Device and method for controlling charging in a mobile communication system

A method by a server in a mobile communication system, the method comprising:

• receiving an event notification message including data usage information associated with a sponsor service for a terminal, from a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) entity, the data usage information including at least one of usage amount of sponsored data according to the sponsor service, remaining amount of the sponsored data, usage time of the sponsored data, or remaining time of the sponsored data;
• generating an alert message including the data usage information;
• and
• transmitting the alert message to the terminal,
• wherein a notification message including the data usage information is transmitted from a packet data network gateway (PGW) to the PCRF in response to the PGW determining that data usage reaches a threshold based on a sponsor coupon, wherein the sponsor coupon is used for an operator to charge a service provider for the sponsor service, and
• wherein the event notification message is transmitted from the PCRF to the server in response to the PCRF receiving the notification message.

A packet data network gateway (PGW) in a mobile communication system, the PGW comprising:

• a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a signal;
• and
• at least one processor configured to:
• identify a charging rule configured by a sponsor coupon exchanged between a service provider and a network operator for supporting a sponsor service, wherein the sponsor coupon is used for the network operator to charge the service provider for the sponsor service,
• identify data usage information associated with the sponsor service for a terminal,
• determine whether the data usage information reaches a threshold, based on a usage data record of the sponsor coupon, the data usage information including at least one of usage amount of sponsored data according to the sponsor service, remaining amount of the sponsored data, usage time of the sponsored data, or remaining time of the sponsored data,
• generate a notification message including the data usage information if the data usage information reaches the threshold, and
• transmit the notification message to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) entity.

A server in a mobile communication system, the server comprising:

• a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a signal;
• and
• at least one processor configured to:
• receive an event notification message including data usage information associated with a sponsor service for a terminal, from a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) entity, the data usage information including at least one of usage amount of sponsored data according to the sponsor service, remaining amount of the sponsored data, usage time of the sponsored data, or remaining time of the sponsored data,
• generate an alert message including the data usage information, and
• transmit the alert message to the terminal,
• wherein a notification message including the data usage information is transmitted from a packet data network gateway (PGW) to the PCRF in response to the PGW determining that data usage reaches a threshold based on a sponsor coupon, wherein the sponsor coupon is used for an operator to charge a service provider for the sponsor service, and
• wherein the event notification message is transmitted from the PCRF to the server in response to the PCRF receiving the notification message.