Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method that includes determining, by a processing system, whether a transmission from a client device includes a request to participate in a sponsored data session. If a sponsored data session is requested, the request is sent to equipment of a sponsoring entity. The processing system receives a list of data items available from the equipment of the sponsoring entity in the sponsored data session; initiates the sponsored data session; and generates a session identifier for transmission to the client device. The processing system also determines whether a subsequent request received from the client device corresponds to a listed data item, and causes a sponsored data rate to be applied to a client account for transfer of the data item. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In one example, the present disclosure describes a device, computer-readable medium, and method for discovering and tracking uniform resource locators (URLs) for the purposes of managing sponsored data. For instance, in one example, a method includes monitoring a request for a stream of data delivered to a user endpoint device via a content distribution network, wherein the stream of data is accessed via a digital content distribution application running on the user endpoint device, discovering a uniform resource locator associated with the stream of data, and updating a list of sponsored uniform resource locators in accordance with the discovering, wherein the sponsored uniform resource locators comprise uniform resource locators that are permitted to be accessed by the digital content distribution application without impacting a data allowance allocated to the user endpoint device.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method that includes determining, by a processing system, whether a transmission from a client device includes a request to participate in a sponsored data session. If a sponsored data session is requested, the request is sent to equipment of a sponsoring entity. The processing system receives a list of data items available from the equipment of the sponsoring entity in the sponsored data session; initiates the sponsored data session; and generates a session identifier for transmission to the client device. The processing system also determines whether a subsequent request received from the client device corresponds to a listed data item, and causes a sponsored data rate to be applied to a client account for transfer of the data item. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In one example, the present disclosure describes a device, computer-readable medium, and method for discovering and tracking uniform resource locators (URLs) for the purposes of managing sponsored data. For instance, in one example, a method includes monitoring a request for a stream of data delivered to a user endpoint device via a content distribution network, wherein the stream of data is accessed via a digital content distribution application running on the user endpoint device, discovering a uniform resource locator associated with the stream of data, and updating a list of sponsored uniform resource locators in accordance with the discovering, wherein the sponsored uniform resource locators comprise uniform resource locators that are permitted to be accessed by the digital content distribution application without impacting a data allowance allocated to the user endpoint device.