Abstract: A method of operating a communications charging system comprises receiving an override message comprising an override code indicative of a charging rule override request which affects a terminal. The method further comprises, in response to the override code, making an association of a use of the terminal during an override term to an alternate account rather than to a default account as would otherwise occur by a charging rule; and thereafter at reception of a charging request which is subsequent and separate from the override message, allocating a charge for a service for which the charging request occurs to the alternate account in accordance with the association.

Abstract: A method of operating a communications charging system comprises receiving an override message comprising an override code indicative of a charging rule override request which affects a terminal. The method further comprises, in response to the override code, making an association of a use of the terminal during an override term to an alternate account rather than to a default account as would otherwise occur by a charging rule; and thereafter at reception of a charging request which is subsequent and separate from the override message, allocating a charge for a service for which the charging request occurs to the alternate account in accordance with the association.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for control of service usage in a communications system, wherein a charging client receives a service request from a user initiating a charging transaction. In response to the service request checking a free of charge indicator in the charging client, and if the free of charge indicator is confirmative for the service request the charging client granting the service request to the user.

Abstract: A method and system for determining rating data for services in a communication network, wherein an incoming charging request is received from a service element (105, 106), data such as a location number associated with a service or a subscriber (102) is accessed, and a tariff structure is traversed (307). It is determining whether there is a branching condition for the data and then if any list or record (201a,b; 202a,b; 203a,b; 204a,b) is associated with a subscriber (201), account (203), subscriber group (202), or account group (204) contains the data (309, 310). A list indicator corresponding to the data is accessed (311). It is determined whether there is a branching condition for the list indicator (312), and if so the list indicator is searched in the tariff structure (313). Analyse of the tariff structure is performed based on the list indicator for finding a resulting tariff for return to the request (314-320).

Abstract: A method and system for determining rating data for services in a communication network, wherein an incoming charging request is received from a service element (105, 106), data such as a location number associated with a service or a subscriber (102) is accessed, and a tariff structure is traversed (307). It is determining whether there is a branching condition for the data and then if any list or record (201a,b; 202a,b; 203a,b; 204a,b) is associated with a subscriber (201), account (203), subscriber group (202), or account group (204) contains the data (309, 310). A list indicator corresponding to the data is accessed (311). It is determined whether there is a branching condition for the list indicator (312), and if so the list indicator is searched in the tariff structure (313). Analyse of the tariff structure is performed based on the list indicator for finding a resulting tariff for return to the request (314-320).