Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for processing a rate group, a method for charging for a data service, and a related device and system, so as to enable a charging system to accurately charge for the data service when the rate group changes. The method includes: determining, by a gateway device, whether a rate group of a service data stream changes; and if the rate group of the service data stream changes, reporting, by the gateway device, charging data to the charging system, so that the charging system performs charging according to the charging data, where the charging data includes service usage information and a reporting reason for reporting the charging data, and the reporting reason indicates a change of the rate group.

A process of tracking usage of a wireless device in a wireless network with a metering system includes implementing the metering system in a network separate from the wireless network and activating the wireless device in response to identification of the wireless device and confirmation of use of a tracking system to the metering system. The process further includes obtaining, by the metering system, an amount of wireless services used by the wireless device. The obtaining includes at least one of obtaining an amount of wireless services used from the wireless network and obtaining an amount of wireless services used from the tracking system.

An approach is provided for optimizing the use of a device based on the subscriptions and contextual information associated with the device. The optimizing platform determines at least one request to perform one or more activities associated with at least one device. The optimizing platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of the at least one request against one or more conditions of one or more subscriptions associated with the at least one device to cause, at least in part, a recommendation of at least one of the one or more subscriptions for performing the one or more activities.

A message link server maintains secure message links with device link agents on each of a plurality of wireless end-user devices. Plural network elements send messages to the message link server, the messages targeted for delivery of message content to specific software components on respective ones of the wireless end-user devices. A message buffering system in the server buffers messages targeted to each device until one of several triggers occur, such that messages that do not have time-critical messaging needs may be buffered until the occurrence of a trigger other than the receipt of that message by the server.

Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a network device collects service usage measurements for a communications device use of a service on a network; and compares the service usage measurements to a device assisted implementation of a service policy to verify the device assisted implementation of the service policy.

A system and method for managing group-based charging for network usage and spending. A server computing device that includes an offline charging system (OFCS) component may be configured to receive a communication message that includes a first attribute, determine/identify a group of user equipments that includes a first user equipment device that is associated with the received communication message, and determine a charging attribute state for the determined group of user equipments based on the first attribute and a second attribute associated with a second user equipment device in the group of user equipments. The server may apply a charging event, determine whether the charging attribute state of the group of user equipments changed as a result of applying the charging event, and notifying a listener component of a new charging attribute state in response to determining that the charging attribute state of the group of user equipments changed.

Shared usage plans are popular with families, friends, and small businesses. These shared usage plans share some cumulative utilization of resources, such as communications services. Even though multiple devices may share a monthly allotment of resources, an individual threshold is established for each device. The multiple individual thresholds may then be dynamically regulated to maintain the monthly allotment of resources.

Methods and systems are described for monitoring communications in a packet-switched network. More specifically, the system initiates a communication between a network endpoint associated with a call mediator and at least a second network endpoint; records, at the call mediator, information associated with the communication; and upon termination of the communication, communicates, from the call mediator to an enterprise gatekeeper, the information associated with the communication.

Disclosed herein are various embodiments to prevent, detect, or take action in response to the moving a device credential from one device to another, the improper configuration of a service processor, a missing service processor, or the tampering with a service processor in device-assisted services (DAS) systems.

The embodiment of the present document discloses a method and apparatus for charging local traffic on a wireless side, which relate to the communication field. The method comprises: a wireless-side network element collecting data traffic and a corresponding IP address of user equipment (UE), searching for UE identification information matching the IP address, and updating the data traffic to a charging data record (CDR) of the corresponding UE, and sending to a charging gateway (CG). The embodiment of the present document can support charging on a wireless access side.