Managing charging system traffic

A server comprising:

• a communication interface configured to enable communication via a mobile network;
• a processor coupled with the communication interface;
• a storage device accessible to the processor;
• and
• an executable program in the storage device, wherein execution of the program by the processor configures the server to perform functions, including functions to:
• receive, at the server, a first signaling message from an originating mobile station for transmission over a network to a destination mobile station, wherein the first signaling message is a request for a voice, data or text messaging service;
• upon receipt of the first signaling message from the originating mobile station, provide a request from the server to an online charging system (OCS) to determine an account usage balance of an account associated with the originating mobile station;
• when it is determined at the OCS that that the account is associated with a valid monthly prepaid wireless subscription plan, receive a first response message at the server, wherein the first response message indicates to the server not to send, until a predetermined plan expiration time, further requests to the OCS to determine an account usage balance associated with the originating mobile station, wherein the predetermined plan expiration time indicates a predetermined calendar date when the monthly prepaid wireless subscription plan expires;
• and
• transmit the first signaling message received from the originating mobile station to the destination mobile station based on the first response message.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to:

• receive, at a server, a first signaling message from an originating mobile station for transmission over a network to a destination mobile station, wherein the first signaling message is a request for a voice, data or text messaging service;
• upon receipt of the first signaling message from the originating mobile station, provide a request from the server to an online charging system (OCS) to determine an account usage balance of an account associated with the originating mobile station;
• when it is determined at the OCS that the account is associated with a valid monthly prepaid wireless subscription plan, receive a first response message at the server, wherein the first response message indicates to the server to not send, until a predetermined plan expiration time, further requests to the OCS to determine an account usage balance associated with the originating mobile station, wherein the predetermined plan expiration time indicates a predetermined calendar date when the monthly prepaid wireless subscription plan expires;
• and
• transmit the first signaling message received from the originating mobile station to the destination mobile station based on the first response message.