Methods, Devices, and Computer Programs for Enabling the Sponsoring of Data Connectivity

Method for assisting a user terminal, hereinafter referred to as “first user terminal”, in benefiting from a data connectivity, the method being carried out by another user terminal, hereinafter referred to as “second user terminal”,

• the method comprising:
• indicating to a network node, hereinafter referred to as “connectivity donation server”, that the second user terminal is willing to sponsor data connectivity of the first user terminal and that at least one restriction is to be imposed on how the sponsored data connectivity can be used by the first user terminal, wherein the at least one restriction comprises at least one of:
• where the first user terminal is to be located for benefiting from the sponsored data connectivity;
• and
• which access network or access networks the first user terminal has to connect to for benefiting from the sponsored data connectivity;
• receiving, from the connectivity donation server, a token;
• and
• transmitting, to the first user terminal, the token, using proximity-based means.

Method for assisting a user terminal, hereinafter referred to as “first user terminal”, in benefiting from a data connectivity, the method being carried out by a network node, hereinafter referred to as “connectivity donation server”, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication, from another user terminal, hereinafter referred to as “second user terminal”, that the second user terminal is willing to sponsor data connectivity of the first user terminal and that at least one restriction is to be imposed on how the sponsored data connectivity can be used by the first user terminal, wherein the at least one restriction comprises at least one of:
• where the first user terminal is to be located for benefiting from the sponsored data connectivity;
• and
• which access network or access networks the first user terminal has to connect to for benefiting from the sponsored data connectivity;
• and
• transmitting, to the second user terminal, a token.

Method carried out in by a user terminal, hereinafter referred to as “first user terminal”, for benefiting from a data connectivity, the method comprising:

• receiving, from another user terminal, hereinafter referred to as “second user terminal”, a token, using proximity-based means,
• the token identifying the second user terminal's willingness to sponsor data connectivity of the first user terminal considering that at least one restriction is to be imposed on how the sponsored data connectivity can be used by the first user terminal, wherein the at least one restriction comprises at least one of:
• where the first user terminal is to be located for benefiting from the sponsored data connectivity;
• and
• which access network or access networks the first user terminal has to connect to for benefiting from the sponsored data connectivity.

User terminal, hereinafter referred to as “second user terminal”, for participating in assisting another user terminal, hereinafter referred to as “first user terminal”, in benefiting from a data connectivity,

• the second user terminal comprising:
• a first unit, hereinafter referred to as “indicating unit”, configured for indicating to a network node, hereinafter referred to as “connectivity donation server”, that the second user terminal is willing to sponsor data connectivity of the first user terminal and that at least one restriction is to be imposed on how the sponsored data connectivity can be used by the first user terminal, wherein the at least one restriction comprises at least one of:
• where the first user terminal is to be located for benefiting from the sponsored data connectivity;
• and
• which access network or access networks the first user terminal has to connect to for benefiting from the sponsored data connectivity;
• a second unit, hereinafter referred to as “receiving unit”, configured for receiving, from the connectivity donation server, a token;
• and
• a third unit, hereinafter referred to as “transmitting unit”, configured for transmitting, to the first user terminal, the token, using proximity-based means.

Network node, hereinafter referred to as “connectivity donation server”,

• configured for participating in assisting a user terminal, hereinafter referred to as “first user terminal”, in benefiting from a data connectivity, the network node comprising:
• a first unit, hereinafter referred to as “receiving unit”, configured for receiving an indication, from another user terminal, hereinafter referred to as “second user terminal”, that the second user terminal is willing to sponsor data connectivity of the first user terminal and that at least one restriction is to be imposed on how the sponsored data connectivity can be used by the first user terminal, wherein the at least one restriction comprises at least one of:
• where the first user terminal is to be located for benefiting from the sponsored data connectivity;
• and
• which access network or access networks the first user terminal has to connect to for benefiting from the sponsored data connectivity;
• and
• a second unit, hereinafter referred to as “transmitting unit”, configured for transmitting, to the second user terminal, a token.

User terminal, hereinafter referred to as “first user terminal”, for benefiting from a data connectivity,

• the first user terminal comprising:
• a first unit, hereinafter referred to as “receiving unit”, configured for receiving, from another user terminal, hereinafter referred to as “second user terminal”, a token, using proximity-based means,
• wherein the token identifies the second user terminal's willingness to sponsor data connectivity of the first user terminal considering that at least one restriction is to be imposed on how the sponsored data connectivity can be used by the first user terminal, wherein the at least one restriction comprises at least one of:
• where the first user terminal is to be located for benefiting from the sponsored data connectivity;
• and
• which access network or access networks the first user terminal has to connect to for benefiting from the sponsored data connectivity.