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.

A server of a fifth generation (5G) network can provide substantially real-time charges for a UE during fallback to another network. A Telephony Application Server (TAS) in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) can identify Evolved Packet System Fallback (EPSFB) and report the EPSFB to a charging system to cause the charging system to generate accurate charges for user equipment communicating over the 5G network and the other network. The TAS can comprise logic to identify a change in P-Access-Network-Information associated with each network, and generate a call detail records for billing, or real-time communication via an online charging and/or offline charging for the served UE. Information (a user profile, call detail records, instance of EPSFB, etc.) associated with the TAS can be used to make network improvements that decrease instances of EPSFB and increase an amount of new radio services available to UEs.

A technique for hiding topological information in a message that leaves a trusted network-domain is presented. The message pertains to a subscriber session and comprises a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) of a message originator. The originator is located in a first network domain, and the message is directed towards a destination in a second network domain. A method aspect comprises the steps of receiving the message, determining the FQDN comprised in the message and determining an identifier associated with the message. The identifier comprises at least one of a subscriber identifier, a session identifier and a destination identifier. Further, the method comprises applying a cryptographic operation on the FQDN and the identifier, or on information derived therefrom, to generate a cryptographic value. The message is then processed by substituting at least a portion of the FQDN with the cryptographic value prior to forwarding the message towards the second network domain.

A control plane function node may be used in a Fifth Generation (5G) Non-Standalone (NSA) architecture having Radio Access Network (RAN) level interworking between a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) RAN and a 5G New Radio (NR). The node obtains usage report data which are based on traffic of a user equipment (UE) via primary and secondary Radio Access Technologies (RATs). The node also obtains secondary RAT usage report data which are based on traffic of the UE via the secondary RAT. The node constructs a message which indicates a request for charging based on the usage report data and the secondary RAT usage report data. In constructing the message, the node populates, in association with a corresponding rating group and usage data of the UE, an identifier of a flow or bearer associated with secondary RAT usage, together with the secondary RAT usage report data.

To provide a gateway device that achieves charging control in accordance with a RAT being used by a UE even when the UE is performing communication using different RATs at the same time, the present gateway device (30) includes a management unit (31) configured to, when a communication terminal (10) forms communication aggregation by performing a first radio communication using a first radio access technology and a second radio communication using a second radio access technology, manage at least one bearer assigned to the communication terminal (10) in association with information indicating the first and second radio access technologies, and a charging system communication unit (32) configured to transmit the information indicating the first and second radio access technologies to at least one policy charging control device (40) that performs charging control.

A server of a fifth generation (5G) network can provide substantially real-time charges for a UE during fallback to another network. A Telephony Application Server (TAS) in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) can identify Evolved Packet System Fallback (EPSFB) and report the EPSFB to a charging system to cause the charging system to generate accurate charges for user equipment communicating over the 5G network and the other network. The TAS can comprise logic to identify a change in P-Access-Network-Information associated with each network, and generate a call detail records for billing, or real-time communication via an online charging and/or offline charging for the served UE. Information (a user profile, call detail records, instance of EPSFB, etc.) associated with the TAS can be used to make network improvements that decrease instances of EPSFB and increase an amount of new radio services available to UEs.

A control plane function node may be used in a Fifth Generation (5G) Non-Standalone (NSA) architecture having Radio Access Network (RAN) level interworking between a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) RAN and a 5G New Radio (NR). The node obtains usage report data which are based on traffic of a user equipment (UE) via primary and secondary Radio Access Technologies (RATs). The node also obtains secondary RAT usage report data which are based on traffic of the UE via the secondary RAT. The node constructs a message which indicates a request for charging based on the usage report data and the secondary RAT usage report data. In constructing the message, the node populates, in association with a corresponding rating group and usage data of the UE, an identifier of a flow or bearer associated with secondary RAT usage, together with the secondary RAT usage report data.

Systems and methods for providing mobile services are disclosed. In one implementation, an access point (AP) is provided, which may include a set of one or more base-station functions for use by a user equipment (UE) connected to the AP over a wireless communication interface. The one or more base-station functions may be configured to receive information from the UE. The AP may further include a set of one or more core-network functions configured to receive the information from the set of one or more base-station functions and a distributed portion of a service. The distributed portion of the service may be configured to receive the information from the one or more core-network functions and communicate the information to a corresponding cloud portion of the service running on a cloud platform. The service may be provided by a combination of the distributed portion and the cloud portion of the service. The distributed portion of the service may be further configured to receive a response from the cloud portion of the service based on processing performed by the cloud portion on the cloud platform.

A method and system for a wireless local area network user accessing a fixed broadband network, the method includes: a broadband network gateway (BNG) device initiating an identity authenticating process to an authentication authorization accounting (AAA) server for a wireless local area network (WLAN) user; after the AAA server successfully authenticates the WLAN user, the BNG device acquiring a mobility identifier of the WLAN user from the AAA server; after receiving the mobility identifier of the WLAN user, the BNG device allowing the mobility access of the WLAN user.

Determining an initial number of TCP connections, dynamically determining increases and decreases in the number of TCP connections, and so on depending on a wireless communication method that is used enables a plurality of TCP connections to be used for wireless communication methods having higher communication bandwidths, and can thus improve communication speeds. Meanwhile, a drop in communication speed can be suppressed when using wireless communication methods having lower communication bandwidths.