Flexible rule based usage metering policies

A network node for managing subscriber usage, the node comprising:

• a metering policy storage configured to store a plurality of metering policies, wherein a metering policy includes an applicability condition and a quota;
• a limit selector configured to select an applicable first metering policy from the plurality of metering policies based on an applicability condition of the first metering policy;
• an interface configured to receive a measurement of subscriber usage;
• and
• a processor configured to compare the measurement of subscriber usage with the quota of the first selected metering policy, wherein the limit selector is configured to select an applicable second metering policy based on the applicability condition of the second applicable metering policy if the measurement of subscriber usage exceeds the quota of the first metering policy.

A tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions thereon for execution by a network element of a telecommunication network, wherein said tangible and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprises:

• instructions for defining a plurality of metering policies associated with the service;
• instructions for assigning an applicability condition to each of the plurality of metering policies;
• instructions for assigning a quota to each of the plurality of metering policies;
• instructions for selecting an applicable first metering policy for a subscriber session based on the applicability condition assigned to the metering policy;
• instructions for measuring usage of the service according to the first metering policy;
• instructions for comparing usage of the service against the quota of the first metering policy;
• and
• instructions for selecting an applicable second metering policy for the subscriber session based on the applicability condition assigned to the second metering policy if the usage exceeds the quota of the first metering policy.