A system for generating and applying a secure token in a resource distribution network is provided. For example, a headend system generates a time-based token based on a time duration specified for a meter. The time-based token indicates the time duration for the meter. The time-based token is further generated based on an identifier of the meter. The headend system transmits the time-based token to the meter via at least a mesh network. After receiving the time-based token, the meter validates the time-based token to determine that the time-based token is generated for the meter based on information related to the identifier of the meter. If the meter determines that the time-based token is valid, the meter connects premises associated with the meter to a resource distribution network for at least the time duration specified in the time-based token.

Computer-implemented method for online charging telecommunication services in real time, comprising: (i) running a money-to-time algorithm, computing a time balance based on charging parameters and a wallet balance; (ii) if greater than zero, creating a charging data record, CDR, and writing a start timestamp therein, setting a terminate session timer based on the time balance, and confirming the communication session; (iii) if not greater than zero, or upon expiration of the terminate session timer, instructing to terminate the communication session, wherein upon expiration of the terminate session timer an end timestamp is written in the CDR. Online charging system, OCS, implementing the method.

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.

This application provides a multi-account cloud service usage package sharing method and apparatus, and a related device. The method includes: receiving a sharing policy of a first usage package of a first account and a sharing policy of a second usage package of a second account; generating a sharing execution plan according to the sharing policy of the first usage package and the sharing policy of the second usage package; sorting a use record of a usage package of the first account and a use record of a usage package of the second account according to the sharing execution plan, to generate a to-be-deducted queue; and deducting the first usage package and the second usage package according to the to-be-deducted queue.

Dynamic adjustment of consumption limits governing the consumption of credit units from a “provider account” (24) offers numerous advantages in the context of Online Charging (OC), both to the involved communication network operator(s) and to the users or applications associated with the UEs (12) that use communication services subject to credit availability in the provider account (24). Specifically, two or more “consumer” accounts (26), each associated with one or more UEs (12), consume credit units from the provider account (24), for authorizing communication-usage by the associated UE(s) (12), subject to a respective consumption limit, which may be regarded as defining an allocated share of the credit units in the provider account (24), for use by the consumer account (26). Adjusting the consumption limits one or more times during the validity period of the credit units offers the opportunity to rebalance the credit allocations, such as in view of aggregate rates or amounts of consumption or consumption imbalances.

The disclosure relates to a method and a device for controlling a data rate in a network slice of a wireless communication system. A method for controlling a bit rate of a network slice by a session management function (SMF) device of a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes receiving a slice control policy information from a policy and charging function (PCF) device, transmitting, to a user plane function (UPF) device, a parameter for controlling each slice based on the received slice control information, and receiving, from the UPF device, a response signal for whether the transmitted parameter is acceptable.

The present invention discloses methods and systems for sharing data usage by a plurality of SIM cards at a plurality of network devices. Each of the plurality of network devices is capable of housing at least one SIM card from the plurality of SIM cards. The method comprises the steps of determining the total data usage allowance. A remaining total data usage allowance is determined by either retrieving it from a carrier server or by subtracting aggregated data usage information from the total data usage allowance. The method further comprises restricting use of one or more of the plurality of SIM cards when the remaining total data usage allowance is below a first threshold until the remaining total data usage allowance is above the first threshold. The total data usage allowance is changed to a first value periodically or according to an administrator's instruction.

Systems and methods described herein include receiving, at a network device and from a session management device, a first message that includes a first identifier associated with a subscriber and a second identifier associated with a first service that is charged using an online charging system. The network device transmits a second message that indicates a first time period in which to report data usage associated with the first service and a second time period in which to report data usage associated with one or more second services that are charged using an offline charging system. The network device receives first data usage information associated with the first service after the first time period and second data usage information associated with the one or more second services after the second time period. The network device processes the data usage information.

A system for predicting an outage for a commercial passenger vehicle is described. The system includes a storage configured to store flight information of the commercial passenger vehicle that includes an antenna configured to assist a network connectivity for devices in the commercial passenger vehicle to remote devices, the flight information including travel information of the commercial passenger vehicle and antenna-related information of the antenna; and a server configured to apply a machine learning algorithm that (1) processes the flight information and (2) generate an output indicative of a probability of an antenna-related outage of the network connectivity that is caused due to a failure of the antenna based on processed flight information.

Conventional balance inquiries by a prepaid customer or other communication-service subscriber do not return an available service amount. Rather, they return a monetary amount that does not consider service usage rules or tariff plans that control service ratings. This conventional approach makes it difficult for the user to assess the sufficiency of his or her remaining account balance. Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method, and apparatus for determining available service amounts corresponding to remaining account credit, based on considering the applicable tariff plans.