The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a Control Plane (CP) function 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 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. The CP function creates a Usage Reporting Rule for the Credit Pool (URR CRPL). The URR CRPL comprises instructions to the UP function 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 provides the URR CRPL to the UP function.

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).

Methods and apparatus for managing quality of service for video streaming, in which a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) in a Policy Charging Control (PCC) architecture of a telecommunications system receives from a Policy Control Enforcement Function (PCEF) a notification indicating that a video service has started for streaming video content to a user equipment (UE). A first Quality of Service (QoS) setting for streaming the video service to the UE is determined. First QoS setting data identifying the first QoS setting is transmitted to the PCEF. The PCEF transmits a further notification to the PCRF indicating that a particular stage has been reached. The PCRF receives the notification from the PCEF. In response to the further notification, a second QoS setting specifying a lower QoS than the first QoS setting for streaming the video service after the particular stage is determined. The PCRF identifies the second QoS setting to the PCEF.

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.

In various embodiments, methods and systems for implementing motion-based parental controls on mobile devices using virtual private network (VPN)-based parental control services are provided. A parental control profile is received at a controlled device where the parental control profile includes instructions to configure the controlled device with a device motion-based control policy. The device motion-based control policy includes a motion-related condition and a resource that is restricted when the motion-related condition is met. A VPN is configured using the parental control profile. The VPN comprises a virtual point-to-point connection between the controlled device and a network of the parental control service. When it is determined that the motion-related condition of the controlled device has been met, a restricted mode is initiated on the controlled device to restrict the resource. It is contemplated that the restricted mode supports a VPN channel and a cellular channel for restricted and unrestricted resources, respectively.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.