Methods, systems and program products for supporting prepaid service within a communication network

A method of accessing a prepaid communication service, said method comprising:

• a prepaid client transmitting a first resource request for prepaid resources to a prepaid server;
• the prepaid client receiving a first resource response from the prepaid server specifying a first quota of prepaid resources no greater than a prepaid account balance of a prepaid service subscriber, the first resource response further specifying a resource usage threshold at which the prepaid client provides notification, wherein the resource usage threshold is less than the first quota of prepaid services;
• the prepaid client counting an amount of prepaid resources consumed in a prepaid packet data session;
• in response to determining that the resource usage threshold has been reached but before the first quota of prepaid resources has been consumed, the prepaid client transmitting a second resource request to the prepaid server for additional prepaid resources;
• and
• the prepaid client receiving a second resource response responsive to the second resource request, the second resource response specifying a second quota of prepaid resources for said prepaid packet data session,
• wherein the first resource request contains an attribute having a field, the method further comprising:
• the prepaid client setting the field in the attribute contained in the first resource request to a first value to indicate support for data volume-based prepaid accounting;
• and
• the prepaid client setting the field in the attribute contained in the first resource request to a second value to indicate support for time-based prepaid accounting.

A node comprising:

• a computer;
• and
• a prepaid client for accessing a prepaid communication service, said prepaid client executable on the computer to:
• transmit a first resource request for prepaid resources to a prepaid server;
• receive a first resource response from the prepaid server specifying a first quota of prepaid resources no greater than a prepaid account balance of a prepaid service subscriber, the first resource response further specifying a resource usage threshold at which the prepaid client provides notification, wherein the resource usage threshold is less than the first quota of prepaid services;
• count an amount of prepaid resources consumed in a prepaid packet data session;
• responsive to determining that the resource usage threshold has been reached but before the first quota of prepaid resources has been consumed, transmit a second resource request to the prepaid server for additional prepaid resources;
• and
• receive a second resource response responsive to the second resource request, the second resource response specifying a second quota of prepaid resources for said prepaid packet data session,
• wherein the first resource request contains an attribute having a field, and wherein the prepaid client is executable on the computer to further:
• set the field in the attribute contained in the first resource request to a first value to indicate support for data volume-based prepaid accounting;
• set the field in the attribute contained in the first resource request to a second value to indicate support for time-based prepaid accounting.