Systems and methods are described herein for recharging prepaid accounts within a telecommunications provider, such as a network carrier, using information provided by postpaid account subscribers. For example, the systems and methods facilitate the receipt of instructions from mobile devices associated with postpaid accounts. Upon receipt of the messages, the systems and methods (such as systems within a charging system of the network carrier or provider) identify intended or recipient mobile devices associated with prepaid accounts. Once identified, the systems and methods recharge the prepaid accounts, based on the instructions received from the postpaid account mobile devices.

A method for delivering dynamic policy rules for an end user of a communication service during a communication session is provided. The method includes receiving subscription information at a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) in order to determine an initial policy; applying the initial rules via a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF); triggering an Extended Online Charging System (EOCS) for the user's service/network resource usage; rating and charging the user via the EOCS in real time; triggering a change of policy in a change notification from the EOCS to the PCRF; determining new rules for the new policy at the PRCF; receiving the new rules and applying them at the PCEF.

A system, apparatus, and method for conducting payment transactions using a mobile device. Embodiments of the invention are directed to an architecture or system design for the functional elements residing in a mobile device that may be used to conduct a payment transaction. The inventive architecture may be implemented as a set of functional modules resident in a secure element that is embedded or otherwise incorporated into the mobile device.

Systems and methods for improving efficiency in a mobile communications network are described. In one embodiment, a method for conserving network resources comprises releasing network resources related to a User Equipment (“UE”) session at one or more network nodes without notifying the UE. A subset of the session information that can be used to connect with the UE is stored at a network node. If data is received for the UE, the stored subset of information can be used to 1) establish network resources related to the UE that were previously released and 2) deliver the data to the UE. In another embodiment, shared data resources are granted to one or more subscribers associated with a Designated User Group (“DUG”). An online charging session is assigned to the DUG that identifies policy data for granting shared data resources to the Designated User Group.

A Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) can be aware of whether a UE connects through a cellular or WIFI connection through a gateway. Management messages can be modified to allow the PCEF volume based online charging functionality to remain in the core network (i.e. in the P-GW/PCEF). Session management messaging between the ISWN (ISW-GW) and the core network (P-GW/PCEF) may be modified so that the core network may be notified when the ISWN moves a bearer, or flow, from one RAT to another. Alternately, PCEF volume based online charging functionality can be added to the ISWN. The PCEF of the ISWN can be tasked with performing volume based online charging while the UE is in the ISWN.

The invention relates to a roaming method for an electrical charging system with at least two subsystems. In the method, a charging data set is received through a communication module of a gateway device from a charging station assigned to the gateway device. The charging data set is forwarded by a peer-to-peer module assigned to the gateway device to a peer-to-peer application of a peer-to-peer network, and a roaming action is controlled by a roaming controlling means of the peer-to-peer application executed by at least a part of the nodes of the peer-to-peer network based on the received charging data set.

A process of operating a wireless device and a wireless device operative for obtaining at least one of data usage or an amount of data usage available by a wireless access point with a processor. The process and device further connecting to the wireless access point and transferring data to and from the wireless access point with a transceiver and displaying on a display the at least one of data usage or an amount of data usage available by the wireless access point.

A method for revenue assurance in a telephone network. The method comprises receiving a call request from a first user device on a network to a second user device, where the user device associated with a first user account has an account credit value insufficient to complete the requested call. A call timer duration is set to instantly expire on encountering a chargeable event. The call is continued toward the second user device. Upon encountering a chargeable event, the call is released. The chargeable event may be presenting a Ring Back Tone to the caller and confirming that the second device is ringing. The chargeable event may be detecting when the call has been answered.

The present disclosure provides a charging control method, a charging trigger apparatus, and an online charging system. The method includes: generating, by a CTF, a resource quota request according to a trigger condition; and sending the resource quota request to an online charging system (OCS), so that the OCS determines a quota type and number after receiving the resource quota request, and allocates a quota for the resource quota request according to the quota type and number determined by the OCS, where the quota type and number are determined by the OCS according to the resource quota request. In the foregoing method, a problem that in the prior art, a charging control error occurs due to different determining bodies of a quota type is solved.

The disclosure provides a system and method for controlling on a wireless device the amount and speed of data transferred between a wireless device and the Internet, and a wireless device with a metering client that can throttle data speeds and types based on how much data a user has used. Specifically, the wireless device includes a metering client to track one of data usage or an amount of prepaid data available. When the metering client determines that the amount of data available has exceeded a pre-determined threshold, the wireless device inhibits further data transmission amounts and speeds.