Method and apparatus for data connectivity sharing

A node, for enabling sharing data connectivity between a consumer device and a broker device, comprising a processor and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor whereby said node is operative to:

• receive from a first packet routing node a request transmitted from the consumer device for a consumer authorization certificate, the request including a subscriber identity of a subscriber associated with the consumer device;
• authorize, based on the subscriber identity, the subscriber for sharing data connectivity with the broker device providing a data connectivity service for connecting the consumer device to an access network through the broker device by:
• determining if the subscriber has funds to cover a cost of the data connectivity service;
• and
• responsive to the subscriber having funds to cover the cost of the data connectivity service, authorizing the subscriber for the data connectivity service;
• responsive to authorizing the subscriber, generate a consumer authorization certificate using a private encryption key associated with the node, said consumer authorization certificate including the subscriber identity of the subscriber;
• return the consumer authorization certificate towards the consumer device using the first packet routing node;
• receive a request for a data connectivity service for the subscriber from a second packet routing node, the request comprising a consumer agreement certificate and a broker identity for the data connectivity service provided by a broker associated with the broker device, said consumer agreement certificate signed using a private key associated with the subscriber and including the subscriber identity;
• validate the consumer agreement certificate;
• and
• responsive to validating the consumer agreement certificate, send a confirmation message towards the broker device using the second packet routing node.