The present invention discloses a policy control method and system, and a relevant apparatus. The method includes: receiving, by a policy decision apparatus, a control policy request sent by a gateway device, where the control policy request carries a subscriber identifier; sending, by the policy decision apparatus, a session request message carrying the subscriber identifier to a charging system; receiving, by the policy decision apparatus, a response message; receiving, by the policy decision apparatus, a notification message sent through an established session by the charging system, and generating a service data flow control policy according to information of an occurred charging relevant event; and sending, by the policy decision apparatus, the control policy to the gateway device. The method may implement, based on charging relevant information of a subscriber, policy control of a data flow, flexibility is desirable, and service experience of the subscriber is good.

A method for billing in a wireless communication system, according to an embodiment, includes: transmitting billing data to an upper entity; determining whether the billing data has been normally transmitted; and executing a supplementary operation based on a result of the determining.

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for charging in multi-connectivity systems. In some example embodiments, there may be provided a method that includes marking, by a first base station serving a user equipment, at least one packet to include a first indication indicating that the at least one packet was received directly at the first base station serving the user equipment; and marking, by the first base station, at least one other packet to include a second indication to indicate that the at least one other packet was received via a second base station also serving the user equipment. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Communications systems and methods with an evolved packet-switched core network architecture to enable voice services on second- and third-generation wireless access networks. The systems and methods permit unmodified 2G and 3G mobile devices to conduct voice calls using conventional circuit-switched user-plane and control-plane protocols at the air interface while the voice calls are switched at the back-end using a packet-switched core network. The system may include a translation module at a controller component that is configured to provide both user-plane and control-plane translation functions between an unmodified 2G/3G mobile device that utilizes circuit-switched protocols for a voice call and the packet-switched core network that utilizes packet-switched protocols to switch the voice call.

Methods and apparatus for implementing a service function chain of a mobile telecommunications network. A method for implementing a charging function in a service function chain of a mobile telecommunications network in which the service function chain includes a plurality of service functions in which each service function is configured to apply one or more services associated with a user packet traversing the service function chain towards a destination, and is configured to provide charging data related to the service function. A receiver receives collective charging data provided by the plurality of service functions, the collective charging data includes charging data for a plurality of services associated with a user packet. A charging controller controls charging for the plurality of services associated with the user packet based on the collective charging data.

System performance of a first information handling system may be adjusted based on system usage. Performance parameters may be determined by a second information handling system based on the system usage and may be used, by the first information handling system, to adjust system performance. Configuration of the first information handling system may thus be distributed to two or more tiers. The second information handling system can be more efficient with determining operating parameters for the first information handling system when the second system is not power limited, as when the first information handling system is a mobile device.

A node for use in a telecommunication network. The apparatus comprises a service session handler for establishing and controlling service sessions on behalf of end users served by the telecommunications network, and a charging generation point for generating charging data for established sessions involving served users as originating users and for reporting that charging data to a network charging system. The apparatus further comprises a signalling message handler for receiving, in respect of a given service session between an originating and a terminating user, a signalling message sent by or on behalf of the terminating user, the signalling message containing cost apportionment data apportioning costs between the originating and terminating users, the signalling message handler being configured to pass that cost apportionment data to the charging generation point. The charging generation point is further configured to apply the cost apportionment data to the generation of charging data so that the charging data reflects the required cost apportionment.

A charging method, including sending, by a control plane gateway, a first charging trigger event to a user plane gateway, where the first charging trigger event triggering the user plane gateway to generate service usage information, generating, by the user plane gateway, the service usage information when the user plane gateway detects that the first charging trigger event occurs, sending, by the user plane gateway, the service usage information to the control plane gateway, generating, by the control plane gateway, a charging request according to the service usage information, and sending, by the control plane gateway, the charging request to a charging system. Offline charging during packet data network gateway (PGW) control and user (CU) separation is implemented.

Systems and methods for performing offline charging for group communications. One embodiment is an application server that identifies data for a group communication, identifies an encryption code assigned to the group, encrypts the data for the group communication using the encryption code, and initiates delivery of the encrypted data for the group communication to the group of mobile devices over an MBMS bearer. The application server collects charging information related to the group communication using MBMS delivery, formats the charging information into an offline charging communication, and transmits the offline charging communication to an offline charging system.

The present invention discloses a policy control method and system, and a relevant apparatus. The method includes: receiving, by a policy decision apparatus, a control policy request sent by a gateway device, where the control policy request carries a subscriber identifier; sending, by the policy decision apparatus, a session request message carrying the subscriber identifier to a charging system; receiving, by the policy decision apparatus, a response message; receiving, by the policy decision apparatus, a notification message sent through an established session by the charging system, and generating a service data flow control policy according to information of an occurred charging relevant event; and sending, by the policy decision apparatus, the control policy to the gateway device. The method may implement, based on charging relevant information of a subscriber, policy control of a data flow, flexibility is desirable, and service experience of the subscriber is good.