The present invention relates generally to a method of identifying data delivery parameters relating to delivery of data accessible from a network location via a communications service provider. Embodiments of the invention are particularly well suited to identifying delivery parameters when the delivery of data is metered, such as when data are delivered to terminals connected to mobile networks.

Systems and computing devices may be configured to intelligently and dynamically allocate quotas for the access and use of a telecommunications network by consumers that use a shared account balance. A server computing device may be configured to intelligently allocate quota by determining an allocation time interval for allocating quota from a shared account balance, receiving a quota request message from a metering and gating component that includes information requesting allocation of a first quota to a first consumer associated with a shared account balance, determining a validity period for the first quota based on the determined allocation time interval, and allocating the first quota to the first consumer from the updated shared account balance so as to eliminate or reduce conflicts and discrepancies between different instances of the shared account balance.

A method at a user equipment to facilitate splitting of data billing between at least two parties, the method assigning a first subset of application to a first forwarding information base (FIB) on the user equipment; associating the first FIB with a first cellular data interface; activating the splitting of data billing on the user equipment; and replacing the association in the first FIB to the first cellular interface with an association between a second cellular data interface and the first FIB.

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 method and system are disclosed for connecting a device to subscriptions and cellular billing plans of separate users and for managing the concurrent use of the device by the separate users. A computer-implemented method comprises enrolling a device in a cellular subscription and billing plan of a user. The enrollment includes providing an identifier for the device to a cellular subscription, effectively adding the device to the cellular subscription and billing plan selected by the user. The method and system allows the user to use capabilities of the device as governed by the cellular subscription and an associated billing plan as selected by that user, while the device is also available for use by another user via another cellular billing plan, as selected by that user.

A method for managing a charging operation in a communication network is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a content specification identifying content, vendors and a condition relating to charging the vendors for provision of the content to a UE. The method further comprises creating a charging policy for provision of the content, which specifies division of charging for provision of the content to a UE between the vendors in accordance with the condition, receiving, from a UE, a request for provision of content over the network and retrieving a charging policy corresponding to the requested content. The method further comprises creating a charging entry for provision of the requested content, the charging entry dividing charging for provision of the requested content between vendors identified in the retrieved charging policy and a subscriber account associated with the UE in accordance with the retrieved policy.

Systems and methods that provide charging for supplemental content in a data flow separately from other content in the data flow. One embodiment comprises a network element of a Packet-Switched (PS) network that serves mobile User Equipment (UE). The network element receives a data flow of packets for a download of content requested by the UE, and identifies supplemental content in the data flow not requested by the UE, such as advertising content. The network element generates a charging request, inserts charging information for the supplemental content in the charging request, and transmits the charging request to a charging system so that the supplemental content can be charged separately from other content of the data flow.

Systems and computing devices may be configured to intelligently and dynamically allocate quotas for the access and use of a telecommunications network by consumers that use a shared balance account. The dynamic allocation of quotas may include computing a total reclaimable quota size value in response to determining that quota may not be allocated to a first consumer from the shared account balance without exceeding a balance threshold, reclaiming all or portions of currently active allocated quotas from a other consumers that use the shared balance account in response to determining that the total reclaimable quota size value is greater than or equal to the minimum quota allocation size, updating the shared account balance to include the reclaimed portions, and allocating quota to the first consumer from the updated shared balance account.

A peering authority or settlement clearinghouse can be used to control access, collect session accounting information, and provide financial settlement of interconnect or session fees among anonymous Internet Protocol (IP) peers or networks. The addition of peering policy criteria, such as price and quality of service, to peer to peer route discovery mechanisms enable a trusted intermediary, such as the settlement clearinghouse, to authorize acceptable interconnection or peering sessions between anonymous IP peers. Any financial settlement transactions which result from the peering sessions may be subsequently executed by the settlement clearinghouse.

A method for providing access to a passive optical network for services to homes or businesses from two or more telecommunications service providers and a billing means is described. A first service provider connects to a point of presence at one side of passive optical network. The provider transmits the appropriate services through this network to an authorization receiver. The authorization receiver is used to receive a periodic authorization code from the network provider to enable the appropriate services from the service provider to be transmitted to a subscriber at a home or business. The authorization receiver enables an optical fiber path to be established for the services to flow to and from the home or business. The authorization code that is transmitted through the network also provides an unambiguous means to provide a billing record such that the service provider can be billed by the network provider on an individual service address connected basis in conjunction with a record of houses passed and not yet connected.