Abstract: The various embodiments include methods, computers and communication systems for controlling services across multiple heterogeneous networks by collecting communication information from a plurality of telecommunications domains, generating a message based on the collected communication information, and sending the generated message to a public interface of a telecommunications domain to alter the functionality of the telecommunications domain component. The generated message may include information for altering a functionality of a telecommunications domain component. Generating a message based on the collected communication information may include crowd sourcing the collected information, which may include summing, averaging, aggregating, comparing and/or correlating the collected information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accomplishing charging operations in a communications network in which a plurality of charging and enforcement (CaE) components operate as enforcement points for a single data communication may include receiving in a server computing device usage records from a first CaE component and a second CaE component, generating correlated usage records by using a common Service Data Flow (SDF) to correlate the one or more usage records received from the first CaE component with the one or more records received from the second CaR component, and using the correlated usage records to determine a charge value that identifies correct charges to be applied.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accomplishing charging operations in telecommunications networks that include multiple charging and enforcement components may include configuring a first charging and enforcement component to receive user traffic, determine usage information associated with the received user traffic, send the associated usage information to a charging system component, and send the user traffic and the associated usage information to a second charging and enforcement component. The second charging and enforcement component may be configured to receive the user traffic and usage information, compute updated usage information, and send the updated usage information to the charging system component. The charging system may use this updated usage information to ensure that the subscriber accounts were billed correctly.

Abstract: A network server may be configured to prevent user equipment (UE) from communicating payload information across a telecommunication network without paying for the access or use of the network. This may be accomplished by the network server receiving signaling information relating to the UE from a first network component, receiving data plane information relating to the UE from a second network component, using the received information to determine a ratio between the number of signaling-only connections and the average monthly revenue associated with the user equipment device, determining whether the UE is a signaling-only device based on the ratio, and performing a responsive operation when it is determined that the user equipment device is a signaling-only device. The responsive operation may include applying a policy or charging rule to the signaling communications of the UE when it is determined that the UE is a signaling-only device.

Abstract: A system and method for managing group-based charging for network usage and spending. A server computing device that includes an offline charging system (OFCS) component may be configured to receive a communication message that includes a first attribute, determine/identify a group of user equipments that includes a first user equipment device that is associated with the received communication message, and determine a charging attribute state for the determined group of user equipments based on the first attribute and a second attribute associated with a second user equipment device in the group of user equipments. The server may apply a charging event, determine whether the charging attribute state of the group of user equipments changed as a result of applying the charging event, and notifying a listener component of a new charging attribute state in response to determining that the charging attribute state of the group of user equipments changed.

Abstract: A telecommunication network may include a policy management system and a charging system. The charging system may be configured to receive a request for subscriber state information relating to a subscriber from the policy management system, retrieve current subscriber state information from memory, determine future subscriber state information for the subscriber, generate a communication message that includes the current subscriber state information and the future subscriber state information, and send the generated communication message to the server computing device.

Abstract: A network server may be configured to prevent user equipment (UE) from communicating payload information across a telecommunication network without paying for the access or use of the network. This may be accomplished by the network server receiving signaling information relating to the UE from a first network component, receiving data plane information relating to the UE from a second network component, determining whether the UE is a signaling-only device based on the received information, and performing a responsive operation when it is determined that the user equipment device is a signaling-only device. The responsive operation may include applying a policy rule to the signaling communications of the UE when it is determined that the UE is a signaling-only device. The policy rule may be charging rule that causes a charging system to bill a subscriber account or a network access rule that blocks the signaling communications of the UE.

Abstract: A system and method for telecommunications operators to enable group based dynamic policy controls for both pre-paid and post-paid subscribers, who are typically not managed in an Online Charging System (OCS), but rather in an Charging System or a Billing System. Examples of policy controls that may be enabled by this invention include tracking spending for post-paid subscribers, managing subscriber usage across fixed-line and mobile networks, and so on. This is achieved by introducing a new component called the Enhanced Charging System (ECS) and creating a new reference point and interface between the Policy Management System and the ECS.

Abstract: The various embodiments include methods, computers and communication systems for establishing a closed feedback loop across multiple heterogeneous networks within a telecommunications system, which may include measuring a first attribute of a communication in a first telecommunications domain and sending a first request message including information relating to the measured first attribute to a server. The server may receive the first request message, identify a second telecommunications domain involved in the communication based on information in the first request message, generate a second request message that includes information for adjusting a second attribute of the communication, and send the second request message to the second telecommunications domain. A computing device in the second telecommunications domain may receive the second request message and adjust the second attribute of the communication to alter the first attribute of the communication in the first telecommunications domain.

Abstract: A network server may be configured to prevent user equipment (UE) from communicating payload information across a telecommunication network without paying for the access or use of the network. This may be accomplished by the network server receiving signaling information relating to the UE from a first network component, receiving data plane information relating to the UE from a second network component, determining whether the UE is a signaling-only device based on the received information, and performing a responsive operation when it is determined that the user equipment device is a signaling-only device. The responsive operation may include applying a policy rule to the signaling communications of the UE when it is determined that the UE is a signaling-only device. The policy rule may be charging rule that causes a charging system to bill a subscriber account or a network access rule that blocks the signaling communications of the UE.

Abstract: Methods, servers and systems for directly accessing and modifying charging information maintained within a telecommunications operator's business and operating systems' infrastructure from user equipment. A mobile application server may receive a charging request from a user equipment, identify a relevant charging system based on the received request, send a charging request to the identified charging system for processing, receive a first response message including charging information from the identified charging system, generate a second response message based on the charging information included in the first response message, and send the generated second response message to the user equipment. The received charging request may include various types of information, including information for transferring cost or billing information from a first billing category to a second billing category.

Abstract: Methods, servers and systems for directly accessing and modifying charging information maintained within a telecommunications operator's business and operating systems' infrastructure from user equipment. A mobile application server may receive a charging request from a user equipment, identify a relevant charging system based on the received request, send a charging request to the identified charging system for processing, receive a first response message including charging information from the identified charging system, generate a second response message based on the charging information included in the first response message, and send the generated second response message to the user equipment. The received charging request may include various types of information, including information for transferring cost or billing information from a first billing category to a second billing category.

Abstract: Methods, servers and systems for directly accessing and modifying charging information maintained within a telecommunications operator's business and operating systems' infrastructure from user equipment. A mobile application server may receive a charging request from a user equipment, identify a relevant charging system based on the received request, send a charging request to the identified charging system for processing, receive a first response message including charging information from the identified charging system, generate a second response message based on the charging information included in the first response message, and send the generated second response message to the user equipment. The received charging request may include various types of information, including information for transferring cost or billing information from a first billing category to a second billing category.

Abstract: Surveillance system endpoints communicate with each other to send and receive presence information. The surveillance endpoints may react to the received presence information. For example, if one surveillance camera stops functioning, one or more other cameras can react to the presence information, or lack thereof, sent from the malfunctioning camera. Thus, one or more of the other cameras can cover the area normally covered by the malfunctioning camera. Thus, the surveillance endpoints can automatically react to presence events in a network of surveillance endpoints.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accomplishing charging operations in telecommunications networks that include multiple charging and enforcement components may include configuring a first charging and enforcement component to receive user traffic, determine usage information associated with the received user traffic, send the associated usage information to a charging system component, and send the user traffic and the associated usage information to a second charging and enforcement component. The second charging and enforcement component may be configured to receive the user traffic and usage information, compute updated usage information, and send the updated usage information to the charging system component. The charging system may use this updated usage information to ensure that the subscriber accounts were billed correctly.

Abstract: A network server may be configured to communicate triggers across a telecommunication network by receiving a trigger communication message that includes information suitable for causing a destination machine-to-machine device to perform operations in response to receiving the trigger communication message, receiving policy or charging information from a component in the telecommunication network, determining whether the trigger communication message should be sent to the destination machine-to-machine based on the received policy or charging information, and sending the trigger communication message to the destination component only when it is determined that the trigger communication message should be sent to the destination machine-to-machine based on the received policy or charging information.

Abstract: A network server may be configured to prevent user equipment (UE) from communicating payload information across a telecommunication network without paying for the access or use of the network. This may be accomplished by the network server receiving signaling information relating to the UE from a first network component, receiving data plane information relating to the UE from a second network component, determining whether the UE is a signaling-only device based on the received information, and performing a responsive operation when it is determined that the user equipment device is a signaling-only device. The responsive operation may include applying a policy rule to the signaling communications of the UE when it is determined that the UE is a signaling-only device. The policy rule may be charging rule that causes a charging system to bill a subscriber account or a network access rule that blocks the signaling communications of the UE.

Abstract: A network server may be configured to generate, modify, augment, communicate, and/or manage the triggers and signaling communications so that they may be processed and communicated in a more intelligent, efficient, and/or cost effective manner than that which is available via conventional solutions. The network server may receive a trigger communication message that includes trigger parameters and information suitable for causing a destination device to automatically initiate an operation, determining a criterion for sending the trigger communication message to the destination device based on the trigger parameters included in the trigger communication message, monitoring a condition to determine whether the criterion has been satisfied, and send the trigger communication message to the destination device when it is determined that the criterion has been satisfied.

Abstract: A telecommunication network may include a policy management system and a charging system. The charging system may be configured to receive a request for subscriber state information relating to a subscriber from the policy management system, retrieve current subscriber state information from memory, determine future subscriber state information for the subscriber, generate a communication message that includes the current subscriber state information and the future subscriber state information, and send the generated communication message to the server computing device.

Abstract: The various embodiments include methods, computers and communication systems that enable synchronizing information in a telecommunications system, which may include receiving a first message including communication information to be synchronized from a first domain, receiving a second message including information associated with a communication on a component in a second telecommunication domain, synchronizing information included in the first message with information included in the second message, and sending the synchronized information to a public interface of the first domain. Synchronizing the information included in the first message with information included in the second message may include synchronizing one or more of metering, rating, charging, balance, policy, and contextual information.