Device group partitions and a settlement platform are provided. In some embodiments, device group partitions (e.g., partitions of devices based on associated device groups) are provided. In some embodiments, a settlement platform service is provided. In some embodiments, a settlement platform service is provided for partitioned devices. In some embodiments, collecting device generated service usage information for one or more devices in wireless communication on a wireless network; and aggregating the device generated service usage information for a settlement platform for the one or more devices in wireless communication on the wireless network is provided. In some embodiments, a settlement platform implements a service billing allocation and/or a service/transactional revenue share among one or more partners. In some embodiments, service usage information includes micro-CDRs, which are used for CDR mediation or reconciliation that provides for service usage accounting on any device activity that is desired. In some embodiments, each device activity that is desired to be associated with a billing event is assigned a micro-CDR transaction code, and a service processor of the device is programmed to account for that activity associated with that transaction code. In some embodiments, a service processor executing on a wireless communications device periodically reports (e.g., during each heartbeat or based on any other periodic, push, and/or pull communication technique(s)) micro-CDR usage measures to, for example, a service controller or some other network element for CDR mediation or reconciliation.

Device Assisted Services (DAS) for protecting network capacity is provided. In some embodiments, DAS for protecting network capacity includes monitoring a network service usage activity of the communications device in network communication; classifying the network service usage activity for differential network access control for protecting network capacity; and associating the network service usage activity with a network service usage control policy based on a classification of the network service usage activity to facilitate differential network access control for protecting network capacity.

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 Policy Enforcement Function such as PCEF or TDF is configured to receive from a Policy Controller such as PCRF, over an interface such as Gx or Sd interface, a command related to a User Equipment UE, the command referring to a Sponsoring Context Identifier, Sponsoring Context ID, the Sponsoring Context ID serving as an identifier of a Sponsoring Context to be applied to application-related data traffic to be sponsored for the UE, the Sponsoring Context providing a list of data flows to be sponsored.

A device may receive, from a user device, a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) CONNECT request that includes a uniform resource locator (URL). The device may determine, using a data structure, whether the URL is a sponsored URL or a non-sponsored URL. The data structure may include one or more sponsored URLs associated with a toll-free data service campaign. The device may establish an HTTP CONNECT tunnel for transferring traffic, associated with the URL, between the user device and another device. The device may monitor data use, associated with the HTTP CONNECT tunnel, based on determining whether the URL is a sponsored URL or a non-sponsored URL. The device may generate a traffic information record based on monitoring the data use, and the device may provide the traffic information record to the user device.

A Policy Enforcement Function such as PCEF or TDF is configured to receive from a Policy Controller such as PCRF, over an interface such as Gx or Sd interface, a command related to a User Equipment UE, the command referring to a Sponsoring Context Identifier, Sponsoring Context ID, the Sponsoring Context ID serving as an identifier of a Sponsoring Context to be applied to application-related data traffic to be sponsored for the UE, the Sponsoring Context providing a list of data flows to be sponsored.

The present invention faces the issue of a user ignoring an alternative second service usable instead of a first service that the user is using, and which is a service subscribed by the user. To solve this issue, the present invention provides for associating a first service identifier and a second service identifier with a same service category at a subscription repository; upon detecting at a policy enforcer the first service is used by the user, notifying a policy controller of the first service identifier; obtaining, by the policy controller from the subscription repository, the second service identifier associated with the same service category as the first service identifier; offering the user, either directly from the policy controller or via the policy enforcer, to accept using the second service instead of the used first service; and, upon user accepting to use the second service, enforcing control rules for the second service at the policy enforcer.

A method of establishing a paid connection between multi-platforms, where a transmitting end application is installed in a transmitting end apparatus of a sharing source and a receiving end application is installed in a receiving end apparatus of a sharing target. When establishing a connection, the transmitting end application/receiving end application confirms whether a unique ID of the receiving end apparatus/transmitting end apparatus exists in an exception list, and confirms whether the receiving end application/transmitting end apparatus makes payment based on an operating system used by the transmitting end apparatus/receiving end application, in order to determine establishing a limited or an unlimited connection between the transmitting end apparatus and the receiving end apparatus. Thus, the method assures that either the transmitting end application or the receiving end application is a paid version, a user complies with an application license agreement by using the exception list and the right of application developers is protected.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining a bandwidth utilization of a network, obtaining a request provided by equipment of a user to access requested network content by way of the network, and adjusting, responsive to the bandwidth utilization exceeding a threshold, a data service price for transporting the requested network content to the equipment of the user. A notification of the adjusted data service price is forwarded to the equipment of the user, and an updated request is obtained from the equipment o the user for providing the requested network content, wherein the updated request is responsive to the notification of the adjusted data service price. Transport of the requested network content to the equipment of the user is facilitated according to the updated request. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Embodiments provision captive portals on network access points (NAPs). In response to a request from a NAP owner, a cloud service associates a NAP with the NAP owner and provides a control channel for configuring the NAP. The NAP owner inputs configuration settings describing the captive portal. The cloud service processes the configuration settings to generate configuration data. The cloud service transmits the configuration data to the NAP. The NAP applies the configuration data to configure the NAP. Some embodiments configure Wi-Fi hotspots with captive portals for gated access to the Internet.