A method for cellular network outage detection including monitoring error rates associated with a network node of a cellular network for a first predetermined time period. The method includes determining a first baseline error rate for the network node based on the plurality of first error rates for the first predetermined time period, and determining a first threshold error rate for the network node based on the first baseline error rate for the network node. The method includes monitoring a plurality of second error rates associated with the network node for a time period subsequent the first predetermined time period, and detecting an excessive error rate of the plurality of second error rates associated with the network node, where the excessive error rate exceeding the first threshold error rate. The method includes, in response to detecting the excessive error rate, automatically executing a predetermined override rule.

An architecture that can dynamically detect and/or automatically remedy service usage inequities in a communications network is provided. For example, based upon a comparison of incoming call detail records (CDRs) to various subscriber information entities (e.g., service plan, blacklisted devices for the service plan, historic or current billing cycle usage, etc.), the architecture can identify when a usage inequity occurs or is likely to occur, substantially in real time.

The present invention is directed toward networks and more particularly to a method and system for providing information related to reconciliation billing in such networks. In one more embodiments, the computer implemented method for identifying discrepancies in billable events includes receiving application usage information regarding the one or more billable activities for one or more devices from an application provider core by a billing and analytic system; receiving cloud service usage information regarding the one or more billable activities for the one or more devices from a cloud operator providing cloud services by a billing and analytic system; comparing the received application usage information and the received cloud service usage information for one or more discrepancies in relation to one or more billable activities by a reconciliation engine; and reporting one or more identified discrepancies in accordance with the one or more billable activities.

A method for cellular network outage detection including monitoring error rates associated with a network node of a cellular network for a first predetermined time period. The method includes determining a first baseline error rate for the network node based on the plurality of first error rates for the first predetermined time period, and determining a first threshold error rate for the network node based on the first baseline error rate for the network node. The method includes monitoring a plurality of second error rates associated with the network node for a time period subsequent the first predetermined time period, and detecting an excessive error rate of the plurality of second error rates associated with the network node, where the excessive error rate exceeding the first threshold error rate. The method includes, in response to detecting the excessive error rate, automatically executing a predetermined override rule.

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 method, computer program product, user equipment (UE) and packet data network gateway (P-GW) are provided for activating Data Off services using protocol configuration options (PCO). The UE sends a first indication to a first network node as part of the PCO. The first indication includes a Data Off indication indicating whether a Data Off service is activated. The first network node may be a P-GW. If the Data Off indication indicates that the Data Off service is deactivated, the UE receives downlink data from the first network node. If the Data Off indication indicates that the Data Off service is activated, the UE either receives no downlink data from the first network node or receives an error message from the first network node.

Systems and methods for dynamically collecting information regarding network events in a 5G network are disclosed. The method includes locally storing event data initially and implementing post-event collection of the locally stored data when one or more collecting nodes become available.

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.

Included are an outgoing call detection unit configured to detect an outgoing call from a first communication terminal to a second communication terminal, a connection control unit configured to cause the outgoing call detected by the outgoing call detection unit to arrive at the second communication terminal, a call duration measurement unit configured to measure a time from when a phone call is started, which is a duration of the phone call, between the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal, and a notification unit configured to transmit, when the duration measured by the call duration measurement unit exceeds a predetermined duration before the phone call ends, a predetermined notification to a third communication terminal.

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for charging in multi-connectivity systems. In some example embodiments, there may be provided a method that includes marking, by a first base station serving a user equipment, at least one packet to include a first indication indicating that the at least one packet was received directly at the first base station serving the user equipment; and marking, by the first base station, at least one other packet to include a second indication to indicate that the at least one other packet was received via a second base station also serving the user equipment. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.