A method and system for payments for mobile phone payments with a disabling feature is disclosed. The method includes activating a mobile phone containing contactless payment systems, and having a timeout feature disable the contactless payment systems after a set period of time.

A system for generating and applying a secure token in a resource distribution network is provided. For example, a headend system generates a time-based token based on a time duration specified for a meter. The time-based token indicates the time duration for the meter. The time-based token is further generated based on an identifier of the meter. The headend system transmits the time-based token to the meter via at least a mesh network. After receiving the time-based token, the meter validates the time-based token to determine that the time-based token is generated for the meter based on information related to the identifier of the meter. If the meter determines that the time-based token is valid, the meter connects premises associated with the meter to a resource distribution network for at least the time duration specified in the time-based token.

A system for generating and applying a secure token in a resource distribution network is provided. For example, a headend system generates a global token based on a time duration specified for multiple meters that are in communication with the headend system through at least a mesh network in a normal condition. The global token is associated with the time duration and is applicable to the multiple meters. The headend system causes the global token to be broadcast via a broadcast network. After receiving the global token, the meter verifies the global token and determines the time duration associated with the global token. The meter further connects premises associated with the meter to a resource distribution network for at least the time duration associated with the global token.

The present invention provides a method for providing sponsored communication services in a telecommunication network to loan non-eligible subscribers comprising: receiving, by a proxy device, a communication request originating from an initiating party and forwarding the communication request to a loan granting system; receiving, by the proxy device, a signal indicative of loan refusal (because the subscriber is a loan non-eligible subscriber) from the loan granting system; informing the initiating party, by the proxy device, terms of sponsorship and seeking approval from the initiating party; receiving, by the proxy device, a signal indicative of approval by the initiating party; and sending, by the proxy device, routing information to a routing device for storing in respect of the initiating party, the routing device acting upon the routing information while providing a communication service.

The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a Control Plane (CP) function for handling a credit pool comprising granted service units to be used by multiple services. The multiple services are grouped in at least one first Rating Group (RG). The CP function creates an individual Usage Reporting Rule (URR) for each of the at least one first RG. Each individual URR comprises a first credit pool threshold. The CP function provides the individual URRs to a User Plane (UP) function. The CP function creates a Usage Reporting Rule for the Credit Pool (URR CRPL). The URR CRPL comprises instructions to the UP function to aggregate service unit usage for all individual URRs for all first RGs. The URR CRPL further comprises the first credit pool threshold. The CP function provides the URR CRPL to the UP function.

A method for managing mobile payments in a mobile phone. The method includes receiving data associated with a plurality of issuer specific payment services at a mobile phone, selecting one of the issuer specific payment services, and conducting a transaction using the phone.

Methods and apparatus for managing quality of service for video streaming, in which a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) in a Policy Charging Control (PCC) architecture of a telecommunications system receives from a Policy Control Enforcement Function (PCEF) a notification indicating that a video service has started for streaming video content to a user equipment (UE). A first Quality of Service (QoS) setting for streaming the video service to the UE is determined. First QoS setting data identifying the first QoS setting is transmitted to the PCEF. The PCEF transmits a further notification to the PCRF indicating that a particular stage has been reached. The PCRF receives the notification from the PCEF. In response to the further notification, a second QoS setting specifying a lower QoS than the first QoS setting for streaming the video service after the particular stage is determined. The PCRF identifies the second QoS setting to the PCEF.

Asynchronous and/or synchronous zero charge telephony protocol systems and methods may include an asynchronous signaling switch and/or a call duration time quota from a synchronous charging onset to place and complete a call. A call request is received with a second device mobile address. The asynchronous systems include instructions to automatically modify the mobile address with a routing prefix when the first device has insufficient balance or independent of balance, route to the asynchronous signaling switch based on an associated modified address trunk path, revert to the call signal at the asynchronous signaling switch, and deliver and automatically disconnect the call immediately when the call is completed. The synchronous systems include instructions to automatically set the call duration time quota upon insufficient balance, and deliver and automatically disconnect the call from the second user mobile device when the call is completed and the call duration time quota is exceeded.

A system for generating and applying a secure token in a resource distribution network is provided. For example, a headend system generates a time-based token based on a time duration specified for a meter. The time-based token indicates the time duration for the meter. The time-based token is further generated based on an identifier of the meter. The headend system transmits the time-based token to the meter via at least a mesh network. After receiving the time-based token, the meter validates the time-based token to determine that the time-based token is generated for the meter based on information related to the identifier of the meter. If the meter determines that the time-based token is valid, the meter connects premises associated with the meter to a resource distribution network for at least the time duration specified in the time-based token.

The embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a Control Plane (CP) function for handling a credit pool comprising granted service units to be used by multiple services. The multiple services are grouped in at least one first Rating Group (RG). The CP function creates an individual Usage Reporting Rule (URR) for each of the at least one first RG. Each individual URR comprises a first credit pool threshold. The CP function provides the individual URRs to a User Plane (UP) function. The CP function creates a Usage Reporting Rule for the Credit Pool (URR CRPL). The URR CRPL comprises instructions to the UP function to aggregate service unit usage for all individual URRs for all first RGs. The URR CRPL further comprises the first credit pool threshold. The CP function provides the URR CRPL to the UP function.