Abstract: Methods are provided for metering the usage, on a group of lines subject to a group user agreement, of the data processing capacity of a network. Implementations include steps of receiving usage reports from respective lines of the group at least when usage quotas granted to the lines are exhausted; maintaining a total, over the group, of usage that has been reported by the lines and of outstanding usage quotas that have been granted to the lines; and maintaining a comparison between the total outstanding group quota and a limit that depends on the total reported group usage, so as to detect violation events when said quota violates the limit. Upon occurrence of violation events, instructions for the processors serving respective lines to reallocate quota are sent selectively.

Abstract: A method of forwarding messages in a wireless network is provided. The method comprises receiving a message destined for a first mobile station, processing the message based on call forwarding data to make a determination as to whether the message is to be forwarded to different mobile station, and transmitting the message to a message center responsive to the determination determining that the message is to be forwarded to a different mobile station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allowing a reseller to securely access and manage scratch cards at a recharge card management system that is maintained by the service provider. The service provider and reseller users of the recharge card management system can create a scratch card batch that is associated with the reseller account identification. The service provider and reseller users can search, view and modify scratch card data based on security and accessibility. Advantageously, the reseller or distributor can only manage and sell scratch card only to its own account identification, thus protecting such transactions against fraud.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises one or more intelligent network platforms that serve to provide feedback to be played to a calling communication device during a call from the calling communication device for a called communication device. One or more of the one or more intelligent network platforms allow a user of the called communication device to preselect one or more portions of the feedback. One or more of the one or more intelligent network platforms employ signaling to connect the call from the calling communication device to an intelligent network platform of the one or more intelligent network platforms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing billing request and response messages to a billing server for serving calls by a particular subscriber. When the subscriber originates a call, an original billing request message is transmitted to an agent server. The agent server determines which billing server serves that subscriber and forwards the billing message to the selected billing server. The billing server responds to the request message with billing request data. Advantageously, this arrangement minimizes the problems of updating a large number of subscriber identification/billing server identification databases.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for charging and billing of Circuit Switch, Packet Switch, and IP Multimedia Subsystems in third generation telecommunication systems. The charges for a call are computed by a rating engine, a software system comprising data tables and a program for calculating charges from the parameters of the call, such as the calling and called numbers, the length of the call, and special charge items such as priority service. For calls whose billing cannot be deferred, referred to as on-line billing calls, the rating engine is accessed immediately. For calls whose billing can be deferred, referred to as off-line billing calls, the rating engine performs its function only when the rating engine is not busy rating on-line billing calls, for example, during periods outside the busy hour. Advantageously, only a single rating engine is required, and the capacity of that single rating engine is determined only by the busy-hour volume of on-line billing calls.

Abstract: A packet flow control method where delay data are added into an initial packet as it traverses a packet switching network, and where the receiver of the initial packet, rather than the sender, establishes a window size based on such delay data to be used for the duration of a packet connection through the network. The delay data allow for the calculation of an average rather than an instantaneous network delay such that the flow control mechanism is not dependent on the magnitude of network congestion that happens to be present when the connection is first established. Since the receiver determines the window size, the flow control mechanism is put in place as an integral part of the initial packet exchange used to establish the two-way packet connection rather than requiring an additional packet communication to the receiver after a window size calculation by the sender.