Methods and apparatuses for data transmission. A method implemented at a first network function may comprise obtaining information related to network slice selection; and sending a reroute message to an access network node, wherein the reroute message including a container comprising at least one information element of the information related to network slicing selection.

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.

Disclosed is a voice message exchange system and method for improving communication between an inmate and a third party by enabling the inmate to leave a message when a call is not answered and further allowing the third party who receives the message to reply with a message to the inmate. Additionally, outside parties that meet the institution's requirements can leave messages for inmates at any time. The present invention can be used as an add-on to legacy inmate call management systems or incorporated internally into an inmate call management system. The system also provides monitoring, controlling, recording, and billing means.

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for providing device centric payments in roaming conditions. In operation, a device requests service from a visiting communication network. The device provides an identity associated with the device. The device records an amount of service utilized (e.g. utilizing blockchain technology, etc.). The device submits the amount of service utilized to the visiting network or to a blockchain, such that the visiting network is capable of determining whether the amount of service utilized recorded by the device is similar to an amount of service usage measured by the visiting network (e.g. when an established credit limit available has been utilized, etc.).

A service processing method and a related product is applied to the charging field. A policy control device generates a first policy of a user service, and sends the first policy to a session management function device to indicate the session management function device to perform a first quota management mode on the user service. The policy control device receives related information of a second quota management mode of a user or the user service, and determines the second quota management mode. The policy control device generates a second policy of the user service based on the second quota management mode, where the second policy is for updating or replacing the first policy. According to this method, the quota management mode of the user service is time-effective, ensuring a balance between a latency condition and credit control risks.

Charging operations carried out in relation to service consumption by users of a communication network reduce signaling overhead and memory or storage requirements by adopting a bifurcated approach to structuring and accessing the data containers used for controlling and tracking service consumption by individual users commonly governed by the same consumption control information. With bifurcation, a parent data container holds the common consumption control information commonly applicable to each user, while an individual child data container for each user holds consumption-tracking information specific to the user. The approach reduces signaling overhead inasmuch as operations involving only the consumption control information need not retrieve or access the child data containers, and the approach reduces overall storage requirements by eliminating redundant inclusion of the common information in the child data containers.

Systems and methods described herein include receiving, at a network device, a message including an identifier associated with a subscriber and an identifier associated with a rating group associated with one or more data flows and determining a data quota and one or more usage monitoring thresholds associated with the subscriber. The data quota indicates a first amount of data associated with the rating group that the subscriber is authorized to use during a time period and the one or more usage monitoring thresholds indicate one or more second amounts of data associated with the rating group and one or more service flows that the subscriber is authorized to use during the time period. The network device transmits the data quota and the one or more usage monitoring thresholds, receives data usage information, and processes the data usage information.

The present invention provides a method for providing sponsored communication services in a telecommunication network to loan non-eligible subscribers comprising: receiving, by a proxy device, a communication request originating from an initiating party and forwarding the communication request to a loan granting system; receiving, by the proxy device, a signal indicative of loan refusal (because the subscriber is a loan non-eligible subscriber) from the loan granting system; informing the initiating party, by the proxy device, terms of sponsorship and seeking approval from the initiating party; receiving, by the proxy device, a signal indicative of approval by the initiating party; and sending, by the proxy device, routing information to a routing device for storing in respect of the initiating party, the routing device acting upon the routing information while providing a communication service.

According to techniques disclosed herein, a Visited Communication Network (VCN) (10) selectively reports usage information back to a Home Communication Network (HCN) (50) for user traffic that is offloaded at the VCN (10) to a Data Network (DN) (14) rather than routed back to the HCN (50). Among the various advantages, the reporting supports charging operations in the HCN (50) regarding the offloaded traffic. Further advantages include the application of policy control and service-authorization control jointly between the VCN (10) and the HCN (50).

A method includes establishing a cost for consumption of a given resource by a given resource consumer for a designated period of time, the cost comprising a fixed cost for consumption of the given resource up to a threshold consumption level for the designated time period and an additional cost associated with consumption of the given resource exceeding the threshold consumption level for the designated period of time, monitoring consumption of the given resource by the given resource consumer, determining whether resource consumption by the given resource consumer is projected to exceed the threshold consumption level over the designated time period, generating an alert responsive to determining that resource consumption by the given resource consumer is projected to exceed the threshold consumption level over the designated time period, and providing the alert for presentation via a user interface of a user device associated with the given resource consumer.