Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for transferring charging information in telecommunication system, the method comprising establishing a call between a first terminal and a second terminal, the establishment of the call being performed by the transmission of call setup messages according to a messaging protocol between the first network and the second network; and transmitting charging data between first and second charging units to indicate the basis of charging for the support of the call; wherein the call setup messages and the charging data are transferred according to the same messaging protocol.

Abstract: An online charging management server comprising: receiving means arranged to receive at least one account request message transmitted from a network service provider; and transmitting means arranged to transmit an online account balance message to a further separate server based on the received account request.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring number portability in a communication system, comprising transmitting ported-out information to a network element are disclosed. The system includes an originating network and a recipient network. The originating network includes a first network element for establishing a call to a ported-out subscriber and for transmitting ported-out information.

Abstract: A method and system for charging for services in a communication system comprises a charging entity and at least two connection support entities for providing resources to support a connection in the communication system. Various steps include detecting initiation of a connection by the connection support entities; generating a charging identity for identifying the connection; determining a first charge for supporting the connection by the first connection support entity; determining a second charge for the support of the connection by the second connection support entity; transmitting a first charging message from the first connection support entity to the charging entity, the message specifying the first charge and including the charging identity; and transmitting a second charging message from the second connection support entity to the charging entity, the second charging message specifying the second charge and including the charging identity.

Abstract: A method is provided for handling a service of a predetermined type within a charging system comprising a server and a client. The method includes receiving, at the client, a request for the service of the predetermined type from a terminal, transmitting said request from the client to the server in a charging control request in which the service of the predetermined type is indicated, checking, at said server, whether the requested service of the predetermined type can be granted, and if granted, responding, by said server, with a control message to the client, and measuring, by the client, the usage of resources consumed by the granted service in response to said control message, and reporting the measured used resources for the service at a predetermined condition from the client to the server in a report message. The present invention relates also to a corresponding system and network entities.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for multiplexing different sessions using the same authorized contexts for media. The method includes distinguishing different control plane sessions by a user equipment, and identifying media flows of a same application among the different control plane sessions by the user equipment by setting a service identifier. The method further includes sending the service identifier by the user equipment to a call state control function including a policy decision function, and authorizing quality of service for a user plane context by the policy decision function. Furthermore, the method includes enabling, by the policy decision function based on the service identifier, the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application to share the same user plane context with the authorized quality of service to multiplex the different control plane sessions with media flows of the same application.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining a charge for a communication in a communications network is provided. A message is received from a user equipment. The message comprises a payload and is addressed to a plurality of destinations. A first message is sent towards a destination of the plurality of destinations. The first message comprises the payload, a first charging identifier, and a second charging identifier. The first charging identifier is associated with the message and the second charging identifier is generated for the destination. A charging message is sent to a network node to charge an account of the user equipment. The charging message comprises the first charging identifier and the second charging identifier.

Abstract: A method of multiplexing different sessions using the same authorized contexts for media, comprising: distinguishing the sessions to be multiplexed, by a device; creating a new session on a control plane; indicating media flows of different sessions; and enabling the sessions to share the same authorized context for media, thus being multiplexed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for charging for services in a communication system supporting a Diameter IP protocol, comprising defining at least one attribute value pair to define sponsorship information.

Abstract: A method of communication comprising the steps of: requesting at least one service having a plurality of parts; determining if said at least one service can be provided taking into account credit information relating to a user; and if not providing only one or some of said plurality of parts of said at least one service.

Abstract: For controlling charging in an Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem, it is detected whether a session initiated in the Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem is associated with a service requiring special charging control, and charging information is added to messages signalling establishment or modification of the session in the Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem in accordance with the detection result.

Abstract: A method is provided for handling a service of a predetermined type within a charging system comprising a server and a client. The method includes receiving, at the client, a request for the service of the predetermined type from a terminal, transmitting said request from the client to the server in a charging control request in which the service of the predetermined type is indicated, checking, at said server, whether the requested service of the predetermined type can be granted, and if granted, responding, by said server, with a control message to the client, and measuring, by the client, the usage of resources consumed by the granted service in response to said control message, and reporting the measured used resources for the service at a predetermined condition from the client to the server in a report message. The present invention relates also to a corresponding system and network entities.

Abstract: An online charging management server comprising: receiving means arranged to receive at least one account request message transmitted from a network service provider; and transmitting means arranged to transmit an online account balance message to a further separate server based on the received account request.

Abstract: A method of controlling provision of services from a network element to a subscriber comprising: defining a credit threshold representing the amount of credit remaining to the subscriber below which services will no longer be provided to that subscriber; responsive to a request for a first service from the subscriber, defining a quota of service units and, in the event that the credit remaining to the subscriber after funding said quota falls below the credit threshold, returning a service control indication with said quota; responsive to a subsequent request for a second service from the subscriber, returning a defined quota of service units with said service control indication; and monitoring usage of said service units in providing the first or second service and when it is determined that the quota has been used up, acting on the service control indication to interrupt said service provision.

Abstract: The invention provides, according to one embodiment, a method for charging for services in a communication system which includes a charging entity and at least two connection support entities for providing resources to support a connection in the communication system. The method may include detecting initiation of a connection for provision by the connection support entities, generating a charging identity at a first one of the connection support entities for identifying the connection to the at least two connection support entities, transmitting a first charging message from the first connection support entity to the charging entity, the message specifying a first tariff and including the charging identity, transmitting a second charging message from the second connection support entity to the charging entity, the message specifying a second tariff and including the charging identity, and storing the first tariff and the second tariff.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and network system for charging an account related to a terminal device (1) of a subscriber (A) to a first data network (10) for a network session rendered to the terminal device when roaming in a second data network (18). According to the method of the invention, upon registration of the terminal device to the second (visited) data network a network address of a first charging system (16) related to the home data network (10) of the terminal device (1) is transmitted from the home data network to the visited data network (18). When a network session is established for the terminal device (1) by the second data network, assessing of charge information about the network session will begin in the second data network in a real-time process. The saved network address of the charging system will be used for transmitting in real-time the assessed charge information from the second data network to the first charging system (16).

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for enabling prepaid service in a packet-based communications system, in particular in an All-IP network which comprises one or more subscriber terminals. At least one subscriber database stores subscriber information including identification data of one or more server means, and the at least one server means stores prepaid accounts for subscribers. When a subscriber terminal is initiating the establishment of a connection to another network entity, the server means is adapted to transmit a subscriber-prepaid-account related value informing a control means on an available charge threshold value for the connection to be established.

Abstract: A method for charging for services in a communication system comprising a charging entity and at least two connection support entities for providing resources to support connection in the communication system. the method comprising: detecting initiation of a connection for provision by the connection support entities; generating a charging identity for identifying the connection: determining according to a first stored tariff a first charge for the support of the connection by the first connection support entity: determining according to a second stored tariff a second charge for the support of the connection by the second connection support entity; transmitting a first charging message from the first connection support entity to the charging entity. the message specifying the first charge and including the charging identity; and transmitting a second charging message from the second connection support entity to the charging entity, the message specifying the second charge and including the charging identity.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for charging of data reaching a network element of a communication network during a data session, the data session comprising a plurality of data flows, with each flow being distinguishable by a set of flow parameters, the method comprising the steps of: enforcing a charging policy at the network element to be applied to said data, wherein said charging policy defines charging rules per flow; observing said data reaching said network element and detecting at least one flow of data; and matching said detected flow of data to an enforced charging policy, applying said matching charging policy to said flow, thereby generating charging information. Also, the present invention concerns a method for supplying a network element with a charging policy to be enforced at said network element for charging of data reaching said network element of a communication network during a data session. Additionally, corresponding devices are concerned by the present invention.

Abstract: A communications network system and a corresponding method for starting an AoC service of a user are disclosed. The system comprises a control means for sending a protocol message comprising a MIME indication of an AoC application to a user equipment (UE). The user equipment receives the protocol message and activates the AoC application by using the MIME indication.