Abstract: Systems and methods for an enhanced online charging system service are described. A first signaling message is received from an originating mobile station for transmission over a network to a destination mobile station, wherein the first signaling message includes a voice message or a data message. A request from a mobile switching center (MSC), Short Message Service Center (SMSC) or Telephony Application Server (TAS) is provided to an online charging system (OCS) to determine an account usage balance associated with the mobile station. When the OCS determines the account is associated with valid monthly prepaid wireless subscription plan, a first response message is received at the MSC, SMC or TAS. The first response message indicates to the MSC, SMC or TAS to not send, for a predetermined time period, further requests to the OCS to determine an account usage balance associated with the mobile station.

Abstract: A method may include determining a number of user devices that can access data services in a wireless network and storing information identifying the determined number of user devices for each of a number of sectors for each of a number of periods of time. The method may also include receiving a request from a first user device associated with a first user for access to data services during a first period of time, accessing the stored information to determine whether to grant the request and providing access to data services via the wireless network to the first user device. The method may further include excluding data usage by the first user device during the first period of time from being applied against a data limit associated with the user's data plan.

Abstract: A method is provided for enforcing quality of service parameters. A gateway receives a request for data usage from a mobile device. The gateway sends, to a controller, inquiry for allowed bit rate. Upon receiving a first bit rate value, the gateway sends, to a charging system, request for quota. In response to receiving the quota, the gateway provides data to the mobile device based on the first bit rate value. The gateway provides data to the mobile device until the quota is exhausted. Once a data usage threshold is reached, the gateway receives, from the controller, a second bit rate value. In response to receiving the second bit rate value, the gateway provides data to the mobile device based on the second bit rate value, until an activation-time is reached. When the activation-time is reached, the gateway resets the allowed bit rate from the second bit rate value to the first bit rate value.

Abstract: A method may include determining a number of user devices that can access data services in a wireless network and storing information identifying the determined number of user devices for each of a number of sectors for each of a number of periods of time. The method may also include receiving a request from a first user device associated with a first user for access to data services during a first period of time, accessing the stored information to determine whether to grant the request and providing access to data services via the wireless network to the first user device. The method may further include excluding data usage by the first user device during the first period of time from being applied against a data limit associated with the user's data plan.

Abstract: Systems and methods for APN-based DNS query resolution for wireless data networks are disclosed. Some implementations include receiving a domain name system (DNS) query for a domain name from a device having a source IP address, the DNS query being associated with an access point name, determining whether the source IP address is within a predetermined IP address range, upon determining the source IP address is within the predetermined IP address range, updating the DNS query to include an updated domain name unique to the predetermined IP address range, forwarding the updated DNS query to a DNS server for resolution, receiving an IP address corresponding to the updated DNS query from the DNS server, the IP address being different from an IP address associated with the DNS query, and providing the device with the IP address corresponding to the updated DNS query.

Abstract: Network status information is provided to a mobile device. The data usage of the mobile device is tracked. A data usage criterion is determined from an account for the mobile device. The account information is stored on at least one server. The data usage is compared with the data usage criterion. Based on the comparison, it is determined whether the data usage meets the data usage criterion. Upon determining that the data usage meets the data usage criterion, a notification message is sent to the mobile device in real time through an information element field within an existing message in a bearer channel of the wireless packet data communication network. The notification message may instruct the mobile device to prevent generation and/or transmission of automatic network access requests while allowing user-initiated network access requests.

Abstract: Systems and methods for data bandwidth optimization are disclosed. A server receives, from a computing device, a request to begin a network data session. Responsive to receiving the request, the server allows the computing device to access network data at a full speed for a grace time period. Upon expiration of the grace time period, the server allows the computing device to access network data at a reduced speed for a monitoring time period. During the monitoring time period, the server monitors the computing device to determine whether the computing device is accessing network data in bursts or streaming data. Based on whether the computing device is accessing network data in bursts or streaming data, the server either allows the computing device to access network data at the full speed for a waiver time period or allows the computing device to access network data at the reduced speed until completion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for data bandwidth optimization are disclosed. A server receives, from a computing device, a request to begin a network data session. Responsive to receiving the request, the server allows the computing device to access network data at a full speed for a grace time period. Upon expiration of the grace time period, the server allows the computing device to access network data at a reduced speed for a monitoring time period. During the monitoring time period, the server monitors the computing device to determine whether the computing device is accessing network data in bursts or streaming data. Based on whether the computing device is accessing network data in bursts or streaming data, the server either allows the computing device to access network data at the full speed for a waiver time period or allows the computing device to access network data at the reduced speed until completion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an enhanced online charging system service are described. A first signaling message is received from an originating mobile station for transmission over a network to a destination mobile station, wherein the first signaling message includes a voice message or a data message. A request from a mobile switching center (MSC), Short Message Service Center (SMSC) or Telephony Application Server (TAS) is provided to an online charging system (OCS) to determine an account usage balance associated with the mobile station. When the OCS determines the account is associated with valid monthly prepaid wireless subscription plan, a first response message is received at the MSC, SMC or TAS. The first response message indicates to the MSC, SMC or TAS to not send, for a predetermined time period, further requests to the OCS to determine an account usage balance associated with the mobile station.

Abstract: Subscription status notification techniques are provided. A request is received by at least one server from a user equipment (UE) to attach to a wireless packet data communication network. The server determines whether the UE is associated with an enterprise identified by a service provider of the network as a sponsor of a data service through the network, based on an account of the UE stored on the server. Upon determining that the UE is associated with the enterprise, a notification message is sent from the server to the UE, through an information element field within an existing message in a bearer channel of the network. The UE is configured to control access to the network responsive to the subscription status in the notification message. The UE permits access to a sponsored data service associated with the enterprise sponsor regardless of the UE's ability to access non-enterprise associated data services.

Abstract: Subscription status notification techniques are provided. A request is received by at least one server from a user equipment (UE) to attach to a wireless packet data communication network. The server determines whether the UE is associated with an enterprise identified by a service provider of the network as a sponsor of a data service through the network, based on an account of the UE stored on the server. Upon determining that the UE is associated with the enterprise, a notification message is sent from the server to the UE, through an information element field within an existing message in a bearer channel of the network. The UE is configured to control access to the network responsive to the subscription status in the notification message. The UE permits access to a sponsored data service associated with the enterprise sponsor regardless of the UE's ability to access non-enterprise associated data services.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing content provider charged web content to a mobile device are disclosed. A mobile routing server receives a request for a mobile device to access web content associated with a content provider. The mobile routing server determines whether the request is associated with a provider-charged gateway. If the request is associated with the provider-charged gateway, the mobile routing server provides access to the web content via the provider-charged gateway and signals a billing server to charge an account associated with the content provider for data charges associated with the access to the web content. If the request is not associated with the provider-charged gateway, the mobile routing server provides access to the web content via a regular Internet gateway and signals the billing server to charge an account associated with the mobile device for the data charges associated with the access to the web content.

Abstract: Systems and methods for APN-based DNS query resolution for wireless data networks are disclosed. Some implementations include receiving a domain name system (DNS) query for a domain name from a device having a source IP address, the DNS query being associated with an access point name, determining whether the source IP address is within a predetermined IP address range, upon determining the source IP address is within the predetermined IP address range, updating the DNS query to include an updated domain name unique to the predetermined IP address range, forwarding the updated DNS query to a DNS server for resolution, receiving an IP address corresponding to the updated DNS query from the DNS server, the IP address being different from an IP address associated with the DNS query, and providing the device with the IP address corresponding to the updated DNS query.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for determining the network status of a mobile device. A wireless connection between the mobile device and a wireless packet data communication network is established. The mobile device sends a data packet through the network and monitors for a response via the network one or more times within a period or until a response via the network is received. If no response is received via the network, a test message is sent to a dummy server a predetermined number of times within a period or until a response from the dummy server is received. Upon determining that a response from the dummy server has been received, the mobile device deactivates or blocks network access requests originating from the mobile device to the network, unless initiated by a user of the mobile device.

Abstract: At a web browser application installed on a device a first Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is received. The web browser application determines a first Access Point Name (APN) network identifier associated with the first URL and establishes a first data connection based on the first APN network identifier between the device and a network. At the web browser application installed on the device a second URL is received. The web browser application determines a second Access Point Name (APN) network identifier associated with the second URL and establishes a second data connection based on the second APN network identifier between the device and a network.

Abstract: A method of permitting self-activation of a mobile device is presented. The device is able to be activated without accessing the Internet or relying on a customer service representative when a device with a SIM card is initially powered on. A device client resident on the mobile device detects that the SIM card is self-activation capable, and then provides a customized interface to walk the user through a self-activation process. The interface provides various features associated with the communication functionality of the device, whether or not the functionality is dependent on the make and model of the mobile device.

Abstract: At a web browser application installed on a device a first Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is received. The web browser application determines a first Access Point Name (APN) network identifier associated with the first URL and establishes a first data connection based on the first APN network identifier between the device and a network. At the web browser application installed on the device a second URL is received. The web browser application determines a second Access Point Name (APN) network identifier associated with the second URL and establishes a second data connection based on the second APN network identifier between the device and a network.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for determining the network status of a mobile device. A wireless connection between the mobile device and a wireless packet data communication network is established. The mobile device sends a data packet through the network and monitors for a response via the network one or more times within a period or until a response via the network is received. If no response is received via the network, a test message is sent to a dummy server a predetermined number of times within a period or until a response from the dummy server is received. Upon determining that a response from the dummy server has been received, the mobile device deactivates or blocks network access requests originating from the mobile device to the network, unless initiated by a user of the mobile device.

Abstract: A method of permitting self-activation of a mobile device is presented. The device is able to be activated without accessing the Internet or relying on a customer service representative when a device with a SIM card is initially powered on. A device client resident on the mobile device detects that the SIM card is self-activation capable, and then provides a customized interface to walk the user through a self-activation process. The interface provides various features associated with the communication functionality of the device, whether or not the functionality is dependent on the make and model of the mobile device.

Abstract: Network status information is provided to a mobile device. The data usage of the mobile device is tracked. A data usage criterion is determined from an account for the mobile device. The account information is stored on at least one server. The data usage is compared with the data usage criterion. Based on the comparison, it is determined whether the data usage meets the data usage criterion. Upon determining that the data usage meets the data usage criterion, a notification message is sent to the mobile device in real time through an information element field within an existing message in a bearer channel of the wireless packet data communication network. The notification message may instruct the mobile device to prevent generation and/or transmission of automatic network access requests while allowing user-initiated network access requests.