A system, smart device and method for apportioning costs of smart device operations between purposes. Operation information concerning operations performed by the smart device is recorded. The operations are apportioned between purposes based on categorization information and the operation information. The cost of the apportioned operations performed by the device is determined for the purposes based on the operation information and tariff information.

In a method for providing a service requiring data connectivity between at least two user terminals (100, 500), a first PCRF (400) determines (s20) that there is no available data quota associated with a first user terminal (500) for the data connectivity required for the service to be provided. The first PCRF (400) notifies (s30) an AF (300) about the determination, which in turns notifies (s40) an application service provider (200). The application service provider (200) requests (s50) a second user terminal (100) to sponsor the data connectivity of the first user terminal (500) so as to permit the data connectivity required for the service to be provided. The invention also relates to network nodes for participating in providing such services, and to user terminals and computer programs.

A wireless device including a processor and memory. The memory stores executable instructions and rules. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the device to store, if the wireless device forms part of a network including other wireless device and a backbone, information detailing topology of the network and/or status of other devices of the network, based on the rules. The topology information estimates costs and/or benefits of transmitting data to the backbone via other wireless devices of the network and based on the rules estimates the costs and/or benefits of transmitting data directly to the backbone. One or both estimates combine an estimation of technical costs of data transmission, compensation payments, and path length dependent network benefits. The device determines whether the costs and/or benefits of a direct exchange with the backbone outweigh those of data exchange with the backbone via other nodes.

A system, smart device and method for apportioning costs of smart device operations between purposes. Operation information concerning operations performed by the smart device is recorded. The operations are apportioned between purposes based on categorization information and the operation information. The cost of the apportioned operations performed by the device is determined for the purposes based on the operation information and tariff information.

A system, smart device and method for apportioning costs of smart device operations between purposes. Operation information concerning operations performed by the smart device is recorded. The operations are apportioned between purposes based on categorization information and the operation information. The cost of the apportioned operations performed by the device is determined for the purposes based on the operation information and tariff information.

A system, smart device and method for apportioning costs of smart device operations between purposes. Operation information concerning operations performed by the smart device is recorded. The operations are apportioned between purposes based on categorization information and the operation information. The cost of the apportioned operations performed by the device is determined for the purposes based on the operation information and tariff information.

An apparatus and method are described for sponsoring service and preferential traffic handling, (i.e., data connectivity) by wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs). A first WTRU may initiate user sponsoring of a second WTRU via an application server (AS). The first WTRU may receive a service trigger from the AS and forward the service trigger to the second WTRU. The second WTRU may then initiate a sponsored session with the AS using the service trigger in order to receive a service from the AS. The first WTRU may also request the AS to transfer a credit to the second WTRU. The AS may establish a direct communication link with a charging system including an online charging function (OCF) and a charging data function (CDF). The AS may send a request to a network to provide preferential traffic handling needed to deliver content to the second WTRU.