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Service utilization control manager

  • US 8,505,073 B2
  • Filed: 12/31/2007
  • Issued: 08/06/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of managing mobile network services, the method comprising:

  • receiving by a node, via an electronic network, a mobile network service request, the mobile network service request requesting authorization by a service authorization and utilization control function (SAUCF) element executing on the node and acting as a service manager configured to centrally coordinate service authorizations for multiple network services associated with an individual subscriber account by evaluating a service policy for the subscriber account, the service policy defining user access spanning the multiple network services grouped into a plurality of bundled service categories;

    implementing, by the SAUCF element, the service policy via an interface configured to apply the service policy to a bundled service category corresponding to the mobile network service request;

    electronically processing, via the SAUCF element, the authorization for the mobile network service request based on the service policy, the service policy comprising;

    (a) communication authorization controls affecting permission for a user associated with the subscriber account to access a mobile network service identified in the mobile network service request in accordance with one or more criteria applicable to the bundled service category corresponding to the mobile network service, and(b) charging controls for determining whether a subscriber account includes sufficient credits to use the mobile network service within the corresponding bundled service category;

    mapping messages received by the SAUCF element across an application interface from a network element to a real time utilization interface;

    transmitting mapped messages across the real time utilization interface from the SAUCF element to a subscriber service utilization account; and

    receiving messages across the real time utilization interface from the subscriber service utilization account to the SAUCF element.

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