Aggregated handling of quota in a network node

A method performed by a network node of managing online charging of an account used in common by a group of users, comprising:

• receiving a user request for service to be charged to the common account;
• estimating a number of users that are expected to submit a request for service to be charged to the common account;
• acquiring, from an Online Charging System authorizing service access, authorization for the estimated number of users that are expected to submit the request for service to be charged to the common account;
• granting the user access to the requested service with quota received with the authorization from said Online Charging System, said quota being valid for a specified time period, and further granting any further user requesting service to be charged to the common account access to the requested service with quota received with the authorization until total quota authorized by the Online Charging System for the estimated number of users has been apportioned.

A network node configured to manage online charging of sponsored data connectivity, the network node comprising:

• a processing unit;
• and
• a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processing unit, wherein said network node is operative to:
• receive a user request for service related to the sponsored data connectivity;
• estimate a number of users that are expected to use said service;
• acquire, from an Online Charging System authorizing access to the sponsored data connectivity, authorization for the estimated number of users that are expected to use said service;
• and
• grant the user access to the requested service with quota received with the authorization from said Online Charging System, said quota being valid for a specified time period, and further granting any further user requesting said service access to the requested service with quota received with the authorization until total quota authorized by the Online Charging System for the estimated number of users has been apportioned.

A network node configured to manage online charging of an account used in common by a group of users, the network node comprising:

• a processing unit;
• and
• a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processing unit, wherein said network node is operative to:
• receive a user request for service to be charged to the common account;
• estimate a number of users that are expected to submit a request for service to be charged to the common account;
• acquire, from an Online Charging System authorizing service access, authorization for the estimated number of users that are expected to submit the request for service to be charged to the common account;
• and
• grant the user access to the requested service with quota received with the authorization from said Online Charging System, said quota being valid for a specified time period, and further granting any further user requesting service to be charged to the common account access to the requested service with quota received with the authorization until total quota authorized by the Online Charging System for the estimated number of users has been apportioned.