Patent ID: 8675507
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04L,H04M,H04W,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving a message about a request of a communications device for a service over a particular roaming access network of a plurality of roaming access networks, the communications device being subscribed to a service plan associated with a home access network that is different than the plurality of roaming access networks; retrieving one or more first charging rates for use of the service over the particular roaming access network, the one or more first charging rates being different than one or more second charging rates for use of the service over another access network; obtaining an estimate of the communications device's usage of the service over the particular roaming access network; calculating, by a service controller, an estimated service usage cost of the communications device's usage of the service over the particular roaming access network based on the one or more first charging rates and the estimated usage; comparing a value based on the estimated service usage cost to a first limit; sending an indication to a user of the communications device when the comparison satisfies a predetermined condition; receiving from the particular roaming access network a measurement of the communications device's usage of the service; and synchronizing the estimated usage with the usage measurement from the particular roaming access network, wherein the synchronizing the estimated usage with the usage measurement from the particular roaming access network includes applying an algorithm to reconcile the difference between the estimated usage and the usage measurement from the particular roaming access network.