Centralized communications network charging methods and apparatus

A method of producing event records associated with requests for communication services by a subscriber, comprising:

• collecting communication service request data associated with the requests for communication services at a centralized record production point, wherein the requests are associated with pre-paid services and post-paid services;
• and
• producing event records associated with the communication service requests;
• wherein the event records are configured to indicate whether a communication service request is associated with pre-paid service or post-paid service.

A billing method for communication services, comprising:

• collecting event data associated with communication service requests associated with a pre-paid and post-paid services at a central collection node;
• producing event records based on the request data;
• and
• delivering event records associated with post-paid services to a billing system.

A method for processing service requests by pre-paid and post-paid subscribers of communication services, comprising:

• determining if a service request is associated with a pre-paid subscriber or a post-paid subscriber;
• if the request for services is associated with a pre-paid subscriber, authorizing the requested service based on a subscriber account balance that is greater than zero;
• and
• assessing charges for the requested service to the subscriber account balance so that the subscriber account balance is greater than zero for a pre-paid subscriber and less than zero for a post-paid subscriber.