The invention relates to a method performed by a network node of managing online charging, and a network node performing the method. In an aspect of the invention, a method performed by a network node of managing online charging of sponsored data connectivity is provided. The method comprises receiving (S101) a user request for service related to the sponsored data connectivity, estimating (S102) a number of users that are expected to use said service, and acquiring (S103), from an Online Charging System authorizing access to the sponsored data connectivity, authorisation for the estimated number of users that are expected to use said service. The method further comprises granting (S104) the user access to the requested service with quota received with the authorisation from said Online Charging System, said quota being valid for a specified time period, and further granting (S104b) any further user requesting (S101b) said service access to the requested service with quota received with the authorisation until total quota authorised by the Online Charging System for the estimated number of users has been apportioned.

A system, method and computer program product for securing user information, including processing circuitry that receives an encrypted first request from a first party and that includes a unique identifier associated with an account of a user, sends, based on the encrypted first request, an encrypted authorization request to an operator servicing the account of the user, and receives, in response to the encrypted authorization request, an authorization from the operator based on a result of an authorization message exchange for authorizing or not authorizing the request sent by the operator to a device associated with the user over a network controlled by the operator. No pecuniary information of the user nor the personal identification number of the user is received by the processing circuitry thereby shielding the pecuniary information of the user from the first party.

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.

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.

A system and method for automatically negotiating Internet access between a user and one of a plurality of Internet connection providers. Users can buy or bid for Internet bandwidth, for example, through a server or website or by direct communications with an Internet access point such as, for example, a WIFI access point.

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.

A method and system for managing online charging sessions is provided. The method includes: establishing a subscriber data session on a network; establishing a connection with an initial online charging system; detecting a condition change in the subscriber data session; determining whether the condition change is associated with a change in the online charging system; if the condition change is associated with a change in the online charging system, determining a new online charging system; terminating the connection to the initial online charging system while maintaining the subscriber data session; and establishing a connection with the new online charging system; otherwise continuing the session with the initial online charging system. The system includes a control plane engine and is operatively connected to a policy charging enforcement function.

The present disclosure provides a method (200) in a network entity for control of a Value Added Service (VAS) to be provided for a user. The method (200) comprises: receiving (S210) from another network entity an indication of an account status of a VAS related account associated with the user; determining (S220) a VAS control policy for the VAS based on the account status; and transmitting (S230) the VAS control policy to a network controller that controls provision of the VAS.

A charging session management method, where when user equipment (UE) is in a state of accessing to a network, there is an Internet Protocol (IP)-Connectivity access network (CAN) bearer between a gateway and the UE, where the IP-CAN bearer is used to transmit a data flow of the UE, and a charging session exists between the gateway and a charging system; and the method includes when a charging session established for the IP-CAN bearer exists between the gateway and the charging system, terminating, by the gateway, the charging session if determining that no data flow is transmitted on the IP-CAN bearer within a time threshold; and establishing, a new charging session for the IP-CAN bearer when detecting that a data flow transmission starts to be transmitted on the IP-CAN bearer.

The present disclosure discloses an automatic recharge system and method, and a server, and belongs to a field of online recharge. The system includes: an agent server end on which an automatic recharge program runs, a third-party platform server, and at least one provider server, each provider server providing at least one online recharge service; the third-party platform server generates at least one order and stores the order; the agent server end logs in the third-party platform server by using the automatic recharge program and obtains the order; and the agent server end sends a recharge parameter corresponding to the order to the provider server by using the automatic recharge program, so as to complete an online recharge process corresponding to the order.