Traffic pattern identification and network resource management method and apparatus

A method, comprising:

• processing, by a processor, first data received from a network node to determine a mobile device is actively accessing a communication network and to identify a first traffic pattern associated with the communication network;
• searching a database for a first network function corresponding to the identified first traffic pattern;
• causing a first instruction to be sent to a network device to activate the first network function based on the identified first traffic pattern;
• processing, by the processor, second data received from the network node to determine the communication network is no longer being accessed by the mobile device and to identify a second traffic pattern;
• searching the database for a second network function corresponding to the identified second traffic pattern;
• causing a second instruction to be sent to the network device to deactivate the first network function and to activate the second network function based on the identified second traffic pattern;
• determining a first network resource usage based on one or more of an amount of time the first network function is active or an amount of data transmitted by way of at least one of the network node or the mobile device;
• causing a charge rate to be applied for using the first network function based on the first network resource usage;
• causing an invoice to be generated indicating a cost of using the first network function based on the charge rate applied for using the first network function and the first network resource usage;
• and
• causing the second instruction to be sent to the network device to deactivate the first network function and to activate the second network function based on the cost of using the first network function being greater than a predefined threshold value during the first traffic pattern and before the second traffic pattern is identified,
• wherein the charge rate is based on one or more of a quantity of mobile devices concurrently accessing the communication network while the first network function is active, a quantity of network devices concurrently activating the first network function, or a quantity of network nodes concurrently activating the first network function.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory having computer readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
• process first data received from a network node to determine a mobile device is actively accessing a communication network and to identify a first traffic pattern associated with the communication network;
• search a database for a first network function corresponding to the identified first traffic pattern;
• cause a first instruction to be sent to a network device to activate the first network function based on the identified first traffic pattern;
• process second data received from the network node to determine the communication network is no longer being accessed by the mobile device and to identify a second traffic pattern;
• search the database for a second network function corresponding to the identified second traffic pattern;
• cause a second instruction to be sent to the network device to deactivate the first network function and to activate the second network function based on the identified second traffic pattern;
• determine a first network resource usage based on one or more of an amount of time the first network function is active or an amount of data transmitted by way of at least one of the network node or the mobile device;
• cause a charge rate to be applied for using the first network function based on the first network resource usage;
• determining a cost of using the first network function based on the charge rate applied for using the first network function and the first network resource usage;
• and
• causing the second instruction to be sent to the network device to deactivate the first network function and to activate the second network function based on the cost of using the first network function being greater than a predefined threshold value during the first traffic pattern and before the second traffic pattern is identified,
• wherein the charge rate is based on one or more of a quantity of mobile devices concurrently accessing the communication network while the first network function is active, a quantity of network devices concurrently activating the first network function, or a quantity of network nodes concurrently activating the first network function.