A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided in accordance with example embodiments in order to provide methods, apparatuses, and/or systems that reduce and/or eliminate network inefficiencies caused by the traffic profile associated with narrow band Internet-of-Things (NB-IoT) devices and similar devices, by applying and optimizing protocols governing the allocation of network resources to such devices. In some example implementations, a serving gateway (SGW) and/or a packet data network gateway (PGW) is locally configured with a threshold set that includes limits on the permissible traffic associated with a NB-IoT device and/or a similar device over a given unit of time. To the extent that the traffic remains within such limits, generation of charging data records (CDRs) and signaling to an online charging server may be reduced or eliminated.

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.

Systems and methods may provide for establishing a data usage budget based on one or more of user input and historical usage data, wherein the data usage budget distinguishes between usage types and distinguishes between connection types. Additionally, a data usage of one or more client devices may be monitored in accordance with the data usage budget. In one example, the usage types are designated as one or more of a high bandwidth usage and a low bandwidth usage and the connection types are designated as one or more of a capped connection and a non-capped connection.

The disclosed embodiments include a method for offline charging performed by an anchoring node of a telecommunications network. The anchoring node can send a request to an online charging system (OCS), where the request is for online metering of a call by a subscriber of the telecommunications network. The anchoring node may obtain an indication of an exception to the online metering of the call. In response, the anchoring node can perform a default call handling (DCH) procedure to allow the call on the telecommunications network despite an inability to perform the online metering. The anchoring node also generates a modified charging detail record (CDR) that includes an indication of the exception. The anchoring node can then send a message, which includes at least an indication of the modified CDR, to enable a mediation server to perform offline charging for the call.

As described herein, a system, method, and computer program are provided for dynamic switching between online and offline charging for a network session. In use, a network session is monitored. Additionally, during the network session, one or more characteristics of the network session are determined, based on the monitoring of the network session. Further, a dynamic selection is made between offline charging and online charging for the network session, based on the one or more characteristics of the network session.

A mobile communications device receives an indication of a balance from a server when establishment of a voice call or sending of a message is requested. The mobile communications device determines whether the balance is sufficient to place the voice call or send the message over a mobile network. If the balance is sufficient to place the voice call or send the message over the mobile network, the voice call is established or the message is sent under normal operating conditions. If the balance is insufficient to place the voice call or send the message over the mobile network, a grace period is activated and the voice call is established or the message is sent during the grace period over an available wireless local-area network.

The present invention relates to a server, a method and a system for allowing a user terminal to receive and use a data capacity shared by a donor terminal, and provide a reward that is as much as the data capacity shared by the donor terminal and provide, to the user terminal, charging information corresponding to the use of data, thereby enabling a fair and meaningful compensation system.

The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a Control Plane (CP) function (401) for handling a credit pool comprising granted service units to be used by multiple services. The multiple services are grouped in at least one first Rating Group (RG). The CP function (401) creates an individual Usage Reporting Rule (URR) for each of the at least one first RG. Each individual URR comprises a first credit pool threshold. The CP function provides the individual URRs to a User Plane (UP) function (405). The CP function (401) creates a Usage Reporting Rule for the Credit Pool (URR CRPL). The URR CRPL comprises instructions to the UP function (405) to aggregate service unit usage for all individual URRs for all first RGs. The URR CRPL further comprises the first credit pool threshold. The CP function (401) provides the URR CRPL to the UP function (405).

Embodiments of the present invention provide a credit control method, a policy and charging enforcement function entity, and an online charging system. The method includes: if an OCS determines that a service borne by a second bearer may share a credit pool with a service borne by a first bearer, sending a second quota allocated to the second bearer and a credit pool identifier corresponding to the first bearer to the PCEF, so that the PCEF stores the second quota and a first quota in a same credit pool, so that the second bearer and the first bearer use the same credit pool, thereby implementing sharing of the credit pool between IP-CAN bearers and even between IP-CAN sessions, and ensuring smoothness of a service.

Systems and methods may provide for establishing a data usage budget based on one or more of user input and historical usage data, wherein the data usage budget distinguishes between usage types and distinguishes between connection types. Additionally, a data usage of one or more client devices may be monitored in accordance with the data usage budget. In one example, the usage types are designated as one or more of a high bandwidth usage and a low bandwidth usage, and the connection types are designated as one or more of a capped connection and a non-capped connection.