Example charging methods and apparatus are described. One example method includes sending a service resource create request to a charging system by a charging trigger apparatus. The charging trigger apparatus receives a service resource create response sent by the charging system. The service resource create request is used to request the charging system to create a service resource corresponding to a service in a session. The session is used to provide a data connection service to user equipment. The service resource is used to manage requesting for a quota for the service in the session and/or manage reporting of usage information of the service in the session. The service resource create response includes a first resource identifier, and the first resource identifier is used to identify the service resource that corresponds to the service in the session and that is created by the charging system.

Techniques for distributed charging in digital telecommunications networks are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method that includes provisioning a data path that carries a plurality of network flows, receiving a shared usage quota associated with the plurality of network flows, and allocating the shared usage quota among the plurality of network flows. For each network flow among the plurality of network flows, the method includes providing the data path with data indicative of an amount of the shared usage quota allocated to the network flow, configuring the data path to collect metering data associated with the network flow, and configuring the data path to enforce the shared usage quota based on the metering data associated with the network flow and the amount of the shared usage quota allocated to the network flow.

A method and computer readable media are disclosed to supply values for either/both of volume/time for usage-monitoring from/to PCRF for a particular usage monitoring key. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying a monitoring key AVP used by a PCRF to provide at least one of a volume usage threshold level for a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) and a time of usage threshold level for a PCEF; wherein the monitoring key includes at least one of a volume threshold total for the monitoring key; a volume quota uplink threshold for the monitoring key; a volume quota downlink threshold for the monitoring key; and a time threshold for the monitoring key; and supplying values for at least one of volume for usage-monitoring for a PCRF for a particular usage monitoring key; and time for usage-monitoring for a PCRF for a particular usage monitoring key.

The present disclosure relates to the field of communication technologies. In one example charging method, a gateway manages, by using customer as a granularity, charging information of a plurality of devices of a customer that are currently connected to the gateway, and establishes one customer-level charging session or customer level Charging Data Record (CDR) for each customer.

Techniques and mechanisms for asynchronously initiating online charging triggers in mobile networks are described. A control plane gateway or “GW-C” may obtain from a mobility management entity (MME) a create session request associated with an attach request for a user equipment (UE). The GW-C may send to an online charging system (OCS) a Gy credit-control request for requesting a quota of units (e.g. a resource usage quota) associated with a subscriber of the UE. Prior to sending the Gy credit-control request or obtaining a Gy credit-control answer, the GW-C may send to the MME a create session response which prompts an attach accept or reject of the attach request. The Gy credit-control request may be sent to the OCS during an attach procedure associated with the attach request for the UE or, alternatively, in response to receiving a user data packet of the session as a notification.

A service processing method and a related product is applied to the charging field. A policy control device generates a first policy of a user service, and sends the first policy to a session management function device to indicate the session management function device to perform a first quota management mode on the user service. The policy control device receives related information of a second quota management mode of a user or the user service, and determines the second quota management mode. The policy control device generates a second policy of the user service based on the second quota management mode, where the second policy is for updating or replacing the first policy. According to this method, the quota management mode of the user service is time-effective, ensuring a balance between a latency condition and credit control risks.

It is provided a method, comprising monitoring if a request for granting a requested quota for a subscriber is received; calculating a quota consumption speed based on a consumption of a previous quota granted to the subscriber and a duration during which the previous quota is consumed; determining a determined quota size based on the quota consumption speed; granting a granted quota to the subscriber in response to the received request, wherein the granted quota has the determined quota size.

Various communication systems may benefit from appropriate prioritization of users and/or devices. For example, wireless communication systems may benefit from multi-subscription network prioritization, such as systems for prioritizing subscribers with multiple subscriptions that are using fewer devices than they have subscriptions. A method can include determining that a device is associated with a plurality of subscriptions. The method can also include determining at least one related device is not in use, wherein the at least one related device is associated with same plurality of subscriptions. The method can further include assigning a higher priority to the device based on the determinations that the device has the plurality of associated subscriptions and has at least one related device not in use.

Systems and methods may provide for establishing a data usage budget based on one or more of user input and historical usage data, wherein the data usage budget distinguishes between usage types and distinguishes between connection types. Additionally, a data usage of one or more client devices may be monitored in accordance with the data usage budget. In one example, the usage types are designated as one or more of a high bandwidth usage and a low bandwidth usage and the connection types are designated as one or more of a capped connection and a non-capped connection.

A charging processing method includes: A charging trigger device sends a charging request message to a charging processing device, where the charging request message includes redundant transmission information, that is, related information of redundant transmission used for a data connection service in a data connection session; and the charging processing device performs charging processing based on the redundant transmission information, including determining a redundant service charging processing mode, performing charging processing on a usage amount reported by the charging trigger device, sending usage amount processing indication information to the charging trigger device, or the like.