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.

Methods for implementing different pricing configurations by a server system are disclosed. The server system provides an application programming interface (API) for one or more network operators and receives, from a network operator via the API, a first request for a pricing configuration for network access for one or more internet protocol (IP) addresses hosted by the network operator. The server system retrieves the pricing configuration and provides a response to the first request to the network operator via the API that includes the pricing configuration.

Systems and methods that provide charging for supplemental content in a data flow separately from other content in the data flow. One embodiment comprises a network element of a Packet-Switched (PS) network that serves mobile User Equipment (UE). The network element receives a data flow of packets for a download of content requested by the UE, and identifies supplemental content in the data flow not requested by the UE, such as advertising content. The network element generates a charging request, inserts charging information for the supplemental content in the charging request, and transmits the charging request to a charging system so that the supplemental content can be charged separately from other content of the data flow.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a charging method and device. The method includes: obtaining, by a radio access device located in an access network, first information, where the first information includes or is used to indicate a type of service data borne on a radio interface of the radio access device and a type of the radio interface; and sending, by the radio access device, the first information to a charging network element located in a core network, so that the charging network element performs charging by using the first information. The method provided in the embodiments of the present invention can implement service data charging without requiring a wireless local area network access gateway, thereby simplifying a communication process between network elements and reducing management costs of a network.

Network entities in a wireless network cooperate to account and charge for data communicated over the wireless network. Accounting and charging enable the network entities to properly allocate charges to a second user equipment that communicates through a first user equipment, which acts as a relay in the wireless network. A network entity receives a request from the first user equipment related to a packet data network connection relating to the second user equipment. The network entity establishes or modifies a connection between a gateway and the first user equipment in response to the request. Charges for the data may be allocated to the second user equipment for data communicated with the identifier of the second user equipment.

Methods of pre-emptive credit control, as well as corresponding network elements and a computer program are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method is performed in a network element comprising receiving, from an online charging system, at least one pre-emptive credit control directive for a subscriber, the credit control directive applying to at least one rating group; storing the at least one pre-emptive credit control directive in the network element and applying the at least one pre-emptive credit control directive at content or service delivery start, prior to any service or content received from, or addressing, the subscriber and belonging to the at least one rating group being forwarded from the network element.

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.

An aspect of the disclosed invention provides a network apparatus for a network function, the network apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory comprising code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the network apparatus to: in response to a request from a service consumer, determine a first network service function for providing services to the service consumer; determine an identity of a second network service function, wherein the second network service function is an alternative or backup network service function to provide the service to the service consumer; and provide the service consumer with the identity of the second network service function.

A method of providing location-related charging information to a charging system associated with an IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, network, where the location-related charging information relates to a session or session initiation or an event involving at least two users. The method comprises, at a Charging Trigger Function, CTF, within the IMS network, receiving a Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, message from each of said users, each message containing a SIP header identifying a location of the sending user. Location information of each user is added to a charging message sent from the CTF to said charging system, location information being, or being derived from, the content of the SIP header received from the user or being derived from that SIP header.

The teachings herein disclose a method and apparatus for data mediation in a telecommunication network provides advantageous processing of an incoming data stream in a matter that reduces the amount of decoding needed for processing and correspondingly reduces the amount of re-encoding needed for transport of the processed data stream. These teachings make use of a working data structure that provides a memory-efficient data structure for processing targeted data items in the data stream and are implemented, for example, in a data mediation node that includes one or more communication interfaces, e.g., for receiving incoming data streams for data-mediation processing, and for sending along processed data streams to targeted recipients.