A method at a user equipment to facilitate activation and splitting of data billing between at least two parties, the method including starting, at the user equipment, a virtual subscriber identity module platform (‘VSP’) service on the user equipment; verifying VSP configuration information with a network server; upon verification, starting a data networking access point name (‘APN’) based on the configuration information on the user equipment; and setting a status indicator on the user equipment to indicate the VSP service is enabled.

A relay device includes the following elements. A use request receiver receives a use request to use a service to be provided by a service providing device from a client device. An allocation request sender sends an allocation request to allocate a usage amount of the service based on a usage amount indicated by usage amount information specified by the use request received by the use request receiver to a different relay device. An allocated amount receiver receives allocated amount information indicating an allocated usage amount for the service sent from the different relay device in response to the allocation request. A return information generator generates return information from the allocated amount information received from the allocated amount receiver and a usage amount of the service. A return information sender sends the return information generated by the return information generator to the different relay device.

A method, system and server for processing low balance data session requests are provided. The server includes a memory storing an account record including an account balance and a count of failed service requests; a network interface; and a processor interconnected with the memory and the network interface. The processor receives a request to access a data service for a mobile device corresponding to the account record; and to determine whether the account balance is sufficient to access the data service. When the account balance is not sufficient, the processor compares the count of failed service requests to a threshold. When the count exceeds the threshold, the processor sends a notification to the mobile device, and when the count does not exceed the threshold, the processor increments the count. The processor also returns a message denying access to the data service.

Determining an initial number of TCP connections, dynamically determining increases and decreases in the number of TCP connections, and so on depending on a wireless communication method that is used enables a plurality of TCP connections to be used for wireless communication methods having higher communication bandwidths, and can thus improve communication speeds. Meanwhile, a drop in communication speed can be suppressed when using wireless communication methods having lower communication bandwidths.

The invention relates to an online charging method for always on IP connectivity in a communication system, the method comprises a Diameter router receiving an online charging request from a Diameter client, wherein the online charging request includes subscriber information; the Diameter router finding a corresponding online charging system in a subscriber index database based on the subscriber information; sending a successful acknowledge to the Diameter client and generating a ticket file when the corresponding online charging system does not exist in the subscriber index database or the corresponding online charging system is not available, wherein the successful acknowledge includes a dummy quota specified by the Diameter router; and the ticket file processor reading the ticket file based on a scheduled timing and generating a first online charging event request and sending the first online charging event request to the Diameter router when the corresponding online charging system exists in the subscriber index database or the corresponding online charging system is available.

The disclosure provides a system and method for metering on a prepaid wireless access point the amount of data transferred between a wireless device and the Internet and inhibiting further data transmission when the amount of prepaid data available reaches or drops below a pre-determined threshold. Specifically, the wireless access point includes a metering client to track one of data usage or an amount of prepaid data available. When the metering client indicates that the amount of data available has dropped below a pre-determined threshold, the wireless access point inhibits further data transmission.

Systems and methods are provided to facilitate donations via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility and an interchange having a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and with the common format processor in a common format. For a payment to a merchant, the common format processor provides a user interface configured to present charity donation options in response to a phone number being specified in the user interface to identify a fund source. The common format processor uses one of the converters to communicate with a mobile phone at the phone number to confirm the payment to the merchant and a donation to a separate charity organization specified via the user interface.

In one aspect of the teachings herein, an Application Function (AF) in a wireless communication network is configured to support online charging for the consumption of content that has been pre-fetched to a wireless device via the network. The AF functionality thus provides a mechanism by which content may be pre-fetched to a wireless device in advance of charging for that content, while reliably conditioning the later consumption of that content at the wireless device on the online charging decisions made by an online charging system. In another aspect, a wireless device is configured to send a consumption request for pre-fetched content towards such an AF and condition its consumption of the pre-fetched content on the consumption response returned to it.

An OCS performs online charging to usage of GCS-AS service data in response to an online charging initial request; and the OCS sends a granted service unit and valid time information about a UE to the GCS-AS in response to the online charging initial request, based on an GCS-AS Ro interface. The GCS-AS sends the GCS-AS service data corresponding to the granted service unit, the valid time information, and a corresponding key to the UE. If the GCS-AS service data is based on the EPS bearer, the OCS performs online charging to usage of the GCS-AS service data based on a special rating group. If the GCS-AS service data is based on an MBMS bearer, the OCS charges a content provider for providing the GCS service data.

The method comprises the steps of: the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) receiving (Step 1) user's subscription information, in order to determine an initial policy; the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) applying (Step 2) the initial rules; the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) triggering (Step 3) the Extended Online Charging System (EOCS) for the user's service/network resource usage; the Extended Online Charging System (EOCS) rating and charging (step 4) the user, in real time; the Extended Online Charging System (EOCS) triggering (Step 5) a change of policy in the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF); the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) determining (Step 6) new rules for the new policy; the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) receiving (Step 7) the new rules and applying them.