Terminal-initiated override of charging system rules

Abstract

A method of operating a communications charging system comprises receiving an override message comprising an override code indicative of a charging rule override request which affects a terminal. The method further comprises, in response to the override code, making an association of a use of the terminal during an override term to an alternate account rather than to a default account as would otherwise occur by a charging rule; and thereafter at reception of a charging request which is subsequent and separate from the override message, allocating a charge for a service for which the charging request occurs to the alternate account in accordance with the association.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.