Method, Device and Computer Program Product for Controlling Use of Electronic Communication Services

A method of controlling use of electronic communication services in an electronic communications network, the method comprising:

• receiving a first credit control request for usage quota from a system providing service for an electronic communication service requested by a first subscriber;
• retrieving subscriber account information for the first subscriber to be charged for the requested service by a first charging device;
• determining based on the retrieved subscriber account information at least a second subscriber to be charged for at least part of the requested service;
• determining a second charging device holding the second subscriber;
• determining a first hash of a rate plan for the first subscriber;
• setting a status to indicate that control of the subscriber account information of the first subscriber is temporarily transferred to the second charging device;
• sending to the second charging device a second credit control request for the electronic communication service, said second credit control request including:
• the first credit control request for determining and reserving the resources required for the use of the electronic communication service,
• the account information of the first subscriber including the rate plan for the first subscriber;
• receiving from the second charging device:
• modified subscriber account information of the first subscriber including reservations and/or deductions for the reservations made from the account, and
• the requested usage quota;
• updating the subscriber account information of the first subscriber with the modified subscriber account information;
• setting the status of the first subscriber indicating that the control of the subscriber account information is not temporarily transferred to the second charging device;
• and
• sending a credit response message including the usage quota to the requesting system providing service for granting user access to the electronic communication.

A method of controlling use of electronic communication services in an electronic communications network, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a first charging device, a second credit control request for usage quota for an electronic communication service, said request including a first credit control request for determining and reserving the resources required for the use of the electronic communication service, the account information of the first subscriber including a rate plan for the first subscriber and a first hash of the rate plan for the first subscriber;
• determining a second hash of the rate plan for the first subscriber;
• comparing the first hash with the second hash of the rate plan for the first subscriber;
• if the comparison of the first hash and the second hash match, determining and reserving, based on the rate plans for the first and second subscribers, the resources required for the requested electronic communication service;
• and
• sending modified subscriber account information including reservations and deductions for the reservations made from the account of the first subscriber and the requested usage quota to the first charging device.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a computer program stored thereupon, said computer program comprising program instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

• receive a first credit control request for usage quota from a system providing service for an electronic communication service requested by a first subscriber;
• retrieve subscriber account information for the first subscriber to be charged for the requested service by a first charging device;
• determine, based on the retrieved subscriber account information, at least a second subscriber to be charged for at least part of the requested service;
• determine a second charging device holding the second subscriber;
• determine a first hash of a rate plan for the first subscriber;
• set a status to indicate that control of the subscriber account information of the first subscriber is temporarily transferred to the second charging device;
• send to the second charging device a second credit control request for the electronic communication service, said second credit control request including:
• the first credit control request for determining and reserving the resources required for the use of the electronic communication service, and
• the account information of the first subscriber including the rate plan for the first subscriber;
• receive from the second charging device:
• modified subscriber account information of the first subscriber including reservations and/or deductions for the reservations made from the account, and
• the requested usage quota;
• update the subscriber account information of the first subscriber with the modified subscriber account information;
• set the status of the first subscriber indicating that the control of the subscriber account information is not temporarily transferred to the second charging device;
• and
• send a credit response message including the usage quota to the requesting system providing service for granting user access to the electronic communication.

A charging device for controlling use of electronic communication services in an electronic communications network, the charging device comprising:

• a communication interface adapted to receive a first credit control request for usage quota from a system providing service for an electronic communication service requested by a first subscriber;
• a storage device adapted to store subscriber account information for the first subscriber and a status for the first subscriber indicating whether the control of the subscriber account information is temporarily transferred to another charging device;
• and
• a processing unit adapted to:
• retrieve, from the storage device, subscriber account information for the first subscriber to be charged for the requested service;
• determine at least a second subscriber to be charged for at least part of the requested service based on the retrieved subscriber account information, another charging device holding the second subscriber, and a first hash of a rate plan for the first subscriber;
• set a status to indicate that control of the subscriber account information is temporarily transferred to the other charging device;
• send a second credit control request for the electronic communication service, said second credit control request including the first credit control request for determining and reserving the resources required for the use of the electronic communication service, the account information of the first subscriber including the rate plan, to the other charging device;
• receive from the other charging device, through the communication interface, modified subscriber account information including reservations, or deductions for the reservations made from the account of the first subscriber, or both, and the requested usage quota;
• update the subscriber account information of the first subscriber with the modified subscriber account information in the storage device;
• set the status of the first subscriber to indicate that the control of the subscriber account information is not temporarily transferred to the other charging device;
• and
• send a credit response message including the usage quota through the communication interface to the requesting system providing service for granting user access to the electronic communication services.

A charging device for controlling use of electronic communication services in an electronic communications network, the charging device comprising:

• a communication interface adapted to receive, from another charging device, a second credit control request for electronic communication service requested by a first subscriber, said request including a first credit control request for determining and reserving the resources required for the use of the electronic communication service, the account information of the first subscriber including a rate plan for the first subscriber and a first hash of the rate plan for the first subscriber;
• and
• a processing unit adapted to:
• determine a second hash of the rate plan for the first subscriber;
• compare the first hash with the second hash;
• provided that the first hash and the second hash match, determine and reserve based on the rate plans for the first and second subscribers the resources required for the requested electronic communication service;
• and
• send, through the communication interface, modified subscriber account information including reservations and deductions for the reservations made from the account of the first subscriber to the other charging device.