Abstract: Systems and methods for performing offline charging for group communications. One embodiment is an application server that identifies data for a group communication, identifies an encryption code assigned to the group, encrypts the data for the group communication using the encryption code, and initiates delivery of the encrypted data for the group communication to the group of mobile devices over an MBMS bearer. The application server collects charging information related to the group communication using MBMS delivery, formats the charging information into an offline charging communication, and transmits the offline charging communication to an offline charging system.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide charging for supplemental content in a data flow separately from other content in the data flow. One embodiment comprises a network element of a Packet-Switched (PS) network that serves mobile User Equipment (UE). The network element receives a data flow of packets for a download of content requested by the UE, and identifies supplemental content in the data flow not requested by the UE, such as advertising content. The network element generates a charging request, inserts charging information for the supplemental content in the charging request, and transmits the charging request to a charging system so that the supplemental content can be charged separately from other content of the data flow.

Abstract: Systems and methods for prioritizing mobile networks for proximity services. One embodiment is a proximity service server that receives an authorization request from User Equipment (UE) for a proximity service, identifies a plurality of authorized mobile networks that are authorized for the UE for the proximity service, and prioritizes the authorized mobile networks for the UE based on priority criteria to assign priority codes to the authorized mobile networks. The proximity service server formats an authorization response for the proximity service with authorization information for the UE that indicates the priority codes assigned to the authorized mobile networks, and transmits the authorization response to the UE.

Abstract: Systems and methods for charging in networks where radio resources are shared between Machine Type Communication (MTC) traffic and legacy traffic. A base station of a wireless access network determines a scheduling of radio resources on the air interface between MTC traffic and legacy traffic, and provides signaling to an MTC device and a legacy device indicating the scheduling of the radio resources. The base station collects resource sharing information regarding the sharing of the radio resources between the MTC traffic and the legacy traffic, and transmits a message to a network element of a core network that includes the resource sharing information. The network element may then forward the resource sharing information to a charging system so that the sharing of the radio resources is taken into account when charging the MTC device and/or the legacy device for usage of the air interface.

Abstract: An object of the invention is providing method, apparatus, and System for D2D Relay. Compared with the prior art, the present invention attaches/detaches a user equipment to/from a mobility management entity through a relay device, thereby implementing a brand new procedure and function of policy and service control for D2D Relay scenarios. Through the signaling communication with major network, instead, under the control by the relay device, which would save radio resource and limited resource on constrained UEs; the present invention also enables a policy/service control for the user equipment, and enables that the service can be relayed through the relay device; the present invention may also save much resource on the network for maintaining the bearer and signaling path for the user equipment without any service impact; besides, the present invention also proposes a solution for the traffic congestion between eNB and MME caused by group message broadcasting.

Abstract: A distributed collaborative offline charging system and method is provided. Charging is determined by receiving a reduced charging record at a charging control function. The reduced charging record includes a charging data subset and an index for charging parameters that are not included in reduced charging record. The charging control function retrieves the charging parameters that are not included in reduced charging record utilizing the index.

Abstract: An object of the invention is providing methods, apparatuses, and system for steering operations corresponding to a trigger request. A steering device obtains one or more steering policy parameters transmitted by an application server, and then, based on one or more network conditions and a predetermined operation corresponding to the network condition included in the steering policy parameter, detects a current network situation; if the current network situation matches the network condition, executes the predetermined operation corresponding to the network condition to the trigger request transmitted by the application server based on the steering policy parameter. Compared with the prior art, the present invention realizes that an operation to a trigger request can be steered by a steering device, and has the advantages such as steering the response to the trigger request, enhancing the efficiency of application, enhancing network reliability and functionality, and higher rate of innovation, etc.

Abstract: The method includes obtaining charging related information of a proximity based service used by user equipment; generating a charging request for the proximity based service used by the user equipment based on the charging related information; and transmitting the charging request to a charging system of the wireless communication network.

Abstract: A example method includes receiving, at a cell broadcast center (CBC) an alert request providing information for distribution to at least one user equipment, identifying a broadcast area based on the alert request, one or more cells within the broadcast area, determining a warning area list (WAL) for a message and transmitting the message with the WAL. The WAL may be a list of one or more Tracking Area Identity (TAIs) or a list of cell identifiers depending on various conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing charging information for a device-to-device (D2D) communication. One embodiment is User Equipment (UE) that collects charging information for a D2D communication with one or more other UEs, to determine that the UE is out-of-coverage of a mobile network, to select a relay entity capable of relaying the charging information from the UE to the mobile network, and to transmit the charging information to the relay entity. The relay entity may then relay the charging information to the mobile network to initiate charging for the D2D communication.

Abstract: A method of providing SMS delivery to recipients migrated across different technology networks. The method includes receiving a short message service (SMS) text message from a sender at a short message service center (SMSC), wherein the SMS text message includes a destination number for a recipient of the SMS text message. A first routing request is sent to a database in a first network for SMS routing information for the destination number via a first signal transfer point (STP). The first STP determines whether the destination number is a migrated or a non-migrated destination number based on data received from the first database. An error indication is provided to the SMSC if the destination number and the first routing request are for different communication networks. Finally, a second routing request is sent to a second database in a second network for SMS routing information for the destination number via a second STP.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus of delivering the trigger report for MTC. According to a trigger message originated from an originator, a UE generates trigger response information corresponding to the trigger message; the UE sends a trigger report message containing the trigger response information to a first NE; the first NE extracts the trigger response information from the trigger report message and sends the trigger response information to the originator. In the prior art, the delivery report can only provide information about whether the trigger data is delivered. According to the present invention, the delivery report may also provide information on the MTC application layer, for example, even if the trigger result cannot be sent back immediately, the delivery report may can also include whether the payload data is accepted by the MTC application receives the payload data.

Abstract: A policy and charging control function PCRF determines an application service chain for an application based on multi-dimensional context information corresponding to the application, and transmits the corresponding application service chain information to an SDN controller. The SDN controller determines a forwarding rule for the application based on the application service chain information, and transmits the forwarding rule to a corresponding service chaining infrastructure network. SCEP(s) in the service chaining infrastructure network perform corresponding service function based on the forwarding rule.

Abstract: Dynamic control of the length of time that an RRC connection exists is implemented based on the known and anticipated data needs of the UE. More specifically, the lifetime of the RRC connection may be a) initially set, b) extended, or c) shortened, even to the point of substantially immediately releasing it, based on the expected data transmission needs of the UE. This dynamic control is implemented by elements of the core network which are aware of the known and anticipated data needs of the UE. The UE needs are a function of the applications running on the UE. In one LTE-based embodiment, the RRC release timer is responsive to the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), which can access information about the applications that are running at the UE. In another embodiment, the RRC release timer is responsive to the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF).

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for controlling transmissions of User Equipment (UE) on an unlicensed spectrum. In one embodiment, a base station communicates with the UE through radio communications on a licensed spectrum of a carrier. The base station transmits a query to a policy control element requesting spectrum selection criteria for the UE over a direct interface. The base station receives a response from the policy control element that includes the spectrum selection criteria for the UE, and processes the spectrum selection criteria to allocate resources for transmissions involving the UE on the licensed spectrum and on the unlicensed spectrum. The base station then provides a control message including the allocated resources towards the UE to enable the UE to perform the transmissions on the unlicensed spectrum, the licensed spectrum, or a combination of the two.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method and device for controlling QoS and/or policy and charging control of a guest user. The method proposes an innovative solution to extend the current policy and charging control architecture and online charging system to dynamically control the data connection of third party application services over network operator's network. This enables network operator and third party application provider to jointly provide QoS control service based on end user service usage limit.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software that perform offline charging. One embodiment comprises a Charging Data Function (CDF) of an Offline Charging System (OFCS). The CDF receives accounting requests for a session from a Charging Trigger Function (CTF), and generates an incomplete Charging Data Record (CDR) for the session based on the accounting requests. The CDF identifies request identifiers (ID) assigned to the accounting requests used to generate the first incomplete CDR, and inserts the request IDs in the incomplete CDR. The CDF determines whether one or more of the accounting requests used to generate the incomplete CDR were indicated as a re-transmitted accounting request by the CTF, and inserts content information for the re-transmitted accounting request(s) in the incomplete CDR.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software that perform offline charging. One embodiment comprises a Charging Data Function (CDF) of an Offline Charging System (OFCS). The CDF receives accounting requests for a session from a Charging Trigger Function (CTF), and generates an incomplete Charging Data Record (CDR) for the session based on the accounting requests. The CDF identifies request identifiers (ID) assigned to the accounting requests used to generate the first incomplete CDR, and inserts the request IDs in the incomplete CDR. The CDF determines whether one or more of the accounting requests used to generate the incomplete CDR were indicated as a re-transmitted accounting request by the CTF, and inserts content information for the re-transmitted accounting request(s) in the incomplete CDR.

Abstract: Charging systems and associated methods are disclosed that provide interim billing for a session in an IMS network. The charging system includes a charging data system that receives accounting messages from network elements serving the session in the IMS network, and generates partial CDRs for each network element based on the accounting messages. The charging data system also sets an aggregation/correlation timer. Responsive to an expiration of the aggregation/correlation timer, the charging data system aggregates the partial CDRs for each network element to generate an aggregated CDR for each network element. The charging system further includes a charging gateway system that, in further response to the expiration of the aggregation/correlation timer, correlates the aggregated CDRs to generate an interim consolidated CDR for the session, and transmits the interim consolidated CDR to a billing system. The billing system may then provide interim billing for the session based on the interim consolidated CDR.

Abstract: Systems and methods for selecting offline charging functions per service data flow during a data session over a packet data network. One embodiment comprises a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) that receives information regarding service data flows initiated during a data session over a packet data network. For each of the service data flows, the PCRF selects an offline charging function for the service data flow based on the information for the service data flow, and provides an identifier for the selected offline charging function to a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF). The PCEF may then generate charging requests for the service data flow in response to chargeable events, and route the charging requests to the selected offline charging function based on the identifier.