The present disclosure relates to a method performed in an operator network providing data network connectivity to Machine-to-Machine (M2M) devices, for charging of a service session involving a plurality of the M2M devices. The method comprises, from each of the plurality of M2M devices involved in the service session, receiving a service message comprising a service identifier (SID) corresponding to the service session. The method also comprises, by means of the received SID from each of the plurality of M2M devices, determining the number of M2M devices involved in the service session. The method also comprises, based on the determined number of M2M devices, calculating a charging rate for the service session. The method also comprises using the calculated rate, charging the service session.

The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a charging function (125) for handling a subscriber's communication services. The charging function (125) detects that a subscriber's credit account has reached or fallen below a credit threshold when the subscriber has multiple ongoing communication services consuming credit from the credit account. The charging function (125) sends a threshold notification to a UE (101) on which the subscriber has at least one of the multiple ongoing communication services. The charging function (125) determines if a response to the threshold notification has been received with prioritization of one of the multiple ongoing communication services. If a response with prioritization of one communication service has been received, the charging function (125) initiates termination of all ongoing communication services except the prioritized communication service, and provides all available credit to be available for the prioritized communication service.

A system for customizing time limits for inmate communications in a correctional facility is disclosed. The system includes a profile subsystem that stores an inmate profile of the inmate and a communication processing subsystem comprising one or more processors configured to receive data of an inmate communication of an inmate, identify a type of communication device of the inmate and a call recipient of the inmate communication based on the data of the inmate communication, retrieve the inmate profile of the inmate form the profile subsystem, identify a plurality of behaviors of the inmate based on the inmate profile, determine a time limit based on at least one of the type of communication device, the call recipient of the inmate communication, and the plurality of behaviors of the inmate, and assign the time limit to the inmate communication of the inmate.

Embodiments attribute network data transfers to applications executing on a computing device. A data transfer service executes on the computing device to receive and process data transfer requests. The data transfer requests, populated by the applications, have identifiers attributed thereto to enable monitoring of the network data transfers per identifier. For example, network data transfers associated with different mail accounts of a mail program or different web sites of browser are attributed separately. Data usage statistics relating to the network data transfers for each identifier may be generated and presented to the user for review.

Electronic arrangement for dynamically reserving quota having regard to the capacity of one or more resources available in a communications network, comprises one or more data interfaces such as transceivers for transferring data, at least one processor for processing instructions and other data, and memory for storing the instructions and other data, said at least one processor being configured, in accordance with the stored instructions, to cause: receiving a quota request with indication of a requested extent of quota, wherein the quota request is further associated with all-or-none preference indicator as to whether the request should be fulfilled completely, obtaining an indication of a currently remaining, unused and unreserved, quota of an account associated with the quota request, determining whether and to which degree, including in full, in part and not at all, the request may be granted in terms of reserving the requested quota based on at least the requested extent, the remaining quota and the preference indicator, wherein the indicator is utilized in the determination so that indicated preference on complete fulfillment of quota request translates into reduced criterion in quota allocation and vice versa, and providing a response to the quota request indicative of extent of granted, reserved quota, if any, where the response optionally refers to a signaling message. A corresponding method for reserving quota is presented.

Embodiments attribute network data transfers to applications executing on a computing device. A data transfer service executes on the computing device to receive and process data transfer requests. The data transfer requests, populated by the applications, have identifiers attributed thereto to enable monitoring of the network data transfers per identifier. For example, network data transfers associated with different mail accounts of a mail program or different web sites of browser are attributed separately. Data usage statistics relating to the network data transfers for each identifier may be generated and presented to the user for review.

Systems and computing devices may be configured to intelligently and dynamically allocate quotas for the access and use of a telecommunications network by consumers that use a shared account balance. A server computing device may be configured to intelligently allocate quota by determining an allocation time interval for allocating quota from a shared account balance, receiving a quota request message from a metering and gating component that includes information requesting allocation of a first quota to a first consumer associated with a shared account balance, determining a validity period for the first quota based on the determined allocation time interval, and allocating the first quota to the first consumer from the updated shared account balance so as to eliminate or reduce conflicts and discrepancies between different instances of the shared account balance.

A system for customizing time limits for inmate communications in a correctional facility is disclosed. The system includes a profile subsystem that stores an inmate profile of the inmate and a communication processing subsystem comprising one or more processors configured to receive data of an inmate communication of an inmate, identify a type of communication device of the inmate and a call recipient of the inmate communication based on the data of the inmate communication, retrieve the inmate profile of the inmate form the profile subsystem, identify a plurality of behaviors of the inmate based on the inmate profile, determine a time limit based on at least one of the type of communication device, the call recipient of the inmate communication, and the plurality of behaviors of the inmate, and assign the time limit to the inmate communication of the inmate.

A system for customizing time limits for inmate communications in a correctional facility is disclosed. The system includes a profile subsystem that stores an inmate profile of the inmate and a communication processing subsystem comprising one or more processors configured to receive data of an inmate communication of an inmate, identify a type of communication device of the inmate and a call recipient of the inmate communication based on the data of the inmate communication, retrieve the inmate profile of the inmate form the profile subsystem, identify a plurality of behaviors of the inmate based on the inmate profile, determine a time limit based on at least one of the type of communication device, the call recipient of the inmate communication, and the plurality of behaviors of the inmate, and assign the time limit to the inmate communication of the inmate.

A method, performed in a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), for managing subscription to policy counters maintained at an Online Charging System (OCS) is disclosed. The PCRF is operable to communicate with the OCS over an Sy reference. The method comprises receiving a Multiple Users subscription trigger from a network operator (202), the Multiple Users subscription trigger identifying a reference network policy and a subject network policy. The method further comprises sending a Spending Limit Request (SLR) command to the OCS (214), the SLR command specifying an identifier of a subject policy counter for the subject network policy and specifying application of the SLR command with respect to the subject policy counter to all ongoing Sy sessions between the PCRF and the OCS which already include a subscription to a policy counter for the reference network policy. Also disclosed is a method, performed in an OCS, for managing subscription by a PCRF to policy counters maintained at the OCS. The method comprises receiving an SLR command from the PCRF (302), the SLR command specifying an identifier of a subject policy counter for a subject network policy and specifying application of the SLR command with respect to the subject policy counter to all ongoing Sy sessions between the PCRF and the OCS which already include a subscription to a policy counter for a reference network policy. The method also comprises applying the received SLR command with respect to the subject policy counter to each ongoing Sy session between the OCS and the PCRF which already includes a subscription to a policy counter for the reference network policy (304-322). Also disclosed are a PCRF, an OCS and a computer program product.