Abstract: A node (30) of a charging system (28) associated with a communication network (10) considers subscriber-designated priorities in a circumstance that involves two or more communication services “competing” for the same pool of credit that is used in online charging for consumption of the two or more communication services. As an example, subscriber information (34) associated with a user device (12) includes input from the involved subscriber that designates a certain communication service as a prioritized communication service. Ina case where granting quotas of service units for authorizing service consumption and making corresponding credit reservations involves competition between a subscriber-prioritized service and another service not prioritized by the subscriber, the node (30) adapts its granting operations to give preference to the subscriber-prioritized service.

Abstract: Dynamic adjustment of consumption limits governing the consumption of credit units from a “provider account” (24) offers numerous advantages in the context of Online Charging (OC), both to the involved communication network operator(s) and to the users or applications associated with the UEs (12) that use communication services subject to credit availability in the provider account (24). Specifically, two or more “consumer” accounts (26), each associated with one or more UEs (12), consume credit units from the provider account (24), for authorizing communication-usage by the associated UE(s) (12), subject to a respective consumption limit, which may be regarded as defining an allocated share of the credit units in the provider account (24), for use by the consumer account (26).

Abstract: A method, performed in a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), for managing subscription to policy counters maintained at an Online Charging System (OCS) is disclosed. The PCRF is operable to communicate with the OCS over an Sy reference. The method comprises receiving a Multiple Users subscription trigger from a network operator (202), the Multiple Users subscription trigger identifying a reference network policy and a subject network policy. The method further comprises sending a Spending Limit Request (SLR) command to the OCS (214), the SLR command specifying an identifier of a subject policy counter for the subject network policy and specifying application of the SLR command with respect to the subject policy counter to all ongoing Sy sessions between the PCRF and the OCS which already include a subscription to a policy counter for the reference network policy. Also disclosed is a method, performed in an OCS, for managing subscription by a PCRF to policy counters maintained at the OCS.

Abstract: A method, performed in a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) for managing subscription to a policy counter maintained at an Online Charging System (OCS) is disclosed. The PCRF is operable to communicate with the OCS over an Sy reference point. The method comprises receiving an All Users subscription trigger from a network operator (202), the All Users subscription trigger identifying a network policy, and sending a Spending Limit Request (SLR) command to the OCS (208), the SLR command specifying an identifier of a policy counter for the network policy and specifying application of the SLR command to all ongoing Sy sessions between the PCRF and the OCS. Also disclosed is a method, performed in an OCS, for managing subscription by a PCRF to a policy counter maintained at the OCS.

Abstract: A method, performed in a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), for managing subscription to policy counters maintained at an Online Charging System (OCS) is disclosed. The PCRF is operable to communicate with the OCS over an Sy reference. The method comprises receiving a Multiple Users subscription trigger from a network operator (202), the Multiple Users subscription trigger identifying a reference network policy and a subject network policy. The method further comprises sending a Spending Limit Request (SLR) command to the OCS (214), the SLR command specifying an identifier of a subject policy counter for the subject network policy and specifying application of the SLR command with respect to the subject policy counter to all ongoing Sy sessions between the PCRF and the OCS which already include a subscription to a policy counter for the reference network policy. Also disclosed is a method, performed in an OCS, for managing subscription by a PCRF to policy counters maintained at the OCS.

Abstract: A method, performed in a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) for managing subscription to a policy counter maintained at an Online Charging System (OCS) is disclosed. The PCRF is operable to communicate with the OCS over an Sy reference point. The method comprises receiving an All Users subscription trigger from a network operator (202), the All Users subscription trigger identifying a network policy, and sending a Spending Limit Request (SLR) command to the OCS (208), the SLR command specifying an identifier of a policy counter for the network policy and specifying application of the SLR command to all ongoing Sy sessions between the PCRF and the OCS. Also disclosed is a method, performed in an OCS, for managing subscription by a PCRF to a policy counter maintained at the OCS.