Method, system and apparatus for processing low-balance data session requests

A method in a charging server having a memory, a network interface and a processor interconnected with the memory and the network interface, the method comprising:

• storing an account record in the memory, including an account balance and a count of failed service requests;
• receiving, at the processor via the network interface, a request to access a data service for a mobile device corresponding to the account record;
• determining, at the processor, whether the account balance is sufficient to access the data service;
• when the account balance is not sufficient to access the data service:
• comparing, at the processor, the count of failed service requests to a threshold;
• when the count exceeds the threshold, sending a notification via the network interface to the mobile device, and when the count does not exceed the threshold, incrementing the count;
• and
• returning a message via the network interface denying access to the data service.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of computer-readable instructions executable by a processor of a charging server to perform a method comprising:

• storing an account record in a memory of the charging server, including an account balance and a count of failed service requests;
• receiving, at the processor via a network interface of the charging server, a request to access a data service for a mobile device corresponding to the account record;
• determining, at the processor, whether the account balance is sufficient to access the data service;
• when the account balance is not sufficient to access the data service:
• comparing, at the processor, the count of failed service requests to a threshold;
• when the count exceeds the threshold, sending a notification via the network interface to the mobile device, and when the count does not exceed the threshold, incrementing the count;
• and
• returning a message via the network interface denying access to the data service.