Application Awareness of Credit Conditions in Communication Network

A method performed by a Policy Control Function (PCF) for a 5G communication network, the method comprising:

• receiving, from an application function (AF) for the 5G communication network, a subscription request for notifications about out-of-credit events and reallocation-of-credit events associated with one or more users of a service provided by the AF;
• sending, to the AF in accordance with the subscription request, a first notification that indicates the following:
• an out-of-credit event associated with a first one of the users of the service provided by the AF, and
• one or more actions performed, or to be performed, by the 5G communication network in response to the out-of-credit event;
• and
• subsequently sending, to the AF in accordance with the subscription request, a second notification that indicates a reallocation-of-credit event associated with the first user of the service provided by the AF, wherein the reallocation-of-credit event is credit of the first user having been refilled, replenished, and/or reallocated.

Network equipment configured to implement an application function (AF) for a 5G communication network, the network equipment comprising:

• communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with a policy control function (PCF) for the communication network and with user equipment (UEs);
• and
• processing circuitry operably coupled to the communication interface circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry and communication interface circuitry are configured to:
• send, to the PCF, a subscription request for notifications about out-of-credit events and reallocation-of-credit events associated with one or more users of a service provided by the AF;
• receive, from the PCF in accordance with the subscription request, a first notification that indicates the following:
• an out-of-credit event associated with a first one of the users of the service provided by the AF, and
• one or more actions performed, or to be performed, by the 5G communication network in response to the out-of-credit event;
• and
• subsequently receive, from the PCF in accordance with the subscription request, a second notification that indicates a reallocation-of-credit event associated with the first user of the service provided by the AF, wherein the reallocation-of-credit event is credit of the first user having been refilled, replenished, and/or reallocated.

Network equipment configured to implement a policy control function (PCF) for a 5G communication network, the network equipment comprising:

• communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with an application function (AF) for the communication network;
• and
• processing circuitry operably coupled to the communication interface circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry and communication interface circuitry are configured to:
• receive, from the AF, a subscription request for notifications about out-of-credit events and reallocation-of-credit events associated with one or more users of a service provided by the AF;
• send, to the AF in accordance with the subscription request, a first notification that indicates the following:
• an out-of-credit event associated with a first one of the users of the service provided by the AF, and
• one or more actions performed, or to be performed, by the 5G communication network in response to the out-of-credit event;
• and
• subsequently send, to the AF in accordance with the subscription request, a second notification that indicates a reallocation-of-credit event associated with the first user of the service provided by the AF, wherein the reallocation-of-credit event is credit of the first user having been refilled, replenished, and/or reallocated.