A method for enabling a charging of packet switched data transfer between an authorized customer and a network. The method includes transferring a total data volume via at least a first data path and a second data path between an equipment related to the authorized customer and a hybrid access aggregation point (HAAP) as an access to the network. Each of the at least a first data path and a second data bath use a different access technology for transferring its respective part of the total data volume. The total data volume is determined as a sum of the respective parts of the total data volume transferred in both the first path and the second path. The total data volume is used by a central charging unit for a charging.

The application is at least directed to a charging system for a service domain residing on a network node. The charging system includes a service domain charging management function on the node storing charging policies for the service domain. The charging system also includes a service domain on-line charging system on the node receiving a service request from the service domain charging management function. The charging system also checks the credit for the requested service before granting the service. The charging system also includes a service domain off-line charging system on the node receiving charging events from the service domain charging management function and producing service domain charging data records. The application also is directed to a method for granting service to a requestor.

A power sourcing equipment is provided. The power sourcing equipment may include an input terminal, an output terminal, a switch, and a device detection circuit. The input terminal may receive a power signal. The output terminal may be electrically coupled to a powered device via a coaxial cable, which transmits the power signal from the power sourcing equipment to the powered device or a data signal from the powered device to the power sourcing equipment. The switch may control an electrical connection between the input and output terminal(s). The device detection circuit may detect whether the data signal is being transmitted from the powered device to the power sourcing equipment. If the data signal is not being transmitted from the powered device to the power sourcing equipment, the device detection circuit may control an operation of the switch based on an electrical parameter associated with the powered device.

An information handling system may include a first subsystem operable to receive data associated with computing resources from at least one computing resource provider. The system may further include a second subsystem in communication with the first subsystem, the second subsystem operable to provide the computing resources to at least one computing resource customer, wherein the at least one computing resource provider receives compensation paid by the at least one computing resource customer for completion of a workload. A method for managing a computing resource within an information handling system may include receiving data associated with the computing resource from at least one computing resource provider and providing the computing resources to at least one computing resource customer. The at least one computing resource provider may receive compensation paid by the at least one resource customer for completion of a workload.

A network access server (NAS) determines the status of availability (e.g., how much more quota is unused) of an access resource, and sends a notification embedded in a point-to-point protocol (PPP) packet. The format of the packet is chosen such that definition/use of higher layers (e.g., HTTP) is not required to communicate the status to a client system. As a result, the user may be notified even if software such as web browser is not being executed on the client system.

Communication networks and methods are disclosed for performing online charging in LTE/EPC communication networks. In an LTE/EPC communication network, one or more LTE network elements connect to an Online Charging System (OCS) over an enhanced interface. The LTE network element that is serving a session for a mobile device triggers on a charging event, and generates a credit request message (e.g., Diameter CCR). The LTE network element identifies access information for the session indicating the type of access for the mobile device to the LTE/EPC communication network, and inserts the access information in the credit request message. Through the enhanced interface, the LTE network element is able to transmit the credit request message to the OCS with the access information. The access information may then be used in the OCS to determine a more accurate charging rate for the session.

Systems and methods are provided to facilitate donations via mobile communications. In one aspect, a system includes a data storage facility and an interchange having a common format processor and a plurality of converters to interface with a plurality of different controllers of mobile communications. The converters are configured to communicate with the controllers in different formats and with the common format processor in a common format. For a payment to a merchant, the common format processor provides a user interface configured to present charity donation options in response to a phone number being specified in the user interface to identify a fund source. The common format processor uses one of the converters to communicate with a mobile phone at the phone number to confirm the payment to the merchant and a donation to a separate charity organization specified via the user interface.

Provided are a method and apparatus for providing a big data analysis service, and a computer readable storage medium. The method for providing a big data analysis service includes: generating, by network data analytics, big data information according to network operation and maintenance data, and sending the big data information to an application through a network exposure function.

A computer system that provides clients access to pooled resources in order to provide computing or data storage services may receive service requests (which explicitly or implicitly include requests for pooled resources), may service at least some of those requests, and may determine pricing for the serviced requests. The pricing for each request may be dependent on whether it was serviced using a portion of a resource pool that was reserved for the use of the client on whose behalf it was received or using burst capacity (e.g., unreserved or otherwise idle capacity within the resource pool). Pricing for the use of reserved capacity may be fixed, regardless of the amount of reserved capacity used. Pricing for burst capacity may depend on actual use, and may be demand-based (e.g., using a spot-market-based dynamic pricing model). Clients with reserved capacity may optionally request access to burst capacity.

A method of real-time communication, including providing a first electronic communications device in signal communication with a network, wherein the first electronic communications device includes a processing unit, and providing a second electronic communications device in signal communication with the network. Initiating a communications session between the first and second electronic communications devices, tracking a duration of the communications session, and ending the communications session between the first and second communications devices. Generating billing data as a function of the duration of the communication session and automatically transmitting the billing data to a billing agency.