Methods, apparatus, and systems for the process-efficient generation of data records for data communications involving groups or aggregates of user equipment (UE), such as IoT devices, are described. In one illustrative example, for each one of a plurality of UEs associated with a group or aggregation identifier (ID), a request which includes data indicative of a network resource usage event of the UE is received and the data are stored in association with the group or aggregation ID. In response to identifying a predetermined condition, the data indicative of the network resource usage events associated with the group or aggregation ID are aggregated, and a request for generating a data record based on the aggregated data is sent to a data function for generating the data record. The generated data record (e.g. a CDR) may be stored for subsequent retrieval for reporting, analysis, network/communications management, or billing.

Systems and methods discussed herein are directed to managing customer Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) and embedded SIM (eSIM) profiles and allocated Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Numbers (MSISDN) for connected devices, e.g., cars, in different use-cases. For example, in configurations, users may have a primary electronic device, e.g., a mobile phone having a primary MSISDN.sub.PRIMARY that is instantiated on a primary Integrated Circuit Card Identifier (ICCID), ICCID.sub.PRIMARY in the billing system of a wireless communication network. When the user has a secondary device paired with the mobile phone, that secondary device may have a secondary MSISDN.sub.ECONDARY that is activated with a secondary ICCID.sub.SECONDARY in the billing system. Thus, the secondary device may be used by the user in conjunction with the primary device and is paired with the primary device such that incoming calls are forked to both the primary device and the secondary device.

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.

User identification information for identifying a user of a first terminal connecting to a communication network of a virtual communication operator via a communication network of a first communication operator is specified, and, based on the user identification information, charging for communication of the first terminal and charging for a service that the virtual communication operator is enabled to provide to the user identified by the user identification information are managed.

Systems and methods receive first traffic originating from a mobile device and second traffic originating from second devices tethered to the mobile device; tag the first traffic to indicate that the traffic originates from the mobile device; tag the second traffic to indicate that the traffic originates from the second devices; receive subscriber data that includes a first threshold and a second threshold, wherein the first threshold is associated with the first traffic originating from the mobile device and the second threshold is associated with the second traffic originating from the second devices tethered to the mobile device; determine that an amount of the second traffic exceeds the second threshold; rate limit the second traffic without rate limiting the first traffic when the amount of the second traffic exceeds the second threshold and an amount of the first traffic does not exceed the first threshold.

Methods, apparatus, and systems for the process-efficient generation of data records for data communications involving groups or aggregates of user equipment (UE), such as IoT devices, are described. In one illustrative example, for each one of a plurality of UEs associated with a group or aggregation identifier (ID), a request which includes data indicative of a network resource usage event of the UE is received and the data are stored in association with the group or aggregation ID. In response to identifying a predetermined condition, the data indicative of the network resource usage events associated with the group or aggregation ID are aggregated, and a request for generating a data record based on the aggregated data is sent to a data function for generating the data record. The generated data record (e.g. a CDR) may be stored for subsequent retrieval for reporting, analysis, network/communications management, or billing.

A communication system is provided which includes: a portable terminal; a mobility management device that manages mobility of the portable terminal; a first gateway that connects the portable terminal to a first network; and a second gateway that connects the portable terminal to a second network. Based on a result of determining whether to connect the portable terminal to the first network via the first gateway or connect the portable terminal to the second network via the second gateway, the mobility management device switches between causing the portable terminal to use first contract information for connection to the first network via the first gateway and causing the portable terminal to use second contract information for connection to the second network via the second gateway.

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.

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.

Embodiments of this application provide a charging method. The method includes that a session management function determines, a data flow within a protocol data unit, PDU, session and a charging key corresponding to the data flow within the PDU session, wherein a plurality of user plane functions are involved in the PDU session. For each of the plurality of user plane functions, the session management function sends to an online charging system, a quota request for a charging key without available quota for the UPF.