A network device executes an account management function that pre-authorizes network service unit consumption by multiple subscribers that are members of a same, shared network service account. The account management function receives, from multiple charging systems distributed within the network, network unit consumption charges associated with each of the multiple subscribers, where the network device is centrally located within a network relative to multiple locations associated with the plurality of charging systems. The account management function updates a consumption counter for the same, shared network service account based on the network unit consumption charges associated with the multiple subscribers received from the multiple charging systems distributed within the network.

In a cellular system having both 4.sup.th-Generation (4G) and 5.sup.th-Generation (5G) cellular networks, cellular device sends a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE message to initiate a voice call. The message is received and acted upon by a Proxy-Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) of an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). Cellular devices that support 5G services are configured to include an information element (IE) in the SIP INVITE message to indicate support for 5G services. When responding to a SIP INVITE message, the P-CSCF determines whether the SIP INVITE message includes such an IE. If the SIP INVITE message contains an IE indicating 5G support, the P-CSCF sends an Authorization Authentication Request (AAR) message to a 5G Policy Control Function (PCF) to initiate a 5G dedicated bearer. Otherwise, the P-CSCF sends the AAR to a 4G Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) to initiate a 4G dedicated bearer.

A charging method includes: determining, by a control plane function entity (CP), that a data flow that is transmitted by user equipment (UE) on a first data session needs to be migrated to a second data session; charging, by the CP, the data flow on the first UP through a first charging session between the CP and a charging system; obtaining, by the CP, charging information of the data flow before the migration that is counted by the first UP; and determining, by the CP, a quota that is used for the data flow after the migration is necessary to be delivered to the second UP, and delivering the quota to the second UP, thereby charging a service data flow of a user in a case of migration between user planes.

A method is presented that allows for coordination between parties wanting to communicate. The method serves to replace the current ‘synchronous’ method of phone session initiation (which allows random people to interrupt one's flow) with a system that allows both parties to indicate when they are ready and willing to communicate with particular parties. Instead of a first party directly calling a second party, both indicate readiness to talk to each other by means of (for instance) status indicators on a smartphone, thereby eliminating the obtrusive nature of the time-limited phone ring. The method also includes an apparatus that determines which is the optimal party to actually place the call such that overall expenses may be minimized.

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 embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a session management method, an Application Function (AF) entity, a policy server, and a Protocol Converter. The method includes: When an AF entity establishes an AF session with a policy server, the AF entity sends a first HTTP request message to the policy server, herein the AF entity sends AF session identifier information to the policy server via the first HTTP request message, or AF session identifier information is allocated by the policy server and is sent to the AF entity via an answer for the first HTTP request message. When the policy server notifies the AF entity of a traffic plane event of the above-mentioned AF session, the policy server sends a second HTTP request message carrying the AF session identifier information to the AF entity. The AF entity returns an answer for the second HTTP request message to the policy server.

A method of establishing a paid connection using a screen mirroring application between multi-platforms, where a transmitting end application is installed in a transmitting end apparatus of a sharing source and a receiving end application is installed in a receiving end apparatus of a sharing target. When establishing a connection, the transmitting end application confirms if an unique ID of the receiving end apparatus exists in an exception list, and if the receiving end application makes payment based on an operating system used by the transmitting end apparatus in order to determine establishing a limited or an unlimited connection between the transmitting end apparatus and the receiving end apparatus. Thus, the method assures that either the transmitting end application or the receiving end application is a paid version, a user complies with an application license agreement by using the exception list and the right of application developers is protected.

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.

Disclosed is a method and system that may help to expedite initiation of a packet-based real-time media session such as a VoIP session. Per the disclosure, the initial uplink grant that a base station provides to a UE in response to an access request may be an extent of uplink resources sufficient to carry just a radio-link-layer connection request. But when a UE is going to initiate a packet-based real-time media session, the UE may send a particular type of access request that is indicative of the plan to initiate a packet-based real-time media session, and responsive to the access request being of that particular type, the base station may then instead provide an initial grant of a greater extent of uplink resources sufficient to carry from the UE not only the radio-link-layer connection request but also a session initiation request (e.g., SIP INVITE) for the packet-based real-time media session.

According to embodiments described in the specification, a method, system and apparatus for managing communication sessions using joint storage. One of a policy server and a charging server, connected to each other via a core mobile network, stores a database containing both charging data and policy data. The other of the policy server and the charging server, rather than maintaining a distinct database, routes read and write operations to the server storing the database.