Abstract: The invention is an apparatus that performs Diameter protocol routing as well as real-time Diameter protocol capture and display in a telecommunications network. The improvement over the prior art enables the network operator to quickly determine routing errors in their network and minimize network interruptions without purchase and configuration of additional test tools.

Abstract: A subscriber satellite broadcast receiver is provided. The receiver includes a tuner/demodulator for transforming satellite broadcast signals to a digital data stream, a decoder for decoding the digital data stream into a format suitable for display on a display device and a processor operatively coupled to the tuner/demodulator and the decoder. A short-range wireless transceiver is coupled to the processor for establishing a connection with a satellite broadcast service provider.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the need to facilitate prepaid communication services in a manner that reduces the user inconvenience and lost operator revenue presently associated with account replenishment. The network equipment (110-122) collects service usage information associated with a prepaid account and uses this information to predict when the prepaid account will be depleted. If the remaining time before account depletion is below an established minimum, a communication unit (101) associated with the account is notified. The communication unit is then able to respond by requesting replenishment of the account.