A mechanism to insert a correct call identifier as a session identifier in an accounting request (AR) record and a mechanism for a charging control function (CCF) device to check the value and generate an error as required. A method can comprise receiving a session initiation protocol packet representing a first attribute value pair; based on the session initiation protocol packet, checking for an existence of an identity between a first field associated with the session initiation protocol packet and a second field associated with a second attribute value pair; and in response to a result of the checking being that the existence of the identity is not determined to be presents between the first field and the second field, updating a third attribute value pair.

A computer-implemented method and system for detecting instances of missing data records in Usage Data Records (UDRs) generated for wireless services is disclosed. The system and method comprises recording a sequence of events related to transmission of data through at least one service element, transmitting the sequence of events as usage data records to a server for accounting and using an anomaly detection algorithm to detect instances of missing usage data records in the transmitted usage data records.

A wireless communication network includes a testing environment that comprises a plurality of nodes. One or more nodes of the wireless communication network are selected for performing at least one of (i) one or more tests or (ii) one or more procedures. A listing of a plurality of subscriber identity modules (SIMs) provisioned in a home location register for use in the testing environment is provided on a testing platform. Based upon the one or more nodes, a SIM is selected for use in accessing the one or more nodes. Based upon the SIM, data from the at least one of (i) one or more tests or (ii) one or more procedures is provisioned with respect to a primary key of the SIM. The at least one of (i) one or more tests or (ii) one or more procedures is performed with respect to the one or more nodes.

A mobile communication system which can transfer information on the number of packets counted up until then by a base station of a mobile source, to a base station of a mobile target, even when a terminal performs a handover. UE moves to a Target eNode B, but a Source eNode B decides to perform a handover, and the Source eNode B includes information on the number of packets counted up until then in a Handover Request message to the Target eNode B, so as to notify the Target eNode B. After receiving a Handover Confirm message from the UE, the Target eNode B includes information on the number of packets received from the Source eNode B in a Handover Complete message transmitted to a CN Node, so as to notify the CN Node.

Technology to respond to a termination reason of an accounting record via an improved charging component is disclosed. The disclosed subject matter can be backwards compatible to support responding to a conventional SIP BYE method and a conventional SIP CANCEL method. Additionally, the disclosed subject matter can respond to other SIP methods, empty reason-headers, etc. In an aspect, a reason-header can be forced into an accounting record based on received session termination information. In an embodiment, the reason-header can be determined to satisfy a rule related to acceptable reason-headers. Where the rule is determined to be unsatisfied, a query can be generated toward a device that supported the now terminated communication, wherein a response to the query can comprise another reason-header that can be determined to satisfy the rule. The accounting record can be updated based on the other reason-header and employed in generating a charging data record that can alter corresponding billing.

The proposed solution relates to a method and an apparatus in a communication system. The solution comprises creating (400) a bearer for user terminal communication; transmitting (402) a credit control request message to Online Charging System, storing (404) the message to a transmission buffer, receiving (406) a credit control answer message as a reply to the request message and, if the credit control answer message comprises an error code: opening (412) a charging data record and timestamping the opening with the time the bearer was created, copying (414) the message from the transmission buffer to the charging data record, adding (416) information regarding rating groups affected by the error to the charging data record as containers and closing the containers and updating (418) result code-field of the charging data record according to the error code.

A control plane entity can perform validation checks to confirm the validity of a device identifier, for example, an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), received from a user equipment (UE) during registration of the UE with a communication network. In one aspect, the control plane entity can verify that the IMEI conforms to a defined format; for example, the IMEI is fifteen digits long, does not comprise alphabets and/or symbols, and/or comprises a valid type allocation code (TAC) of eight decimal digits, etc. The validation of the IMEI can reduce errors in billing that can otherwise result in revenue loss for the service provider.

A mechanism to insert a correct call identifier as a session identifier in a accounting request (AR) record and a mechanism for a charging control function (CCF) device to check the value and generate an error as required. A method can comprise receiving a session initiation protocol packet representing a first attribute value pair; based on the session initiation protocol packet, checking for an existence of an identity between a first field associated with the session initiation protocol packet and a second field associated with a second attribute value pair; and in response to a result of the checking being that the existence of the identity is not determined to be presents between the first field and the second field, updating a third attribute value pair.

Systems and methods are described herein for performing automated testing of online charging systems associated with telecommunications networks. In some embodiments, the systems and methods utilize various components associated with an online charging system, such as an event mediator, to convert data associated with test cases to be simulated by the online charging system (e.g., data from spreadsheets) into various test requests actionable during the online charging system under when simulating the test cases.

Systems and Methods for telecommunication expense management are provided. A distributed platform including a user support site, multiple user databases and customized user applications is provided to enable organizations to better manage their telecommunication services and expenses. In an embodiment, a method for electronically processing telecommunication invoices includes importing the telecommunication invoices, extracting elements from the imported invoices and performing reasonability tests on the imported invoices. The reasonability test includes conducting an automated comparison against established criteria that may be customized by users. The method includes generating one or more interactive reports that enable an organization to effectively manage its telecommunication services.