.sub.1) and that, restriction(s) are imposed on how the sponsored connectivity can be used. The restriction(s) comprise: i) where the first terminal (100.sub.1) is to be located for benefiting from the sponsored connectivity; and ii) which access network(s) the first terminal (100.sub.1) has to connect to for benefiting from the sponsored connectivity. The connectivity donation server (200) then transmits a token to the second terminal (100.sub.2), which in turn transmits (s30) it to the first terminal (100.sub.1) using proximity-based means. Terminals, network nodes, and computer programs for use in the above method are also disclosed.

The embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a trusted gateway for a WiFi terminal to access a PS service domain. The method comprises: receiving an accounting request message sent by an authentication, authorization and accounting AAA server or a dynamic host configuration protocol DHCP request message sent by the WiFi terminal; establishing, by a trusted gateway, a first packet data protocol PDP context connection or a first packet data network PDN connection with the PS service domain according to attribute information of the WiFi terminal after receiving the accounting request message or the DHCP request message, so that the WiFi terminal accesses the PS service domain via the wireless local area network, the trusted gateway, and the established first PDP context connection or the first PDN connection.

Systems and methods for self-provisioning of mobile devices are disclosed. An implementation includes determining whether the SIM of a mobile device is associated with a wireless network provider, sending an attachment request to a wireless data network of the wireless network provider when the mobile device is within a coverage area of the wireless data network, receiving an attachment response from the wireless data network of the wireless network provider in response to the attachment request, determining from the attachment response, whether attachment to the wireless data network of the wireless network provider is successful, reviewing an error code provided by the wireless network provider and based on the error code, displaying a user interface allowing a user to provision the SIM for receiving service from the wireless network provider.

There is provided a charging control mechanism allowing flexible charging in specified communication areas of a communication network, for example of a WLAN. When it is detected that a UE tries to access in a specified communication network area, a charging setting to be used for a communication in the specified communication network area is determined and a rating information in the form of a rating attribute is included in each CDR for indicating the charging setting to be used for charging a communication of the UE in the specified communication network area. A rating/charging engine uses the rating attribute for determining the charging amount for the communication.

Systems and methods for performing offline charging for proximity services. One embodiment is a proximity service element that controls proximity services for a mobile network. The proximity service element receives a request from User Equipment (UE) for a proximity service, and collects offline charging information related to the proximity service. The proximity service element formats the offline charging information into an offline charging communication, and transmits the offline charging communication to an offline charging system.

Disclosed is a method for receiving streaming service data in a mobile communication system supporting a plurality of radio access interfaces, comprising the steps of: operating in a first mode for receiving, from a server, streaming service data through a first interface among the plurality of radio access interfaces; and determining a transition to a second mode for receiving the streaming service data by using at least two radio access interfaces according to a radio network currently being used in the first mode.

There is disclosed in one example a computing apparatus, including: a hardware platform including a processor and a memory; a transceiver; a local user display; and instructions encoded within the memory to instruct the processor to: locate via the transceiver at least one nearby device; receive observational profile information for the nearby device; and display on the local user display information about the nearby device's observation abilities.