Disclosed in one embodiment of the present invention is a method for a user staying in a first country to be authorized in advance, before entering a second country which is different from the first country, to use a network service on a user terminal in the second country, without buying a local USIM after arriving in the second country or using a roaming service.

The present invention pertains to improved communication quality of service in communication networks. A customer may pay different fees for different tiers of service relating to voice quality and bandwidth access. Higher service tiers may guarantee that a specific vocoder or bit rate is used; or guarantee that communication is supported by parameters such as maximum allowed dropped calls rate, jitter and latency. Availability may be guaranteed per the contract between subscribers and service providers. Different tiers may be associated with customers' records for billing purposes. High end devices may be afforded higher voice quality by comparing a given device to a look up table indicating what service level is associated therewith. A calling device or a receiving device may ask the other device to change the vocoder or bit rate to ensure a higher quality call. The user may also change the quality level before or during a call.

An OCS performs online charging to usage of GCS-AS service data in response to an online charging initial request; and the OCS sends a granted service unit and valid time information about a UE to the GCS-AS in response to the online charging initial request, based on an GCS-AS Ro interface. The GCS-AS sends the GCS-AS service data corresponding to the granted service unit, the valid time information, and a corresponding key to the UE. If the GCS-AS service data is based on the EPS bearer, the OCS performs online charging to usage of the GCS-AS service data based on a special rating group. If the GCS-AS service data is based on an MBMS bearer, the OCS charges a content provider for providing the GCS service data.

Embodiments of this application disclose a charging policy obtaining method and apparatus. The charging policy obtaining method may be used in a broadband network gateway, and specifically includes the following steps: receiving an authentication, authorization, and accounting request from user equipment, where the authentication, authorization, and accounting request includes a user name and a user equipment identifier; sending a charging policy request to a first server, where the charging policy request includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to carry the user name, and the second field is used to carry the user equipment identifier; and receiving a charging policy response sent by the first server, where the charging policy response includes a charging policy corresponding to the user name and the user equipment identifier, and obtaining the charging policy from the charging policy response.

An ordering system (102) generates subscription offerings and receives an order entry in response thereto, for configuring a plurality of mobile communication devices (116) and gateways. A service management system (106) having a service management controller processes the order entry and establishes subscription services in response thereto. The subscription services are based on one or more of features, bearer providers, and capabilities associated with the plurality of mobile communication devices and gateways. The service management system (106) manages the selection of optimal bearer providers as the gateways for the transport of features requested in the order. A billing service (120) is adjusted in accordance with deployment and management of the mobile communication devices, including the transfer of mission critical functions from narrowband bearer providers to broadband bearer providers.

Embodiments of this application disclose a charging policy obtaining method and apparatus. The charging policy obtaining method may be used in a broadband network gateway, and specifically includes the following steps: receiving an authentication, authorization, and accounting request from user equipment, where the authentication, authorization, and accounting request includes a user name and a user equipment identifier; sending a charging policy request to a first server, where the charging policy request includes a first field and a second field, the first field is used to carry the user name, and the second field is used to carry the user equipment identifier; and receiving a charging policy response sent by the first server, where the charging policy response includes a charging policy corresponding to the user name and the user equipment identifier, and obtaining the charging policy from the charging policy response.

An ordering system (102) generates subscription offerings and receives an order entry in response thereto, for configuring a plurality of mobile communication devices (116) and gateways. A service management system (106) having a service management controller processes the order entry and establishes subscription services in response thereto. The subscription services are based on one or more of features, bearer providers, and capabilities associated with the plurality of mobile communication devices and gateways. The service management system (106) manages the selection of optimal bearer providers as the gateways for the transport of features requested in the order. A billing service (120) is adjusted in accordance with deployment and management of the mobile communication devices, including the transfer of mission critical functions from narrowband bearer providers to broadband bearer providers.

An ordering system (102) generates subscription offerings and receives an order entry in response thereto, for configuring a plurality of mobile communication devices (116) and gateways. A service management system (106) having a service management controller processes the order entry and establishes subscription services in response thereto. The subscription services are based on one or more of features, bearer providers, and capabilities associated with the plurality of mobile communication devices and gateways. The service management system (106) manages the selection of optimal bearer providers as the gateways for the transport of features requested in the order. A billing service (120) is adjusted in accordance with deployment and management of the mobile communication devices, including the transfer of mission critical functions from narrowband bearer providers to broadband bearer providers.

An ordering system (102) generates subscription offerings and receives an order entry in response thereto, for configuring a plurality of mobile communication devices (116) and gateways. A service management system (106) having a service management controller processes the order entry and establishes subscription services in response thereto. The subscription services are based on one or more of features, bearer providers, and capabilities associated with the plurality of mobile communication devices and gateways. The service management system (106) manages the selection of optimal bearer providers as the gateways for the transport of features requested in the order. A billing service (120) is adjusted in accordance with deployment and management of the mobile communication devices, including the transfer of mission critical functions from narrowband bearer providers to broadband bearer providers.

The present invention pertains to improved communication quality of service in communication networks. A customer may pay different fees for different tiers of service relating to voice quality and bandwidth access. Higher service tiers may guarantee that a specific vocoder or bit rate is used; or guarantee that communication is supported by parameters such as maximum allowed dropped calls rate, jitter and latency. Availability may be guaranteed per the contract between subscribers and service providers. Different tiers may be associated with customers' records for billing purposes. High end devices may be afforded higher voice quality by comparing a given device to a look up table indicating what service level is associated therewith. A calling device or a receiving device may ask the other device to change the vocoder or bit rate to ensure a higher quality call. The user may also change the quality level before or during a call.