Real time tracking at home network of data usage on roaming GSM network

A home network system which tracks data usage in real time by a wireless mobile communication device while roaming in a GSM network that is separate from the home network, the home network system comprising:

• a plurality of processing devices including a Home Location Register (HLR), an Online Charging System (OCS), a Subscriber Profile Registry (SPR), a Policy Charging and Rules Function (PCRF), a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN);
• and
• at least one memory storing executable instructions for causing:
• the Home Location Register to receive location information indicative of the location of the wireless mobile communication device in the GSM network;
• the Online Charging System (OCS) to request the location information from the Home Location Register;
• the Subscriber Profile Registry (SPR) to receive the location information from the Home Location Register;
• the Policy Charging and Rules Function (PCRF) to receive the location information from the Subscriber Profile Registry;
• and
• the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) to receive the location information from the Policy Charging and Rules Function node;
• wherein the memory further stores executable instructions for causing:
• the Home Location Register to direct the Subscriber Profile Registry to deliver the location information to the Policy Charging and Rules Function node,
• the Online Charging System (OCS) to receive the location information from the Gateway GPRS Support Node through a Gy interface,
• wherein the location information includes a Mobile Country Code (MCC) indicative of the country in which the mobile communication device is roaming, and a Mobile Network Code (MNC) indicative of the operator of the GSM network.