Abstract: A method of operating a charging system (22) for a telecommunications network comprises: (1) receiving a charging request in conjunction with a telecommunications activity involving a telecommunications terminal; (2) determining a default account to which a charge resulting from the charging request may be allocated; (3) making a request for an externally-controlled account selection of a selected account; and, (4) finally allocating the charge to the selected account. In an example embodiment and mode the method further comprises, prior to making the request for the externally-controlled account selection of the selected account, making a temporary allocation for a reservation for the telecommunications activity; and performing a default account rating for the telecommunications activity, the default account rating being performed upon assumption of use of the default account.

Abstract: A method of operating a charging system (22) for a telecommunications network comprises: (1) receiving a charging request in conjunction with a telecommunications activity involving a telecommunications terminal; (2) determining a default account to which a charge resulting from the charging request may be allocated; (3) making a request for an externally-controlled account selection of a selected account; and, (4) finally allocating the charge to the selected account. In an example embodiment and mode the method further comprises, prior to making the request for the externally-controlled account selection of the selected account, making a temporary allocation for a reservation for the telecommunications activity; and performing a default account rating for the telecommunications activity, the default account rating being performed upon assumption of use of the default account.

Abstract: Synchronization is provided between a real-time charging system (22) and an off-line billing system (24) of a communications network. The synchronization is facilitated by the real-time charging system (22) preparing a reporting record which includes information comprising: (1) an accumulated cost parameter associated with the event; (2) the real-time account balance, the real-time account balance reflecting the accumulated cost parameter; and (3) a transaction identifier associated with the event. The reporting record (40) is processed by the off-line billing system (24) so that the balances of a real-time account (34) and a off-line account (54) for a subscriber and be compared and, if necessary, adjusted, or other actions taken.

Abstract: A communications system (20) and method of operation thereof charges a call to at least one of plural customer accounts. A basic method comprises receiving a user identifier from a communications network in conjunction with a communications call or session, using an account-based filter to make a determination whether the call, having a user identifier which is associated with a first account, should be alternatively or partially associated with a second account instead of the first account. The filter can make the determination based on a characteristic of the call. In differing or combinations of embodiments, the characteristic of the call can be (by way of non-limiting example) at least one of type of service utilized by the call; time of the call; location of a party to the call; particular user identity employed at authentication of the call.

Abstract: A method of operating a communications system comprises, during a communications session involving a user of the communications system, making one or more reservations toward a postpaid account for a user, the postpaid account for the user being maintained in a real time account record. The method further comprises, upon receipt of a trigger signal, in conjunction with the reservation(s) assessing the account for the user only for the reservation(s) which have been evaluated by an interrogation. The method also comprises, upon close of billing period for the session, in conjunction with any yet-evaluated reservation(s): (1) assessing the account for the user only for a part of the yet-evaluated reservation(s) that is actually utilized; and (2) deleting from the account for the user any unused part of the yet-evaluated reservation(s).

Abstract: A communications system (20) and method of operation thereof charges a call to at least one of plural customer accounts. A basic method comprises receiving a user identifier from a communications network in conjunction with a communications call or session, using an account-based filter to make a determination whether the call, having a user identifier which is associated with a first account, should be alternatively or partially associated with a second account instead of the first account. The filter can make the determination based on a characteristic of the call. In differing or combinations of embodiments, the characteristic of the call can be (by way of non-limiting example) at least one of type of service utilized by the call; time of the call; location of a party to the call; particular user identity employed at authentication of the call.

Abstract: The present invention is related to managing resources in a radio communication network. The radio communication network comprises a first set of equipment and a second set of equipment. The first set of equipment is initially allocated (301) to serve a first call. Equipment reallocation (303) is initiated, whereby the second set of equipment is allocated to serve the first call and the first set of equipment is released from the first call, upon determining (302), according to a predetermined rule based on differences in functional capabilities of the first set of equipment and the second set of equipment, that it is desirable to serve the first call using the second set of equipment instead of the first set of equipment even though the first set of equipment is able to continue serving the first call.