Patent Publication Number: US-11665592-B2

Title: Security, fraud detection, and fraud mitigation in device-assisted services systems

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     As the computing power of mobile end-user devices has increased, mobile devices have become capable of sending and receiving increasing amounts of data. In addition to e-mail and text messages, many of today&#39;s mobile devices can support a variety of applications that send large quantities of information to and from end users. For example, in addition to sending e-mail and text messages, many of today&#39;s mobile devices can deliver news, weather, sports, maps, social networking information, music, videos, high-resolution photographs, documents, presentations, and other kinds of information. 
     The ability of mobile devices to send and receive such a wide variety and large quantity of data has stressed wireless access network bandwidth capabilities. As a result, network operators are either eliminating service plans with unlimited data usage, or they are increasing the price of unlimited service plans so that such plans are not attractive to most consumers. Consequently, many users of mobile end-user devices subscribe to service plans that include only a limited amount of data per fixed time period (e.g., per month). Because today&#39;s mobile end-user devices can access (e.g., send or receive) large amounts of information, there is a potential for a user of a mobile device to exceed his or her data plan allowance without realizing it. It is well known that such “overages” in data usage can be very expensive because the billing rate for data usage exceeding the contracted service plan amount is often significantly higher than the billing rate under the service plan. 
     Because of their computing capabilities, many of today&#39;s mobile end-user devices can also participate in the implementation and enforcement of service policies associated with access network service plans, such as charging, control, and notification policies. Device-assisted services (DAS) have been described in the many prior applications listed in the “Cross Reference to Related Applications” section of this document. When end-user devices participate in implementing and enforcing access network policies, there is a potential for device users to attempt to, or to successfully, spoof or hack end-user device components to fraudulently obtain access to data services at incorrect, lower service usage billing rates. Likewise, highly motivated users might try to gain access to network elements that perform functions related to service policy implementation or enforcement associated with the end-user device&#39;s data usage. 
     Thus, there is a need to secure software and hardware, in both end-user devices and in network elements, involved in the provision of device-assisted services. In addition, there is a need to detect and mitigate fraudulent or potentially fraudulent activities. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments of the invention. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader&#39;s understanding of the invention and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of the invention. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale. 
         FIG.  1    illustrates the various components of a device-assisted services (DAS) implementation in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates an example embodiment of a device-based service processor system in communication with a network-based service controller system. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates an example embodiment of functional elements for a network access service policy implementation. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates an example embodiment of a secure service controller architecture for DAS systems. 
         FIG.  5    illustrates an example embodiment of a secure service controller architecture for DAS systems. 
         FIG.  6    illustrates an example embodiment of a secure service controller architecture for DAS systems. 
         FIG.  7    illustrates communications within an applications security zone in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  8    illustrates an example embodiment that provides geo-redundancy. 
         FIG.  9    illustrates an example embodiment of a service controller portal function. 
         FIG.  10    illustrates an example embodiment of a service controller file transfer function. 
         FIG.  11    illustrates an example embodiment of a service controller gateway function. 
         FIG.  12    illustrates an example embodiment of a service controller credentialing function. 
         FIG.  13    illustrates an example embodiment of a service controller EAI server that supports various communication paths. 
         FIG.  14    illustrates an example embodiment of a service controller EAI server that supports various communication paths. 
         FIG.  15    illustrates an example embodiment of a service controller EAI server that supports various communication paths. 
         FIG.  16    illustrates an example embodiment of a service controller EAI server that supports various communication paths. 
         FIG.  17    illustrates an example embodiment of a service controller fraud server. 
         FIG.  18    illustrates an example embodiment of a service controller reconciliation server. 
         FIG.  19    illustrates an example embodiment of a service controller message bus. 
         FIG.  20    illustrates an example embodiment that includes two data centers. 
         FIG.  21    illustrates a set of steps an end-user device performs to obtain a credential with a service controller in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  22    illustrates a set of steps a service controller performs to provide a credential to a service processor in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  23    illustrates an procedure a service controller performs to allocate credentials to multiple end-user devices in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  24    illustrates an example embodiment of a process to start or stop a data session with SGSN notification. 
         FIG.  25    illustrates an example embodiment of a process to start or stop a data session with GGSN notification. 
         FIG.  26    illustrates an example embodiment of a process to start or stop a data session when a AAA or RADIUS server provides start/stop accounting in a GSM/GPRS core data network. 
         FIG.  27    illustrates an example embodiment of a process to start or stop a data session when an OCS provides start/stop accounting in a GSM/GPRS core data network. 
         FIG.  28    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that a verifying software component on an end-user device may perform to verify the integrity of another software component on the end-user device. 
         FIG.  29    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that a to-be-verified software component can perform in response to the procedure illustrated in  FIG.  28   . 
         FIG.  30    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure to determine whether to allow a modification, update, or replacement of an software program installed on an end-user device. 
         FIG.  31    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that an end-user device can use to validate that an application installed on the end-user device is authentic. 
         FIG.  32    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that a service controller can use to validate that an application installed on an end-user device is authentic. 
         FIG.  33    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that a service controller can use to validate that an application installed on an end-user device is authentic. 
         FIG.  34    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that an end-user device can use to validate that an application installed on the end-user device is authentic. 
         FIG.  35    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that a service controller can use to validate that an application installed on an end-user device is authentic. 
         FIG.  36    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that an end-user device can use to validate that an application installed on the end-user device is authentic. 
         FIG.  37    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that a service controller can use to validate that an application installed on an end-user device is authentic. 
         FIG.  38    illustrates an example embodiment of an end-user device for implementing access network policy specific to a device application program. 
         FIG.  39    illustrates an example embodiment wherein an end-user device is capable of connecting to the Internet through more than one access network. 
         FIG.  40    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that a service controller may use to verify a software component on an end-user device based on a verification message from the end-user device. 
         FIG.  41    illustrates an example embodiment of a layered approach that a service controller can use to assess the likelihood that an end-user device is behaving fraudulently. 
         FIG.  42    illustrates a layered approach to fraud detection in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  43    illustrates an example embodiment of a service controller reconciliation processing procedure that may be used to detect fraud using information from and end-user device and information from a second source. 
         FIG.  44    illustrates an example embodiment with network system elements that can be included in a service controller system to facilitate a DAS implementation and the flow of information between those elements. 
         FIG.  45    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure to detect when a user of an end-user device attempts to alter the end-user device&#39;s use of a time-based service plan by modifying the time setting on end-user device. 
         FIG.  46    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure to detect when a user of an end-user device attempts to alter the end-user device&#39;s use of a time-based service plan by modifying the time zone setting on end-user device. 
         FIG.  47    illustrates a fraud detection approach in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  48    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that a rule-based detection element may use to apply rules to detect fraud. 
         FIG.  49    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that a static analysis element may use to determine fraud based on a statistical model. 
         FIG.  50    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that a time-series analysis element may use to determine fraud based on a time-series model. 
         FIG.  51    illustrates an example embodiment of a fraud-detection system that supports rule-based fraud detection and the application of statistical or time-series models in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     SUMMARY 
     According to various embodiments, systems and methods are provided for securing device-assisted services (DAS) systems and for detecting and mitigating fraud in such systems. 
     In some embodiments, an end-user device comprises one or more modems to allow communications over a wireless access network, memory configured to store an application-specific network access policy to be applied when a particular application program attempts to communicate or successfully communicates over the wireless access network, and one or more device agents configured to detect attempted or successful activity by the particular application program and to apply the application-specific network access policy to the communication activity. 
     In some embodiments, the one or more device agents are configured to detect attempted or successful activity by the particular application program by flow-tagging a data flow associated with the particular application program, associating the flow tag with the application identifier, and applying the application-specific network access policy to the flow-tagged data flow. 
     In some embodiments, an end-user device comprises one or more modems to allow communications over a wireless access network, memory configured to store an application-specific network access policy to be applied when a particular application program attempts to communicate or successfully communicates over the wireless access network, and one or more device agents configured to use an application programming interface (API) to arrange an application setting to assist in implementing the application-specific network access policy. 
     In some embodiments, the application-specific network access policy comprises a control policy configured to assist in controlling transmissions or receptions over the wireless access network that are associated with the application program. In some embodiments, the application-specific network access policy comprises a charging policy configured to assist in accounting for transmissions or receptions over the wireless access network that are associated with the application program. In some embodiments, the end-user device has a user interface, and the application-specific network access policy comprises a notification policy configured to assist in presenting, through the user interface, a notification message, such as, for example: an offer or an advertisement, information about a network type (e.g., a home network, a roaming network, a cellular network, a wireless wide-area network (WWAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless personal area network (WPAN), a 2G network, a 3G network, a 4G network, a WiMAX network, an Ethernet network, a DSL network, a DOCSIS network, a cable network, a WiFi network, etc.), an indication of an amount or cost of data usage associated with the application program, an indication of a projected amount or a projected cost of data usage associated with the application program (e.g., a projection based on a past or historical data usage associated with the application program), an indication of an amount or cost of data usage associated with the application program during a particular period of time (possibly user-configured or user-selected), an indication that an amount or cost of data usage associated with the application satisfies a condition relative to a limit setting (e.g., exceeds a threshold, meets a threshold, is less than a threshold, etc.), an indication of an amount or cost of background data usage by the application program, etc. In some embodiments, the policy is associated with an application identifier (e.g., a credential associated with the application, possibly stored on the end-user device). In some embodiments, the application program is secured by an application credential (which may be the application identifier). In some embodiments, the one or more device agents are further configured to prevent modifications, updates, or replacements of the application program unless software purporting to be a modification, update, or replacement of the application program is associated with a credential that is consistent with (e.g., matches) the application credential. 
     In some embodiments, at least one of the one or more device agents is secured by an agent credential, and one of the one or more device agents is configured to prevent modifications, updates, or replacements of the at least one of the one or more device agents unless software purporting to be a modification, update, or replacement of the at least one of the one or more device agents is associated with a credential that is consistent with (e.g., matches) the agent credential. 
     In some embodiments, the agent credential comprises one or more of agent kernel software present with a proper signature, certificate, or hash result; agent framework software present with a proper signature, certificate, or hash result; and agent application software present with a proper signature, certificate, or hash result. 
     In some embodiments, the end-user device is further secured by configuring the one or more device agents to perform one or more of the following checks: determining if a hosts file is present and properly configured; determining if a service processor on the end-user device successfully completed an authentication procedure with a service controller in the network; determining if the end-user device has been rooted. 
     In some embodiments, a network system is configured to provide access network services to an end-user device, and the end-user device is responsible for implementing an access network policy. In some embodiments, the network system is configured to obtain a trusted measure of access network usage by the end-user device and to use the trusted measure to confirm that the end-user device is properly implementing the access network policy, where the trusted measure is obtained from a network element, from a secure processor on the end-user device, or from a trusted third party. 
     In some embodiments, the network system is configured to apply a multi-tiered policy verification process comprising at least two of the following policy verification steps, performed in any order: (a) determining if the end-user device is failing to send service usage reports, even though the network system is receiving trusted reports of the end-user device&#39;s service usage; (b) comparing a trusted service usage measure to a limit or range of usage expected if the end-user device is properly implementing the access network policy; (c) comparing a trusted service usage measure to a non-secure (e.g., device-generated) usage measure to determine if the difference between the two usage measures is within a specified tolerance; (d) comparing a non-secure (e.g., device-based) service usage measure to a limit or range of usage expected if the end-user device is properly implementing the access network policy; (e) comparing a classification of the end-user device&#39;s usage to a limit or range of usage expected if the end-user device is properly implementing the access network policy; (f) comparing an aggregation of two or more classifications of the end-user device&#39;s usage to an aggregate limit on usage to determine if the difference between the two measures is within a specified tolerance; (g) comparing a trusted measure of usage of a class (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination, a group of network destinations, etc.) to a limit or range of usage expected if the end-user device is properly implementing the access network policy; (h) comparing a trusted measure of usage of a class (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination, a group of network destinations, etc.) to a non-secure (e.g., device-based) measure of usage of the same class to determine if the difference between the two measures is within a specified tolerance; (i) comparing a statistical characterization of usage by a population of end-user devices to a trusted measure of the end-user device&#39;s service usage to determine if the difference between the two measures is within a specified tolerance; (j) comparing a statistical characterization of usage of a particular class (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination, a group of network destinations, etc.) by a population of end-user devices to a trusted measure of the end-user device&#39;s usage of that same class to determine if the difference between the two measures is within a specified tolerance; (k) comparing a statistical characterization of usage by a population of end-user devices to a non-secure measure of the end-user device&#39;s service usage to determine if the difference between the two measures is within a specified tolerance; (l) comparing a statistical characterization of usage of a class (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination, a group of network destinations, etc.) to a non-secure (e.g., device-based) measure of usage of the same class to determine if the difference between the two measures is within a specified tolerance; (m) comparing detailed class (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination, a group of network destinations, etc.) usage information in a usage report (trusted or non-secure) to determine whether the access network policy allows the classified activity; (n) determining whether a service processor on the end-user device successfully authenticated with a service controller in the network; (o) determining whether the end-user device is sending reports to a network element in an expected manner; (p) determining whether usage of one or more classes (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination, a group of network destinations, etc.) is consistently slightly under particular limits that would indicate likely fraud on the part of the end-user device; (q) comparing an amount or percentage of unknown or unclassified data usage allocated by the end-user device to a particular class to an expected amount or percentage of unknown or unclassified data usage, where the expected amount or percentage is determined using information from a trusted source (e.g., a web crawler, domain object model, etc.). 
     In some embodiments, the result of one or more of the policy verification steps is a pass/fail criterion, and the overall pass criterion is a number of failures less than a limit on the number of failures. In some embodiments, the result of one or more of the policy verification steps is a quantized value associated with an error likelihood or non-error likelihood, and the overall fail/pass criterion is based on a combination of one or more quantized values. In some embodiments, a policy implementation error action is taken if an error occurs, where the error action comprises one or more of: flagging the end-user device or the user for further evaluation; charging for the end-user device&#39;s usage at a pre-defined rate associated with an error condition; notifying the user of the end-user device; notifying a network or system administrator; quarantining the end-user device or a user access to the access network; suspending the end-user device or user&#39;s access to the access network. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process; an apparatus; a system; a composition of matter; a computer program product embodied on a computer readable storage medium; and/or a processor, such as a processor configured to execute instructions stored on and/or provided by a memory coupled to the processor. In this specification, these implementations, or any other form that the invention may take, may be referred to as techniques. In general, the order of the steps of disclosed processes may be altered within the scope of the invention. Unless stated otherwise, a component such as a processor or a memory described as being configured to perform a task may be implemented as a general component that is temporarily configured to perform the task at a given time or a specific component that is manufactured to perform the task. As used herein, the term “processor” refers to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores configured to process data, such as computer program instructions. 
     A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention is provided below along with accompanying figures that illustrate the principles of the invention. The invention is described in connection with such embodiments, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims and the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents. Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. These details are provided for the purpose of example and the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates, at a high level, the various components of a device-assisted services (DAS) implementation in accordance with some embodiments. Service processor  115  resides on an end-user device (not shown) and communicates with service controller  122 , which, in the embodiment of Figure A, resides in the cloud. As will be described below, service processor  115  and service controller  122  communicate over an access network to facilitate providing device-assisted services. 
     As illustrated in the embodiment of Figure A, service controller  122  communicates with existing network, information technology (IT), and billing infrastructure  14  of the network operator in various ways that are described herein and in the applications listed in the section “Cross Reference to Related Applications.” Service design center  20  provides an interface that allows operator personnel or other authorized persons to configure service plan information for end-user devices. Service design center  20  communicates with service controller  122 , which in turn assists in provisioning service plans by communicating with existing network, IT, and billing infrastructure  14  and service processor  115 . 
       FIG.  2    illustrates an example embodiment of a device-based service processor system in communication with a network-based service controller system. End-user device  100  includes service processor  115 . Service processor  115  is responsible for identifying access network communication activity by end-user device  100  and applying an access service policy to govern the communication activity. The communication activity in general comprises end-user device  100 &#39;s use of or attempted use of access network  10  for data communications to or from, for example, Internet  12 . 
     In some embodiments, service processor  115  assists in classifying service usage by end-user device  100  into sub-categories (e.g., classes) for the purpose of assisting in usage accounting policy enforcement, access control policy enforcement, applying service usage limits, or notification policy enforcement that differs according to the category (or class). In some embodiments, the classification can be for one or more device applications (e.g., a class comprises one or more application programs). In some embodiments the classification can be for one or more network destinations (e.g., a class comprises one or more network destinations). In some embodiments the classification can be for one or more network types (e.g., a class comprises one or more network types). In some embodiments a classification of service usage referred to as a sponsored service (or an ambient service) can be performed to facilitate allocating access network costs, in whole or in part, associated with the sponsored service to a service sponsor, the service sponsor being an entity other than the user or subscriber associated with end-user device  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the communication activity is classified for purposes of access policy enforcement by service processor  115 , or by a network element, based on one or more network destinations associated with the communication activity, such as, for example, a collection of one or more of: a network address, a domain, a URL, a website, a WAP site, a server configured to communicate with a device application, a content distribution site, a network tunnel or tunnel server (such as, for example, a VPN, APN, or other tunnel), a network gateway, or a proxy server. In some embodiments, the communications activity is classified for the purposes of network access policy enforcement by service processor  115  or by a network element based on a collection of one or more device application programs or device operating system (OS) components participating in the communications activity. 
     Service processor  115  comprises one or more software or firmware programs that execute on end-user device  100 . To aid in disclosure of the invention, service processor  115  is explained using the functional elements or agents shown in  FIG.  2   . The specific allocation of functional elements within service processor  115  can take many forms, and the form presented in  FIG.  2    is intended to illustrate basic elements but is not intended to be an exhaustive or limiting description of possible functional breakdowns of service processor  115 . 
       FIG.  2    shows several device application programs. TCP application  1604 , IP application  1605 , and voice application  1602  are shown in  FIG.  2   , but other application programs may be present in addition or instead. Each of these applications is in general initiated by user interaction with end-user device  100 , generally through user interface  1697 . In the embodiment of  FIG.  2   , data path processing elements of service processor  115  include application interface agent  1693 , policy implementation agent  1690 , modem selection and control  1811 , and several access network modem drivers (dial/DSL modem driver  1831 , Ethernet modem driver  1815 , WPAN modem driver  1814 , WLAN modem driver  1813 , and WWAN modem driver  1812 ). 
     In some embodiments, application interface agent  1693  monitors device application-layer communication activity to identify attempted or successful access network communication activity. In some embodiments, application interface agent  1693  monitors application layer access network communication activity to identify and classify the access network communication activity. In some embodiments, the monitoring of access network communication activity by application interface agent  1693  is reported to service monitor agent  1696 . In some embodiments, the monitoring of access communications activity by application interface agent  1693  comprises classifying data traffic flows based on inspection and characterization of which application (e.g., TCP application  1604 , IP application  1605 , voice application  1602 , or any other application on end-user device  100 ) each flow is associated with. In some embodiments, the monitoring of access communications activity by application interface agent  1693  comprises classifying data traffic flows based on inspection and characterization of which network destination each flow is associated with. 
     In some embodiments, service monitor agent  1696 , application interface agent  1693 , and/or other agents implement virtual traffic tagging by tracking or tracing packet flows through various communication stack formatting, processing and encryption steps, and providing the virtual tag information to the various agents that monitor, control, shape, throttle or otherwise observe, manipulate or modify the traffic. This tagging approach is referred to herein as virtual tagging, because there is not a literal data flow, traffic flow or packet tag that is attached to flows or packets, and the book-keeping to tag the packet is done through tracking or tracing the flow or packet through the stack instead. 
     In some embodiments, application interface agent  1693  and/or other agents identify a traffic flow, associate it with a service usage activity and cause a literal tag to be attached to the traffic or packets associated with the activity. This tagging approach is referred to herein as literal tagging. There are various advantages to both the virtual tagging and the literal tagging approaches. For example, it can be preferable in some embodiments to reduce the inter-agent communication required to track or trace a packet through the stack processing by assigning a literal tag so that each flow or packet has its own activity association embedded in the data. As another example, it can be preferable in some embodiments to re-use portions of standard communication stack software or components, enhancing the verifiable traffic control or service control capabilities of the standard stack by inserting additional processing steps associated with the various service agents and monitoring points rather than re-writing the entire stack to correctly process literal tagging information, and in such cases, a virtual tagging scheme may be desired. As yet another example, some standard communication stacks provide for unused, unspecified or otherwise available bit fields in a packet frame or flow, and these unused, unspecified or otherwise available bit fields can be used to literally tag traffic without the need to re-write all of the standard communication stack software, with only the portions of the stack that are added to enhance the verifiable traffic control or service control capabilities of the standard stack needing to decode and use the literal tagging information encapsulated in the available bit fields. In the case of literal tagging, in some embodiments, the tags are removed prior to passing the packets or flows to the network or to the applications utilizing the stack. In some embodiments, the manner in which the virtual or literal tagging is implemented can be developed into a communication standard specification so that various device or service product developers can independently develop the communication stack and/or service processor  115  hardware and/or software in a manner that is compatible with service controller  122  specifications and the products of other device or service product developers. 
     In some embodiments, an agent or combination of agents uses tags to assist in applying a policy (e.g., a notification, charging, or control policy) when an application program on end-user device  100  initiates communications or successfully communicates over an access network. In some such embodiments, the agent or combination of agents determines when an application program initiates or attempts to initiate a communication over the first wireless access network by: identifying a data flow comprising one or more related data transfers or attempted data transfers associated with the application program; assigning a flow tag to the data flow, where the flow tag is a traffic flow identifier; monitoring an access network service usage or attempted service usage associated with the flow tag; and, after identifying the data flow, applying the policy to the first wireless access network service usage or attempted service usage associated with the flow tag. As will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art, the steps of identifying, assigning, and monitoring can occur in any order. 
     In some embodiments, application interface agent  1693  applies, implements, or enforces service usage accounting or charging policy for application layer access network communication activity. In some embodiments, this policy implementation function is used to apply, implement, or enforce service usage accounting or charging policy that varies with the classification of the access communication activity as discussed above. 
     In some embodiments, application interface agent  1693  implements traffic control policy for application layer access network communication activity. In some embodiments, application interface agent  1693  implements application-level control policy to allow an application to execute on end-user device  100  or to prevent an application from executing. In some embodiments, application interface agent  1693  implements notification policy for application layer access network communication activity. 
     In some embodiments, application interface agent  1693  provides applications with an access network service application interface so that the application (e.g., TCP application  1604 , IP application  1605 , voice application  1602 , etc.) can request or provision special access network service permissions such as, for example, an access network quality-of-service (QoS) channel class, a background service usage class, a service usage accounting particular to an application or application class, or a sponsored service usage particular to an application or application class, wherein a sponsor entity other than a user of the end-user device subsidizes an access network usage cost associated with the application or application class. In such embodiments, application interface agent  1693  can communicate with a counterpart in the access network to provide for provisioning of the special access network service permissions for a particular application or class of applications. 
     In some embodiments, application interface agent  1693  interacts with application programs (e.g., TCP application  1604 , IP application  1605 , voice application  1602 , or another application on end-user device  100 ) to arrange application settings to aid in implementing application-level service policy implementation or billing. In some embodiments, application interface agent  1693  arranges an application setting by posting, sending, or otherwise communicating a message comprising a setting configuration. In some embodiments, the application setting assists in traffic control (e.g., allow, block, throttle, rate-limit, transmit on a particular network, background traffic control, etc.), notification (e.g., to a user of end-user device  100 , to a network element such as service controller  122 , etc.), or charging (e.g., to account for usage of access network resources by end-user device  100 ). 
     In some embodiments, application interface agent  1693  interacts with an application program stored on end-user device  100  and configured to access a data service over an access network. In some such embodiments, the application program has an associated policy (e.g., a notification [e.g., of an amount or cost of access network usage associated with the application program, an amount or cost of access network usage associated with the application program over a particular (possibly user-selected) period of time, background or foreground data usage information, etc.], charging, or control policy) to be applied when the application program initiates or attempts to initiate communications over the first access network, and application interface agent  1693  (or another agent on end-user device  100 ) assists in policy implementation by arranging a setting of the application program by posting, sending, or otherwise communicating the setting to the application program. 
     In some embodiments, one or more agents on end-user device  100  are configured to prevent unauthorized modifications, updates, or replacements of the application software by: detecting an attempted installation of update software on end-user device  100 , where the update software purports to be a modification, update, or replacement of the application program; obtaining a credential associated with the application program; obtaining a credential associated with the update software; and allowing the update software to be installed on end-user device  100  if the credential associated with the purported modification, update, or replacement of the application program matches the credential associated with the application program. 
     In some embodiments, application interface agent  1693  is associated with or comprises a credential, and another agent on end-user device  100  (e.g., access control integrity agent  1694 , policy control agent  1692 , etc.) is configured to prevent unauthorized modifications, updates, or replacements of application interface agent  1693 . In some embodiments, the other agent detects an attempted installation of software purporting to be a modification, update, or replacement of application interface agent  1693 , obtains the credential associated with application interface agent  1693 , obtains a credential associated with the software purporting to be a modification, update, or replacement of application interface agent  1693 , and allows the software to be installed on end-user device  100  if the credential associated with the software matches the credential associated with application interface agent  1693 . 
     In some embodiments, application interface agent  1693  intercepts certain application traffic to modify traffic application layer parameters, such as email file transfer options or browser headers. In some embodiments, application interface agent  1693  transmits or receives a service usage test element to aid in verifying service policy implementation, service monitoring or service billing. In some embodiments, application interface agent  1693  performs a transaction billing intercept function to aid the billing agent  1695  in transaction billing. In some embodiments, application interface agent  1693  transmits or receives a billing test element to aid in verifying transaction billing or service billing. 
     In some embodiments, policy implementation agent  1690  monitors device network traffic layer communication activity to identify attempted or successful access network communication activity. In some embodiments, policy implementation agent  1690  monitors network traffic layer communication activity to identify and classify the access communication activity. In some embodiments, the monitoring of access network communications activity by policy implementation agent  1690  is reported to service monitor agent  1696 . Traffic layer communication monitoring can be conducted at one or more layers between the application layer (generally referred to as layer 7) and the access network media access control layer (generally referred to as layer 2). In some embodiments, traffic layer communication monitoring comprises classifying data traffic flows based on inspection and characterization of layer 7 communication traffic parameters (for example, one or more of application program identifier or credential, network destination classifiers, communication protocol parameters, communication content classifiers, or secure communication protocol parameters such as SSL or TLS connection parameters) and associating the classification with one or more resulting traffic flows, socket flows, or packet flows. In some embodiments, traffic layer communication monitoring comprises classifying data traffic flows based on inspection and characterization of layer 4 communication traffic parameters such as, for example, socket flow tuples. In some embodiments, traffic layer communication monitoring comprises classifying data traffic flows based on inspection and characterization of layer 3 communication traffic parameters (for example, IP addresses). In some embodiments, traffic layer communication monitoring comprises classifying data traffic flows based on inspection and characterization of VPN tunnel parameters, APN tunnel parameters, etc. 
     In some embodiments, policy implementation agent  1690  applies, implements, or enforces access network policy at one or more of the communications traffic layers of a device operating system. As discussed above, in some embodiments access network policy can be applied at one or more traffic layers. Traffic layer policy enforcement can be applied at any layer(s) between and including the application layer (generally referred to as layer 7) and the access network media access control layer (generally referred to as layer 2). 
     In some embodiments, communications traffic layer policy application comprises policy applied to a classification of data traffic flows based on inspection and characterization of layer 7 communication traffic parameters (for example, one or more of application program identifier or credential, network destination classifiers, communication protocol parameters, communication content classifiers, or secure communication protocol parameters such as SSL or TLS connection parameters) and associating the classification with one or more resulting traffic flows, socket flows, or packet flows. In some embodiments, communications traffic layer policy application comprises policy applied to a classification of data traffic flows based on inspection and characterization of layer 4 communication traffic parameters such as, for example, socket flow tuples. In some embodiments, communications traffic layer policy application comprises policy applied to a classification of data traffic flows based on inspection and characterization of layer 3 communication traffic parameters (e.g., IP addresses). In some embodiments, communications traffic layer policy application comprises policy applied to a classification of data traffic flows based on inspection and characterization of VPN tunnel parameters, APN tunnel parameters, etc. 
     Connection manager  1804  determines which access network the device is connected to and provides this information to other agents on end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, connection manager  1804  also chooses a network connection based on available network connections and a network selection policy instruction from policy control agent  1692 . 
     Service monitor agent  1696  is responsible for accounting and reporting the access network service usage for end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the service monitoring (e.g., a measure of the access network service usage) is reported to a user of end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the service monitoring is reported to a network element. In some embodiments, the access network service usage is classified by an application breakdown indicating the amount of service usage attributed to one or more applications. In some embodiments, the access network service usage is classified by a network destination or network service breakdown indicating the amount of service usage attributed to one or more network destinations or network services. In some embodiments, the access network service usage is classified by a network type breakdown indicating the amount of service usage attributed to one or more network types. In some embodiments, the network type breakdown includes a roaming network. In some embodiments, the network type breakdown includes a cellular network (e.g., 2G, 3G, 4G, etc.). 
     Policy control agent  1692  is responsible for monitoring application layer activity or traffic communication layer activity to identify conditions in which a network access policy should be implemented, and then causing a policy enforcement agent (for example application interface agent  1693  or policy implementation agent  1690 ) to apply the policy. In some embodiments, policy control agent  1692  receives information about an end-user device connection state from other device agents (e.g., connection manager  1804 , one of modem drivers  1831 ,  1815 ,  1814 ,  1813 ,  1812 , modem selection and control  1811 , an operating system function, etc.) to aid in determining the access network policy settings that should be applied at a given time. For example, without limitation, device connection state information can comprise one or more of application classification information, network destination identifier information, network service identifier information, type of network information, time of day or day of week information, and geographic location information. 
     The access network policy instruction provided by policy control agent  1692  to a policy enforcement agent (for example, application interface agent  1693  or policy implementation agent  1690 ) can comprise a service usage accounting or charging policy in which the service usage is accounted and reported for the purpose of access network service usage accounting or billing. In some embodiments, the service usage is accounted to or billed to a device account or device user account. In some embodiments, the service usage accounting is accounted to or billed to a service sponsor account, where the service sponsor is an entity that is not the device user or a subscriber associated with end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the service usage accounting or charging policy includes modifications in accounting policy based on one or more classifications of service usage and one or more device connection states, with classifications of service usage and connection state including but not limited to those disclosed herein. 
     The access network policy instruction provided by policy control agent  1692  to a policy enforcement agent can comprise a service usage control policy wherein the service usage is governed, limited, or regulated according to a service plan policy. In some embodiments, the service usage control policy includes modifications in control policy based on one or more classifications of service usage and one or more device connection states, with classifications of service usage and connection state including but not limited to those disclosed herein. 
     The access network policy instruction provided by policy control agent  1692  to a policy enforcement agent can comprise a service notification policy in which a notification associated with the access network service is presented through a user interface of end-user device  100  (e.g., user interface  1697 ) when a pre-determined notification trigger condition is met. In some embodiments, the notification indicates an amount of service used. In some embodiments, the notification indicates an amount of service remaining. In some embodiments, the notification comprises an offer to acquire service. In some embodiments, the service notification policy includes modifications in control policy based on one or more classifications of service usage and one or more device connection states, with classifications of service usage and connection state including but not limited to those disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the notification includes an offer to acquire service based on the occurrence of a pre-determined attempted or successful device access to an application or combination of applications. In some embodiments, an offer to acquire service is based on the occurrence of a pre-determined attempted or successful device access to a network destination or combination of network destinations. In some embodiments, an offer to acquire service is based on detection of a condition in which a new service plan may be of interest to a device user who currently has an existing service plan or no service plan. In some embodiments, the notification comprises an offer to increase a service allowance. In some embodiments, the notification comprises an indication of potential or likely service usage. In some embodiments, the notification indicates a roaming service usage. In some embodiments, the notification comprises an offer to acquire roaming services. In some embodiments, the notification indicates that service authorization is about to expire under a current service plan. 
     In some embodiments, user interface  1697  provides a user of end-user device  100  with input capability to modify an access network service according to a user preference and/or to receive access network service notifications. In some embodiments, user interface  1697  accepts user inputs for modifying access network policy, such as limiting access by one or more applications or access to one or more network destinations. In some embodiments, user interface  1697  accepts user inputs for modifying end-user device  100 &#39;s access to particular access networks (e.g., one or more roaming networks, one or more cellular networks, one or more WiFi networks, etc.). In some embodiments, user interface  1697  accepts user inputs for choosing or modifying a service plan. 
     Service control device link  1691  provides a secure communication link and heartbeat function between service processor  115  and service controller  122 . In some embodiments, using the heartbeat function, agents on end-user device  100  provide certain reports to service controller  122  for the purpose of service policy implementation verification (e.g., verification-related reports on certain aspects of service processor  115 ) or for other purposes. Such agent heartbeat messages can be sent unencrypted or encrypted, signed, or otherwise secured. In some embodiments, these messages include one or more of an agent information message, an agent check-in message, and an agent cross check message. 
     In some embodiments, an agent information message is included in a agent heartbeat service policy implementation verification message, which includes, for example, any information the agent needs to communicate to service controller  122  as part of the operation of the service policy implementation system. For example, an agent response to a service controller challenge, as described below, can be included in the agent heartbeat service policy implementation verification message. 
     In some embodiments, an agent check-in message is included in an agent heartbeat service policy implementation verification message, which includes, for example, a transmission of a unique agent identifier, secure unique identifier, and/or hashed encrypted and signed message beginning with some shared secret or state variable for the hash. For example, an agent self-check can be included in the agent heartbeat service policy implementation verification message, which includes reporting on agent configuration, agent operation, agent code status, agent communication log, agent error flags, and/or other agent associated information potentially hashed, encrypted, signed or otherwise secured in the message (e.g., using a shared secret unique to that agent). 
     In some embodiments, an agent cross-check message is included in the agent heartbeat service policy implementation verification message, which includes, for example, reports on the status, configuration, operation observations, communication log or other aspects of another agent. For example, agent environment reports can be included in the agent heartbeat service policy implementation verification message, which includes, for example, reports on certain aspects of the service processor  115  operating environment, such as software presence (e.g., installation status of certain operating system and/or application software and/or components thereof), observed communication with agents or communication attempts, memory accesses or access attempts, network accesses or access attempts, software downloads or attempted downloads, software removal or download blocking, service policy implementation verification or compromise event error conditions with respect to the operating environment for service processor  115 , and/or other messages regarding the verification or possibility of compromise associated with service processor  115  operating environment or agents. 
     In some embodiments, the agent heartbeat function also provides regular updates for information important to user service notification services. For example, the network-based elements can provide regular synchronization updates for the device based service usage or service activity counters in which service usage or service activity measures available from one or more network service history elements are transmitted to end-user device  100 . This allows the service usage counter errors between the device service counter and the counters used for central billing to be minimized. A common service usage or service activity measure is total traffic usage associated with one or more applications or one or more network destinations measured to date within a time frame over which a service limit is applicable. Other service usage or service activity measures can also be tracked and reconciled in a similar manner. 
     In some embodiments of the heartbeat function, service controller  122  verifies that the scheduled agent reports are being received and that the reports are within expected parameters. In some embodiments, access control integrity server  1654  issues signed challenge/response sequences to policy implementation agent  1690 . For example, the challenges can be asynchronous, issued when an event or error condition occurs, issued on a schedule, or issued when a certain amount of data has been used. This approach, for example, provides a second layer of service policy implementation verification that strengthens the service usage or service activity measurement verification. For example, a challenge/response can be sent over the heartbeat link for the purpose of verifying device agent integrity. 
     In some embodiments, the challenge/response heartbeat message can include sending any kind of command or query, transmitted securely or transmitted in the open, receiving a response from the agent and then evaluating the response to determine if the response is within a range of parameters expected for a correctly configured agent, an agent that is operating properly, an agent that is not partially compromised, or an agent that is not entirely compromised. In some embodiments, the agent is only required to respond with a simple acknowledgement of the challenge. In some embodiments, the agent is required to respond with a message or piece of information that is known by the agent. In some embodiments, the agent is required to respond with a message or piece of information that would be difficult for the agent to supply if it were to be partially or entirely compromised. In some embodiments, the agent is required to respond back with information regarding the operation or configuration of the agent that would be difficult for the agent to supply if the agent were not properly configured, not operating properly, partially compromised, or entirely compromised. In some embodiments, a first agent is required to respond back with information regarding the operation, configuration, status or behavior of a second agent, and this information is difficult for the first or second agent to supply if the first or second agent is not properly configured, not operating properly, is partially compromised or is entirely compromised. In some embodiments, the agent is required to respond with a response that includes a shared secret. In some embodiments, the agent is required to respond with information regarding the presence, configuration, operating characteristics or other information regarding other programs in the operating environment of the agent. In some embodiments, the agent is required to respond with hashed information of portions of code or a code sample (e.g., the code portion or code sample can be specified by service controller  122 ). 
     In some embodiments, the information the agent responds with is a response to a signed or encrypted message from service controller  122 , and the agent must know how to decode the encrypted controller message in order to respond correctly, or it would be difficult for the agent to respond properly if the agent is not configured properly, is not operating within appropriate limits, is partially compromised, or is entirely compromised. In some embodiments, the agent signs or encrypts information in such a manner that it is difficult for the agent to respond correctly, and for service controller  122  to decode the message, unless the agent is configured properly, is operating within appropriate limits, is not partially compromised, and is not entirely compromised. In some embodiments, the agent is required to respond with a signed or encrypted hash of information that is difficult for the agent to generate unless the agent is configured properly, is operating within appropriate limits, is not partially compromised and is not entirely compromised. For example, the hashed information can be local device configuration information, portions of code, or all of the code, and/or the code portion to be used in the response can be specified by service controller  122 . In another example, the hashed information the agent responds with can include a shared secret, and/or the hashed information can be information regarding the presence, configuration, operating characteristics or other information regarding other programs in the operating environment of the agent. 
     Accordingly, as described above, the agent heartbeat function provides an important and efficient system in some embodiments for verifying the service policy implementation or protecting against compromise events (e.g., fraud). There are many other functions the agent heartbeat service can perform; some are described herein, and others will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art given the principles, design background, and various embodiments provided herein. 
     In some embodiments, service downloader  1663  provides for one or more of: download of application programs that have an associated service policy; download of application credentials; and download of service processor  115  components or component updates. In some embodiments, service downloader  1663  requires a secure signed version of software before a download is accepted. For example, the download can require a unique key or credential. In some embodiments, service downloader  1663  is stored or executed in secure memory or executes in a secure memory partition in the CPU memory space. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that there are a variety of other security techniques that can be used to ensure the integrity of service downloader  1663 . 
     Access control integrity agent  1694  monitors the operational integrity of one or more service processor  115  elements to determine if unauthorized user modification or unauthorized user software program modification of the service processor configuration or operation has occurred. In some embodiments, access control integrity agent  1694  collects device information on one or more of service policy, service usage, service activity, agent configuration, and agent behavior. In some embodiments, access control integrity agent  1694  also cross-checks this information to identify integrity breaches in the service policy implementation and control system. In some embodiments, access control integrity agent  1694  initiates action when a service policy violation or a system integrity breach is suspected. In some embodiments, access control integrity agent  1694  takes an action (e.g., generating a fraud alert, blocking end-user device  100  from accessing access network  10 , blocking an application from accessing access network  10 , directing the device to a quarantine network status in which end-user device  100  can, for example, only access functions generally controlled by the access network service provider or the central service provider, etc.) when unauthorized conditions are detected. In some embodiments, access control integrity agent  1694  also performs asynchronous or periodic agent checks to verify the presence, configuration, or proper operation of other agents. In some embodiments, access control integrity agent  1694  also performs challenge-response sequence verification of other agents. 
     In some embodiments, access control integrity agent  1694  monitors agent self-check reports to verify that agents are properly configured. In some embodiments, access control integrity agent  1694  reports the agent self check reports to service controller  122 . In some embodiments, access control integrity agent  1694  performs a role in service usage test transmission, reception and/or monitoring, with the usage test being tailored to test monitoring or control aspects for any subset of service activities. In some embodiments, access control integrity agent  1694  performs a role in billing test event generation and/or monitoring. In some embodiments, access control integrity agent  1694  checks and reports the result of service usage monitoring verification tests, service usage billing verification tests and/or transaction billing verification tests. 
     In some embodiments, access control integrity agent  1694  receives agent access attempt reports to determine if unauthorized agent access attempts are occurring. In some embodiments, access control integrity agent  1694  acts as a central secure communications hub for agent-to-agent or service-controller-to-agent communication. For example, access control integrity agent  1694  can be used so that no other software or function can access agents or so that agents cannot access other agents except through a secure point-to-multipoint communications hub. In some embodiments, this approach further enhances compromise resistance for the agents. In some embodiments, some or all of the agent communications, including agent-to-agent or service-controller-to-agent communications, and possibly including unauthorized attempts to communicate with agents, are monitored and logged so that a trace log of some or all agent communications can be maintained. For example, the agent communication trace log can be summarized and/or compressed for transmission efficiency or regularly reported, such as through the heartbeat function, or the agent communication trace log can be reported only when service controller  122  requests the agent communication trace log or when there is a verification error event. 
     In some embodiments, access control integrity agent  1694  obtains service usage or service activity measures from service monitor agent  1696  and compares one or more first service usage measurement points against one or more second service usage measurement points to verify service policy implementation. 
     As illustrated in the embodiment of  FIG.  2   , service processor  115  is in communication with service controller  122  via access network  10  (and optionally including an additional connection path via Internet  12  in embodiments in which service controller  122  is not directly connected to access network  10 , such as the embodiment of  FIG.  2   ). Service controller  122  includes service control server link  1638 , which provides a secure communication link and heartbeat function between service processor  115  and service controller  122 . 
     In some embodiments, service history server  1650  records service usage reports for end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, service history server  1650  collects and records service usage or service activity reports (e.g., accounting reports) from a network element (e.g., access network AAA server  1621 ) or end-user device  100  (e.g., service monitor agent  1696 ). In some embodiments, the service usage reports are generated by service processor  115 . In some embodiments, the service usage reports include service usage classification information (e.g., usage per application, per group of applications, per network destination, per group of applications, per network type, etc.) as described herein. 
     Although service usage reports from the network elements can in certain embodiments be less detailed than service usage reports from end-user device  100 , the reports from the network can provide a valuable source for verification of device service policy implementation, because, for example, it is unlikely that a device error or compromise event on end-user device  100  will compromise network-based equipment or software. In some embodiments, service history server  1650  provides the service history on request to other servers and/or one or more agents. In some embodiments, service history server  1650  provides the service usage history to device service history  1618 . 
     In some embodiments, policy management server  1652  includes storage of access network service policies that are provided to service processor  115  from a network element. In some embodiments, policy management server  1652  provides known-application credentials to service processor  115 . In some embodiments, policy management server  1652  evaluates run-time application credentials provided by service processor  115 . 
     In some embodiments, policy management server  1652  transmits policies to service processor  115  via service control link  1653 . In some embodiments, policy management server  1652  manages policy settings on end-user device  100  (e.g., various policy settings as described herein with respect to various embodiments) in accordance with a device service profile. In some embodiments, policy management server  1652  sets instantaneous policies on policy implementation agents (e.g., policy implementation agent  1690 ). For example, policy management server  1652  can issue policy settings, monitor service usage and, if necessary, modify policy settings. 
     In some embodiments, policy management server  1652  provides adaptive policy management on end-user device  100 . For example, policy management server  1652  can issue policy settings and objectives and rely on the device-based policy management (e.g., by service processor  115 ) for some or all of the policy adaptation. This approach can require less interaction with end-user device  100 , thereby reducing network chatter on service control link  1653  for purposes of device policy management. This approach can also provide robust user privacy embodiments by allowing the user to configure the device policy for user privacy preferences/settings so that, for example, sensitive information (e.g., geo-location data, website history) is not communicated to the network without the user&#39;s approval. In some embodiments, policy management server  1652  adjusts service policy based on time of day. In some embodiments, policy management server  1652  receives, requests or otherwise obtains a measure of network availability and adjusts traffic shaping policy and/or other policy settings based on available network capacity. 
     In some embodiments, policy management server  1652  performs a service control algorithm to assist in managing overall network capacity or application QoS. In some embodiments, policy management server  1652  performs an algorithm to determine which access network is best to connect to, such as based on network capacity or application QoS, service usage costs, and/or any other criteria. 
     In some embodiments, access control integrity server  1654  monitors the integrity of the access policy system to establish a trusted service policy implementation. In some embodiments, access control integrity server  1654  collects end-user device  100  information on service policy, service usage, agent configuration and/or agent behavior. In some embodiments, access control integrity server  1654  cross-checks this information to identify integrity breaches in the service policy implementation and control system. 
     In some embodiments, access control integrity server  1654  initiates action when a service policy violation or a system integrity breach or error is suspected or detected. In some embodiments, access control integrity server  1654  (and/or some other agent of service controller  122 ) acts on access control integrity agent reports and error conditions. In some embodiments, checks performed by access control integrity agent  1654  include one or more of the following: service usage measure against usage range consistent with policies (e.g., usage measure from the network and/or from the device); configuration of agents; operation of the agents; and/or dynamic agent download. 
     In some embodiments, access control integrity server  1654  (and/or some other agent of service controller  122 ) verifies device service policy implementations by comparing various service usage measures (e.g., based on network-monitored information and/or local service usage monitoring information) against expected service usage behavior given the policies that are intended to be in place. For example, device service policy implementations can include measuring total data passed, data passed that is associated with a particular application or group of applications, data passed that is associated with a particular network destination or group of network destinations, data passed in a period of time, IP addresses, data per IP address, data per network, data per network type, and/or other measures (such as location, downloads, email accessed, URLs, etc.), and comparing such measures to expected service usage behavior given the policies that are supposed to be in place. 
     In some embodiments, access control integrity server  1654  (and/or some other agent of service controller  122 ) verifies device service policy, and the verification error conditions that can indicate a mismatch in service measure and service policy include one or more of the following: unauthorized network access (e.g., access beyond sponsored service policy limits); unauthorized network speed (e.g., average speed beyond service policy limit); network data amount does not match policy limit (e.g., device not stopping at limit without re-up/revising service policy); unauthorized network address; unauthorized service usage (e.g., VOIP, email, and/or web browsing when not authorized); unauthorized application usage (e.g., email, VOIP, email, and/or web when not authorized); service usage rate too high for plan, and policy controller not controlling/throttling it down; and/or any other mismatch in service measure and service policy. 
     In some embodiments, access control integrity server  1654  (and/or some other agent of service controller  122 ) verifies device service policy based at least in part on, for example, various error conditions that indicate a mismatch in service measure and service policy. For example, various verification error conditions that can indicate a mismatch in service measure and service policy include one or more of the following: mismatch in one service measure and another service measure; agent failure to report in; agent failure to respond to queries (e.g., challenge-response sequence and/or expected periodic agent reporting); agent failure to respond correctly to challenge/response sequence; agent improperly configured; agent failure in self checks; agent failure in cross-checks; unauthorized agent communication or attempted unauthorized communication; failure in service policy implementation test; failure in service usage reporting test; failure in service usage billing test; failure in transaction billing test; failure in download sequence; environment compromise event, such as unauthorized software load or execution (or attempt), unauthorized memory access (or attempt), unauthorized agent access (or attempt), known harmful software, and/or known harmful communications signature; and/or failure to respond to various messages, such as send message and suspend and/or send message and quarantine. 
     In some embodiments, access control integrity server  1654  (and/or some other agent of service controller  122 ) verifies device service policy by performing automated queries and analysis, which are then reported (e.g., anomalous/suspicious report results can be reported for further analysis by a person responsible for determining whether such activities indicate out of policy activities or to provide information to the user to inform the user of such anomalous/suspicious report results that may indicate out-of-policy activities). For example, the user can review the report to authorize whether such activities were performed by the user (e.g., website access requests, specific transactions, and/or phone calls) and/or indicate that such activities were not authorized by the user (e.g., indicate a potential compromise of the device, such as by malware or other unauthorized software/user use of the device). As another example, the user can also be connected to communicate with service support of the service provider regarding such reported activities (e.g., by text/chat, voice/phone, and/or video conference to a service support). Accordingly, in some embodiments, access control integrity server  1654  (and/or some other agent of service controller  122 ) provides a policy/service control integrity service to verify (e.g., periodically and/or based on trigger events) that the service control of the device has not been compromised and/or is not behaving out of policy. 
     In some embodiments, upon detection of one or more service verification errors, such as the various service verification errors discussed above, end-user device  100  is directed to a quarantine network status in which end-user device  100  can, for example, only access network control plane functions, billing functions, and other functions generally controlled by the access network service provider or the central service provider. In some embodiments, end-user device  100  is completely suspended from the network. In some embodiments, end-user device  100 &#39;s network access, service capabilities and/or traffic shaping are limited, partially restricted or completely restricted. For example, these limitations and/or restrictions can be implemented in the device and/or in the network. For example, implementing a device quarantine (e.g., using a RADIUS server to quarantine the device) can involve assigning the device to a different billing profile. 
     In some embodiments, service download control server  1660  provides for one or more of: download of application programs that have an associated service policy; download of application credentials; and download of service processor  115  components or component updates. 
     In some embodiments, billing event server  1662  provides for billing of access network service usage. In some embodiments, the billing is modified based on one or more of the classifications of access network service usage described herein. In some embodiments, the billing is modified based on one or more of the device connection state conditions described herein. 
     In some embodiments, device service history  1618  provides trusted (e.g., network-based, third-party-based, or certain device-based) service usage measures for billing purposes or for the purpose of verifying a trusted service policy implementation. In some embodiments, a trusted service policy implementation is verified by service controller  122  (e.g., access control integrity server  1654 ) by comparing the trusted service usage records with the usage limitations expected to be in place if the service policy is being properly implemented by end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, these trusted service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on application. In some embodiments, these trusted service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on network destination or network service identifier. In some embodiments, these trusted service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on network type. In some embodiments, these trusted service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on time of day. In some embodiments, these trusted service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on QoS class. In some embodiments, these trusted service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on geography. In some embodiments, these trusted service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on a roaming network. 
     In some embodiments, central billing  1619  provides for billing of service usage. In some embodiments, central billing  1619  provides a mediation function for central provider billing events. For example, central billing  1619  can accept service plan changes. In some embodiments, central billing  1619  provides updates on device service usage, service plan limits and/or service policies. In some embodiments, central billing  1619  collects billing events, formulates bills, bills service users, provides certain billing event data and service plan information to the service controller  122  and/or end-user device  100 . 
     In some embodiments, access network AAA server  1621  assists in authentication of service processor  115  by providing one or more of a device credential database, a user credential database, a service processor credential database, and an authentication service for the device. In some embodiments, access network AAA server  1621  provides the necessary access network AAA services (e.g., access control and authorization functions for the device access layer) to allow end-user devices  100  onto the central provider access network and the service provider network. In some embodiments, access network AAA server  1621  also provides the ability to suspend service for a device and resume service for a device based on communications received from service controller  122 . In some embodiments, access network AAA server  1621  also provides the ability to direct routing for device traffic to a quarantine network or to restrict or limit network access when a device quarantine condition is invoked. In some embodiments, access network AAA server  1621  also records and reports device network service usage (e.g., to device service history  1618 ). 
     Although many of the embodiments disclosed herein include service controller  122 , a service controller is not necessary in embodiments in which a user of end-user device  100  is in full control of access network policies via user interface  1697 . For example, the user can determine access network service policies that limit service for end-user device  100  in general or for one or more of the access network service usage classifications described herein, including application limitations, network destination or network service limitations, network type limitations, etc. In some embodiments, based solely on user preferences input via user interface  1697  of end-user device  100 , the service processor access network service policy limitations can specify blocking, allowing, or capping service usage according to, for example, application, application class, or destination. In some embodiments, these user-defined limitations can be modified based on the type of network the device is connected to. In some embodiments, these user defined limitations can be modified based on whether the user wishes to allow the access network communication activity for a given classification to occur in the background or not, or to cap such service usage when end-user device  100  is connected to a particular network type (e.g., a roaming network, a cellular network, a WiFi network, etc.). In some embodiments, these user-defined limitations can be modified based on whether the user wishes to allow the access network communication activity for a given classification to occur while end-user device  100  is connected to a roaming network, or to cap such service usage while end-user device  100  is roaming. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates an alternative embodiment of functional elements for a network access service policy implementation. In  FIG.  3   , the carrier network system is shown as having multiple radio access networks (RAN  1657  and RAN  1659  are shown, but additional networks may also be present), carrier core gateways  1656 , carrier core network usage monitors  640 , carrier network  11 , and carrier billing  139 . In this embodiment, the service controller function is augmented by authentication credential server  220 , application credential data base  221 , application policy database  223 , service usage reconciliation and fraud detection  642 , and service design center  20 . In some embodiments, authentication credential server  220  is incorporated in service controller  122 . 
     Internet  12  provides a connection to user device application program sources (e.g., third-party app stores  500 ) and user device application service destinations (e.g., app developer servers  600  and other websites, servers, or content sources connected to Internet  12 ). Application developer service design center (SDC) user interface (UI)  610  provides a user interface to allow application developers or website developers who choose to sponsor (e.g., partially or entirely subsidize) access network usage costs associated with particular applications and/or websites to define sponsored-service parameters. Usage or transaction monitors  620  track device usage of application developer servers  600  (e.g., by generating customer usage or transaction feedback  630 ) for the purpose of verifying access network service policy for sponsored services. 
     Authentication credential server  220  interfaces with application credential database  221 , with application policy database  223 , and with service controller  122 . Authentication credential server  220  has at least three embodiments, each with a different mode of operation. In one embodiment or mode of operation, authentication credential server  220  provides application credentials and associated access network policies to end-user device  100  (e.g., to service processor  115 ) for the purpose of identifying a device application program and associating it with access network policies that are to be applied to attempted or successful access network communications associated with that application. A device application program credential can be a program identifier, a name, a signature, a certificate, a hash, or any other identifier that uniquely identifies the application. In another embodiment or mode of operation, authentication credential server  220  receives a device application credential from end-user device  100  (e.g., service processor  115 ), determines if the credential matches a known-application credential in application credential database  221 , and, if so, provides the associated application access service policy from application policy database  223  to the device. In a variation of this embodiment, if authentication credential server  220  determines that the application credential does not match a known-application credential in application credential database  221 , then, in some embodiments, authentication credential server  220  retrieves an access policy associated with unknown applications from application policy database  223  and provides it to end-user device  100 . In some embodiments in which the application credential does not match a known-application credential, end-user device  100  is informed that no policy exists for the application associated with the credential. In some embodiments in which the application credential does not match a known-application credential, no action is taken. 
     Carrier core network usage monitors  640  monitor usage of access network resources by each end-user device  100 . Carrier core network usage monitors  640  may include a deep packet inspection (DPI) element or any other network element capable of monitoring usage of access network resources by end-user devices. 
     Service design center  20  provides a means for specifying service plan policies for the access network service policy implementation system. Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/248,025, which is entitled “Service Design Center for Device Assisted Services” and is incorporated herein by reference, describes some of the information that may be configured via service design center  20 . Example of information that can be configured using service design center  20  include but are not limited to: a list of available service plans; the priorities of listed service plans, where the priorities identify the order in which the classification function on the end-user device should apply filters associated with the available, selected, or purchased service plans, e.g., to determine under which plan a particular service activity by an end-user device falls; how available service plans will be displayed on an end-user device, such as end-user device  100 ; a categorization of service plans (e.g., whether a service plan is a temporary activation plan, a sponsored plan subsidized or paid for by an entity other than a user or subscriber associated with the end-user device, a user-paid plan, etc.); promotional messages to be displayed on one or more end-user devices, such as end-user device  100 ; upsell offers (e.g., conditions that trigger the display of an upsell offer, information characterizing the upsell offer, etc.); events that cause a “no capable plan” notification (e.g., a notification that is presented when a user of an end-user device that is not associated with or subscribed to an applicable data plan attempts to access a data service, etc.) on the end-user device; templates for notification messages (e.g., message foregrounds and backgrounds, colors, logos, etc.); subscriber groups (e.g., by importing a list, manually typing individual subscriber identifiers, etc.); requests for reports containing information about a group of end-user devices or a group of subscribers; information about an end-user device associated with a subscriber (e.g., data usage measures, service plan information, cost or account balance information, notification settings for the end-user device, etc.). 
     In some embodiments, service usage reconciliation and fraud detection  642  provides service usage comparisons for the purpose of service fraud detection and corrective action. As disclosed herein, service usage measures used by service usage reconciliation and fraud detection  642  can originate from end-user device service usage measures, trusted service usage measures (e.g., measures from carrier core network usage monitors  640  or another trusted source), or both. As also disclosed herein, the service usage measures can be associated with various classifications (e.g., by application, network destination, device network connection state, network type, etc.). In some embodiments, a trusted service policy implementation is verified by service controller  122  by performing one or more of the following operations: (a) comparing the trusted access network usage records with the usage limitations expected to be in place if the service policy is being properly implemented; (b) comparing a trusted service usage measure against a device service processor-based service usage measure; (c) comparing a first device service processor service usage measure against a second device service processor service usage measure; (d) comparing device service usage against a population statistic for the device-based service usage measure. 
     In some embodiments, service usage reconciliation and fraud detection  642  uses customer usage or transaction feedback  630  from usage or transaction monitors  620  integrated into application developer servers  600  to aid in detection of service policy error events. In some embodiments, the service usage information provided from customer usage or transaction feedback  630  is used to determine the service usage that should be accounted to an application classification service, a website classification service, a network content classification service, or a network classification service defined by a connection to a network gateway, proxy server, or tunnel server (e.g., an APN tunnel server, a VPN tunnel server, etc.). In some embodiments, the service usage provided from customer usage or transaction feedback  630  is compared to device-based service usage measures to determine if the two measures are accurate to within a tolerance. 
     In some embodiments, third-party app stores  500  provide end-user device  100  with an application program source for downloading device application programs associated with an access network policy. In some embodiments, when (as disclosed herein) a device user interface notification offers a user a service plan comprising an application program and an associated access network policy for the application program, and the application program is not pre-loaded on the device, when the user selects the service plan, service processor  115  automatically downloads the application from one of third-party app stores  500 . 
     In some embodiments, application developer service design center UI  610  allows application developers, website developers, or other Internet content providers or service providers to log into a sponsored service definition server in order to sign up for sponsored payments to subsidize user accounting for access network service usage for a certain application, certain website, certain content site, certain shopping site, or another Internet based service associated with a network destination, a group of network destinations, an application, a group of applications, a network type, etc. In some embodiments, an application credential can be uploaded or specified via application developer service design center UI  610  and associated with a sponsored service plan policy. In some embodiments, a network destination identifier can be uploaded or specified via application developer service design center UI  610  and associated with a sponsored service plan policy. 
     In some embodiments carrier billing  139  provides for billing of service usage. 
     Secure Service Controller Hardware Architectures 
     The elements of service controller  122  described herein can be implemented in various advantageous architectural embodiments to assist in securing device-assisted services (DAS).  FIG.  4    illustrates an example embodiment of a secure service controller architecture for DAS systems.  FIG.  4    shows several of the functions that may be accomplished by a service controller (e.g., service controller  122 ) that communicates with one or more end-user devices over access network  10 . In particular,  FIG.  4    shows four service controller functions: a portal function, a file transfer function, a gateway function, and a credentialing function. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG.  4   , the portal function is accomplished by portal user  102 , optional load balancer  106 , optional portal proxy server  108 , portal application server  112 , and database cluster  116 . In some embodiments, the portal function allows a user (e.g., carrier personnel, mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) personnel, virtual service provider (VSP) personnel, etc.) to enter information to configure or manage access network services or end-user devices, such as by using service design center  20  or application developer service design center UI  610 . In some embodiments, the portal function allows a portal user to collect information about provisioned end-user devices (e.g., reports containing information about an end-user device&#39;s service plan activity, reports containing information about an end-user device&#39;s access network usage, etc.). An example embodiment of the portal function is described in more detail below using  FIG.  9   . 
     In some embodiments, the file transfer function allows secure file transfers between a carrier (e.g., a service provider, an MVNO, a VSP, etc.) and the service controller. As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , carrier file  118  is placed on file server  126  through optional load balancer  124 . EAI server  128  retrieves carrier file  118 . In some embodiments, EAI server  128  processes carrier file  118 . EAI server  128  configures output file  120 . In some embodiments, EAI server  128  configures output file  120  using information in database cluster  116 . EAI server  128  places output file  120  on file server  126 . An example embodiment of the file transfer function is described below using  FIG.  10   . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG.  4   , the credentialing function is accomplished by end-user device  100 , optional load balancer  142 , optional credentialing proxy server  144 , credentialing application server  146 , and database cluster  116 . In some embodiments, the credentialing function authenticates end-user devices and provides those devices with the credentials they need in order to communicate with the service controller gateway and to use access network services. An example embodiment of the credentialing function is described below using the example embodiment of  FIG.  6   . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG.  4   , the gateway function is accomplished by end-user device  100 , optional load balancer  134 , optional gateway proxy server  136 , gateway application server  138 , and database cluster  116 . In some embodiments, the gateway function supports an end-user device&#39;s DAS communications, including the sending of device-based usage reports from end-user device  100  (e.g., using service processor  115 ) to service controller  122 , after the end-user device has completed the credentialing procedure. An example embodiment of the gateway function is described below using  FIG.  11   . 
     In some service controller  122  embodiments, security is provided by making data flowing through the service controller accessible only to the functions and elements that process it. For example, in the embodiment of  FIG.  4   , information flowing from end-user device  100  to credentialing application server  146  is not available to network elements supporting the portal, file server, or gateway functions.  FIG.  4    also illustrates several different security zones. The security zones are protected (e.g., separated) by firewalls that limit the reach of an entity once that entity has gained access to a hardware element or function within a hardware element that performs a service controller function. As would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art, a firewall comprises one or more devices that permit or deny network traffic to pass through the firewall based on a set of rules. When interposed between two network elements, a firewall can prevent unauthorized access between elements while permitting legitimate communications to pass. In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  4   , once an entity has gained access to an element in one security zone, the entity must pass through a firewall to communicate with an entity in a different security zone. For example, firewall  104  protects optional load balancer  106  and portal proxy server  108  from unauthorized access by portal user  102 ; firewall  110  protects portal application server  112  from unauthorized access by optional portal proxy server  108 ; and firewall  114  protects database cluster  116  from unauthorized entry by portal application server  112 . Thus, in order to gain access to database cluster  116 , portal user  102  must successfully navigate through three firewalls. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates seven security zones, each indicated by a dashed line. The zone labeled “DMZ 1” includes optional load balancer  106  and optional portal proxy server  108 . DMZ1 is separated from portal user  102  by firewall  104 , and DMZ1 is separated from portal application server  112 , which is in the “App VLAN” security zone, by firewall  110 . The zone labeled “DMZ 2” includes optional load balancer  124  and file server  126 . Incoming carrier file  118  must pass through firewall  18  to reach file server  126 , and through firewall  110  to reach EAI server  128 . Likewise, retrieving output file  120  from file server  126  requires navigation through firewall  18 . The zone labeled “DMZ 3” includes optional load balancer  134  and optional gateway proxy server  136 . Communications from end-user device  100  must pass through firewall  132  to reach optional gateway proxy server  136 , and through firewall  110  to reach gateway application server  138 . The zone labeled “DMZ 4” includes optional load balancer  142  and optional credentialing proxy server  144 . Communications from end-user device  100  must pass through firewall  140  to reach credentialing proxy server  144  and through firewall  110  to reach credentialing application server  146 .  FIG.  4    also shows a security zone labeled “Database VLAN,” which includes database cluster  116  and is protected from the elements in the App VLAN security zone by firewall  114 . Database cluster  116  comprises one or more database elements. The information in and use of database cluster  116  is described below. The zone labeled “DMZ 5” contains carrier IT/billing element  139  and is separated from EAI server  128  and the other elements in the App VLAN zone by firewall  235 . 
     The zone labeled “App VLAN” is the applications security zone. As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , App VLAN includes portal application server  112 , EAI server  128 , message bus  130 , fraud server  129 , reconciliation server  131 , gateway application server  138 , and credentialing application server  146 .  FIG.  4    illustrates direct communication paths between some of the elements within the App VLAN zone. For example, there are direct communication paths between EAI server  128  and portal application server  112 ; between EAI server  128  and message bus  130 ; between fraud server  129  and message bus  130 ; between reconciliation server  131  and message bus  130 ; and between gateway application server  138  and message bus  130 .  FIG.  4    also shows that several of the elements within the App VLAN security zone do not communicate directly, but rather use message bus  130 . For example, there is no direct communication path between EAI server and reconciliation server  131 , but both elements have communication paths with message bus  130 . As would be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art, elements with communication paths through message bus  130  could have direct communication paths, and elements with direct communication paths could instead communicate using message bus  130 . The communication paths shown in  FIG.  4    are merely exemplary. 
     Although  FIG.  4    shows the various elements within App VLAN as being within a single security zone, a person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that there may be multiple security zones, separated by firewalls, within the App VLAN zone to provide added security. For example, there could be a firewall between portal application server  112  and EAI server  128 . Also, although  FIG.  4    illustrates separate elements (e.g., portal application server  112 , EAI server  128 , etc.) within the App VLAN security zone, this representation is merely a functional representation. As would be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art in light of the disclosures herein, some or all of the elements shown may be combined in a single element (e.g., two or more of the illustrated elements could be performed by a single processor, a single server, etc.). 
     Although  FIG.  4    illustrates credentialing application server  146  as not communicating with any of the other elements within the App VLAN security zone, in some embodiments it may be advantageous for credentialing application server  146  to communicate with other elements in the App VLAN security zone, such as, for example, EAI server  128  or portal application server  112 , to assist in tasks such as, for example, preventing a particular end-user device or a particular subscriber from being allocated a credential or revoking the credential of a particular end-user device or a particular subscriber. As another example, in some embodiments, credentialing application server  146  communicates directly with fraud server  129  to flag fraudulent uses of credentials. 
     Although  FIG.  4    illustrates firewalls as separate elements, each physical machine implementing one or more functions or elements shown in  FIG.  4    could contain its own firewall. Furthermore, each logical element in each layer could be further firewalled beyond what is shown in  FIG.  4   . As an example, the logical elements that only communicate with message bus  130  could be individually firewalled so they are only allowed to send traffic to and receive traffic from message bus  130 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , in addition to communicating with portal application server  112  and message bus  130 , EAI server  128  communicates with carrier IT/billing  139  through firewall  235 . In this embodiment, EAI server  128  has an interface that allows it to communicate with carrier IT/billing  139 . The information flowing to and from EAI server  128  over the various communication paths shown in  FIG.  4    is described below in more detail using the example embodiment of  FIG.  7   . 
       FIG.  5    illustrates an example embodiment that is similar to the embodiment of  FIG.  4   , except without the optional load balancers and without the optional proxy servers. As shown in  FIG.  5   , communications from portal user  102  or from end-user device  100  must pass through two firewalls, firewall  110  and firewall  114 , to reach database cluster  116 . Three firewalls ( 122 ,  110 , and  114 ) separate carrier file  118  and database cluster  116 . Carrier IT/billing element  139  must pass through firewall  235 , EAI server  128 , and firewall  114  to reach database cluster  116 . 
       FIG.  6    illustrates an example embodiment without the optional load balancers and without the optional proxy servers of  FIG.  4   , and with an external EAI interface between EAI server  128  and carrier IT/billing  139 . As illustrated in  FIG.  6   , firewall  237  is interposed between EAI interface  238  and carrier IT/billing  139  to provide additional security, and EAI interface  238  resides in a security zone labeled “DMZ 6.” In the embodiment of  FIG.  6   , communications from/to EAI server  128  to/from carrier IT/billing  139  must pass through two firewalls ( 235  and  237 ). 
       FIG.  7    illustrates a more general representation of the communications within the App VLAN security zone illustrated in  FIGS.  1 A through  1 C . In  FIG.  7   , portal application server  112 , credentialing application server  146 , gateway application server  138 , reconciliation server  131 , fraud server  129 , and EAI server  128  all communicate using message bus  130 . Message bus  130  may be any kind of inter-process communication. Some examples of inter-process communication are: a named pipe, a shared memory, a message queue, a web service call, an IP socket, an remote procedure call (RPC), and a Java messaging services (JMS) queue. Message bus  130  may be multi-functional and simultaneously support multiple types of inter-process communication between the elements shown in  FIG.  7   . Specifically, message bus  130  may support one kind of inter-process communication between one pair of elements shown in  FIG.  7    and a different kind of inter-process communication between a different pair of elements. For example, message bus  130  might support web service calls for communications between portal application server  112  and EAI server  128 , and a message queue for communications between EAI server  128  and fraud server  129 . 
       FIG.  8    illustrates an example embodiment that provides geo-redundancy. For clarity,  FIG.  8    omits several details present in  FIGS.  1 A through  1 C , including firewalls.  FIG.  8    shows service controller  162  and service controller  164 . Service controller  162  includes portal function  154 , gateway function  158 , credentialing function  157 , file server function  156 , and database cluster  116 . Service controller  164  has corresponding functions (portal  168 , gateway  172 , credentialing  173 , and file  170 ) and database cluster  174 . Service controller  162  and service controller  164  are functionally equivalent but physically distinct. In some embodiments, one of service controller  162  and service controller  164  is active (i.e., in use to service portal user  102  and end-user device  100 , and able to process carrier file  118 ), and the other service controller is in a stand-by state (e.g., fully functional but not in active use). In some embodiments, both of service controller  162  and service controller  164  are active. 
     Portal user  102 , end-user device  100 , and carrier file  118  access one or both of service controllers  162  and  164  through global load balancer  150 , which routes carrier file  118  and communications to and from portal user  102  and end-user device  100 . In some embodiments in which both of service controller  162  and service controller  164  are active, global load balancer  150  determines (e.g., based on the level of busyness or outage state of elements within service controller  162  and service controller  164 ) whether to route a particular communication to service controller  162  (potentially through optional load balancer  152 ) or to service controller  164  (potentially through optional load balancer  166 ). In some embodiments in which one of service controller  162  and service controller  164  is active and the other is in a stand-by state, global load balancer  150  routes communications to and from the active service controller unless or until there is a need to use functions in the stand-by service controller (e.g., if one or more elements in the active service controller fail, if the active service controller&#39;s ability to service communications becomes compromised for some reason, etc.). The architecture shown in  FIG.  8    provides reliability in that a failure within either service controller  162  or service controller  164  will not disable the network&#39;s ability to provide service controller services to portal user  102 , end-user device  100 , or carrier usage record  118 . If, for example, one or more of the hardware elements responsible for credentialing function  157  in service controller  162  fails, global load balancer  150  can route credentialing requests from end-user device  100  to credentialing function  173  in service controller  164 . As will now be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art in light of this disclosure, additional service controllers may be deployed in a similar manner (e.g., connected to load balancer  150 , load balancer  152 , or load balancer  166 ) to provide redundancy and to help ensure service controller resources are available for DAS. 
       FIG.  9    illustrates an example embodiment of the portal function, such as, for example, portal function  154  or portal function  168  illustrated in  FIG.  8   .  FIG.  9    illustrates optional load balancer  106  and optional portal proxy server  108 , but, as described previously, these elements and either firewall  104  or firewall  110  may be omitted. Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/248,025, which is entitled “Service Design Center for Device Assisted Services” and is incorporated herein by reference, describes some of the information that portal user  102  could configure for use by portal application server  112 . In some embodiments, portal user  102  configures a list of available service plans. In some embodiments, portal user  102  configures the priorities of listed service plans, where the priorities identify the order in which the classification function on the end-user device should apply filters associated with the available, selected, or purchased service plans, e.g., to determine under which plan a particular service activity by an end-user device falls. In some embodiments, portal user  102  enters information pertaining to how available service plans will be displayed on an end-user device, such as end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, portal user  102  enters information about a classification of service plans (e.g., whether a service plan is a temporary activation plan, a sponsored plan subsidized or paid for by an entity other than a user of the end-user device, a user-paid plan, etc.). In some embodiments, portal user  102  configures promotional messages to be displayed on one or more end-user devices, such as end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, portal user  102  configures upsell offers (e.g., conditions that trigger the display of an upsell offer, information characterizing the upsell offer, etc.). In some embodiments, portal user  102  defines events that cause a “no capable plan” notification (e.g., a notification that is presented when a user of an end-user device that is not associated with or subscribed to a data plan attempts to access a data service, etc.) on the end-user device. In some embodiments, portal user  102  configures templates for notification messages (e.g., message foregrounds and backgrounds, colors, logos, etc.). In some embodiments, portal user  102  creates (e.g., imports a list, manually types individual subscriber identifiers, etc.) or manages (e.g., views, edits, etc.) subscriber groups. In some embodiments, portal user  102  requests reports containing information about a group of end-user devices or a group of subscribers. In some embodiments, portal user  102  is a subscriber (e.g., a person who uses the end-user device), and portal function  154  allows the subscriber to access information about an end-user device associated with the subscriber (e.g., data usage measures, service plan information, cost or account balance information, notification settings for the end-user device, etc.). In some embodiments, portal user  102  accesses optional portal proxy server  108  or portal application server  112  using a password. In some embodiments, the password is stored in local storage as a salted SHA-1 hash. In some embodiments, different portal users  102  are given different sets of privileges so that only authorized administrative users can view, enter, or modify particular information, such as, for example, subscriber lists, device lists, etc. 
     Portal user  102  accesses optional portal proxy server  108  (if present) through firewall  104  and (if present) optional load balancer  106 . In some embodiments, portal user  102  establishes a virtual private network (VPN) connection over the Internet to communicate with optional portal proxy server  108 . If present, optional portal proxy server  108  communicates with portal application server  112  through firewall  110 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  9   , portal application server  112  also communicates with EAI server  128 . In some embodiments, portal application server  112  sends instructions associated with the delivery of information to end-user device  100  to EAI server  128 . In some embodiments, the instructions cause EAI server  128  to configure notification messages (e.g., promotional messages, offers, advertisements, etc.), which EAI server  128  then stores on database  116  for gateway application server  138  to retrieve and send to end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, portal application server  112  sends instructions to reset a subscriber or an end-user device to EAI server  128 . In some embodiments, portal application server  112  sends instructions to cancel an end-user device service plan to EAI server  128 . In some embodiments, portal application server  112  receives messages from EAI server  128  that indicate EAI server  128  carried out a requested task or completed its portion of a requested task that requires action by another network element. 
     Portal application server  112  retrieves information from and stores information in database cluster  116  by establishing a connection through firewall  114 . In some embodiments, portal application server  112  retrieves information requested by portal user  102  from database cluster  116 . In some embodiments, portal application server  112  stores information entered by portal user  102  in database cluster  116 . 
       FIG.  9    shows three agents that communicate with monitoring element  188 . Monitoring element  188  is located in a security zone labeled “Ops VLAN,” which is the operations security zone. In some embodiments, the Ops VLAN includes authentication, monitoring, and logging functions. In some embodiments, elements within the Ops VLAN have controlled connectivity to and from the servers shown in  FIGS.  1 A through  1 C  (e.g., portal application server  112 , EAI server  128 , fraud server  129 , reconciliation server  131 , gateway application server  138 , credentialing application server  146 ) based on service controller application requirements. As illustrated in  FIG.  9   , portal proxy server  108  includes notification agent  180 , which communicates through firewall  186  with monitoring element  188 , and portal application server  112  includes notification agent  182  and log forwarder  184 , both of which also communicate with monitoring element  188  through firewall  186 . 
     Notification agent  180  and notification agent  182  provide information to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, one or both of notification agents  180  and  182  are SNMP agents. In some embodiments, the information provided by one or both of notification agents  180  and  182  includes unsolicited notifications of events (e.g., disk full, memory error, SNMP traps, etc.). In some embodiments, information provided by one or both of notification agents  180  and  182  is in response to a request from monitoring element  188 . 
     In some embodiments, monitoring element  188  responds to information sent by notification agent  180  or  182 . For example, in some embodiments, monitoring element  188  sends notification agent  180  or  182  a message directing (respectively) portal proxy server  108  or portal application server  112  to perform an action (e.g., run a program, run a test query to validate that the system is functional, run a program to determine whether a connected system is functional, etc.). In some embodiments, monitoring element  188  directs portal proxy server to test the communication path to portal application server  112 . 
     Log forwarder  184  also sends information to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, log forwarder  184  sends logs of accesses by or activities of portal users, such as portal user  102 , to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, portal application server  112  tracks system level commands and login attempts. In some embodiments, log forwarder  184  sends information about system-level commands and login attempts to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, log forwarder  184  sends information configured to assist in diagnosing problems with a system or service controller application. For example, in some embodiments, portal application server  112  generates log files, and log forwarder  184  sends the log files to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, the log files are generated for individual service controller applications. In some embodiments, log forwarder  184  sends a system log, an information log, a debug log, an error log, information about a fatal event, etc. In some embodiments, monitoring element  188  includes a log file harvester. In some embodiments, portal application server  112  initiates the transfer of information from log forwarder  184  to monitoring element  188 . 
       FIG.  10    illustrates an example embodiment of file transfer function  156  (functionally equivalent to file transfer function  170  shown in  FIG.  8   ). Carrier file transfer agent  199  establishes a connection with file transfer agent  190  on file server  126  through firewall  18  and optional load balancer  124 . The connection enables the transfer of carrier file  118  to file server  126 . In some embodiments, carrier file transfer agent  199  establishes a VPN connection over the Internet to communicate with transfer agent  190 . 
     Carrier file  118  can contain various information, such as, for example: a measure of an access network usage by end-user device  100 ; information to provision an access network service for one or more end-user devices, such as end-user device  100 ; a list of end-user devices or subscribers authorized to use a particular service. 
     In some embodiments, carrier file  118  comprises a subscriber list. A subscriber list includes one or more subscriber identifiers, where a subscriber identifier is associated with a particular end user. As will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art, a subscriber identifier may also be associated with a particular end-user device or with a group of end-user devices, or the subscriber identifier may not be associated with any particular end-user device. Examples of subscriber identifiers are: an IMSI, an MSID, a MDN, an MSISDN, an MEID, an ESN, an IPv4/6 MAC or IP address, a key, a certificate, a globally unique identifier (GUID), a unique identifier (UID). 
     In some embodiments, carrier file  118  includes one or more flow data records (FDRs). A flow data record contains detailed information related to one or more network communications (e.g., source IP, source port, destination IP, destination port, bytes transmitted, bytes received, time flow started, time flow ended, traffic protocol (e.g., TCP/UDP), etc.). 
     In some embodiments, carrier file  118  includes a plan catalog that includes information about service plans for the access network that are available to one or more end-user devices. Examples of the information that may be included in a plan catalog are: a list of service plans and their characteristics (e.g., notification, charging, and control policies associated with each plan, access network activities qualifying for each plan, etc.); the priorities of the service plans, where the priorities identify the order in which the classification function on the end-user device should evaluate the filters associated with the available service plans; how the service plans are displayed on end-user devices (e.g., the order in which they are displayed, etc.); whether access network costs associated with a plan are paid by a sponsor entity or by a subscriber; whether a plan is an activation plan (e.g., a service plan that governs a device when a subscriber has not selected a plan); promotional messages; upsell offers; subscriber groups; notifications for which no service plan applies. 
     In some embodiments, carrier file  118  includes a list of end-user devices or subscribers authorized to use a particular service (e.g., a tethering service for sharing an access network connection with other devices through other input/output ports on the end-user device). 
     In some embodiments, carrier file  118  includes one or more classification rules. A classification rule is any rule that distinguishes between any characteristics of service plans, subscribers, end-user devices, network destinations, or network types. For example, a classification rule may distinguish between sponsor-paid and subscriber-paid service plans, between applications or groups of applications, between groups of subscribers, between end-user devices using valid profiles and those using fraudulent profiles, between authorized network destinations and unauthorized destinations, between network access types (e.g., home, roaming, 2G, 3G, WiFi, etc.), between time-of-day rules, etc. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  10   , after being transferred to file server  126 , carrier file  118  is transferred to EAI server  128 . In some embodiments, the transfer of carrier file  118  to EAI server  128  is initiated by EAI server  128 . EAI server  128  processes carrier file  118  and generates output file  120 . In some embodiments, EAI server  128  uses information from another source to generate output file  120 . In some embodiments, EAI server  128  uses information from carrier file  118  and information from end-user device  100  (e.g., a data usage measure providing information about the end-user device&#39;s use of the access network or of a particular service, etc.) to generate output file  120 . In some embodiments, EAI server  128  uses information stored in database  116  to generate output file  120 . This information can include, for example, individualized or statistical information related to plan usage, popularity of plans, notification acknowledgements, time-of-day usage statistics, average use per plan, subscriber info, subscriber behavior, etc. In some embodiments, EAI server  128  uses information from fraud server  129  to generate output file  120 . This information can include, for example, fraud alerts indicating that subscriber service plan usage activity has been detected as abnormal or fraudulent, as well as a confidence score (e.g., to indicate a level of confidence that the user is committing fraud); end-user device fraud events; authentication issues; etc. In some embodiments, EAI server  128  uses information from reconciliation server  131  to generate output file  120 . This information can include, for example, detailed or high-level end-user device service usage records, including subscriber identifier, device identifier, service plan identifier, service plan usage (bytes), start time of report, end time of report, etc. In some embodiments, EAI server  128  uses information from gateway application server  138  to generate output file  120 . This information can include, for example, information about users, roles, and permissions, or user directory synchronization. In some embodiments, EAI server  128  uses information from portal application server  112  to generate output file  120 . This information can include, for example, usage reports requested by portal user  102 , subscriber data (e.g., provisioning information) import requests from portal user  102 , information about accesses by portal users, information about revoked portal user access, etc. 
     In some embodiments, output file  120  is a batch report. In some embodiments, output file  120  is a real-time report. In some embodiments, output file  120  includes a measure of an access network usage or cost by an end-user device, such as end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, output file  120  is a charging data report (CDR). In some embodiments, output file  120  includes a promotional message or advertisement. In some embodiments, output file  120  includes a subscriber list or an end-user device list. In some embodiments, output file  120  includes information about a service plan purchase made by a user of an end-user device, such as end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, output file  120  includes information profiling an end-user device&#39;s usage of the access network or of an access network service. In some embodiments, output file  120  includes a fraud alert. A fraud alert is any indication that the service controller or an end-user device has detected activity or an event that suggests that an end-user device may be being used in a manner that violates a policy (e.g., a notification, control, or charging policy) that should be in effect or that the end-user device or device client has been tampered with in a way that compromises the security of the end-user device or an element of the end-user device (e.g., a software application, an agent, an operating system, etc.). A fraud alert may be in any form, for example, a simple flag or a message containing detailed information about the activity or event that caused the fraud alert to issue. A fraud alert can also include information such as, for example, the time the event was detected, the associated subscriber identifier, device identifier, suggested remediation actions, an error code, a rule to be added in the network elements that perform policy charging and rules function (PCRF) or policy charging and enforcement function (PCEF) tasks or to the gateway GPRS support node (GGSN), or any other information that could be useful to understand or mitigate fraudulent activity. 
     In some embodiments, EAI server  128  initiates the transfer of output file  120  to file server  126 . In some embodiments, the transfer of output file  120  to file server  126  is initiated by file server  126 . In some embodiments, output file transfer agent  203  establishes a connection to file transfer agent  213  to retrieve output file  120 . In some embodiments, output file transfer agent  203  establishes a secure connection over the Internet to communicate with file transfer agent  213  through firewall  18 . In some embodiments, file server  126  pushes output file  120  to output file transfer agent  203 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  10   , file server  126  also includes notification agent  201 , notification agent  196 , and file transfer agent  198 . Notification agent  201  establishes a connection to message bus  130  through firewall  110 . In some embodiments, notification agent  201  places a message for EAI server  128  on message bus  130  to inform EAI server  128  that carrier file  118  is available on file server  126 . This notification may be advantageous to increase the speed at which EAI server  128  processes carrier file  118 . 
     Notification agent  196  provides information to monitoring element  188 , communicating through firewall  186 . In some embodiments, notification agent  196  is an SNMP agent. In some embodiments, the information provided by notification agent  196  includes unsolicited notifications of events (e.g., disk full, memory error, SNMP traps, etc.). In some embodiments, information provided by notification agent  196  is in response to a request from monitoring element  188 . 
     File transfer agent  198  provides information to monitoring element  188  through firewall  186 . This information can include, for example, file transfer activity, CPU load, disk usage, successful transfers, failed transfers, failed logins, operating environment info (e.g., ambient temperature, humidity, nominal voltage, etc.), system errors, etc. In some embodiments, monitoring element  188  initiates the transfer of information from file transfer agent  198 . 
       FIG.  11    illustrates an example embodiment of gateway function  158  (which is functionally equivalent to gateway function  172 ). End-user device  100  (e.g., using service processor  115 ) establishes a connection with optional gateway proxy server  136  through firewall  132  and optional load balancer  134 . In some embodiments, optional gateway proxy server  136  includes an access control list used to allow access to one or more destination IP addresses only from IP addresses in the access control list (e.g., the list specifies IP addresses that may pass through), or to deny access from all IP addresses in the access control list and allow access from all other IP addresses (e.g., the list specifies IP addresses that will be blocked). Gateway proxy server  136  establishes a connection to gateway application server  138  through firewall  110 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  11   , end-user device  100  can receive a variety of information from gateway application server  138 . For example, end-user device can receive information or instructions based on entries by portal user  102  (e.g., available service plans, how to present the available service plans on a user interface, service plan classifications (e.g., user-paid, sponsored, etc.), promotional messages, service offers, notification messages, etc.). As another example, end-user device  100  can receive information in response to a request from end-user device  100  (e.g., a request for an account balance, a request for a record of purchase history, etc.). As another example, end-user device  100  can receive administrative content, such as, for example, software updates. 
     In some embodiments, gateway application server  138  determines when to send information to end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, gateway application server  138  sends information to end-user device  100  after completing an authentication protocol. In some embodiments, gateway application server  138  sends information to end-user device  100  in response to request or activity by another element or function in the service controller (e.g., EAI server  128 , portal application server  112 , fraud server  129 , reconciliation server  131 , or credentialing application server  146 ). In some embodiments, gateway application server  138  sends information to end-user device  100  in response to a communication from end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the communication from end-user device  100  is a message in an authentication protocol. In some embodiments, gateway application server  138  sends information to end-user device  100  over a secure communication link. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  11   , end-user device  100  can also send information to gateway application server  138 . For example, end-user device  100  may send reports containing measures of or costs associated with end-user device  100 &#39;s access network usage, user acknowledgments or responses to notification messages, device-detected fraud events, authentication messages, heartbeats (e.g., communications sent at regular intervals to provide information about the status of end-user device  100 , such as, for example, to indicate that end-user device  100  is functioning properly), or requests (e.g., to purchase a service plan, to retrieve a purchase history, to check an account balance, etc.). As will now be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art in view of the disclosures herein, the communication link between end-user device  100  and gateway application server  138  can be used to support a wide variety of information exchanges between end-user device  100  and the service controller. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  11   , gateway application server  138  is also capable of receiving information through message bus  130 . In some embodiments, gateway application server  138  passes messages only within the same security zone. In some embodiments, gateway application server  138  receives information through message bus  130  from portal user  102  or from EAI server  128 . As mentioned previously, message bus  130  may be any inter-process communication mechanism and may be different between different pairs of elements. In some embodiments, message bus  130  provides web services connectivity between EAI server  128  and gateway application server  138 , and EAI server  128  uses web services to send information to gateway application server  138 . In some embodiments, the web services calls occur only within the same security zone. 
     Gateway application server  138  retrieves information from and stores information in database cluster  116 , communicating through firewall  114 . In some embodiments, gateway application server  138  stores information from end-user device  100  in database cluster  116 . In some embodiments, gateway application server  138  retrieves queued messages destined for end-user device  100  from database cluster  116 . For example, gateway application server  138  may retrieve from database  116  and send to end-user device one or more of the following types of information: control, charging, or notification policies; promotional messages; service plan updates; end-user device configuration updates (e.g., related to the look and feel of a user interface on end-user device  100 , etc.); a link to a software download. 
     In some embodiments, gateway application server  138  receives an authentication request from end-user device  100  and, based on the authentication request, retrieves a stored credential from database cluster  116  to assist in authenticating end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the authentication request from end-user device  100  comprises a credential associated with end-user device  100  or associated with a subscriber. In some embodiments, the credential is associated with a device identifier, or a subscriber identifier, or both a device identifier and a subscriber identifier. In some embodiments, the credential is one or more of a certificate, a key, a shared secret, a password, a hash, or a shared algorithm. In some embodiments, gateway application server  138  determines, based on the received credential and the stored credential, whether to proceed with communications with end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, gateway application server  138  determines whether the credential sent by end-user device  100  is valid. In some embodiments, gateway application server  138  checks whether the credential sent by end-user device  100  has been revoked. In some embodiments, gateway application  138  determines whether the credential sent by end-user device  100  appears on a revocation list. In some embodiments, if the credential is a certificate, gateway application server  138  checks whether the certificate is on a certificate revocation list, where the certificate revocation list may be stored within or external to service controller  122  (e.g., in database cluster  116 , in credentialing application server  146 , in a separate certificate revocation list server, etc.). 
     In some embodiments, if the credential sent by end-user device  100  is valid, gateway application server  138  communicates with end-user device  100  using the credential for the purpose of exchanging service-related information or software. In some embodiments, the communication using the credential is over a secure communication link. In some embodiments, the secure communication link uses the SSL protocol. In some embodiments, the service-related information comprises a plan catalog. In some embodiments, the service-related information comprises a control, charging, or notification policy. In some embodiments, the service-related information comprises a promotional message or advertisement. In some embodiments, the service-related information comprises a usage measure or a cost measure. In some embodiments, the service-related information comprises an account balance. In some embodiments, the service-related information comprises a fraud alert. In some embodiments, the service-related information comprises a request from end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the service-related information comprises a response to a request from end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the service-related information comprises a request to end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the service-related information comprises a response to a request to end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the service-related information is configured to cause end-user device  100  to take a specific action. In some embodiments, the specific action is to be taken immediately. In other embodiments, the specific action is to be scheduled. In some embodiments, the specific action is to block, allow, rate-limit, or delay access to the access network by end-user device  100 . 
       FIG.  11    shows three agents that communicate with monitoring element  188 . As illustrated in  FIG.  11   , gateway proxy server  136  includes notification agent  200 , which communicates through firewall  186  with monitoring element  188 , and gateway application server  138  includes notification agent  202  and log forwarder  204 , both of which also communicate with monitoring element  188  through firewall  186 . 
     Notification agent  200  and notification agent  202  provide information to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, one or both of notification agents  200  and  202  are SNMP agents. In some embodiments, the information provided by one or both of notification agents  200  and  202  includes unsolicited notifications of events (e.g., disk full, memory error, SNMP traps, etc.). In some embodiments, information provided by one or both of notification agents  200  and  202  is in response to a request from monitoring element  188 . 
     In some embodiments, monitoring element  188  responds to information sent by notification agent  200  or  202 . For example, in some embodiments, monitoring element  188  sends notification agent  200  or  202  a message directing (respectively) gateway proxy server  136  or gateway application server  138  to perform an action (e.g., run a program, run a test query to validate that the system is functional, run a program to determine whether a connected system is functional, etc.). In some embodiments, monitoring element  188  directs gateway proxy server  136  to test the communication path to gateway application server  138 . 
     Log forwarder  204  also sends information to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, log forwarder  204  sends information configured to assist in diagnosing problems with a system or service controller application. For example, in some embodiments, gateway application server  138  generates log files, and log forwarder  204  sends the log files to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, the log files are generated for individual service controller applications. In some embodiments, log forwarder  204  sends a system log, an information log, a debug log, an error log, information about a fatal event, etc. In some embodiments, gateway application server  138  initiates the transfer of information from log forwarder  204  to monitoring element  188 . 
       FIG.  12    illustrates an example embodiment of credentialing function  157  (which is functionally equivalent to credentialing function  173  shown in  FIG.  8   ). End-user device  100  communicates with optional credentialing proxy server  144  through firewall  140  and optional load balancer  142 . In some embodiments, end-user device  100  establishes a secure connection over the Internet to communicate with credentialing proxy server  144 . Credentialing proxy server  144  communicates through firewall  110  with credentialing application server  146 . Credentialing application server  146  retrieves information from and stores information in database cluster  116 , communicating through firewall  114 . 
     As described herein, the credentialing function enhances the security of DAS systems. In some embodiments, credentialing application server  146  receives a request from end-user device  100  (e.g., using service processor  115 ) for a credential. In some embodiments, the credential request from end-user device  100  to credentialing application server  146  includes a device identifier (e.g., any identifier associated with the end-user device) and a subscriber identifier (e.g., any identifier associated with the subscriber who uses or authorizes the use of the end-user device). In some embodiments, the credential request comprises a hash of a device identifier and a subscriber identifier. In some embodiments, the hash is salted. In some embodiments, credentialing application server  146  generates a credential based on the credential request from end-user device  100 , stores the credential in database cluster  116 , and sends the credential to end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, credentialing application server  146  stores the device identifier and the new credential separately in database cluster  116 . In some embodiments, credentialing application server  146  stores the device identifier and new credential as a single entry comprising their combination (e.g., a hash). In some embodiments, end-user device  100  stores the credential in local memory and thereafter uses the credential for secure communications with the service controller (e.g., with gateway application server  138 ). 
       FIG.  12    shows three agents that communicate with monitoring element  188 . As illustrated in  FIG.  12   , credentialing proxy server  144  includes notification agent  210 , which communicates through firewall  186  with monitoring element  188 , and credentialing application server  146  includes notification agent  212  and log forwarder  214 , both of which also communicate with monitoring element  188  through firewall  186 . 
     Notification agent  210  and notification agent  212  provide information to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, one or both of notification agents  210  and  212  are SNMP agents. In some embodiments, the information provided by one or both of notification agents  210  and  212  includes unsolicited notifications of events (e.g., disk full, memory error, SNMP traps, etc.). In some embodiments, information provided by one or both of notification agents  210  and  212  is in response to a request from monitoring element  188 . 
     In some embodiments, monitoring element  188  responds to information sent by notification agent  210  and  212 . For example, in some embodiments, monitoring element  188  sends notification agent  210  and  212  a message directing (respectively) credentialing proxy server  144  or credentialing application server  146  to perform an action (e.g., run a program, run a test query to validate that the system is functional, run a program to determine whether a connected system is functional, etc.). In some embodiments, monitoring element  188  directs credentialing proxy server  144  to test the communication path to credentialing application server  146 . 
     Log forwarder  214  also sends information to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, log forwarder  214  sends information configured to assist in diagnosing problems with a system or service controller application. For example, in some embodiments, credentialing application server  146  generates log files, and log forwarder  214  sends the log files to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, the log files are generated for individual service controller applications. In some embodiments, log forwarder  214  sends a system log, an information log, a debug log, an error log, information about a fatal event, etc. In some embodiments, credentialing application server  146  initiates the transfer of information from log forwarder  214  to monitoring element  188 . 
       FIG.  13    illustrates an example embodiment of EAI server  128  when it supports the communication paths shown in  FIGS.  1 A,  1 B, and  1 C . As illustrated in  FIG.  13   , EAI server  128  retrieves carrier file  118  from file server  126  and places output file  120  on file server  126 . In some embodiments, EAI server  128  initiates the transfer of carrier file  118  from file server  126  and the transfer of output file  120  to file server  126 . As shown in  FIG.  13   , transfers of information between EAI server  128  and file server  126  are through firewall  110 . As shown in  FIG.  13   , there is no message queue to allow file server  126  to inform EAI server  128  that there is a file available for EAI server  128 . 
       FIG.  13    also illustrates one embodiment of a communication path between EAI server  128  and gateway application server  138 . Information flows directly from EAI server  128  to gateway application server  138 . Information from gateway application server  138  to EAI server  128  flows through message bus  130 . 
     EAI server  128  also communicates directly with portal application server  122  through web services interface  226 . EAI server  128  communicates with carrier IT/billing  139  using EAI interface  231 , with information passing through firewall  235 . 
     EAI server  128  communicates through firewall  114  with database cluster  116 . In some embodiments, EAI server  128  retrieves service-related information from database cluster  116  (e.g., information entered by or derived from information entered by portal user  102 ) and provides the information to gateway application server  138  for sending to end-user device  100 . 
       FIG.  13    shows that EAI server  128  includes two agents that communicate with monitoring element  188  through firewall  186 . Notification agent  228  provides information to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, notification agent  228  is an SNMP agent. In some embodiments, the information provided by notification agent  228  includes unsolicited notifications of events (e.g., disk full, memory error, SNMP traps, etc.). In some embodiments, information provided by notification agent  228  is in response to a request from monitoring element  188 . 
     In some embodiments, monitoring element  188  responds to information sent by notification agent  228 . For example, in some embodiments, monitoring element  188  sends notification agent  228  a message directing EAI server  128  to perform an action (e.g., run a program, run a test query to validate that the system is functional, run a program to determine whether a connected system is functional, etc.). 
     Log forwarder  230  also sends information to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, log forwarder  230  sends information configured to assist in diagnosing problems with a system or service controller application. For example, in some embodiments, EAI server  128  generates log files, and log forwarder  230  sends the log files to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, the log files are generated for individual service controller applications. In some embodiments, log forwarder  230  sends a system log, an information log, a debug log, an error log, information about a fatal event, etc. In some embodiments, EAI server  128  initiates the transfer of information from log forwarder  230  to monitoring element  188 . 
       FIG.  14    illustrates an example embodiment that is similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG.  13   . In  FIG.  14   , file server  126  accesses message bus  130  through firewall  110 . In some embodiments, file server  126  places information for EAI server  128  on message bus  130 . The embodiment of  FIG.  14    allows file server  126  to notify EAI server  128  that there is a file available on file server  126 , thus potentially reducing the time before EAI server  128  retrieves the file. 
       FIG.  15    illustrates an example embodiment with an alternate mechanism to allow file server  126  to notify EAI server that there is a file available on file server  126 . In the embodiment of  FIG.  15   , EAI server  128  includes dedicated message bus  233 , and file server  126  places information on message bus  233 , communicating through firewall  110 . EAI server  128  consumes message bus  233  and then initiates a procedure to retrieve the file from file server  126 . 
       FIG.  16    illustrates an example embodiment that is similar to the embodiment of  FIG.  13   , except that EAI server  128  communicates with carrier IT/billing element  139  through external EAI interface  238 , which it reaches through firewall  235 . As would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art in view of the disclosures herein, external EAI interface  238  may be used in the embodiments of  FIGS.  7 A,  7 B, and  7 C , as well. 
       FIG.  17    illustrates an example embodiment of fraud server  129 . As illustrated in  FIG.  17   , fraud server  129  communicates with EAI server  128  through message bus  130 . EAI server  128  communicates with carrier IT/billing element  139  through firewall  235 , external EAI interface  238 , and firewall  237 . Although EAI interface  238  is illustrated as external to EAI server  128 , one of ordinary skill in the art will understand in light of the disclosures herein that the EAI interface may be part of EAI server  128 , and, in such a case, either firewall  235  or firewall  237  may be eliminated. Fraud server  129  retrieves information from and stores information on database cluster  116  through firewall  114 . In some embodiments, fraud server  129  stores fraud events on database cluster  116 . In some embodiments, fraud server  129  retrieves information to meet a request from EAI server  128  or gateway application server  138  (e.g., carrier data usage records, device-assisted usage records, etc.). In some embodiments, fraud server  129  places a message on message bus  130  to tell EAI server  128  that fraud server  129  has completed a task. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  17   , fraud server  129  includes notification agent  234  and log forwarder  236 . Notification agent  234  provides information to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, notification agent  234  is an SNMP agent. In some embodiments, the information provided by notification agent  234  includes unsolicited notifications of events (e.g., disk full, memory error, SNMP traps, etc.). In some embodiments, information provided by notification agent  234  is in response to a request from monitoring element  188 . 
     In some embodiments, monitoring element  188  responds to information sent by notification agent  234 . For example, in some embodiments, monitoring element  188  sends notification agent  234  a message directing fraud server  129  to perform an action (e.g., run a program, run a test query to validate that the system is functional, run a program to determine whether a connected system is functional, etc.). 
     Log forwarder  236  also sends information to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, log forwarder  236  sends information configured to assist in diagnosing problems with a system or service controller application. For example, in some embodiments, fraud server  129  generates log files, and log forwarder  236  sends the log files to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, the log files are generated for individual service controller applications. In some embodiments, log forwarder  236  sends a system log, an information log, a debug log, an error log, information about a fatal event, etc. In some embodiments, fraud server  129  initiates the transfer of information from log forwarder  236  to monitoring element  188 . 
       FIG.  18    illustrates an example embodiment of reconciliation server  131 . As illustrated in  FIG.  18   , reconciliation server  131  communicates with EAI server  128  through message bus  130 . EAI server  128  communicates with carrier IT/billing element  139  through firewall  235 , external EAI interface  238 , and firewall  237 . Although EAI interface  238  is illustrated as external to EAI server  128 , one of ordinary skill in the art will understand in light of the disclosures herein that the EAI interface may be part of EAI server  128 , and, in such a case, either firewall  235  or firewall  237  may be eliminated. EAI server  128  also communicates with file server  126  through firewall  110 , as described in the context of  FIGS.  7 A through  7 D . Reconciliation server  131  retrieves information from and stores information on database cluster  116  through firewall  114 . In some embodiments, reconciliation server  131  stores outbound usage records to be sent to the carrier on database cluster  116 . In some embodiments, the outbound usage records comprise device-assisted measures of access network usage by an end-user device, such as end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, reconciliation server  131  places a message on message bus  130  to tell EAI server  128  or file server  126  that reconciliation server  131  has completed a task. In some embodiments, reconciliation server  131  retrieves information from database cluster  116  to meet a request from EAI server  128  or gateway application server  138  (e.g., carrier data usage records, device-assisted usage records, etc.). 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  18   , reconciliation server  131  includes notification agent  238  and log forwarder  240 . Notification agent  238  provides information to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, notification agent  238  is an SNMP agent. In some embodiments, the information provided by notification agent  238  includes unsolicited notifications of events (e.g., disk full, memory error, SNMP traps, etc.). In some embodiments, information provided by notification agent  238  is in response to a request from monitoring element  188 . 
     In some embodiments, monitoring element  188  responds to information sent by notification agent  238 . For example, in some embodiments, monitoring element  188  sends notification agent  238  a message directing reconciliation server  131  to perform an action (e.g., run a program, run a test query to validate that the system is functional, run a program to determine whether a connected system is functional, etc.). 
     Log forwarder  240  also sends information to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, log forwarder  240  sends information configured to assist in diagnosing problems with a system or service controller application. For example, in some embodiments, reconciliation server  131  generates log files, and log forwarder  240  sends the log files to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, the log files are generated for individual service controller applications. In some embodiments, log forwarder  240  sends a system log, an information log, a debug log, an error log, information about a fatal event, etc. In some embodiments, reconciliation server  131  initiates the transfer of information from log forwarder  240  to monitoring element  188 . 
       FIG.  19    illustrates an example embodiment of message bus  130  as depicted in  FIGS.  1 A through  1 C . EAI server  128  both places information on and retrieves information from message bus  130  through message queue  242 . Gateway application server  138  places information on message bus through message queue  242 . As needed to manage the message bus, message queue  242  moves entries in message queue  242  to or from master/slave message queue storage  248 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  19   , message bus  130  includes notification agent  244  and log forwarder  246 . Notification agent  244  provides information to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, notification agent  244  is an SNMP agent. In some embodiments, the information provided by notification agent  244  includes unsolicited notifications of events (e.g., disk full, memory error, SNMP traps, etc.). In some embodiments, information provided by notification agent  244  is in response to a request from monitoring element  188 . 
     In some embodiments, monitoring element  188  responds to information sent by notification agent  244 . For example, in some embodiments, monitoring element  188  sends notification agent  244  a message directing message bus  130  to perform an action (e.g., run a program, run a test query to validate that the system is functional, run a program to determine whether a connected system is functional, etc.). 
     Log forwarder  246  also sends information to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, log forwarder  246  sends information configured to assist in diagnosing problems with a system or service controller application. For example, in some embodiments, message bus  130  generates log files, and log forwarder  246  sends the log files to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, the log files are generated for individual service controller applications. In some embodiments, log forwarder  246  sends a system log, an information log, a debug log, an error log, information about a fatal event, etc. In some embodiments, message bus  130  initiates the transfer of information from log forwarder  246  to monitoring element  188 .  FIG.  20    illustrates an example embodiment incorporating two data centers, data center  242  and data center  250 , to assist in providing geo-redundancy in the network. Data centers  242  and  250  are functionally equivalent but physically distinct. Database node  260  illustrates the functionalities that are also present in database node  254 . Database node  260  is part of database cluster  116 , and database node  254  is part of database cluster  174  (both shown in  FIG.  8   ). Database node  260  includes cluster service  262 , which is responsible for managing the cluster of database nodes (e.g., verifying the node operating environment, verifying consistency of data stored in storage  264 , performing failover to secondary database node, receiving and processing messages from listener  270 , etc.), and storage  264 , which is the database used for storing all of the data provided by portal application server  112 , gateway application server  138 , EAI server  128 , fraud server  129 , reconciliation server  131 , credentialing application server  146 , etc., for persistence and retrieval at a later time. Database node  260  also includes listener  270 , which detects database access requests made by portal application server  112 , EAI server  128 , fraud server  129 , reconciliation server  131 , gateway application server  138 , and credentialing application server  146  through firewall  114 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  20   , database node  260  also includes notification agent  266  and log forwarder  268 , which communicate with monitoring element  188  through firewall  186 . Notification agent  266  provides information to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, notification agent  266  is an SNMP agent. In some embodiments, the information provided by notification agent  266  includes unsolicited notifications of events (e.g., disk full, memory error, SNMP traps, etc.). In some embodiments, information provided by notification agent  266  is in response to a request from monitoring element  188 . 
     In some embodiments, monitoring element  188  responds to information sent by notification agent  266 . For example, in some embodiments, monitoring element  188  sends notification agent  266  a message directing database node  260  to perform an action (e.g., run a program, run a test query to validate that the system is functional, run a program to determine whether a connected system is functional, etc.). 
     Log forwarder  268  also sends information to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, log forwarder  268  sends information configured to assist in diagnosing problems with a system or service controller application. For example, in some embodiments, database node  260  generates log files, and log forwarder  268  sends the log files to monitoring element  188 . In some embodiments, the log files are generated for individual service controller applications. In some embodiments, log forwarder  268  sends a system log, an information log, a debug log, an error log, information about a fatal event, etc. In some embodiments, database node  260  initiates the transfer of information from log forwarder  268  to monitoring element  188 . 
     Secure Service Processor Operating Environments 
     In some embodiments, it is advantageous to store or implement certain portions or all of service processor  115  (e.g., agents, etc.) in protected or secure memory so that other undesired programs (and/or unauthorized users) have difficulty accessing the functions or software in service processor  115 . In some embodiments, service processor  115 , at least in part, is placed in a secure area of the operating system (e.g., in a kernel) so that it cannot be removed or, if it is removed, it must be replaced for proper device operation to resume. In some embodiments, service processor  115 , at least in part, is implemented in and/or stored on secure non-volatile memory (e.g., non volatile memory can be secure non-volatile memory) that is not accessible without pass keys and/or other security mechanisms. In some embodiments, the ability to load at least a portion of service processor  115  software into protected non-volatile memory also requires a secure key and/or signature and/or requires that the service processor  115  software components being loaded into non-volatile memory are also securely encrypted and appropriately signed by an authority that is trusted by a secure software downloader function, such as service downloader  1663  shown in  FIG.  2   . In some embodiments, a secure software download embodiment also uses a secure non-volatile memory. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that all memory can be on-chip, off-chip, on-board and/or off-board. 
     Agent communication bus  1630  represents a functional description for providing communication for the various service processor  115  agents and functions. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in  FIG.  2   , the architecture of agent communication bus  1630  is generally multipoint-to-multipoint so that any agent can communicate with any other agent, service controller  122 , or in some cases other components of end-user device  100 , such as user interface  1697  and/or modem components. The architecture can also be point-to-point for certain agents or communication transactions, or point-to-multipoint within the agent framework so that all agent communication can be concentrated, or secured, or controlled, or restricted, or logged, or reported. In some embodiments, agent communication bus  1630  is secured, signed, encrypted, hidden, partitioned and/or otherwise protected from unauthorized monitoring or usage. 
     In some embodiments, there are multiple layers of security applied to agent communication bus  1630  communication protocols, such as including one or more of the following: point-to-point message exchange encryption using one or more keys that are partially shared or shared within the service processor  115  agent group and/or service controller  122 , point-to-point message exchange that using one or more keys that are private to the two endpoints of the communication, a bus-level message exchange encryption that can be in place of or in addition to other encryption or security, or using one or more keys that are partially shared or shared within the service processor  115  agent group and/or service controller  122 , a set of secure messages that can only be decoded or observed by the agents they are intended for, a set of secure messages that allow communication between certain agents or service processor functions and entities outside of the service processor operating environment. In some embodiments, and as described herein, service control device link  1691  is assumed to be equivalent to an agent for communication purposes, and, in the case of service control device link  1691 , the communication is not restricted to agent communication bus  1630  but also extends to service control communications link  1653 . In some embodiments, the system has the capability to replace keys or signatures on occasion or on a regular basis to further secure against monitoring, eavesdropping or compromise of the agent communication system. 
     Various forms of message encryption and security framework techniques can be applied to encrypt and/or secure agent communication bus  1630 , including one or more of the following: agent bus encryption using shared key for all agents provided and updated by the secure server; agent bus encryption using point to point keys in which the secure server informs the bus and agents of keys and updates as appropriate; agent level encryption using agent to agent shared keys in which the secure server informs agents of the key and updates the key as appropriate; agent level encryption using agent to agent point to point key in which the secure server informs agent of the point to point keys that are required and updates the keys as appropriate; agent level access authorization, which only allows access to the agents that are on the secure authorization list and in which the list is provided by the secure server and signatures are provided by the secure server; user interface (UI) messages are only analyzed and passed, in which user interface  1697  cannot have access to configuration information and cannot issue challenges; agent level heartbeat encryption, which can be point to point or shared key for that agent; control link level heartbeat encryption; TLS (Transport Layer Security) communication protocols; server level heartbeat encryption, which can be point to point or shared key for that secure server; and/or access control integrity agent  1694  or heartbeat function can become point to multipoint secure communications hubs. 
     In some embodiments, the design of agent communication bus  1630  depends on the nature of the design embodiments for the agents and/or other functions. For example, if the agents are implemented largely or entirely in software, then agent communication bus  1630  can be implemented as an inter-process software communication bus. In some embodiments, such an inter-process software communication bus is a variant of D-bus (e.g., a message bus system for inter-process software communication that, for example, helps applications/agents to talk to one another), or another inter-process communication protocol or system, running a session bus in which all communications over the session bus can be secured, signed, encrypted or otherwise protected. For example, the session bus can be further protected by storing all software (e.g., software components, applications and/or agents) in secure memory, storing all software in encrypted form in secure memory, and/or executing all software and communications within a secure execution environment, hardware environment and/or protected memory space. In some embodiments, if the agents and other functions are designed with a mixture of software and hardware, or primarily with hardware, then the implementation of the bus design will vary, and the principles and embodiments described herein will enable one of ordinary skill in the art to design the specifics of agent communication bus  1630  to meet a particular set of product and desired functional requirements. 
     In some embodiments, service processor  115  includes a DDR processor located in a secure execution environment, and this DDR processor can be used advantageously to improve security of device-assisted services systems. Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/247,998, entitled “Secured Device Data Records” and incorporated by reference herein, describes embodiments of a DDR processor. In some embodiments, the DDR processor sends a sequence of secure device data records (DDRs) to a network element (e.g., via a secure channel). In some embodiments, the DDR processor is configured with an access controller that restricts end-user device  100 &#39;s network access to a predetermined set of network destinations or functions if any of the DDR processor, service processor  115 , or service controller  122  detects an error or potential fraud in one or more reports in the sequence of secure DDRs. 
     Service Processor Enrollment 
     In some embodiments, before service processor  115  of end-user device  100  participates in device-assisted services, it enrolls with service controller  122 . In the enrollment process, service controller  122  (using, e.g., credentialing application server  146 , a network element such as authentication credential server  220 , etc.) allocates a device credential to service processor  115 . In some embodiments, the credential is one or more of a certificate, a key, a shared secret, a password, a hash, a shared algorithm, or any other item of information that allows service controller  122  to confirm the identity of service processor  115 . After service controller  122  has allocated the device credential, service controller  122  can use the device credential when it needs to authenticate service processor  115 , such as, for example, before end-user device  100  sends device-based usage reports to gateway application server  138 . 
       FIG.  21    illustrates a set of steps end-user device  100  takes to obtain a credential from service controller  122  in accordance with some embodiments. At step  1000 , end-user device  100  creates a key pair. At step  1002 , end-user device  100  generates an identity credential using the key pair. In some embodiments, the identity credential comprises a device identifier and a subscriber identifier. At step  1004 , using the identity credential generated in step  1002 , end-user device  100  generates a request for the service controller credential. At step  1006 , end-user device  100  sends the request for the service controller credential to the service controller. At step  1008 , end-user device  100  receives a credential from service controller  122 . In some embodiments, the service controller credential is a public key credential. At step  1010 , end-user device  100  verifies the service controller credential signing chain. As will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art, the process of verifying the authenticity and validity of a newly received credential involves checking all of the credentials in the chain of credentials from the original, universally trusted certificate authority, through any intermediate certificate authorities, down to the credential just received, which may be referred to as the end credential. The end credential is trusted if each credential in that credential&#39;s chain is properly issued and valid. 
     If end-user device  100  successfully verifies the service controller credential signing chain in step  1010 , at step  1012  end-user device  100  generates a credential signing request using the service controller credential received in step  1008 . In some embodiments, the credential signing request comprises a subscriber identifier and a device identifier. At step  1014 , end-user device  100  sends the credential signing request to the service controller. In some embodiments, the credential signing request comprises a challenge password. At step  1016 , end-user device  100  receives a device credential from service controller  122 . At step  1018 , end-user device  100  stores the device credential in local memory. In some embodiments, service controller  122  (e.g., credentialing application server  146 ) comprises a simple certificate enrollment protocol (SCEP) server, and the credential is a certificate. In some embodiments, messages sent and received by end-user device  100  are encrypted. In some embodiments, the service controller credential and device credential are 2048-bit RSA public key credentials. In some embodiments, service controller  122  and end-user device  100  communicate using a session key. 
       FIG.  22    illustrates the steps service controller  122  (e.g., using credentialing application server  146 ) performs to provide a device credential to end-user device  100  in some embodiments. At step  1030 , service controller  122  receives a request for a service controller credential from end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the request comprises a device identifier and a subscriber identifier. At step  1032 , service controller  122  sends the service controller credential to end-user device  100 . At step  1034 , service controller  122  receives a credential signing request comprising a challenge password from end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the request comprises a device identifier and a subscriber identifier. At step  1036 , service controller  122  verifies that the subscriber identifier is listed in database cluster  116 . At optional step  1038 , service controller  122  verifies the device identifier from a device table. In some embodiments, the device table resides in database cluster  116  and contains a list of valid devices that are allowed to connect to service controller  122 . At step  1040 , service controller  122  validates the challenge password using the device identifier. At step  1042 , service controller  122  stores the device identifier in database cluster  116  as associated with the subscriber identifier associated with end-user device  100 . At step  1044 , service controller  122  generates a device credential for end-user device  100  by obtaining a primary key from database cluster  116 . At step  1046 , service controller  122  stores the device credential in database cluster  116  as associated with the subscriber identifier and the device identifier associated with end-user device  100 . At step  1048 , service controller  122  sends the device credential to end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, service controller  122  (e.g., using credentialing application server  146 ) comprises a simple certificate enrollment protocol (SCEP) server, and the credential is a certificate. In some embodiments, messages sent and received by service controller  122  are encrypted. In some embodiments, the service controller credential and device credential are 2048-bit RSA public key credentials. In some embodiments, service controller  122  and end-user device  100  communicate using a session key. 
     Although the steps are presented in  FIGS.  6 B and  6 C  in a particular order, as will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art in light of the disclosures herein, the ordering of some steps can be modified. As simple examples, steps  1010  and  1012  of  FIG.  21    can be interchanged, and in  FIG.  22   , step  1048  can be performed before  1046 , step  1038  can be performed before step  1036 , etc. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  is configured to allocate multiple credentials to different end-user devices associated with a single subscriber identifier.  FIG.  23    illustrates an example of such an embodiment. As shown in  FIG.  23   , at step  1050 , service controller  122  (e.g., using credentialing application server  146 ) receives an authentication request comprising a device identifier and a subscriber identifier from end-user device  100 . At step  1052 , service controller  122  verifies that the subscriber identifier is listed in database cluster  116 . If the subscriber identifier is listed in database cluster  116 , at step  1054 , service controller  122  verifies that the device identifier sent by end-user device  100  is not already in database cluster  116 . If the device identifier sent by end-user device  100  is not already in database cluster  116 , at step  1056 , service controller  122  obtains (e.g., by generating or allocating) a new credential for end-user device  100 . At step  1058 , service controller  122  stores both the device identifier and the new credential in database  116  as associated with the subscriber identifier. In some embodiments, the device identifier and the new credential are stored in separate fields of database cluster  116 . In some embodiments, the device identifier and new credential are stored as a single entry comprising their combination (e.g., a hash). In some embodiments, service controller  122  monitors or tracks end-user device enrollment attempts. In some embodiments, credentialing application server  146  or another element of the service controller (e.g., a fraud element such as fraud server  129 ) notifies the carrier about credentialing enrollment attempts, successful enrollments, or unsuccessful enrollments. 
     Service Processor Authentication; Starting and Stopping a Data Session 
     To achieve an overall network service policy, the network portion of the access network service policy may be configured to work in conjunction with the device-based portion of the access network service policy to achieve an overall combined network service policy. If the device agents required to implement the device portion of the access network service policy are not present on the device or are not properly configured because of tampering or other undesirable activities, then the overall combined network service policy can be in error or may not be possible to achieve, potentially resulting in an undesired network service policy implementation. In such cases, it is desirable for a network system to be employed to detect this condition and modify the network portion of an access network service policy enforced by the network-based elements so that a desired network service policy enforcement may be achieved. 
     Examples of when it may be advantageous to adapt the network portion of an access network service policy in order to account for a missing or improperly configured service processor include but are not limited to: (i) a device credential has been moved to a device that does not have a service processor, (ii) a device credential has been moved to a device with a service processor with a different configuration than the service processor originally associated with the device credential, (iii) a device service processor has been tampered with or has an improper configuration. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  detects the presence and proper configuration of a service processor, or lack thereof, in the end-user device. If the service processor is present and properly configured, service controller  122  causes a first network portion of an access network service policy to be enforced in the network, the first network portion of an access network service policy being configured to provide counterpart policy enforcement to a device portion of an access network service policy to achieve a first desired overall access network service policy. If, on the other hand, the service processor is not both present and properly configured, service controller  122  causes a second network portion of an access network service policy to be enforced in the network, wherein the second network portion of the access network service policy is configured to operate without a device counterpart policy to achieve a second desired overall access network service policy. 
     In some embodiments, a trusted service policy implementation comprises service controller  122  authenticating and authorizing service processor  115 . In some embodiments, the authentication comprises receiving and confirming a service processor certificate. In some embodiments, the authentication comprises receiving and confirming a service processor certificate that is based on a shared secret between service processor  115  and service controller  122 . In some embodiments, the shared secret is unique for a given service processor  115 . 
     In some embodiments, the process to establish a trusted service policy implementation comprises service processor  115  sharing two or more types of credentials with service controller  118 , wherein the credentials include two or more of a service processor credential, a device credential, and a user or subscriber credential. In some embodiments, a portion of the process to establish a trusted service policy implementation includes end-user device  100  (e.g., service processor  115 ) sharing a service processor credential, a device credential, and a user or subscriber credential with service controller  122 . 
     In some embodiments, establishing a trusted service policy implementation comprises service controller  122  receiving a certificate or hash result from a service processor element or agent acting on a portion of service processor  115  (for example, access control integrity agent  1694  performing a hash or certificate check on another service processor agent). 
       FIG.  24    illustrates an example embodiment of a process to start or stop a data session with SGSN notification. End-user device  100  attempts to start a data session by sending a “GPRS Attach” message to SGSN  2230 . SGSN  2230  notifies service controller  122  that end-user device  100  has started a data session. Service controller  122  waits for a pre-determined time, for example, one minute, to receive a login or authentication request from service processor  115 . In some embodiments, service controller  122  sets a login timer. If service controller  122  receives the login or authentication request before the timer expires, it attempts to authenticate service processor  115 . 
     One or more authentication errors may occur when service controller  122  attempts to authenticate service processor  115 . For example, service processor  115  may have invalid credentials. As another example, service processor  115  may send invalid application or kernel signatures. As another example, service processor  115  may report end-user device “root” detection errors. As another example, service processor  115  may contact service controller  122  using an identifier that is already in use by a different end-user device. 
     If service controller  122  does not receive the request from service processor  115  within the pre-determined time, or if service controller  122  is unable to authenticate service processor  115  for some reason, service controller  122  assumes that either (1) end-user device  100  does not contain a service processor, and is therefore unable to participate in device-assisted services, or (2) although end-user device  100  has a service processor, service processor  115  has been disabled. Service controller  122  sends a notification (“No active SP” message) to data rating element  2220  to indicate that end-user device  100  does not have the ability to provide the information necessary for data mediation element  2210  to generate detailed data usage reports (referred to herein as “micro-CDRs”). In some embodiments, service controller  122  sends a trigger to data mediation element  2210  to indicate that end-user device  100  should be charged for usage at “standard” bulk rates. In some embodiments, service controller  122  specifies a “standard” bulk rate charging code in the charging data records (CDRs) it sends to data mediation element  2210 . In some embodiments, data rating element  2220  determines data usage by end-user device  100  based on carrier-based records (e.g., records of end-user device  100 &#39;s usage of data over access network  10 ). 
     If service controller  122  receives the login or authentication request from service processor  115  within the pre-determined time and successfully authenticates service processor  115 , service controller  122  sends a notification (“Device OK” message) to data rating element  2220  to indicate that end-user device  100  has a service processor and is capable of supporting device-assisted services. In some embodiments, data rating element  2220  expects to receive “micro-CDR” reports from data mediation element  2210  when service controller  122  has determined that end-user device  100  has an active service processor. In some embodiments, data rating element  2220  determines usage based on the micro-CDRs, which contain more granular information than ordinary CDRs. For example, whereas an ordinary CDR might simply report that an end-user device used 100 Megabytes (MB) of data, a set of micro-CDRs might report that the end-user device used 15 MB of e-mail, 35 MB of social networking, and 50 MB of streaming video. 
     In some embodiments, data mediation element  2210  sends carrier-based usage reports (e.g., CDRs) to service controller  122 . Service controller  122  queries usage database  2200  for device-based usage reports (e.g., micro-CDRs) for end-user device  100 . Service controller  122  determines the data usage of end-user device  100  from the carrier-based usage reports. Service controller  122  also determines the data usage of end-user device  100  from the device-based usage reports. In some embodiments, described in more detail below, service controller  122  compares the usage determined from the carrier-based usage reports to the usage determined from the device-based usage reports. If service controller  122  determines that the two usage measures do not match (e.g., are not identical or are not within a threshold of each other), service controller  122  sends a notification (e.g., a fraud alert) to data rating element  2220  to indicate that the end-user device is in a potential fraud state, and data rating element  2220  should bill usage for end-user device  100  based on carrier-based usage reports. Service controller  122  sends the carrier-based usage reports and device-based usage reports to data mediation element  2210 . 
     When the “GPRS detach” message is received by SGSN  2230 , SGSN  2230  sends a notification to service controller  122  that the data session for end-user device  100  is closed. 
       FIG.  25    illustrates an example embodiment of a process to start or stop a data session with GGSN notification. The process is similar to that described with reference to  FIG.  24   , except in how the data session starts and ends. End-user device  100  starts a data session by sending data traffic to GGSN  2240 . GGSN  2240  recognizes the start of a new data session and notifies service controller  122  that end-user device  100  has started a data session. When GGSN  2240  determines that the data session has closed, it sends a notification to service controller  122  that the data session for end-user device  100  is closed. 
       FIG.  26    illustrates an example embodiment of a process to start or stop a data session when a AAA or RADIUS server (e.g., access network AAA server  1621 ) provides start/stop accounting in a GSM/GPRS core data network. The process is similar to that described with reference to  FIG.  24   , except that AAA or RADIUS  2242  authorizes the start of a new data session and notifies service controller  122  that end-user device  100  has started a data session. When AAA or RADIUS  2242  determines that the data session has closed, it sends a notification to service controller  122  that the data session is closed. 
       FIG.  27    illustrates an example embodiment of a process to start or stop a data session when an OCS provides start/stop accounting in a GSM/GPRS core data network. The process is similar to that described with reference to  FIG.  24   , except that after GGSN  2240  recognizes the start of a new data session with end-user device  100 , GGSN  2240  queries OCS  2246  for a data lease. OCS  2246  authorizes the data session by returning a value representing an amount of data to GGSN  2240  (e.g., OCS  2246  sends a value of X bytes to GGSN  2240 ). OCS  2246  uses API  2244  to notify service controller  122  that end-user device  100  has started a data session. When GGSN  2240  determines that the data session has closed, it sends a notification to OCS  2246  indicating the amount of data left in the amount of data authorized by OCS  2246 . OCS  2246  uses API  2244  to notify service controller  122  that the data session is closed. 
     Service processor  115  may successfully authenticate with service controller  122  but then subsequently send one or more fraud notifications. Examples of device fraud notifications that service processor  115  might send are: invalid service processor kernel signature, invalid service processor framework signature, invalid service processor application signature, service processor application unable to connect to service processor kernel, service processor application not receiving heartbeat messages from service processor kernel, service processor kernel missing, service processor framework missing, service processor application missing, hosts file tampered with or missing, service processor to service controller encryption failure, or device “root” detected. In some embodiments, in response to receiving a device fraud notification from service processor  115 , service controller  122  generates a fraud alert. 
     End-User Device Kernel/Software Component Verification 
     In some embodiments, establishing a trusted service policy implementation comprises two service processor  115  elements performing a mutual authentication of one another and then acting on an error result if one occurs.  FIG.  28    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that a verifying software component on end-user device  100  may perform to verify the integrity of another software component on end-user device  100 . Each of the software components can be, for example, a kernel, a library, an executable file, one or more interpreted, machine-readable instructions, a script, a service processor, or any other software component. 
     At step  1100 , a verifying software component obtains the public key of a to-be-verified software component. At step  1102 , the verifying software component generates a random number. At step  1104 , the verifying software component generates an encrypted challenge using the random number and the to-be-verified software component&#39;s public key. At step  1106 , the verifying software component sends the encrypted challenge to the to-be-verified software component. At step  1108 , the verifying software component obtains an encrypted response from the to-be-verified software component. At step  1110 , the verifying software component obtains its own private key. At step  1112 , the verifying software component uses its own private key and the encrypted response to obtain a first decoded random number. At step  1114 , the verifying software component verifies that the first decoded random number matches the generated random number. In some embodiments, if the first decoded random number does not match the generated random number, the verifying software component takes an action. In some embodiments, if the to-be-verified software component is an application, the action comprises restricting the application&#39;s ability to communicate over an access network. In some embodiments, the action comprises notifying a user of end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the action comprises notifying a network administrator. In some embodiments, if the to-be-verified software component is an application, the action is to apply a policy to attempted or successful communications associated with the application. In some embodiments, the action is to take a countermeasure, such as, for example, preventing a user from accessing the to-be-verified software component, preventing the to-be-verified software component from executing, or terminating the to-be-verified software component (if it is running). 
     In some embodiments, if, in step  1114 , the first decoded random number matches the generated random number, the verifying software component sends a message to service controller  122  (or another network element) indicating that the to-be-verified software component passed the test. 
       FIG.  29    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that the to-be-verified software component can perform in response to the procedure of  FIG.  28   . At step  1120 , the to-be-verified software component obtains the encrypted challenge from the verifying software component. At step  1122 , the to-be-verified software component obtains its own private key. At step  1124 , the to-be-verified software component uses its own private key and the encrypted challenge to obtain a second decoded random number. At step  1126 , the to-be-verified software component obtains the verifying component&#39;s public key. At step  1128 , the to-be-verified software component uses the verifying component&#39;s public key and the second decoded random number to generate an encrypted challenge response. At step  1130 , the to-be-verified component sends the encrypted challenge response to the verifying component. 
     End-User Device Application Authentication 
     In some embodiments, an installed software application on end-user device  100  cannot be modified, updated, or replaced unless the software purporting to be a modification, update, or replacement includes a credential that matches a credential associated with the installed application. In some embodiments, the installed-application credential is a name identifier. In some embodiments, the installed-application credential is a secure signature, certificate, or hash of the installed software application. In some embodiments, the installed-application credential is stored on end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the installed-application credential is accessible to service processor  115  (for example, via policy control agent  1692 ). In some embodiments, when an attempt is made to modify, update, or replace the installed software application, service processor  115  and/or a device operating system (OS) obtains both the installed-application credential and a credential associated with the purported modification, update, or replacement. If the credential associated with the purported modification, update, or replacement matches the installed-application credential, service processor  115  allows the installed application to be modified, updated, or replaced. 
       FIG.  30    illustrates a procedure to determine whether to allow a modification, update, or replacement of an installed software program. At step  1300 , a component of end-user device  100  (e.g., service processor  115  or an operating system) obtains a credential associated with a software application installed on end-user device  100 . At step  1302 , a component of end-user device  100  (e.g., service processor  115  or an operating system) obtains a credential associated with software purporting to be a modification, update, or replacement of the installed software application. At step  1304 , a component of end user-device  100  (e.g., service processor  115  or an operating system) determines whether the credential associated with the software purporting to be a modification, update, or replacement of the installed software application matches the credential associated with the installed software application. If there is a match, then at step  1306 , a component of end-user device  100  (e.g., service processor  115  or an operating system) takes a first action. In some embodiments, the first action comprises allowing the software purporting to be a modification, update, or replacement of the installed application software to be installed on end-user device. In some embodiments, the first action further comprises notifying the service controller or a user of end-user device  100  of the modification, update, or replacement of the installed application software. 
     If, at step  1304 , the credential associated with the software purporting to be a modification, update, or replacement of the installed software application does not match the credential associated with the installed software application, then at step  1308 , a component of end-user device  100  (e.g., service processor  115  or an operating system) takes a fraud action. In some embodiments, the fraud action comprises restricting end-user device  100 &#39;s access to an access network. In some embodiments, the fraud action comprises restricting an application&#39;s (e.g., the installed software application&#39;s) ability to communicate over an access network. In some embodiments, the fraud action comprises notifying a user of end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the fraud action comprises notifying a network administrator or a network element of the credential mismatch. In some embodiments, the fraud action comprises applying a pre-determined billing rate for service usage by end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the fraud action comprises applying a pre-determined billing rate to service usage associated with the installed software application. 
     In some embodiments, end-user device  100  stores in memory (e.g., application program store  830  of  FIG.  38   ) an application program configured to execute on end-user device  100  to access one or more data services over an access network. The application program is associated with a credential that is also stored on end-user device  100  (e.g., in application program store  830 , in application credential and policy store  810 , etc.). End-user device  100  also stores (e.g., in application credential and policy store  810 ) a network access policy comprising one or more first instructions to be applied when the application program initiates or attempts to initiate communications over the first wireless access network. A device agent or a combination of device agents (e.g., application interface agent  1693 , policy implementation agent  1690 , modem selection and control  1811 , etc.) determines when the application program initiates or attempts to initiate a communication over the access network (e.g., by monitoring end-user device  100  traffic flows, etc.) and applies the network access policy to the communication over the access network. 
     In some embodiments, end-user device  100  further comprises one or more device agents (e.g., service downloader  1663 , access control integrity agent  1694 , service monitor agent  1696 , etc.) that detect when an entity (e.g., a user of end-user device  100 , service controller  122 , etc.) wishes or attempts to install update software on end-user device  100 , where the update software purports to be a modification, update, or replacement of the application program. To improve security, the one or more device agents prevent modifications, updates, and replacements of the application software unless a credential associated with the purported update matches a credential of the installed application. For example, the one or more device agents obtain a credential associated with the application program that is already installed on end-user device  100 , and a credential associated with a purported update to the installed application program. If the one or more device agents determine that the credentials match, they allow the update software to be installed or to execute on end-user device  100 . 
     In some embodiments, security of end-user device  100  is enhanced using agents on end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, an agent on end-user device  100  (e.g., policy implementation agent  1690 , policy control agent  1692 , access control integrity agent  1694 , or any other agent that can perform verification functions) determines if a hosts file is present on the end-user device and configured in an expected manner. If the hosts file is not present or is not configured in an expected manner, in some embodiments, the agent takes an action. In some embodiments, the action is to generate a fraud alert. In some embodiments, the action is to take a countermeasure, such as, for example, to block, delay, rate-limit, or quarantine access to the access network by end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the action is to provide a notification to a user of end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the action is to send a message to service controller  122 . 
     In some embodiments, an agent on end-user device  100  (e.g., policy implementation agent  1690 , policy control agent  1692 , access control integrity agent  1694 , or any other agent that can perform verification functions) determines if service processor  115  successfully completed the authentication procedure with service controller  122 . In some embodiments, if the agent determines that service processor  115  has failed to complete the authentication procedure, the agent takes an action. In some embodiments, the action is to generate a fraud alert. In some embodiments, the action is to take a countermeasure, such as, for example, to block, delay, rate-limit, or quarantine access to the access network by end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the action is to provide a notification to a user of end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the action is to send a message to service controller  122 . 
     In some embodiments, an agent on end-user device  100  (e.g., policy implementation agent  1690 , policy control agent  1692 , access control integrity agent  1694 , or any other agent that can perform verification functions) determines whether the end-user device has been “rooted” or “jailbroken.” As will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art, rooting (or “jailbreaking”) is a process that allows a user of a mobile device to attain privileged access (known as “root access”) to the device&#39;s operating system, thereby potentially circumventing various limitations that might otherwise govern operation of the device. In some embodiments, if the agent determines that end-user device  100  has been rooted or jailbroken, the agent takes an action. In some embodiments, the action is to generate a fraud alert. In some embodiments, the action is to take a countermeasure, such as, for example, to block, delay, rate-limit, or quarantine access to the access network by end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the action is to provide a notification to a user of end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the action is to send a message to service controller  122 . 
     In embodiments in which service processor  115  applies an access network policy that includes classification of attempted or successful service usage attributed to a device software application program, the identification of the software application program and association of the access network policy to the software application program comprises associating the access network policy with a known-application credential. In some embodiments, the credential is a name identifier. In some embodiments, the credential is a secure signature, certificate, or hash of the software application program. In some embodiments, the credential is stored on end-user device  100  by service processor  115  (for example, by policy control agent  1692 ), and service processor  115  and/or a device operating system (OS) obtains a run-time application credential for an application that intends to initiate execution and obtain access network service or has successfully initiated execution and obtained access network service usage. Policy control agent  1692  compares the run-time credential to the stored known-application credential, and if there is a credential match the access network policy associated with the known-application credential is applied to the application access network service usage. 
     In some embodiments, the known-application credential is stored on end-user device  100  and used for the comparison with the run-time application credential. In some embodiments, the run-time application credential is provided to an element of service controller  122  (for example, policy management server  1652 ) that in turn determines if it matches a known-application credential and, if so, the element of service controller  122  provides the appropriate policy to service processor  115  (e.g., using gateway application server  138 ). In some embodiments, service processor  115  performs an application identity check on the run-time software program (for example, a secure hash, a secure hash based on a key provided by an element of service controller  122 , or a signature check), and the result of this identity check is provided to the element of service controller  122 , which in turn determines if it matches a known-application credential; if so, the element of service controller  122  provides the appropriate policy to service processor  115 . 
     In some embodiments, if service processor  115  determines that a run-time application credential is intended, or may indicate an attempt, to spoof a known-application credential, a fraud action is taken. In some embodiments, if service controller  122  determines that a run-time application credential is intended, or may indicate an attempt, to spoof a known-application credential, a fraud action is taken. In some embodiments, the fraud action comprises restricting access to an access network for end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the fraud action comprises restricting an application&#39;s ability to communicate over an access network. In some embodiments, the fraud action comprises notifying a user of end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the fraud action comprises notifying a network administrator. In some embodiments, the fraud action comprises applying a pre-determined billing rate for service usage by end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the fraud action comprises applying a pre-determined billing rate for run-time application service usage by end-user device  100 . 
       FIG.  31    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that an end-user device, such as end-user device  100 , can use to validate that an application installed on the end-user device is authentic. The application installed on the end-user device is associated with a credential that is stored in memory on the end-user device (e.g., application credential and policy store  810  of  FIG.  38   ). The credential may be any type of credential, such as, for example, a certificate, a key, a shared secret, a password, a hash, or a shared algorithm. At step  1160 , the end-user device obtains a known-valid credential associated with the application that is installed on the end-user device. The known-valid credential may be any type of credential, such as, for example, a certificate, a key, a shared secret, a password, a hash, or a shared algorithm. In some embodiments, the end-user device obtains the known-valid credential from a trusted source. In some embodiments, the trusted source is the service controller. In some embodiments, the trusted source is a marketplace, an app store, an application author, a distributor, or a reseller. At step  1162 , the end-user device determines whether the known-valid credential matches the credential of the installed application. If the credentials do not match, then in some embodiments the end-user device takes a first action at step  1164 . In some embodiments, the first action is to generate a fraud alert. In some embodiments, the first action is to apply an unknown-application policy. In some embodiments, the first action is to notify a user of the end-user device. In some embodiments, the first action is to take a countermeasure, such as, for example, preventing a user from accessing the installed application, preventing the installed application from executing, or terminating the installed application (if it is running). In some embodiments, the first action is to send a notification to a network element. 
     If, in step  1162 , the credentials match, the end-user device takes a second action at step  1166 . In some embodiments, the second action is to apply a policy associated with the installed application. In some embodiments, the second action is to send a message to a server indicating that the end-user device is in a healthy state. 
       FIG.  32    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that a service controller can use to validate that an application installed on an end-user device is authentic. At step  1170 , the service controller obtains an application package from a trusted source. In some embodiments, the trusted source is a marketplace, an app store, an application author, a distributor, or a reseller. In some embodiments, the service controller obtains the application package in response to a request from the end-user device. At step  1172 , the service controller extracts an application credential from the application package. The credential may be any type of credential, such as, for example, a certificate, a key, a shared secret, a password, a hash, or a shared algorithm. At step  1174 , the service controller sends the application credential to the end-user device. In some embodiments, the service controller later receives a status message from the end-user device after sending the application credential to the end-user device. 
       FIG.  33    illustrates an example embodiment of another procedure that a service controller may use to validate that an application installed on an end-user device is authentic. At step  1180 , the service controller receives a first application credential from the end-user device. The credential may be any type of credential, such as, for example, a certificate, a key, a shared secret, a password, a hash, or a shared algorithm. At step  1182 , the service controller obtains an application package from a trusted source. In some embodiments, the trusted source is a marketplace, an app store, an application author, a distributor, or a reseller. At step  1184 , the service controller extracts a second application credential from the application package. At step  1186 , the service controller determines whether the first application credential matches the second application credential. In some embodiments, if the credentials do not match, the service controller is configured to take an action (e.g., send a message to the end-user device, generate a fraud alert, send a message to the carrier, etc.). 
       FIG.  34    illustrates an example embodiment of another procedure that an end-user device may use to validate that an application installed on the end-user device is authentic. At step  1190 , the end-user device obtains a credential associated with an installed application. The credential may be any type of credential, such as, for example, a certificate, a key, a shared secret, a password, a hash, or a shared algorithm. At step  1192 , the end-user device generates a signed application credential using the installed-application credential and a device credential stored in local memory. The device credential may be any type of credential, such as, for example, a certificate, a key, a shared secret, a password, a hash, or a shared algorithm. At step  1194 , the end-user device sends the signed application credential to the service controller. At step  1196 , the end-user device receives a message from the service controller regarding the authenticity of the installed application. In some embodiments, the message comprises, or is followed by a message with, instructions to take an action, such as, for example, to block the installed application from accessing the access network. 
       FIG.  35    illustrates an example embodiment of another procedure that a service controller may use to validate that an application installed on an end-user device is authentic. At step  1200 , the service controller receives a signed application credential comprising an installed-application credential and a device credential from the end-user device. The device credential may be any type of credential, such as, for example, a certificate, a key, a shared secret, a password, a hash, or a shared algorithm. In some embodiments, the signed application credential comprises a combination of the installed-application credential and the device credential (e.g., a hash). At step  1202 , the service controller uses the device credential to process the signed application credential to obtain a first application credential. At step  1204 , the service controller obtains a second application credential from a trusted source. In some embodiments, the service controller obtains an application package from the trusted source and extracts the second credential from the application package. In some embodiments, the trusted source is a marketplace, an app store, an application author, a distributor, or a reseller. At step  1206 , the service controller determines whether the first application credential matches the second application credential. In some embodiments, if the first application credential does not match the second application credential, the service controller takes an action (e.g., sends a message to the end-user device, generates a fraud alert, sends a message to the carrier, etc.). 
       FIG.  36    illustrates an example embodiment of another procedure that an end-user device may use to validate that an application installed on the end-user device is authentic. At step  1210 , the end-user device receives a signed application credential from the service controller. The credential may be any type of credential, such as, for example, a certificate, a key, a shared secret, a password, a hash, or a shared algorithm. At step  1212 , the end-user device uses a device credential, stored in local memory, and the signed application credential to determine a first application credential. At step  1214 , the end-user device obtains an installed-application credential that is associated with an application installed on the end-user device. The credential may be any type of credential, such as, for example, a certificate, a key, a shared secret, a password, a hash, or a shared algorithm. At step  1216 , the end-user device determines whether the first application credential matches the installed-application credential. In some embodiments, if the first application credential does not match the installed-application credential, the end-user device takes an action (e.g., sends a message to the service controller, blocks the application from accessing the access network, executes instructions set by a control, charging, or notification policy, etc.). In some embodiments, the end-user device sends a message to the service controller to provide information about the authenticity of the application installed on the end-user device. 
       FIG.  37    illustrates an example embodiment of another procedure that a service controller may use to validate that an application installed on an end-user device is authentic. At step  1220 , the service controller obtains an application credential from a trusted source, wherein the application credential is associated with the installed application. The application credential may be any type of credential, such as, for example, a certificate, a key, a shared secret, a password, a hash, or a shared algorithm. In some embodiments, the trusted source is a marketplace, an app store, an application author, a distributor, or a reseller. At step  1222 , the service controller generates a signed application credential using the application credential and a device credential stored in local memory. In some embodiments, local memory is database cluster  116 . In some embodiments, the device credential is a certificate, a key, a shared secret, a password, a hash, or a shared algorithm. At step  1224 , the service controller sends the signed application credential to the end-user device. In some embodiments, after sending the signed application credential to the end-user device, the service controller receives a message from the end-user device providing information about the authenticity of the application installed on the end-user device. 
       FIG.  38    illustrates an example embodiment of end-user device  100  for implementing access network policy specific to a device application program. In the embodiment of  FIG.  38   , end-user device  100  includes communication modem  880 , memory that includes application program store  830  and application credential and policy store  810 , application execution environment  850 , and application policy control  820 . Communication modem  880  enables end-user device  100  to communicate over at least a first access network. Application program store  830  stores a run-time application program. Application credential and policy store  810  stores a known-application credential associated with a known application program and a known application access network policy associated with the known-application credential. In some embodiments, the run-time application credential is stored with the run-time application program. In some embodiments, the known-application credential is a security certificate, signature, or hash for the known application program. In some embodiments, end-user device  100  is further configured to obtain the known-application credential from a network element by way of a secure data connection between end-user device  100  and the network element. 
     Application execution environment  850  retrieves the run-time application program from memory and executes it, determines a run-time application credential associated with the run-time application program, and associates the run-time application credential with a run-time communication activity comprising a run-time application program&#39;s use of or intended use of the first access network. Application policy control  820  receives the run-time application credential, receives information associated with the run-time application communication activity, and determines whether the run-time application credential matches the known-application credential. If so, application policy control  820  causes the known application access network policy to be applied to the run-time application communication activity. 
     In some embodiments, end-user device  100  is further configured to provide the run-time application credential to a network element by way of a secure data connection between end-user device  100  and the network element. In some embodiments, end-user device  100  is further configured to receive information from the network element indicating the validity of the run-time application credential. In some embodiments, end-user device  100  is further configured to receive the information about the application policy from the network element by way of a secure data connection between end-user device  100  and the network element. 
     In some embodiments, end-user device  100  protects particular elements (e.g., software) from unauthorized user modification or unauthorized application program modification. For example, in some embodiments, end-user device  100  stores the known-application credential and the known application access network policy in a secure location. In some embodiments, end-user device  100  performs various functions, such as: determining the run-time application credential associated with the run-time application program (e.g., the credential-reporting element in the application execution environment); associating the run-time application credential with the run-time application communication activity (e.g., the credential-reporting element in the application execution environment); receiving the run-time application credential (e.g., application policy control  820 ); receiving information indicating the run-time application communication activity (e.g., the application policy control  820 ); determining if the run-time application credential matches the known-application credential (e.g., the application policy control  820 ); causing the known application access network policy to be applied to the run-time application communication activity (e.g., application policy control  820  instructing either the run-time controller element of the application execution environment  850  or the application policy enforcement element in the communications stack  860 ). 
     In some embodiments, the run-time application communication activity is an attempted access or successful access to access network  10  by the run-time application program, and the known application access network policy specifies allowing the access, blocking the access, limiting the access, or accounting for the access. 
     In some embodiments, the run-time application communication activity is an attempted access or successful access to an access network by the run-time application program, and the known application access network policy specifies a usage notification policy for notifying the user of the attempted or successful access. In some embodiments, the usage notification policy is configured to present to a user through user interface  1697  an access network service usage breakdown showing the service usage for the run-time application program. In some embodiments, the usage breakdown includes a breakdown by application. In some embodiments, the usage breakdown includes a breakdown by network type. In some embodiments, the usage breakdown includes a breakdown by both application and network type. In some embodiments, the usage breakdown includes a breakdown by network type. In some embodiments, the usage breakdown includes a roaming network breakdown. In some embodiments, the usage breakdown includes a breakdown by roaming network usage and by application. 
     In some embodiments, the usage notification policy is configured to present to a user through user interface  1697  a warning of the potential rate of service usage for the known application program. In some embodiments, the usage notification policy is configured to present to a user through user interface  1697  an offer to purchase service for the run-time application program. In some embodiments, the usage notification policy is configured to present to a user through user interface  1697  an indication of how much of a service allowance allocated to the known application program has been used or is remaining to be used. 
     In some embodiments, the run-time application communication activity is an attempt to execute or successful execution of the run-time application program, and the known application access network policy specifies allowing execution of the run-time application program, blocking execution of the run-time application program, or notifying the user of the attempted or successful execution. 
     In some embodiments, end-user device  100  is further configured with second access modem  890  to communicate with a second access network, and the run-time application communication activity comprises a run-time application program&#39;s use of or attempted use of the first access network or the second access network. In some embodiments, the known application access network policy settings or instructions differ based on whether end-user device  100  is connected to the first access network or to the second access network. 
     In some embodiments, user interface  1697  provides a user of end-user device  100  with input capability to modify access network service according to user preference and to receive access network service notifications. In some embodiments, user interface  1697  accepts user inputs for modifying access network policy, such as limiting access by one or more applications or access to one or more network destinations. In some embodiments, user interface  1697  accepts user inputs for choosing or modifying a service plan. 
     In some embodiments, at least an aspect of the known application access network policy is entered by a device user through user interface  1697 . In some embodiments, at least an aspect of the known application access network policy is obtained from a network element. 
     In some embodiments, the memory is further configured to store an unknown application access network policy to be applied to the run-time application communication activity when the run-time application credential does not match the known-application credential. In some such embodiments, the application policy decision agent is further configured to determine if the run-time application credential does not match the known-application credential, and, if the run-time application credential does not match the known-application credential, cause the unknown application access network policy to be applied to the run-time application communication activity. 
     In some embodiments, end-user device  100  further comprises a policy enforcement agent (e.g., either a run-time controller element of application execution environment  850  or application policy enforcement element  862  in communications stack  860 ) configured to apply the known application access network policy to the run-time application communication activity and to cause the known application access network policy to be applied to the run-time application communication activity. In some embodiments, the known application access network policy is applied to the run-time application communication activity by providing an instruction to the policy enforcement agent. In some embodiments, the policy enforcement agent (e.g., the run-time controller element of application execution environment  850  or application policy enforcement element  862  in communications stack  860 ) applies the known application access network policy at the application layer of a device operating system. In some embodiments, the policy enforcement agent applies the known application access network policy at the library or framework layer of a device operating system. In some embodiments, the policy enforcement agent applies the known application access network policy by interacting with communications stack  860  or modifying communications stack traffic flows. In some embodiments, the policy enforcement agent applies the known application access network policy at the kernel or low level OS layer of an operating system of end-user device  100 . 
       FIG.  39    illustrates an example embodiment wherein end-user device  100  is capable of connecting to Internet  12  through more than one access network (e.g., wireless access network  822  and wireless access network  824 ). In some embodiments, end-user device  100  is further configured with a second access modem to enable end-user device  100  to communicate over a second access network, and the run-time application communication activity includes a run-time application program&#39;s use of or intended use of the first access network or the second access network, and the usage notification policy is configured to provide a user notification that is dependent on which network end-user device  100  is connected to. 
     End-User Device Agent Verification 
     It may be advantageous in some embodiments to validate particular agents on the end-user device that assist in the provisioning and/or management of device-assisted services. In some embodiments, end-user device  100  includes one or more verification agents that may be used to validate one or more device-assisted services agents. There are many possible device-assisted agents that may be verified, such as, for example: a usage reporting agent (e.g., an agent that reports aggregate or finer (e.g., per-service or classification) measures of access network usage by the end-user device), a usage counting agent (e.g., an agent that reports counts of access network usage by the end-user device), a policy enforcement agent, a notification agent, a policy decision agent, a network state agent, a kernel communication agent, a user interface agent, a persistence agent (e.g., an agent that reads or writes from a data store, such as a local memory), a plan catalog agent, a service controller communication agent, a tethering detection agent, a time-of-day agent (e.g., an agent that manages a policy based on time of day), a kernel agent, or an analytics agent. Examples of agents are shown in  FIG.  2    and other figures and are described herein. 
     There are a number of ways in which the verification agent can validate a device-assisted services agent, including, for example: by performing a hash operation, by performing a checksum operation, by determining whether a digital signature is valid, by performing a fingerprint, by generating a random challenge and checking a response by the device-assisted services agent to the challenge, by extracting features from the agent for analysis by an artificial intelligence element (e.g., a support vector machine, a hidden Markov model, a decision tree, or a decision forest), etc. In some embodiments, the verification agent sends a verification message to the service controller with information about the results of the verification operation. In some embodiments, the verification message contains information about the integrity status of one or more of the device-assisted services agents. In some embodiments, the verification message comprises a hash, where the hash is the result of one or more of: a hash operation on a kernel component, a hash operation on a system component, a hash operation on an application. In some embodiments, the verification message comprises a hash that is a combination of two or more hashes. In some embodiments, the verification message comprises a salted hash. In some embodiments, the end-user device receives a verification result from the service controller. In some embodiments, the end-user device takes an action based on the verification result (e.g., blocks, allows, rate-limits, or delays an access to the access network by the end-user device; quarantines the end-user device; provides a notification to a user of the end-user device; heals a device-assisted services agent; etc.). 
       FIG.  40    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure that a service controller may use to verify a software component on an end-user device based on a verification message from the end-user device. At step  1230 , the service controller receives a verification message from the end-user device. In some embodiments, the verification message comprises the result of a hash operation performed by the end-user device. At step  1232 , the service controller processes the verification message to obtain a software identifier. In some embodiments, the software identifier is a credential, such as a program identifier, a name, a signature, a certificate, a hash, or any other identifier that uniquely identifies the software. At step  1234 , the service controller determines whether the software identifier matches an entry in a locally-stored list of valid software identifiers. If the software identifier matches an entry in the locally-stored list of valid software identifiers, the process ends at step  1238 , or, in some embodiments, the service controller takes an action (e.g., sends a message to the carrier, sends a message to the end-user device, initiates a notification to a user of the end-user device, etc.). If the software identifier does not match an entry in a locally-stored list of valid software identifiers, then at step  1236  the service controller takes an action (e.g., generates a fraud event, takes a countermeasure such as, for example, blocking the end-user device from the access network, notifies the carrier, sends a message to the end-user device, etc.). 
     In some embodiments, one or more agents on end-user device  100  comprise software components that are associated with installed-agent credentials. In some such embodiments, an agent associated with an installed-agent credential cannot be modified, updated, or replaced unless the software purporting to be a modification, update, or replacement is associated with a credential that matches the installed-agent credential. An installed-agent credential may comprise an agent kernel software being present with a proper signature, certificate, or hash result; an agent framework software being present with a proper signature, certificate, or hash result; or an agent application software being present with a proper signature, certificate, or hash result. 
     Fraud Detection and Mitigation 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  (using, e.g., fraud server  129 ) is configured to detect fraudulent, or potentially fraudulent, activities by end-user device  100 . There are several ways service controller  122  can detect fraud, including, for example, by observing whether service processor  115  exhibits expected behavior; by determining whether device-generated usage reports indicate fraudulent use of the access network resources; by examining the contents of trusted reports (e.g., reports from a trusted or secure source) of end-user device  100 &#39;s data usage; by comparing contents of non-secure device-based usage reports to contents of trusted usage reports; by comparing end-user device  100 &#39;s usage to expected usage based on population statistics; by detecting SIM card irregularities that may indicate attempts to steal sponsored services. In some embodiments, service controller  122  obtains a trusted measure of end-user device  100 &#39;s service usage and uses the trusted measure, alone or in combination with another measure, to determine whether end-user device is properly implementing a policy that should be in place. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  applies a policy error detection procedure to generate a fraud score, wherein the fraud score indicates a level of confidence or a likelihood that the analyzed activity or set of activities is fraudulent. In some embodiments, service controller  122  (using, e.g., fraud server  129 ) determines whether data usage by end-user device  100  is fraudulent by using what may be called a “layered” or “tiered” approach. In some such embodiments, service controller applies at least two tests to determine whether end-user device  100  is behaving fraudulently. In some such embodiments, a trusted service policy implementation is verified by service controller  122  by performing at least two of the following operations in conjunction with a multi-step service usage analysis procedure: (a) comparing a trusted access network usage records with the usage limitations expected to be in place if the service policy is being properly implemented, (b) comparing a trusted service usage measure to a non-secure (e.g., device-generated) service processor-based service usage measure, (c) comparing a first device service processor service usage measure against a second device service processor service usage measure, and (d) comparing a device service usage measure against a population statistic for the device-based service usage measure. 
       FIG.  41    illustrates an example embodiment of a layered approach that service controller  122  (or another suitable network element) can use to assess the likelihood that end-user device  100  (e.g., service processor  115 ) is behaving fraudulently. At step  2750 , service controller  122  receives a notification from a network element that a data session has started. The notification may be, for example, a “GPRS attach” message from SGSN  2230 , or a “data session started” message from GGSN  2240 , AAA or RAIDUS  2242 , or API  2244  (or OCS  2246 ), etc. Service controller  122  sets a timer or waits for some amount of time for service processor  115  to authenticate. If service processor  115  fails to start or complete the authentication procedure at step  2752 , then at step  2754 , service controller  122  takes an action. The action may be, for example, one or more of the following: generate a fraud alert, notify a user of end-user device  100 , notify a network element, notify a network administrator, block end-user device  100  from accessing access network  10 , block an application on end-user device  100  from accessing access network  10 , direct the device to a quarantine network status in which end-user device  100  can, for example, only access functions generally controlled by the access network service provider or the central service provider, etc. If service processor  115  successfully completes the authentication procedure at step  2752 , then at step  2756 , service controller  122  performs one or more additional fraud tests. At step  2758 , service controller determines whether the results of the tests indicate that end-user device  100  is behaving fraudulently. If the results do not indicate that end-user device  100  is behaving fraudulently, then the process ends at step  2760 . If the results do indicate that end-user device  100  is behaving fraudulently, then at step  2762 , service controller  122  takes an action, such as generating a fraud alert, notifying a user of end-user device  100 , notifying a network element, notifying a network administrator, blocking end-user device  100  from accessing access network  10 , blocking an application from accessing access network  10 , directing the device to a quarantine network status in which end-user device  100  can, for example, only access functions generally controlled by the access network service provider or the central service provider, etc. 
       FIG.  42    illustrates a layered approach to fraud detection in accordance with some embodiments. Trusted source  2800  (e.g., a network element, a secure DDR processor on end-user device  100 , a third-party, etc.) generates trusted records. In some embodiments, the trusted records include service usage records. In some embodiments, the trusted records also (or instead) include information from trusted source  2800  about the behavior of end-user device  100  (e.g., whether service processor  115  successfully authenticated with service controller  122 , whether service processor  115  is sending reports or other communications to service controller  122  in an expected manner, whether end-user device  100 &#39;s usage of one or more classes (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination, a group of network destinations, etc.) is consistently slightly under particular limits that would indicate likely fraud on the part of end-user device  100 , etc.). Non-secure source  2802  (e.g., service processor  115  on end-user device  100 ) generates non-secure records. Trusted source  2800  and non-secure source  2802  send records to record normalization and pre-processing  2804 . In some embodiments, trusted source  2800  and non-secure source  2802  send records to record normalization and pre-processing  2804  at regular intervals. In some embodiments, record normalization and pre-processing  2804  or another element of service controller  122  requests records from trusted source  2800  and non-secure source  2802 . Record normalization and pre-processing  2804  time-normalizes and pre-processes the trusted and non-secure records, putting the records into a uniform format. The normalized, pre-processed trusted records and the normalized, pre-processed non-secure records then serve as inputs to a set of N tests, where N is greater than or equal to two. Test 1  2806  and Test N  2808  are illustrated in  FIG.  42   . Each of the N tests outputs a test result that provides an indication of fraud likelihood. The results are inputs to combiner  2810 , which processes the test results to generate a fraud score. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  applies at least two tests, and combiner  2810  generates a fraud score based on the results of the at least two tests. In some embodiments, service controller  122  applies one or more of the following tests to determine the fraud score: (a) determining if service processor  115  is failing to send non-trusted (e.g., device-based) service usage reports even though service controller  122  is receiving trusted reports of end-user device  100 &#39;s service usage (b) comparing a trusted service usage measure to a limit or range of usage expected if end-user device  100  is properly implementing a service policy that should be in place; (c) comparing a trusted service usage measure to a non-secure (e.g., device-based) usage measure to determine if the difference between the two usage measures is within a specified tolerance; (d) comparing a non-secure (e.g., device-based) service usage measure to a limit or range of usage expected if end-user device  100  is properly implementing a service policy that should be in place; (e) comparing a classification of end-user device  100  usage to a limit or range of usage expected if end-user device  100  is properly implementing a service policy that should be in place; (f) comparing an aggregation of two or more classifications of end-user device  100  usage to an aggregate limit on usage to determine if the difference between the two measures is within a specified tolerance; (g) comparing a trusted measure of usage of a class (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination, a group of network destinations, etc.) to a limit or range of usage expected if end-user device  100  is properly implementing a service policy that should be in place; (h) comparing a trusted measure of usage of a class (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination, a group of network destinations, etc.) to a non-secure (e.g., device-based) measure of usage of the same class to determine if the difference between the two measures is within a specified tolerance; (i) comparing a statistical characterization of usage by a population of end-user devices to a trusted measure of end-user device  100 &#39;s service usage to determine if the difference between the two measures is within a specified tolerance; (j) comparing a statistical characterization of usage of a particular class (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination, a group of network destinations, etc.) by a population of end-user devices to a trusted measure of end-user device  100 &#39;s usage of that same class to determine if the difference between the two measures is within a specified tolerance; (k) comparing a statistical characterization of usage by a population of end-user devices to a non-secure measure of end-user device  100 &#39;s service usage to determine if the difference between the two measures is within a specified tolerance; (l) comparing a statistical characterization of usage of a class (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination, a group of network destinations, etc.) to a non-secure (e.g., device-based) measure of usage of the same class to determine if the difference between the two measures is within a specified tolerance; (m) comparing detailed class (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination, a group of network destinations, etc.) usage information in a usage report (trusted or non-secure) to determine whether a policy that should be in place allows the classified activity; (n) determining whether service processor  115  successfully authenticated with service controller  122 ; (o) determining whether service processor  115  is reporting (e.g., sending heartbeat messages, device reports, etc.) to service controller  122  in an expected manner; (p) determining whether usage of one or more classes (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination, a group of network destinations, etc.) is consistently slightly under particular limits that would indicate likely fraud on the part of end-user device  100 ; (q) comparing an amount or percentage of unknown or unclassified data usage allocated by service processor  115  to a particular class to an expected amount or percentage of unknown or unclassified data usage, where the expected amount or percentage is determined using information from a trusted source (e.g., a web crawler, domain object model, etc.). 
     The outputs of the N tests may be pass/fail indicators or values (e.g., integer, binary, real numbers, etc.). In some embodiments in which the outputs of the N tests are pass/fail indicators, combiner  2810  determines a fraud score of “pass” or “fail” (e.g., combiner  2810  generates one fraud score (e.g., a discrete value such as 0) if the result is “pass” and a different fraud score (e.g., a different discrete value such as 1) if the result is “fail”). In some embodiments, the fraud score is “pass” if each of the N individual test results indicates the associated test was passed. In some embodiments, the fraud score is “fail” if at least one of the N individual test results indicates that the associated test was failed. In some embodiments, the fraud score is “pass” if at least M individual test results indicate the associated tests were passed, where M is less than N. In some embodiments, the fraud score is “fail” if M or more individual test results indicate the associated tests were failed. As will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art in view of the disclosures herein, there are many other ways to combine the individual test results and determine the fraud score, and the examples above are not meant to be limiting. 
     In some embodiments, the output of each of the N tests is a value. In some embodiments, combiner  2810  performs a linear combination of the N individual test results. In some embodiments, combiner  2810  scales one or more of the N test results before performing a combination (linear or otherwise). 
     In some embodiments, each output value is between a minimum value and a maximum value (e.g., between 0 and 1, or between values A and B, inclusive, etc.), and the maximum value is associated with a high likelihood of fraudulent behavior by end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, each output value is between 0 and 1, and each output value represents a probability of fraudulent behavior on the part of end-user device  100 . In some such embodiments, combiner  2810  multiplies the individual test result values to generate the fraud score. In some embodiments, combiner  2810  applies a weighting factor to one or more of the N test results before multiplying them. As will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art in view of the disclosures herein, there are many other ways to combine the individual test results and determine the fraud score, and the examples above are not meant to be limiting. 
     In some embodiments, a high fraud score is associated with a high likelihood of fraudulent behavior on the part of end-user device  100 . In some such embodiments, if the fraud score generated by combiner  2810  based on the results of N initial tests is greater than (or greater than or equal to) a threshold, service controller  122  generates a fraud alert. In some embodiments, if the fraud score generated by combiner  2810  based on the results of N initial tests, where N is less than the maximum number of tests available, is greater than (or greater than or equal to) a threshold, additional tests are run. In some embodiments, one or more additional tests are added to the set of tests selected initially (e.g., the value of N is increased, and additional tests are selected and included). In some embodiments, at least one of the one or more additional tests is more computationally-expensive than one or more of the tests in the initial set of N tests. 
     In some embodiments in which a high fraud score is associated with a high likelihood of fraudulent behavior on the part of end-user device  100 , if the fraud score generated by combiner  2810  based on the results of N initial tests, where N is less than the maximum number of tests available, is greater than (or greater than or equal to) a threshold, a different set of N tests is selected and run. In some embodiments, the different set of N tests includes one or more of the tests run in the initial set of N tests. In some embodiments, at least one of the tests in the different set of N tests is more computationally-expensive than one or more of the tests in the initial set of N tests. 
     In some embodiments, a low fraud score is associated with a high likelihood of fraudulent behavior on the part of end-user device  100 . In some such embodiments, if the fraud score generated by combiner  2810  based on the results of N initial tests is less than (or less than or equal to) a threshold, service controller  122  generates a fraud alert. In some embodiments, if the fraud score generated by combiner  2810  based on the results of N initial tests, where N is less than the maximum number of tests available, is less than (or less than or equal to) a threshold, additional tests are run. In some embodiments, one or more additional tests are added to the set of tests selected initially (e.g., the value of N is increased, and additional tests are selected and included). In some embodiments, at least one of the one or more additional tests is more computationally-expensive than one or more of the tests in the initial set of N tests. 
     In some embodiments in which a low fraud score is associated with a high likelihood of fraudulent behavior on the part of end-user device  100 , if the fraud score generated by combiner  2810  based on the results of N initial tests, where N is less than the maximum number of tests available, is less than (or less than or equal to) a threshold, a different set of N tests is selected and run. In some embodiments, the different set of N tests includes one or more of the tests run in the initial set of N tests. In some embodiments, at least one of the tests in the different set of N tests is more computationally-expensive than one or more of the tests in the initial set of N tests. 
     In some embodiments, one of the N tests indicates whether service processor  115  successfully completed the authentication procedure with service controller  122 . In some embodiments, a failure of service processor  115  to complete the authentication procedure with service controller  122  results in a fraud score that indicates end-user device  100  is likely behaving fraudulently (e.g., an automatic “fail” or a fraud score that indicates a high likelihood of fraud). In some embodiments, the result of one or more tests is a quantized value associated with a likelihood of error (e.g., fraud) or a likelihood of non-error (e.g., no fraud), and the overall pass/fail criterion is based on a combination of one or more of the quantized values. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  applies different sets of N tests at different times. For example, in some embodiments, service controller  122  applies a set of N tests including more computationally expensive tests on occasion or periodically. In some embodiments, service controller  122  varies the value of N at various times. In some embodiments, service controller  122  regularly applies a small or modest set of tests, and then occasionally or periodically applies a larger set of tests. In some such embodiments, the larger set of tests includes one or more tests that are more computationally expensive than tests in the smaller set (e.g., tests that require processing of flow data records, discussed below). 
     In some embodiments, if the fraud score indicates a policy implementation error (e.g., likely fraudulent behavior by end-user device  100 ), service controller  122  takes an action comprising one or more of: generating a fraud alert; flagging end-user device  100  or a user associated with end-user device  100  for further evaluation; charging for end-user device  100 &#39;s usage at a pre-determined rate associated with end-user device  100  being in a fraudulent state; notifying a user of end-user device  100 ; notifying a network administrator; quarantining end-user device  100  or a user&#39;s access to the access network; suspending end-user device  100  or a user of end-user device  100  from the access network. 
     Fraud Detection Based on Service Processor Behavior 
     Fraudulent or potentially fraudulent activity by end-user device  100  can be detected by service controller  122  by observing the behavior of end-user device  100  after service processor  115  has been authenticated. In some embodiments, detecting fraud comprises ensuring that service control device link  1691  and service control server link  1638  are operating correctly, and there is no break in a continuous heartbeat authentication sequence. 
     In some embodiments, service processor  115  sends periodic or occasional device-based usage data reports (UDRs) to service controller  122 . The UDRs contain information about end-user device  100 &#39;s data usage. For example, the UDRs may indicate how many bytes of data associated with a particular application, such as a map application, or service, such as a music streaming service, end-user device used since the last report, or during a particular time period. In some embodiments, service processor  115  sends the UDRs in response to a request from service controller  122 . In some embodiments, service controller  122  generates a fraud alert if, after having been authenticated, service processor  115  fails to send device-based usage reports when expected or requested by service controller  122 , or when service processor  115  sends device-based usage reports at unexpected or improper times. In some embodiments, service controller  122  generates a fraud alert if it receives UDRs from service processor  115  after receiving a “data session stopped” trigger from a network element. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  generates a fraud alert if service processor  115  fails to respond as expected to commands issued by service controller  122 . In some embodiments, service controller  122  sends a command to service processor  115  and observes a response from service processor  115 . In some embodiments, when fraud is suspected, service controller  122  instructs service processor  115  to apply and enforce policy modifications. Service controller  122  then observes the response of service processor  115  and performs an analysis on information sent by service processor  115  to service controller  122  to determine whether the behavior of end-user device  100  is indicative of fraud. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  directs service processor  115  to change a setting of end-user device  100 . If the setting change ordinarily would cause a deterministic behavior change in the operation of an end-user device that is operating according to an established policy, service controller  122  may determine that end-user device  100  is operating fraudulently if service controller  122  does not observe that end-user device  100 &#39;s behavior has changed in the expected manner. As an example, service controller  122  might suspend end-user device  100 &#39;s use of a sponsored service (i.e., a service for which a sponsor entity subsidizes an end-user device&#39;s access to that service). If end-user device  100  continues to use the sponsored service after service controller  122  suspended end-user device  100 &#39;s use of the sponsored service, service controller  122  may conclude that the access is fraudulent. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  changes a parameter to cause end-user device  100  to modify its behavior and potentially also to change particular settings of end-user device  100 . For example, service controller  122  might communicate to service processor  115  a lower maximum data rate at which end-user device  100  is allowed to send data over the access network. If end-user device  100  continues to send data at a rate above the newly-imposed maximum data rate, service controller  122  may conclude that end-user device  100  is operating fraudulently. In some embodiments, parameter changes are constructed, for example, from rules or by building a reaction model for a user population, where the reaction model learns to distinguish legitimate activity from fraudulent behavior. 
     Fraud Detection Using Trusted Usage Measures/Records 
     Fraudulent or potentially fraudulent activity by end-user device  100  can be detected by examining trusted measures or records of data usage by end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, a network element (e.g., service usage reconciliation and fraud detect  642  or fraud server  129 ) examines the content of usage reports from a trusted source to determine whether end-user device  100  is operating within the policies that should be in place. The usage reports may indicate a variety of information, including, for example, one or more of: a “bulk” measure of aggregate data usage, destinations accessed, network state (e.g., time of day, network busy state, network congestion state, etc.), type of network (e.g., 2G, 3G, 4G, WiFi, home, roaming, etc.), etc. In some embodiments, the trusted records contain information about end-user device  100 &#39;s data use associated with a class of service activities, where the class is a particular application, a group of applications, a particular network destination, a group of network destinations, a network type, etc. For example, the trusted records may contain one or more of: record start time, record end time, information identifying the class, the amount of data use associated with the class, etc. 
     There are several possible sources of trusted records, including network elements, end-user device  100 , and third-party sources. Records from network elements are generally trusted because it is difficult for unauthorized parties to obtain access to the records themselves or the network elements that generate the records, particularly if some or all of the security measures disclosed herein are in place. Examples of network elements that can produce trusted records are: gateways (e.g., GGSN  2240 , SGSN  2230 , PDSN, routers, switches, etc.), a home agent, proxy servers, a charging gateway system, a mediation element (e.g., mediation  22210 ), a reconciliation element (e.g., reconciliation server  131 ), a billing element (e.g., central billing  1619 , carrier billing  139 ), a AAA element (e.g., access network AAA server  1621 ), and other network elements. 
     End-user device  100  can also generate trusted records if it includes a secure device data record (DDR) processor and a secure protocol for the sending of reports from the secure DDR processor to service controller  122 . The use of secure DDRs is described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/247,998, which is entitled “Secured Device Data Records” and is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Third-party sources can also provide trusted records if measures are in place to verify the reports. Examples of third-party sources that can provide trusted records are: partner service destination servers (e.g., search sites, advertisement sites, application service sites, shopping sites, content sites, gaming sites, e-mail sites, etc.), enterprise customer networks, etc. Third-party sources may provide such information as usage reports, site visits, transaction reports, ad view reports, economic benefit reports, usage credit increase instructions, etc. 
     In some embodiments, using data usage reports from a trusted source, a network element determines whether end-user device  100 &#39;s usage, as given by a trusted usage measure is within a limit or range of usage behavior expected if an applicable policy is in place. For example, in some embodiments, the network element determines whether the bulk usage by end-user device  100  is no higher than a maximum amount specified by a policy that should be in place. In some embodiments, the network element determines whether end-user device  100 &#39;s use of a particular class (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination, a group of network destinations, network type, etc.) is within data usage limits specified in the control policy that should be in place. In some embodiments, the network element determines whether end-user device  100 &#39;s use of a particular class is allowed under the control policy that should be in place. As will be now be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the disclosures herein, there are many ways that a network element can use information in reports from a trusted source to verify that end-user device  100  is operating in compliance with policies that should be in place, and the examples given above are not meant to be limiting. 
     Fraud Detection Using Non-Secure Device-Based Usage Measures/Records 
     In some embodiments, service processor  115  is not capable of generating and sending secure DDRs. Instead, service processor  115  is capable only of generating and sending non-secure records (e.g., UDRs) of end-user device  100 &#39;s data usage. In such cases, an unscrupulous user might attempt to hack end-user device  100  so that the reports it sends contain information that is more favorable to the user than it should be, e.g., by reporting less data usage (either aggregate or of a class) than end-user device  100  actually used or by reporting data usage that should be accounted as usage under a subscriber-paid service plan as usage of a sponsored service. In some embodiments, service controller  122  uses device-based usage measures to detect when a user attempts to tamper with service processor  115  in order to have usage of one service reported incorrectly (e.g., as usage of a different class, as usage of a sponsored service when it is actually part of a subscriber-paid plan, etc.). In some embodiments, service controller  122  compares usage measures in device-based (e.g., non-secure) reports to corresponding usage measures in a report from a trusted source. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  generates a fraud alert if it receives UDRs from end-user device  100 , but the UDRs indicate end-user device  100 &#39;s usage is beyond a charging policy limit. In some embodiments, if service controller  122  receives UDRs from end-user device  100 , but the charging codes in those UDRs do not correspond to charging codes for the currently-allowed active services (e.g., the charging codes indicate that end-user device  100  is using data or a class for which it is not authorized, etc.), service controller  122  generates a fraud alert. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  examines the content of device-based usage reports (e.g., reports generated by service processor  115  and sent to service controller  122 ) to verify that service processor  115  is properly classifying services. In some embodiments, service controller  122  determines whether applications being used or destinations being accessed by end-user device  100  are authorized under a service plan associated with end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, service controller  122  examines the content of device-based usage reports to determine whether end-user device  100  imposed a service control that was supposed to be in place (e.g., a cap on usage; a speed of usage (such as a maximum rate); an amount of usage of background or foreground data; state modifiers such as time-of-day, network busy state, network type (e.g., home, roaming, WiFi, cellular, etc.); quality-of-service limits, etc.). 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  examines the content of device-based usage reports to verify that the service usage measures being reported by end-user device  100  are compliant with the access network policy or policies that should be in place. In some embodiments, service controller  122  determines whether one or more of the following measures are within limits imposed by a policy that should be in place: bulk (e.g., aggregate) usage; usage of a class (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination (e.g., IP address, domain address, etc.), a group of network destinations, etc.); application-specific usage that includes transaction-based single-application service or multi-application service; background usage; foreground usage; usage that is identified by a time-of-day, network-busy-state, quality-of-service, or network-type state modifier; roaming usage; usage associated with specific content (e.g., streaming video, streaming audio, etc.); usage based on a specific layer 3/4 protocol (e.g., TCP, UDP, and/or a Layer 7 protocol (e.g., IGMP, RTMP, RSTP, etc.)). 
     In some embodiments in which service processor  115  tracks end-user device  100 &#39;s use of a class (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination, a group of network destinations, network type, etc.), service controller  122  examines the content of device-based usage reports to determine whether end-user device  100  is properly identifying and allocating data usage associated with the class. As is described in detail in several previous applications listed in the “Cross Reference to Related Applications” section (including U.S. patent publication 2010/0198698, filed Jan. 27, 2010 and entitled “Adaptive Ambient Services”), classifying data usage in the dynamic (e.g., non-static) environment of the Internet can be challenging. For example, a class may include access to a particular web site. Service processor  115  should count, as usage of the class, end-user device  100 &#39;s access to the collection of URLs associated with the web site, but not access to other network destinations and/or applications not associated with the web site. Although it is possible to create, at any point in time, a comprehensive list of all content associated with the web site, a problem arises whenever the web site changes (e.g., links or URLs are changed, content from other web sites is included or removed, etc.), because the list of associated addresses/domains and access list policies will be inaccurate if it is not updated immediately after the change. 
     Several of the patent applications listed in the “Cross Reference to Related Applications” section of this document, including U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/253,013, entitled “System and Method for Providing User Notifications” and incorporated by reference herein, disclose ways to track changes in the Internet to facilitate providing, for example, service plans with different classes, sponsored services, etc. One way to track changes is to use search engine/web crawler techniques to create and update a catalog of content sources, destinations (e.g., advertisement servers, network domains, etc.) etc. that are associated with a class. As would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art, a web crawler is a computer program that browses the web in a methodical, automated way. Web crawlers are also known as ants, automatic indexers, bots, web spiders, web robots, or web scutters. Web crawlers may be used to copy, check, or validate links on web sites. A web crawler may start with a list of URLs to visit. As the crawler visits these URLs, it identifies all the hyperlinks in the page and adds them to the list of URLs to visit. The new list is sometimes called the crawl frontier. URLs from the crawl frontier are then recursively visited according to a set of policies that specify which pages to visit, how often to re-visit those pages, etc. 
     The immediate identification and propagation to all service processors of all changes in every web site associated with every sponsored service or every class within all service plans can be difficult. Therefore, in some embodiments, when end-user device  100  engages in service activities associated with a class (e.g., sends or receives data using a particular application that is itself a class, or using an application from a defined set of applications comprising a class; or accesses a particular network destination that is itself a class, or accesses a particular network destination that is in a class comprising a set of network destinations; or uses a particular network type, etc.), and in the course of using data within the class end-user device  100  is directed to a destination that service processor  115  does not know or is unclassified, service processor  115  grants a temporary access “lease.” Under the lease, access to, for example, certain unknown or unclassified destinations is allowed (e.g., for a particular amount of data, for a particular amount of time, etc.) but monitored until the unclassified or unknown application or destination can be reclassified as allowed or disallowed. A lease temporarily allows unknown or unclassified activities to take place within the class under the theory that such activities may be the legitimate result of a change in an Internet destination included in the class, and, therefore, it would be undesirable to block these activities or to allocate data access costs associated with them to a “bulk” usage category or to a different class when they should be allocated to the class. 
     Service controller  122  can use information from a web crawler/search engine (e.g., the crawl frontier) to assess whether service processor  115  is likely correctly allocating data usage to particular classes. In some embodiments, service controller  122  determines whether service processor  115  is allocating a reasonable amount of unknown or unclassified data usage to the class based on web crawler results. For example, if the web crawler results indicate that, at a particular point in time or on average, approximately 80 percent of content available at or through a particular web site is known (e.g., has a URL that alone indicates it is part of the class, has a URL that indicates it is from an ad server or another so-called known, benign domain, the content of which is unlikely to be accessed fraudulently by a user, etc.), and 20 percent of the content is unknown (e.g., not known to be part of the class, not a known, benign domain, etc.), service controller  122  may determine that end-user device  100  is likely operating fraudulently if only 50 percent of the data usage allocated by service processor  115  is known to be associated with the web site, and the other 50 percent of the data usage allocated by service processor  115  to the class is associated with unknown or unclassified content or destinations. Such a result may indicate that service processor  115  has been hacked and is improperly allocating data usage to the class. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  determines whether device-based usage reports indicate that service processor  115  is likely fraudulently allocating data usage to a sponsored service. For example, in some embodiments, service controller  122  determines how much of the data usage service processor  115  is allocating to a sponsored service is known to be associated with the sponsored service and how much is not known to be associated with the sponsored service. In some embodiments, service controller  122  determines (e.g., based on web crawler or similar data) whether service processor  115  is allocating too much unknown or unclassified data usage to a sponsored service. In some embodiments, service controller  122  assesses whether service processor  115  is properly granting leases (e.g., by determining whether the leases are of an appropriate duration, are terminated properly, etc.). In some embodiments, service controller generates a fraud alert if the UDRs indicate that end-user device is improperly classifying disallowed destinations (e.g., web sites, URLs, etc.) as part of a sponsored service. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  compares usage counts in carrier-based usage reports, or usage reports from another trusted source, to usage counts in UDRs from end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, if difference between the usage counts in the two reports is not within a tolerance (e.g., an amount of data, a percentage, etc.), service controller  122  generates a fraud alert. In some embodiments, if the counts in the reports agree, and the charging codes in the UDRs are correct, but the UDRs indicate that service processor  115  has incorrectly categorized (e.g., classified) the data usage, service controller  122  generates a fraud alert. In some embodiments, if the counts in the reports are in agreement, but the usage rate (e.g., units of data per unit of time) within a service component (e.g., a class) or within a service activity is greater than a rate limit set by the control policy, service controller  122  generates a fraud alert. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  generates a fraud alert if a comparison between the device-based UDRs and carrier-based (or other trusted) usage reports indicates that end-user device  100  consistently under-reports its usage of data in a particular class (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a destination, a group of destinations, etc.). Such underreporting may indicate that service processor  115  is substituting usage counts from a higher-priced service for the counts associated with a lower-priced or sponsored service (e.g., service processor  115  is reporting more usage of the lower-priced service and less usage of the higher-priced service). Such “skimming” can occur, for example, within a single service, across multiple services, across multiple time periods, or in other ways or combinations of these ways. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  generates a fraud alert if the UDRs from service processor  115  indicate that end-user device  100 &#39;s usage of a service, component, or activity is abnormal when compared to a hard rate limit, such as an allowed usage per hour, day, or week, or an expected rate limit, such as a rate limit imposed on streaming services. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  compares a usage rate of end-user device  100  to the “average” end-user device usage rate, which it determines using a statistical model of usage data associated with a specific service plan or component of a service plan (e.g., a class) by a population or sub-population of devices. In some such embodiments, service controller  122  performs what is known in the art as a k-nearest neighbor classification, using the usage rate to identify whether end-user device  100  is potentially behaving fraudulently. As would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art, the k-nearest neighbor classification may be trained by learning vector quantization (LVQ) using tunable training parameters such as, for example, the time window of data usage, usage rate, etc. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  may or may not generate a fraud alert upon detecting a particular condition. For example, if the usage counts contained in trusted reports and UDRs from service processor  115  are in agreement, but end-user device  100 &#39;s usage rate, in terms of units of data per unit of time, deviates significantly from the usage rate of the “average” user, it could mean that service processor  115  has been tampered with or otherwise compromised. Alternatively, however, it could mean simply that the usage patterns for that service activity or service component are changing, or that end-user device  100  is being used legitimately, but in an unusual manner as compared to how most end-user devices are used. A change in usage patterns could result, for example, if the service plan to which end-user device  100  is subscribed adds streaming content, such as video or audio, and a user is among the first to take advantage of the new content. In some embodiments, service controller  122  may simply flag the activity as potentially fraudulent, or it may wait until it has performed additional analysis to make a decision regarding whether service processor  115 &#39;s behavior is likely fraudulent. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  determines a second measure of a network state to confirm that end-user device is reporting the correct network state in its charging reports. In some embodiments, service controller  122  (or another suitable network function) obtains the network state as determined using a group of devices. In some embodiments, service controller  122  (or another suitable network function) characterizes sub-network portions (e.g., base stations, base station sectors, geographic areas, RANs, etc.) based on a population of end-user devices connected to that sub-network portion. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  determines a second measure of device access behavior for a given network state to ensure end-user device  100  is implementing the correct controls. In some embodiments, the second measure is from a network element. In some embodiments, the second measure is from a secure DDR processor on end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the second measure is from a second monitor point within end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the second measure is “good customer feedback” from a third party source. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  compares a trusted (e.g., network-based, secure DDR, or third-party) measure of the device&#39;s service usage to a device-based (e.g., service-processor-based) measure of the device&#39;s service usage. In some embodiments, one or both of the trusted service usage measures and the device-based service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on application. In some embodiments, one or both of the service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on network destination or network service identifier. In some embodiments, one or both of the service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on network type (e.g., roaming, home, cellular, WiFi, etc.). In some embodiments, one or both of the service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on time of day. In some embodiments, one or both of the service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on QoS class. In some embodiments, one or both of the service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on geography. In some embodiments, one or both of the service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on a roaming network. 
     In some embodiments, a trusted service policy implementation is verified by comparing a first device-based service processor service usage measure against a second device-based service processor service usage measure. In some embodiments, one or both service processor usage measures include a classification of service usage based on application. In some embodiments, one or both service processor usage measures include a classification of service usage based on network destination or network service identifier. In some embodiments, one or both service processor usage measures include a classification of service usage based on network type. In some embodiments, one or both service processor usage measures include a classification of service usage based on time of day. In some embodiments, one or both service processor usage measures include a classification of service usage based on QoS class. In some embodiments, one or both service processor usage measures include a classification of service usage based on geography. In some embodiments, one or both service processor usage measures include a classification of service usage based on a roaming network. 
       FIG.  43    illustrates an example embodiment of a service controller reconciliation processing procedure that may be used to detect fraud using information from an end-user device  100  and information from a second source. Service processor  115  (not shown) or an application on end-user device  100  (not shown) generates usage measures  2300 . Based on usage measures  2300 , end-user device  100  sends first usage records to service controller  122 , or service controller  122  requests first usage records from end-user device  100 . Service controller  122  processes the first usage records in device usage record pre-processing  2310 . In some embodiments, device usage record pre-processing  2310  modifies the format of the first usage records to facilitate one or more of service usage processing, reporting, analysis, comparison, mediation and reconciliation operations performed within the service controller system. In some embodiments, device usage record pre-processing  2310  observes the first usage records and time stamps and time synchronizes, time aligns, or time aggregates multiple first usage records so that a more consistent measure of usage with a common time reference can be achieved within the service controller system for one or more of service usage processing, reporting, analysis, comparison, mediation and reconciliation purposes. Service controller  122  stores the first usage records in device usage records  2320 . 
     A second source (not shown) generates or provides second service usage measures  2370 . In some embodiments, the second source is a network element, such as a mediation element, a gateway, a real-time reporting element, a charging element, a billing element, or the like. In some embodiments, the second source is a database. In some embodiments, the second source is a roaming partner network element. In some embodiments, the second source is an element on end-user device  100  that generates secure device data records. In some embodiments, the second source is a partner network destination that provides information about customer usage of or transactions with that destination. In some embodiments, the second source is an application on end-user device  100 . 
     Based on the second service usage measures, the second source sends second usage records to service controller  122 , or service controller  122  obtains the second usage records from the second source. Service controller  122  processes the second usage records in record normalization, time reconciliation and pre-preprocessing  2360 . In some embodiments, record normalization, time reconciliation and pre-preprocessing  2360  modifies the format of the second usage records to facilitate one or more of service usage processing, reporting, analysis, comparison, mediation and reconciliation operations performed within the service controller system. In some embodiments, record normalization, time reconciliation and pre-preprocessing  2360  observes the second usage records and time stamps and time synchronizes, time aligns, or time aggregates multiple second usage records so that a more consistent measure of usage with a common time reference can be achieved within the service controller system for one or more of service usage processing, reporting, analysis, comparison, mediation and reconciliation purposes. Service controller  122  stores the second usage records in second source usage records  2350 . 
     Service controller  122  applies reconciliation and verification processing algorithms  2340  to reconcile records in device usage records  2320  with records in second source usage records  2350  and to validate records in device usage records  2320 . Service controller  122  stores information based on the results of reconciliation and verification processing algorithms  2340  in data warehouse  2330 . 
     In some embodiments, reconciliation and verification processing algorithms  2340  reconcile detailed classifications of service usage off of a bulk service usage accounting and onto a finer classification of service usage accounting. For ease of explanation, the finer classifications of service usage accounting are referred to herein as “micro charging data records” or “micro-CDRs.” In some embodiments, reconciliation and verification processing algorithms  2340  accomplish charging for detailed classifications of service usage by providing a detailed micro-CDR charging code identifier in the micro-CDR usage record communicated to the carrier network mediation or billing system (e.g., operator data mediation  2380 ). In some embodiments, reconciliation and verification processing algorithms  2340  accomplish charging for a detailed classification of service usage by mediating out (or subtracting) the amount of service usage reported in the micro-CDR from the amount of service usage accounted to bulk service usage. In some embodiments, reconciliation and verification processing algorithms  2340  sends charging data records (e.g., CDRs, micro-CDRs, etc.) to operator data mediation  2380 . 
     In some embodiments, reconciliation and verification processing algorithms  2340  perform a fraud analysis using information from one or both of second source usage records  2350  and device usage records  2320 . In some embodiments, reconciliation and verification processing algorithms  2340  compares usage records associated with a specific device or user credential from one or both of second source usage records  2350  and device usage records  2320  to determine if service usage is outside of pre-defined service usage policy behavior limits. In some embodiments, reconciliation and verification processing algorithms  2340  compares service usage information associated with a specific device or user credential from one or both of second source usage records  2350  and device usage records  2320  to determine if a pre-defined service usage limit has been reached or exceeded. In some embodiments, reconciliation and verification processing algorithms  2340  compares service usage information associated with a specific device or user credential from one or both of second usage records  2350  and device usage records  2320  to determine if the specific device or user is exhibiting a service usage behavior that is outside of pre-defined statistical limits as compared to the service usage behavior of a device or user population. In some embodiments, reconciliation and verification processing algorithms  2340  stores the results of its fraud analysis in data warehouse  2330 . In some embodiments, reconciliation and verification processing algorithms  2340  sends fraud alerts to operator CRM system  2390  (e.g., a carrier fraud processing system, carrier personnel, a device user, a system administrator, etc.). 
     In some embodiments, the second usage records comprise information from multiple other measures or reports. In some embodiments, the second usage records are based on information, measures, or reports from end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the second usage records are based on information, measures, or reports from other end-user devices. In some embodiments, the second usage records are determined based on information, measures, or reports from one or more network elements (e.g., a base station, the RAN, the core, or using device-assisted means, etc.). 
     In some embodiments, the second usage records comprise a measure of bulk (e.g., aggregate or unclassified) data usage by end-user device  100 . For example, in some embodiments, the second usage records comprise a bulk usage report, specific to end-user device  100 , generated by the network, by an application service provider, or by a server. In some embodiments, the second usage records are based on information in one or more previous reports sent by end-user device  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the second usage records comprise information associated with the access network state. In some embodiments, the second usage records are determined from network state tagged information. In some embodiments, the second usage records comprise information from a device data record (DDR), which may indicate the network busy state and the network type. In some embodiments, the second usage records are determined from DDR network state tagged information. 
     In some embodiments, the second usage records comprise information from flow data record. In some embodiments, the flow data record (FDR) reports a detailed level of service usage classification that indicates service usage broken down by network source or destination (e.g., domain, URL, IP address, etc.) and possibly one or more ports and protocols. In some embodiments, the FDR reports a detailed level of service usage classification that indicates usage broken down by device user application or OS application. In some embodiments, the FDR reports a detailed level of service usage classification that indicates service usage broken down by time of day, network congestion state or service QoS level. In some embodiments, the FDR reports a detailed level of service usage broken down by network type (e.g., 2G, 3G, 4G, WiFi, home, roaming, etc.). In some embodiments, the FDR reports a detailed level of service usage broken down by home or roaming network. 
     In some embodiments, the FDRs are sourced from a network element capable of classifying traffic (e.g., a deep packet inspection [DPI] gateway, a proxy server, a gateway or server dedicated to a given service classification, a good customer feedback source described elsewhere herein, etc.). In some embodiments, the second usage records are derived from a device service monitor. In some embodiments, the second usage records are derived from a trusted device service monitor. In some embodiments, the trusted device service monitor is located in a secure execution environment on the device that cannot be accessed by a user or user installed application software. 
     In some embodiments, the second usage records allow service controller  122  to determine whether the access behavior of end-user device  100 , given the network state, indicates that end-user device  100  is implementing the correct policy controls. In some embodiments, service controller  122  confirms that service processor  115  is reporting the correct network state in its data usage reports. In some embodiments, a network element determines the correct network state based on a group of devices. The information is reported to service controller  122  or another suitable network function. Service controller  122  (or other suitable network function) characterizes portions of the sub-network (e.g., base stations, base station sectors, geographic areas, radio access network (RAN), etc.) based on the population of end-user devices connected to that sub-network portion. The network element can also gather network busy-state measures from network equipment, such as from base stations or by sampling the RAN, to determine the second measure. 
     In some embodiments, the second usage records provide information about a cap on the aggregate amount of data usage by end-user device  100 . Service controller  122  verifies that the total data usage by end-user device  100 , as reported in the first usage records, does not exceed the cap. If the first usage records provide data usage amounts for individual services used by end-user device  100 , service controller  122  verifies that the sum of the usage amounts for the individual services does not exceed the cap. 
     In some embodiments, the network classifies FDRs to known service components, determines credits of classified usage for each service component, ensures that the service component usage does not exceed specified limits (or matches end-user device reports for the component), and checks whether the sum of the components matches the bulk measure. 
     There are several potentially fraudulent circumstances that may be detected by service controller  122  using one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, such as the example embodiment illustrated in  FIG.  43   . In some embodiments, service controller  122  generates a fraud alert if it receives carrier-based usage reports from a network element and UDRs from service processor  115 , but the usage counts contained in the reports are not in agreement within a specified tolerance. In order to generate a fraud alert under these circumstances, in some embodiments service controller  122  accounts for unsent usage reports that may still be on end-user device  100 . 
       FIG.  44    illustrates an exemplary embodiment with network system elements that can be included in a service controller system (e.g., service controller  122 ) to facilitate a device-assisted services (DAS) implementation and the flow of information between those elements.  FIG.  44    shows the flow of information to facilitate reconciliation of device-generated data usage records with network-generated (e.g., wireless network carrier-generated) data usage records associated with an end-user device, such as end-user device  100 . 
     Carrier-generated charging data records (CDRs) or real-time reporting records (RTRs) (or other real-time or near-real-time usage record formats such as, e.g., flow data records (FDRs), batch processed usage records, continuous usage record event feeds or SMS formatted usage record messages) flow from carrier  2650  (which can be, e.g., a real time reporting system, a network gateway, a network usage charging system element, a AAA, an HLR, a billing element, etc.) to load balancer  2652  to CDR/RTR filtering element  2654 . 
     In some embodiments, load balancer  2652  selects one of many CDR/RTR processing threads that are available in the service controller information processing system. In some embodiments, the processing thread is an asynchronous software or firmware program running on a gateway or server CPU. In some embodiments, the processing thread is a virtual machine processing thread that exists in a resource pool of gateway or server CPUs or virtual machines, which may include geographically separated or redundant resource pools. As illustrated in  FIG.  44   , each processing thread includes the functional steps of CDR/RTR filtering  2654 , JMS queue  2656 , CDR/RTR processor  2658  and the interface to CDR/RTR database  2660 . In some embodiments, processing threads are asynchronous in that they are initiated when load balancer  2652  directs one or more CDR/RTR data transfers to the thread and terminated when the processed CDR/RTR information has been processed and deposited into CDR/RTR database  2660 . Note that  FIG.  44    shows only one of potentially many available CDR/RTR processing threads. 
     CDR/RTR filtering element  2654  selects the records that are associated with devices that include a device client that communicates with the service controller (e.g., the device client can be a service processor configured to provide service usage notification updates, on-device service plan purchase or activation with UI options display and user selection actions, device-assisted access control policy enforcement, device-assisted service usage charging policy enforcement, device-assisted service notification messages, etc.). In some embodiments, devices supporting DAS are identified by device credentials or user credentials that are communicated to the service controller as described herein, where the device credential or user credential are members of a device group or user group that is managed by the service controller. 
     In some embodiments, CDR/RTR filtering element  2654  may be used advantageously to quickly receive and acknowledge a CDR/RTR record to provide asynchronous functionality because of real-time processing requirements, server processing thread scalability and maintainability requirements, or server processing thread geographic redundancy requirements. In some embodiments, filtering eliminates unnecessary load on JMS queue  2656  and/or CDR/RTR database  2660 . CDR/RTR filtering element  2654  places the records from end-user devices known to be configured with a device client (e.g., a service processor configured to provide service usage notification updates, on-device service plan purchase or activation with UI options display and user selection actions, device-assisted access control policy enforcement, device-assisted service usage charging policy enforcement, device-assisted service notification messages, etc.) that communicates with the service controller through Java messaging service (JMS) queue  2656 . In some embodiments, CDR/RTR filtering element  2654  filters out device records for devices that may have a form of service processor  115 , but service processor  115  has not properly authenticated with the service controller  122 . In some embodiments, the device clients that are known to be configured with a device client that communicates with service controller  122  are determined by looking up a device credential or user credential associated with CDRs or RTRs in a device group or user group management database. 
     JMS queue  2656  buffers the CDR/RTR information remaining after CDR/RTR filtering  2654  and allocates one or more CDRs/RTRs to a service usage processing thread in CDR/RTR processor  2658 . In some embodiments, JMS queue  2656  is a persistent queue. In some embodiments, JMS queue  2656  is a primary messaging system between service controller applications. 
     CDR/RTR processor  2658  retrieves the records from JMS queue  2656 , transforms the records, and stores them in CDR/RTR database  2660 . In some embodiments, CDR/RTR processor  2658  is an application or a process thread. In some embodiments, CDR/RTR processor  2658  pulls a CDR/RTR record from JMS queue  2656 , transforms the record, and stores the transformed record in CDR/RTR database  2660  in one transaction in order to provide fault tolerance in the case of system failure. In some embodiments, CDR/RTR processor  2658  formats the CDR/RTR information to provide a common service usage information format to facilitate one or more of service usage processing, reporting, analysis, comparison, mediation and reconciliation operations performed within the service controller system. In some embodiments, CDR/RTR processor  2658  observes CDR/RTR time stamps and time synchronizes, time aligns, or time aggregates multiple CDR/RTR reports so that a more consistent measure of usage with a common time reference can be achieved within the service controller system for one or more of service usage processing, reporting, analysis, comparison, mediation and reconciliation purposes. 
     In some embodiments, end-user devices capable of DAS reporting (e.g., devices configured with a device client that communicates with the service controller, such as service processor  115  described herein) connect periodically or on occasion to usage reporting gateway  2672  to report their data usages. In some embodiments, DAS reporting information includes but is not limited to one or more of user service plan purchase or activation selection choices, device user service policy configuration preference selections (e.g., user-generated service policy assignments for applications, websites, network types, or home/roaming policies), DAS service usage reports, DAS device policy state reports, DAS software environment integrity reports, and other reports. 
     In some embodiments, DAS device usage reports and analytics flow from carrier device network  2668  (e.g., devices configured with service processors  115  that are in communication with the service controller) to load balancer  2670  to usage reporting gateway  2672 . In some embodiments, load balancer  2670  selects one of many usage reporting processing threads that are available in the service controller information processing system. In some embodiments, the usage reporting processing thread is an asynchronous software or firmware program running on a gateway or server CPU. In some embodiments, the usage reporting processing thread is a virtual machine processing thread that exists in a resource pool of gateway or server CPUs or virtual machines, which may include geographically separated or redundant resource pools. As illustrated in  FIG.  44   , each usage reporting processing thread consists of the functional steps of usage reporting gateway  2672 , JMS queue  2674 , report processor  2676 , and the interface to usage report database  2678 . In some embodiments, usage reporting processing threads are asynchronous in that they are initiated when load balancer  2670  directs one or more usage reporting data transfers to a thread and terminated when the processed usage reporting information has been processed and deposited into usage report database  2678 . Note that  FIG.  44    shows only one of potentially many available usage reporting processing threads. 
     Usage reporting gateway  2672  accepts reports from devices configured with a device client (e.g., service processor  115  configured to provide service usage notification updates, on-device service plan purchase or activation with UI options display and user selection actions, device assisted access control policy enforcement, device assisted service usage charging policy enforcement, device assisted service notification messages, etc.) that communicates with service controller  122  and places the reports on JMS queue  2674 . In some embodiments, usage reporting gateway  2672  only accepts device reports from device service processors  115  that have authenticated with the service controller system (e.g. service controller  122 ). In some embodiments, usage reporting gateway  2672  only accepts device reports from device service processors  115  configured with device credentials or user credentials that are members of a device group or user group that is managed by service controller  122 . In some embodiments, usage reporting gateway  2672  rejects reports from end-user devices without authenticated service processors. In some embodiments, usage reporting gateway  2672  is an application or a process thread. In some embodiments, usage reporting gateway  2672  quickly receives and acknowledges end-user device reports. In some embodiments, usage reporting gateway  2672  provides asynchronous functionality that is advantageous to support real-time processing requirements. 
     In some embodiments, end-user device  100  is authenticated before reports are put onto JMS queue  2674 . In some embodiments, JMS queue  2674  is a persistent queue. In some embodiments, JMS queue  2674  is a primary messaging system between service controller applications. 
     Report processor  2676  retrieves reports from JMS queue  2674 , transforms the reports, and stores the transformed reports in usage report database  2678 . In some embodiments, report processor  2676  is an EAI. In some embodiments, report processor  2676  retrieves reports from JMS queue  2674 , transforms the reports, and stores the transformed reports in usage report database  2678  in a single transaction in order to provide fault tolerance in case of system failure. In some embodiments, report processor  2676  formats the device usage report information to provide a common service usage information format to facilitate one or more of service usage processing, reporting, analysis, comparison mediation and reconciliation purposes internal processing and comparison within the service controller system. In some embodiments, report processor  2676  observes device usage report time stamps and time synchronizes, time aligns or time aggregates multiple device usage reports so that a more consistent measure of usage with a common time reference can be achieved within the service controller system for one or more of service usage processing, reporting, analysis, comparison mediation and reconciliation purposes. 
     In some embodiments, CDR/RTR filtering  2654 , CDR/RTR processor  2658 , report processor  2676 , and usage reporting gateway  2672  share a host. 
     In some embodiments, micro-CDR generator  2680  retrieves records from CDR/RTR database  2660  and retrieves reports from usage report database  2678 . In some embodiments, micro-CDR generator  2680  determines a service usage amount for a micro-CDR service usage classification, assigns a usage accounting identifier to the micro-CDR report that identifies the usage as being accounted to a device user for the device associated with a device credential or user credential, and reports this amount of service usage to the carrier network  2666  (in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG.  44   , through JMS queue  2662  and FTP or publisher  2664 ). In some embodiments, micro-CDR generator  2680  determines a service usage amount for a micro-CDR service usage classification, assigns a usage accounting identifier to the micro-CDR report that identifies the usage as being accounted to a service sponsor, and reports this amount of service usage to carrier network  2666 . In some embodiments the micro-CDR for the sponsored service usage report also includes an identifier for a device credential or user credential. In some embodiments, the amount of service usage accounted for in the micro-CDR is mediated or reconciled off of a device or user bulk service usage accounting. In some embodiments, micro-CDR generator  2680  sends micro-CDRs to JMS queue  2662 . In some embodiments, FTP or publisher  2664  retrieves micro-CDRs from JMS queue  2662  and pushes the micro-CDRs to carrier  2666 . 
     In some embodiments, fraud analyzer  2682  retrieves records from CDR/RTR database  2660 . In some embodiments, fraud analyzer  2682  retrieves reports form usage report database  2678 . In some embodiments, fraud analyzer  2682  retrieves micro-CDRs from micro-CDR generator  2680 . In some embodiments, fraud analyzer  2682  performs a fraud analysis using information from one or more of CDR/RTR database  2660 , usage report database  2678 , and micro-CDR generator  2680 . In some embodiments, fraud analyzer  2682  compares usage records associated with a specific device or user credential from one or more of CDR/RTR database  2660 , usage report database  2678 , and micro-CDR generator  2680  to determine if service usage by that device is outside of pre-defined service usage policy behavior limits. In some embodiments, fraud analyzer  2682  compares service usage information associated with a specific device or user credential from one or more of CDR/RTR database  2660 , usage report database  2678 , and micro-CDR generator  2680  to determine if a pre-defined service usage limit has been reached or exceeded by that device. In some embodiments, fraud analyzer  2682  compares service usage information associated with a specific device or user credential from one or more of CDR/RTR database  2660 , usage report database  2678  and micro-CDR generator  2680  to determine if the specific device or user is exhibiting a service usage behavior that is outside of pre-defined statistical limits as compared to the service usage behavior of a device or user population. In some embodiments, fraud analyzer  2682  stores the results of its fraud analysis in data warehouse  2694 . In some embodiments, fraud analyzer  2682  sends fraud alerts to carrier network  2666 . 
     Fraud Detection for Time-Based Service Plans 
     In some embodiments, a service plan in effect for end-user device  100  is a time-based service plan (e.g., access network costs associated with a particular service or application are not charged to the user, or are charged to the user at a reduced rate during a particular time period). In some such embodiments, an agent on end-user device  100  detects fraudulent or potentially fraudulent activities by determining whether the time or time zone setting on end-user device  100  is correct or within a tolerance.  FIG.  45    illustrates an example procedure to detect when a user of end-user device  100  attempts to alter end-user device  100 &#39;s use of a time-based service plan by modifying the time setting on end-user device  100 . 
     At step  1060 , an agent (e.g., policy control agent  1692 , service monitor agent  1696 , policy implementation agent  1690 , etc.) on end-user device  100  obtains the actual time. In some embodiments, the agent obtains the actual time from a trusted source. In some embodiments, the trusted source is an NTP server. In some embodiments, the trusted source is a cell tower. In some embodiments, the agent obtains the actual time based on information about a cell tower location. In some embodiments, the agent obtains the actual time based on information from a GPS receiver. In some embodiments, the agent obtains the actual time based on a geo-located IP address. At step  1062 , the agent compares the time setting on the device (the device time) to the actual time. At step  1064 , the agent determines if the difference between the actual time and the device time is within a tolerance. In some embodiments, the tolerance is set by portal user  102 . If the difference is within the tolerance, the process ends at step  1068 . If the difference is not within the tolerance, the agent takes an action at step  1066 . In some embodiments, the action is to generate a fraud alert. In some embodiments, the action is to adjust the time setting on end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the action is to use the actual time to enforce a policy (e.g., a control policy, a charging policy, or a notification policy). In some embodiments, the action is to take a countermeasure, such as, for example, to block, delay, rate-limit, or quarantine access to the access network by end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the action is to provide a notification to a user of end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the action is to send a message to service controller  122 . 
       FIG.  46    illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure to detect when a user of end-user device  100  attempts to alter end-user device  100 &#39;s use of a time-based service plan by modifying the time zone setting of end-user device  100 . At step  1070 , an agent (e.g., policy control agent  1692 , service monitor agent  1696 , policy implementation agent  1690 , etc.) on end-user device  100  obtains the actual time zone. In some embodiments, the agent obtains the actual time zone from a trusted source. In some embodiments, the trusted source is an NTP server. In some embodiments, the trusted source is a cell tower. In some embodiments, the agent obtains the actual time zone based on information about a cell tower location. In some embodiments, the agent obtains the actual time zone based on information from a GPS receiver. In some embodiments, the agent obtains the actual time zone based on a geo-located IP address. At step  1072 , the agent compares the time zone setting on the device to the actual time zone. At step  1074 , the agent determines if the difference between the actual time zone and the device time zone is within a tolerance. In some embodiments, the tolerance is set by portal user  102 . If the difference is within the tolerance, the process ends at step  1078 . If the difference is not within the tolerance, the agent takes an action at step  1076 . In some embodiments, the action is to generate a fraud alert. In some embodiments, the action is to adjust the time zone setting on end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the action is to use the actual time zone to enforce a policy (e.g., a control policy, a charging policy, or a notification policy). In some embodiments, the action is to take a countermeasure, such as, for example, to block, delay, rate-limit, or quarantine access to the access network by end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the action is to provide a notification to a user of end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, the action is to send a message to service controller  122 . 
     Additional Fraud Detection Techniques 
       FIG.  47    illustrates a fraud detection approach in accordance with some embodiments. UDRs (e.g., device-based usage records) are provided to rule-based detection element  2550 . In some embodiments, rule-based detection element  2550  includes rules that can be applied to detect fraud scenarios that can be described deterministically. As will now be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art, many of the detection approaches disclosed herein are amenable to being implemented as rules for use by rule-based detection element  2550 . For example, a comparison between a policy that is supposed to be in place and information in a usage report associated with end-user device  100 , whether the report is device-based or network-based, trusted or non-secure, etc., can easily be expressed as a rule. Examples of potential rules include, but are not limited to: whether end-user device  100 &#39;s bulk usage is below a service plan cap; whether end-user device  100 &#39;s usage of a particular class (e.g., an application, a group of applications, a network destination, a group of network destinations, etc.) is below a service plan limit; whether end-user device  100 &#39;s usage of a sponsored service is compliant with the sponsored service policy that should be in place; whether end-user device  100 &#39;s usage of a particular network, network type, quality-of-service class, etc. is compliant with a control policy that should be in place; whether end-user device  100  failed the authentication procedure; etc. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG.  47   , rule-based detection element  2550  also obtains CDRs. In some embodiments, rules in fraud rules  2510  are event driven and are applied to incoming events (e.g., CDRs from the carrier network or UDRs from end-user device) in real time or near-real time. As will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art in light of the disclosures herein, rule-based detection element  2550  may use only UDRs, only CDRs, or both UDRs and CDRs. 
       FIG.  48    illustrates a procedure that rule-based detection element  2550  may use to apply rules to detect fraud. At step  2560 , rule-based detection element  2550  obtains device events or reports, e.g., UDRs and/or CDRs. At step  2562 , rule-based detection element  2550  places the obtained device events in working memory. At step  2564 , rule-based detection element  2550  obtains one or more rules and processes the device events using those rules. At step  2566 , rule-based detection element  2550  determines whether the results of the processing indicate a fraud event. If so, then at step  2568 , rule-based detection element  2550  stores the fraud event in main database  2514 . If not, rule-based detection element  2550  returns to step  2560  to begin the procedure again with additional or different records. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  47   , UDRs are also supplied to static analysis element  2552 , which generates a fraud score upon detecting potentially fraudulent behavior by end-user device  100 . In some embodiments, static analysis element  2552  determines a fraud score using one or more models obtained from a statistical modeling element. In some embodiments, static analysis element  2552  compares end-user device  100 &#39;s service usage against a corresponding population statistic for the device-based service usage measure. In some embodiments, these population statistics for the device-based service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on application. In some embodiments, these population statistics for the device-based service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on network destination or network service identifier. In some embodiments, these population statistics for the device-based service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on network type. In some embodiments, these population statistics for the device-based service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on time of day. In some embodiments, these population statistics for the device-based service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on QoS class. In some embodiments, these population statistics for the device-based service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on geography. In some embodiments, these population statistics for the device-based service usage measures include a classification of service usage based on a roaming network. 
       FIG.  49    illustrates a procedure static analysis element  2552  uses to determine fraud based on a statistical model in accordance with some embodiments. At step  2588 , static analysis element  2552  retrieves UDRs from UDR storage  2598  and builds a static classification model. At step  2590 , static analysis element  2552  delays the UDRs. At step  2592 , static analysis element  2552  checks the data drift. At step  2594 , static analysis element  2552  determines whether the data drift is significant. If the drift is not significant, then static analysis element  2552  returns to step  2590 , and the UDRs are further delayed. If the drift is significant, then static analysis element  2552  returns to step  2588  and builds a new static classification model. At step  2580 , static analysis element  2552  computes the current usage profile for end-user device  100  over the reference time period in the UDRs obtained from UDR storage  2598 . At step  2582 , static analysis element  2552  classifies end-user device  100 &#39;s behavior using model  2596 . At step  2584 , static analysis element  2552  determines whether end-user device  100 &#39;s behavior should be classified as fraudulent. If so, then at step  2586 , static analysis element  2552  stores a fraud score in main database  2514 . If, at step  2584 , static analysis element  2552  determines that end-user device  100 &#39;s behavior should not be classified as fraudulent, then static analysis element  2552  returns to step  2580  to analyze the next UDRs. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  47   , UDRs are also supplied to time-series analysis element  2554 , which generates a fraud score upon detecting potentially fraudulent behavior by end-user device  100 . As will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art, a time series is a sequence of data points, typically measured at successive times spaced at uniform time intervals. Time-series analysis comprises methods of analyzing time series data to extract meaningful statistics and other characteristics of the data. A time-series model generally reflects the fact that observations close together in time are more closely related (e.g., correlated) than observations that are further apart. In addition, time-series models often make use of the natural one-way ordering of time so that values for a given period are expressed as deriving in some way from past values and not from future values. In some embodiments, time-series models are used to detect significant changes in an individual subscriber&#39;s usage behavior that might indicate fraud. In some embodiments, a time-series model is used to compare current data usage against a past usage trend or to predict future potential fraud based on past usage. A time-series model may model an individual device&#39;s data usage, or it may leverage population or subpopulation data. 
       FIG.  50    illustrates a procedure time-series analysis element  2554  uses to determine fraud based on a time-series model in accordance with some embodiments. At step  2608 , time-series analysis element  2554  retrieves UDRs from UDR storage  2598  and builds a time-series model (e.g., a hidden Markov model). At step  2612 , time-series analysis element  2554  delays the UDRs. At step  2614 , time-series analysis element  2554  checks the data drift. At step  2616 , time-series analysis element  2554  determines whether the data drift is significant. If the drift is not significant, then time-series analysis element  2554  returns to step  2612 , and the UDRs are further delayed. If the drift is significant, then time-series analysis element  2554  returns to step  2608  and builds a new time-series model. At step  2600 , time-series analysis element  2554  collects a sequence of usage data over a reference time period using UDRs obtained from UDR storage  2598 . At step  2602 , time-series analysis element  2552  computes a distribution of hidden states at the end of the sequence using time-series model  2610 . At step  2604 , time-series analysis element  2554  determines whether end-user device  100 &#39;s behavior should be classified as fraudulent. If so, then at step  2606 , time-series analysis element  2554  stores a fraud score in main database  2514 . If, at step  2604 , time-series analysis element  2554  determines that end-user device  100 &#39;s behavior should not be classified as fraudulent, then time-series analysis element  2554  returns to step  2600  to analyze the next UDRs. 
     Fraud control center  2516  retrieves fraud data from main database  2514  and performs one or more of the following functions: an aggregate analysis of various fraud metrics (events and/or scores) to determine whether end-user device  100  is likely operating fraudulently; presentation of fraud-related information through a dashboard (e.g., a user interface); and taking an action to mitigate the fraud (e.g., notify a network administrator of a network resource so that further evaluation can take place, increase a billing rate for end-user device  100 , notify a user of or subscriber associated with end-user device  100  of the service agreement violation and, if applicable, increased billing rate, via one or more communication media [e.g., service processor  115 , device notification client user interface, text message, e-mail message, voicemail, phone call], throttle or suspend end-user device  100 &#39;s access to the access network, throttle or suspend an application&#39;s access to the access network. 
       FIG.  51    illustrates a fraud detection system that supports rule-based fraud detection and the application of statistical or time-series models in accordance with some embodiments. End-user device  100 , equipped with service processor  115 , exchanges network traffic with carrier element  2506  (e.g., a AAA server such as access network AAA server  1620 , GGSN such as GGSN  2240 , etc.). Service processor  115  also sends UDRs to gateway application server  138 . Gateway application server  138  sends the UDRs to EAI server  128 . In addition to device-based UDRs, EAI server  128  also receives network-based CDRs from RADIUS server  2504 . EAI server  128  processes the UDRs and/or the CDRs and stores the processed records in main database  2514  (which may be within database cluster  116 ). EAI server  128  also sends some or all of the records to fraud server  129 . Fraud server  129  includes fraud rules  2510  and fraud models  2512 . Fraud rules  2510  includes one or more rules that fraud server  129  may apply to determine whether to generate a fraud event, as, for example, described in the context of  FIG.  48   . Fraud models  2512  includes one or more models that fraud server  129  may apply to determine whether to generate a fraud score, as, for example, described in the context of Figures SS and TT, 
     As illustrated in the embodiment of  FIG.  51   , offline statistical model  2522  retrieves UDRs from main database  2514  and generates models for use by fraud server  129  in determining whether end-user device  100  is operating fraudulently. In some embodiments, offline statistical model  2522  uses population data (e.g., UDRs, CDRs, etc.) to construct group profiles for legitimate subpopulations and for fraudulent subpopulations of end-user devices within the control of service controller  122 . In some embodiments, offline statistical model  2522  identifies sudden or long-term trends or global behavior shifts and adapts one or more data models based on those trends or shifts. In some embodiments, offline statistical model  2522  uses on-line learning to refine and train one or more models. 
     Fraud server  129  generates fraud events (e.g., fraud alerts) and stores them in main database  2514 . Fraud control center  2516  retrieves fraud data from main database  2514 . Depending on the content of the fraud data, fraud control center  2516  may display information about the fraud data on dashboard  2518 , which, in some embodiments, includes a user interface such as a display. In some embodiments, fraud responder  2520  takes an action based on the fraud data, such as notifying carrier  2506  of fraudulent or potentially fraudulent activity by end-user device  100 . 
     Detection of Fraudulent Use of SIM Cards 
     End-user device  100  may contain a “sponsored SIM” card or another credential that allows the device to use a fixed amount of data, possibly associated with a particular service, at a reduced charge or at no charge to the user. Unscrupulous users may attempt to find ways to increase their quantity of free or subsidized data usage with sponsored SIM cards. In some embodiments, service controller  122  detects fraud associated with SIM cards and takes actions to address the fraud. 
     Without loss of generality, in the following related embodiments the terms “SIM card” and “SIM” are used to represent a device credential source. As would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, other device credential sources (e.g., a soft-SIM, a universal SIM, an IMSI source, a wireless modem, a phone number source, an IMEI source, an MEID source, a MAC address source, an IP address source, a secure device identifier source, a device secure communication encryption key source, etc.) can be interchanged with SIM card in many of the embodiments. For example, in embodiments in which a SIM card is moved from one device to another, another type of device credential could be moved instead (e.g., soft SIM, universal SIM, an IMSI source, a wireless modem, a phone number source, an IMEI source, an MEID source, a MAC address source, an IP address source, a secure device identifier source, a device secure communication encryption key source, etc.). As another example, when a user tampers with a service processor associated with a SIM, the user could be tampering with a service processor associated with another type of device credential (e.g., soft SIM, universal SIM, an IMSI source, a wireless modem, a phone number source, an IMEI source, an MEID source, a MAC address source, an IP address source, a secure device identifier source, a device secure communication encryption key source, etc.). There are many other examples where the term “SIM” can be exchanged for another source of device credentials, with the examples being too numerous to list and yet evident to one of ordinary skill in the art in the context of the teachings herein. 
     In some embodiments, the one or more device credential sources include a SIM card. In some embodiments, service controller  122  can be configured to recognize which end-user device  100  or service processor  115  the SIM is associated with, use the SIM and device association to look up a desired device portion of a wireless access network service policy, and communicate the policy to the appropriate device service processor. In some embodiments, the two different device portions of a wireless access network policy are determined according to a device group or user group service policy definition that includes one or more SIM credentials and/or one or more service processor credentials, and these policy definitions are entered in a virtual service provider work station that manages the service controller and/or service processor policies. 
     In some embodiments, service controller  122  is configured to recognize when the SIM card from a first device with a first service processor has been moved to a second device with a second service processor. In some such embodiments, service controller  122  is configured to recognize which device or service processor the SIM is associated with, use the SIM and device association to look up a desired network portion of a wireless access network service policy, and cause the network portion of a wireless access network service policy to be implemented or enforced in one or more network service policy enforcement elements. In some embodiments, the two different network portions of a wireless access network policy are determined according to a device group or user group service policy definition that includes one or more SIM credentials and/or one or more service processor credentials, and these policy definitions are entered in a virtual service provider work station that manages the service controller and/or network service policy enforcement element policies. 
     In some embodiments, the one or more device credential sources include a SIM card. In some embodiments, service controller  122  is configured to detect when a device user has moved the SIM card from a first device configured with a properly configured service processor to a second device that is not configured with a properly configured service processor. In some embodiments, service controller  122  is configured to determine that the first device is configured with a properly configured service processor and communicate a device portion of a wireless access network service policy to the appropriate device service processor. In some embodiments, the device portion of a wireless access network policy is determined according to a device group or user group service policy definition that includes a SIM credential and/or a service processor credential, and these policy definitions are entered in a virtual service provider work station that manages the service controller and/or device service processor policies. In some embodiments, service controller  122  is configured to determine that the first device is configured with a properly configured service processor and cause a first network portion of a wireless access network service policy to be implemented or enforced in one or more network service policy enforcement elements. In some embodiments, service controller  122  is configured to determine that the second device is not configured with a properly configured service processor and cause a second network portion of a wireless access network service policy to be implemented or enforced in one or more network service policy enforcement elements. In some embodiments, the device portion of a wireless access network policy is determined according to a device group or user group service policy definition that includes a SIM credential, and these policy definitions are entered in a virtual service provider work station that manages the service controller and/or network service policy enforcement element policies. 
     In some of these embodiments, the differences between the first network portion of a wireless access network service policy and the second network portion of a wireless access network service policy can include a difference in network access privileges, a difference in allowable network destinations, a difference in service usage accounting or billing for “bulk” access, a difference in service usage accounting or billing for a classification of access, a difference in service usage accounting rates or billing rates for “bulk” access, a difference in service usage accounting rates or billing rates for a classification of access, a difference in sponsored (ambient) service accounting or billing, a difference in service speed or quality, a difference in which networks the device or user has access to, a difference in the service usage notification that is provided to the end user, a difference in roaming service policies or permissions or accounting/billing rates, a quarantining of the device or user access capabilities, differences between (e.g., disabling or otherwise modifying) one or more features of device operation, or suspending the device from access to the network. 
     In some embodiments, a SIM and service processor  115  are associated with a classification of service usage and a corresponding device portion of access network service policy enforcement. Service controller  122  is then responsible for properly authenticating the proper configuration of service processor  115  in association with the SIM in order to determine the appropriate network portion of network access service policy that should be enforced. 
     In some embodiments, a SIM and service processor  115  are associated with one or more application-specific services wherein the device network access service has policy elements that are specific to a device software or firmware application. A software or firmware application-specific service can include but is not limited to a service with specific policy elements associated with a user application program; an operating system program, library or function; a background application service such as an application update, content caching, software update or other background application service. 
     In some embodiments, a SIM and service processor  115  are associated with one or more network-destination-specific services wherein the device network access service has policy elements that are specific to a network destination or resource. A network destination or resource can include but is not limited to a server, gateway, destination address, domain, website or URL. 
     In some embodiments, a SIM and service processor  115  are associated with any combination of a device application, network destination or resource; a type of network; a roaming condition (e.g., a home or roaming network); a time period; a level of network congestion; a level of network quality-of-service (QoS); and a background or foreground communication. 
     In some embodiments, a SIM and service processor  115  are associated with one or more sponsored services (also referred to herein as ambient services), wherein a portion or all of the service usage accounting for one or more classifications of service usage are accounted to, charged to, or billed to a service sponsor rather than the device user or party who pays for the user service plan. The portion of service that is sponsored can be all of the device access or a portion or classification of the device access. In some embodiments, the classification of the sponsored portion of service (e.g., the identification of the portion of the device&#39;s use of the access network that should be allocated to the service sponsor) is accomplished on the device with service processor  115 . In some embodiments, the classification of the sponsored portion of service is accomplished in the network using DPI elements, gateway elements, server elements, proxy elements, website elements or web service elements. In some embodiments, the classification of the sponsored portion of service is accomplished with a classification policy implemented by a combination of a service processor on the device (e.g., steering a classification of service to a given network element via a re-direction, re-route, or tunnel [e.g. secure SSL, VPN, APN or other tunnel protocol]) and one or more network elements (e.g., DPI elements, gateway elements, server elements, proxy elements, website elements or web service elements). In some embodiments, the portion of service that is sponsored includes service for one device application or a group of device applications. In some embodiments, the portion of service that is sponsored includes service for a network destination or resource, a server or website, or a group of network destinations, servers or websites. In some embodiments, the portion of service that is sponsored includes service on a specific type of network. In some embodiments, the portion of service that is sponsored includes service on a home network or a roaming network. In some embodiments, the portion of service that is sponsored includes service during a time period. In some embodiments, the portion of service that is sponsored includes service for a certain range of network congestion. In some embodiments, the portion of service that is sponsored can include service for a certain range of network QoS. In some embodiments, the portion of service that is sponsored includes service for a network background or foreground data communication. In some embodiments, the portion of service that is sponsored includes any combination of device application, network destination or resource, a type of network, a roaming condition (e.g., home or roaming network), a time period, a level of network congestion, a level of network QoS, and a background or foreground communication. 
     In some embodiments, a SIM (or other source of user credential or device credential, as explained previously) is installed in or present in association with a device configured with a device service processor configuration that provides access network policy enforcement. In such embodiments, one or more network elements can implement or enforce a network-based portion of access network policy enforcement, and service processor  115  can be configured to implement or enforce a device-based portion of access network policy enforcement. In some embodiments, one or more SIM credentials can be used at least in part to identify the network-based portion of access network policy. In some embodiments, one or more SIM credentials can be used at least in part to identify the device-based portion of access network policy. 
     In some embodiments that include a SIM module policy association, the policy enforcement includes one or more of access control policy enforcement, service usage limit, access accounting policy enforcement, and access service user notification policy enforcement. In some embodiments, the access control policy enforcement includes one or more of allowing, limiting, blocking, deferring, delaying or traffic shaping device network access for “bulk” access (e.g., “not classified” access), or one or more specific classifications of access network service activities. In some embodiments, the access accounting policy enforcement includes one or more of counting an amount of “bulk” (e.g., “unclassified”) access network service usage, or counting an amount of access network service usage for one or more specific classifications of access network service activities. In some embodiments, the access service notification policy enforcement includes one or more of notifying an end user when a pre-defined service usage condition occurs for “bulk” (e.g. “unclassified”) access network service usage or notifying an end user when a pre-defined service usage condition occurs for one or more specific classifications of access network service activities. Examples of specific classifications of access network service activities include access by an application or OS function, access to one or more network destinations or network resources (such as a web site, domain, IP address or other address identifier, URL, socket tuple, network server, network route or APN, network gateway or proxy, network content source or sub-network). Additional examples of specific classifications of access network service activities include device access to network services with different QoS service levels. In some embodiments, a portion of the policies associated with specific classifications of access network service are implemented or enforced with a device-based service processor, and other portions of access network service policy are enforced in one or more network-based elements. 
     In some embodiments in which one or more network elements implement or enforce a network-based portion of access network policy enforcement and a device service processor is configured to implement or enforce a device-based portion of access network policy enforcement, one or more device SIM credentials are identified and used at least in part to determine the policies enforced by the network. In such embodiments, service processor  115  can be relied upon to implement or enforce certain aspects of access network service policy that are not implemented or enforced in the network. 
     In some embodiments, a first portion of access network service policy is determined at least in part by one or more SIM credentials and is implemented by one or more network elements, and a second portion of access network service policy is intended to be implemented by a device-based service processor, but the SIM is installed in a device that is not configured with a service processor capable of implementing the second portion of access network service policy. In some such embodiments, a network element identifies whether the SIM is installed in a device that is configured with a service processor capable of implementing the second portion of access network service policy intended to be implemented on the device. In some embodiments, the identification is accomplished by a network system that implements one or more of the following device configuration detection and network policy selection functions: (1) Identify when a SIM whose credentials are used at least in part to identify a network-based portion of access network policy is installed in a device configured to include a service processor capable of implementing or enforcing a device-based portion of access network service policy, and provision a first network-based service policy in one or more network-based policy enforcement elements that implement or enforce access network service policy; (2) Identify when a SIM whose credentials are used at least in part to identify the network-based portion of access network policy is installed in a device that is not configured to include a service processor capable of implementing or enforcing a device-based portion of access network service policy and implement a second network-based service policy in one or more network-based policy enforcement elements that implement or enforce access network service policy. 
     In some embodiments, when it is determined that a SIM whose credentials are used at least in part to identify the network-based portion of access network policy is installed in a device configured to include a service processor capable of implementing or enforcing a device-based portion of access network service policy, a network-based service policy provisioning system provisions a first network-based service policy into one or more network elements (e.g., programs or sends the policy to one or more network elements) and also provisions a device-based service policy into a device service processor. In some embodiments, when it is determined that a SIM whose credentials are used at least in part to identify the network-based portion of access network policy is installed in a device that is not configured to include a service processor capable of implementing or enforcing a device-based portion of access network service policy, a network-based service policy provisioning system provisions a second network-based service policy into one or more network elements, and there is no policy provisioning for a device-based service processor. 
     Such embodiments are advantageous, for example, when a device-based service processor is capable of implementing or enforcing a network access service policy that has fine grain classification aspects that are not otherwise implemented or enforced in the network. For example, in some embodiments a SIM is installed in a first device configuration that includes a device-based service processor (e.g., service processor  115 ) capable of classifying access network service usage associated with one or more device software applications and enforce a policy for access control, service limit, access accounting or access service notification for that classification. In this case a first set of network-based access network service policies may be provisioned into the network elements that implement or enforce access network service policy. If the same SIM is installed in a second device configuration that does not include the described service processor capability, a second set of network-based access network service policies may be provisioned into the network elements that implement or enforce access network service policy. In such embodiments, the first device configuration can include a trusted access control or service limit policies in service processor  115  that determine the network access allowances for one or more applications, and the first network service policies are configured to facilitate this device-based application access control or service limitation. In contrast, the second device configuration, having no service processor, has no trusted access control or service limitation policies, and therefore the second network service policies may be configured in a manner that allows access only if the service plan or service account associated with the SIM (or second device or SIM user) includes permissions for “bulk” access, “unclassified” access, or access that is classified by the network and not by the device. 
     In some embodiments, the second network service policies are configured to modify the classification of network access services in accordance with capabilities that exist only in the network without the assistance of a device-assisted classification component. 
     In some embodiments, the second network service policies include a second access service accounting or charging rate that is different than the access service accounting or charging rate of the first network service policies. For example, the method of service accounting or service charging to the end user in the case where the SIM is installed in a device configuration that includes a service processor capability (e.g., the device is capable of performing service classification, accounting, control or notification functions) can be different than the method of service accounting or service charging to the end user in the case where the SIM is installed in a device configuration that does not include the service processor capability. For example, if the SIM is installed in a device configuration that includes a service processor capability, a given application (e.g., social networking application, email application, search application, voice application, news application, etc.) might have a first service accounting or charging policy defining a first charging measure (e.g., time-based usage for an application, website, content type, service type QoS class; or e.g., megabyte-based usage for an application, website, content type, service type QoS class, etc.) and/or first charging rate (e.g., $X per minute; or e.g., $Y per megabyte, etc.) when the device configuration includes a service processor capability, whereas when the SIM is not installed in a device configuration that includes a service processor capability, all traffic may be rated in the same manner (e.g., time-based or megabyte-based), potentially with a higher price. In some embodiments, when the SIM is not installed in a device configuration that includes a service processor capability, the device network access permissions are altered, or the device&#39;s communications may be quarantined or blocked. 
     In some embodiments, when a SIM is installed in a device with a first device configuration, service processor  115  is configured to differentially treat one or more classifications of access network service activities based on network congestion level, time of day, QoS level or background/foreground access (e.g., background content caching or background upload of device/user analytics, background software or OS updates, background application/server communications, etc.), but the same SIM can alternatively be installed in a device without such service processor capabilities (e.g., a device with a second device configuration). In such an embodiment, one or more of the network-based portions of access control or service limitation policy, network-based portion of accounting or charging policy, or network-based portion of user notification policy can be varied depending on whether the SIM is installed in a device with the first device configuration or the second device configuration. For example, if the SIM is recognized by the network in association with the first device configuration, a lower accounting rating or service usage price can be applied to traffic that is (i) allocated to background status, (ii) is controlled based on network congestion level, (iii) is controlled based on time of day, (iv) is controlled based on a lower QoS classification allowance, etc., whereas if the SIM is recognized by the network in association with the second device configuration, a single, potentially higher accounting rating or service usage price can be applied. In some embodiments, if the SIM is recognized by the network in association with the second device configuration the device network access permissions can be altered, or the device&#39;s communications can be quarantined or blocked. 
     In some embodiments, when a SIM is determined by a network element to be installed in a device configuration that includes a service processor service usage charging capability, one or more network elements are configured to zero-rate the device access (i.e., the one or more network elements will not apply the service usage accounting recorded by one or more network elements to the user&#39;s bill), and user service accounting or charging is turned over to a service controller that receives service usage accounting or charging information from the service processor. 
     In some embodiments, when a SIM is determined by a network element to be installed in a device configuration that includes a service processor capability to route, re-direct or otherwise steer traffic for one or more service activity classifications to one or more proxy gateway/servers, one or more network elements are configured to zero-rate the device access (i.e., the one or more network elements will not apply the service usage accounting recorded by one or more network elements to the user&#39;s bill), and user service accounting or charging is turned over to one or more proxy gateway/servers configured to account or charge for device service usage. 
     In some embodiments, when a SIM is determined by a network element to be installed in a device configuration that includes a service processor capability to route, re-direct or otherwise steer traffic for one or more service activity classifications to one or more proxy gateway/servers, the one or more proxy gateway/servers perform additional traffic access control or service limitation policy implementation or enforcement for the one or more classifications of service usage. 
     In some embodiments, when a SIM is determined by a network element to be installed in a device configuration that includes a service processor capability to route, re-direct or otherwise steer traffic for one or more service activity classifications to one or more proxy gateway/servers, the one or more proxy gateway/servers perform additional service usage classification for the purpose of service usage accounting, access control, service limiting or user notification. 
     In some embodiments, when a SIM is determined by a network element to be installed in a device configuration that does not include a service processor capability to route, re-direct or otherwise steer traffic for one or more service activity classifications to one or more proxy gateway/servers, network elements other than the proxy gateway/servers account for service usage, potentially at a different rate than when a SIM is determined by a network element to be installed in a device configuration that includes a service processor capability to route, re-direct or otherwise steer traffic for one or more service activity classifications. 
     In some embodiments in which the device configuration includes a service processor capability to route, re-direct or otherwise steer traffic for one or more service activity classifications to one or more proxy gateway/servers, the device routing, re-directing, or steering is accomplished by routing, re-directing, or steering the device traffic for one or more service usage classifications to a specific network destination or resource associated with the proxy gateway/server. In some embodiments, the routing, re-directing, or steering is accomplished using a secure tunnel through the network. In some embodiments the routing, re-directing, or steering is accomplished with a VPN or APN tunnel. 
     In some embodiments, a network-based service charging policy system is used in conjunction with a user service agreement confirmation system, wherein the user agreement confirmation system provides confirmation that the user has agreed to access service usage terms that stipulate a first rate of access service usage accounting or charging when a SIM is detected in association with a device configuration that includes a service processor capability, and a second rate of access service usage accounting or charging when a SIM is detected in association with a device configuration that does not include a service processor capability. In some embodiments, if a user removes or tampers with a device configuration that includes a service processor capability, or if a user installs a SIM in a device that is not configured with a service processor capability, the user service usage billing conditions are changed. In some embodiments, depending on the device configuration (e.g., with or without a service processor capability), the user is billed at a different rate for “bulk” service usage, or is billed at a different rate for one or more classifications of service usage. 
     In some embodiments, a network-based service charging policy system is used in conjunction with a user service agreement confirmation system, wherein the user agreement confirmation system provides confirmation that the user has agreed to access service usage terms that stipulate a first set of access service privileges when a SIM is detected in association with a device configuration that includes a service processor capability, and a second set of access service privileges when a SIM is detected in association with a device configuration that does not include a service processor capability. In some embodiments, if a user removes or tampers with a device configuration that includes a service processor capability, or if a user installs a SIM in a device that is not configured with a service processor capability, the user service usage permissions are modified. In some embodiments, this modification can include altering the allowed network destinations, altering the allowed network services, altering the allowed network resources, quarantining access or blocking access. 
     In some embodiments the presence of a device service processor in combination with a SIM results in the service controller providing advantageous network access services to the user. Examples include but are not limited to the sponsored services discussed herein, user-paid application-based services (e.g., user-paid services where access for one or more device applications is included in a service allowance with potentially lower cost than overall internet access), user-paid destination services (e.g., user-paid services where access for one or more network destinations or resources is included in a service allowance with potentially lower cost than overall internet access), roaming services (e.g., services that aid the user when the device is connected to a roaming network, such as by informing the user that she is roaming and asking if she wishes to continue or block roaming service usage, up to date roaming service usage indication or cost indication, roaming service rate indications, allowing a user to decide which device service usage classifications he wishes to allow while roaming, etc.), or service usage notification services (e.g., providing the user with an update of how much service usage or cost has been incurred, informing the user of what service plans are available, informing the user when a service plan sign up may be advantageous to the user based on an activity or group of activities the user is attempting, or providing the user with a set of service plan sign up choices that can be selected and purchased in a device user interface (UI), etc.). In some embodiments, these user services are made possible by the capabilities of the service processor on the device in conjunction with a specific configuration of a service controller or other network elements on an access service provider network. 
     In some embodiments, if the SIM for a first network service provider is removed from the device and another SIM for a second network or service provider is installed, the user may not have access to the same services. In some embodiments, the service processor on the device detects that the SIM has been changed and informs the user through a device user interface (UI) notification that if the user changes SIMS or service provider networks, the user will lose certain services. In some embodiments, the services that will be lost are listed in a UI notification. In some embodiments the UI notification states that if the user wishes to regain access to certain services, the user can re-install the original SIM. 
     The above description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. Various modifications to the embodiments are possible, and the principles described herein may be applied to these and other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments and applications shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles, features and teachings disclosed herein. 
     The invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process; an apparatus; a system; a composition of matter; a computer program product embodied on a computer readable storage medium; and/or a processor, such as a processor configured to execute instructions stored on and/or provided by a memory coupled to the processor. In this specification, these implementations, or any other form that the invention may take, may be referred to as techniques. In general, the order of the steps of disclosed processes may be altered within the scope of the invention. Unless stated otherwise, a component such as a processor or a memory described as being configured to perform a task may be implemented as a general component that is temporarily configured to perform the task at a given time or a specific component that is manufactured to perform the task. As used herein, the term ‘processor’ refers to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores configured to process data, such as computer program instructions. 
     While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the invention, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but the desired features can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional, logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be implemented to implement the desired features of the present invention. Also, a multitude of different constituent module names other than those depicted herein can be applied to the various partitions. Additionally, with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and method claims, the order in which the steps are presented herein shall not mandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recited functionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise. 
     Although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments. 
     Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or the like; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future. 
     The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of the term “module” does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, can be combined in a single package or separately maintained and can further be distributed in multiple groupings or packages or across multiple locations. 
     Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration. 
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This document incorporates by reference for all purposes the following non-provisional U.S. patent applications: application Ser. No. 12/380,778, filed Mar. 2, 2009, entitled VERIFIABLE DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICE USAGE BILLING WITH INTEGRATED ACCOUNTING, MEDIATION ACCOUNTING, AND MULTI-ACCOUNT, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,321,526 (issued Nov. 27, 2012); application Ser. No. 12/380,780, filed Mar. 2, 2009, entitled AUTOMATED DEVICE PROVISIONING AND ACTIVATION, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,839,388 (issued Sep. 16, 2014); application Ser. No. 12/695,019, filed Jan. 27, 2010, entitled DEVICE ASSISTED CDR CREATION, AGGREGATION, MEDIATION AND BILLING, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,275,830 (issued Sep. 25, 2012); application Ser. No. 12/695,020, filed Jan. 27, 2010, entitled ADAPTIVE AMBIENT SERVICES, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,406,748 (issued Mar. 26, 2013); application Ser. No. 12/694,445, filed Jan. 27, 2010, entitled SECURITY TECHNIQUES FOR DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,391,834 (issued Mar. 5, 2013); application Ser. No. 12/694,451, filed Jan. 27, 2010, entitled DEVICE GROUP PARTITIONS AND SETTLEMENT PLATFORM, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,548,428 (issued Oct. 1, 2013); application Ser. No. 12/694,455, filed Jan. 27, 2010, entitled DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES INSTALL, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,402,111 (issued Mar. 19, 2013); application Ser. No. 12/695,021, filed Jan. 27, 2010, entitled QUALITY OF SERVICE FOR DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,346,225 (issued Jan. 1, 2013); application Ser. No. 12/695,980, filed Jan. 28, 2010, entitled ENHANCED ROAMING SERVICES AND CONVERGED CARRIER NETWORKS WITH DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES AND A PROXY, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,340,634 (issued Dec. 25, 2012); application Ser. No. 13/134,005, filed May 25, 2011, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS NETWORK OFFLOADING, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,635,335 (issued Jan. 21, 2014); application Ser. No. 13/134,028, filed May 25, 2011, entitled DEVICE-ASSISTED SERVICES FOR PROTECTING NETWORK CAPACITY, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,589,541 (issued Nov. 19, 2013); application Ser. No. 13/229,580, filed Sep. 9, 2011, entitled WIRELESS NETWORK SERVICE INTERFACES, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,626,115 (issued Jan. 7, 2014); application Ser. No. 13/237,827, filed Sep. 20, 2011, entitled ADAPTING NETWORK POLICIES BASED ON DEVICE SERVICE PROCESSOR CONFIGURATION, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,832,777 (issued Sep. 9, 2014); application Ser. No. 13/239,321, filed Sep. 21, 2011, entitled SERVICE OFFER SET PUBLISHING TO DEVICE AGENT WITH ON-DEVICE SERVICE SELECTION, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,898,293 (issued Nov. 25, 2014); application Ser. No. 13/248,028, filed Sep. 28, 2011, entitled ENTERPRISE ACCESS CONTROL AND ACCOUNTING ALLOCATION FOR ACCESS NETWORKS, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,924,469 (issued Dec. 30, 2014); application Ser. No. 13/247,998, filed Sep. 28, 2011, entitled COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WITH SECURE DATA PATH PROCESSING AGENTS, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,725,123 (issued May 13, 2014); application Ser. No. 13/248,025, filed Sep. 28, 2011, entitled SERVICE DESIGN CENTER FOR DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,924,543 (issued Dec. 30, 2014); application Ser. No. 13/253,013, filed Oct. 4, 2011, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING USER NOTIFICATIONS, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,745,191 (issued Jun. 3, 2014); application Ser. No. 13/309,556, filed Dec. 1, 2011, entitled END USER DEVICE THAT SECURES AN ASSOCIATION OF APPLICATION TO SERVICE POLICY WITH AN APPLICATION CERTIFICATE CHECK, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,893,009 (issued Nov. 18, 2014); and application Ser. No. 13/309,463, FILED Dec. 1, 2011, entitled SECURITY, FRAUD DETECTION, AND FRAUD MITIGATION IN DEVICE-ASSISTED SERVICES SYSTEMS, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,793,758 (issued Jul. 29, 2014). 
     This document incorporates by reference for all purposes the following provisional patent applications: Provisional Application No. 61/206,354, filed Jan. 28, 2009, entitled SERVICES POLICY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD; Provisional Application No. 61/206,944, filed Feb. 4, 2009, entitled SERVICES POLICY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD; Provisional Application No. 61/207,393, filed Feb. 10, 2009, entitled SERVICES POLICY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD; and Provisional Application No. 61/207,739, entitled SERVICES POLICY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD, filed Feb. 13, 2009; Provisional Application No. 61/270,353, filed on Jul. 6, 2009, entitled DEVICE ASSISTED CDR CREATION, AGGREGATION, MEDIATION AND BILLING; Provisional Application No. 61/275,208, filed Aug. 25, 2009, entitled ADAPTIVE AMBIENT SERVICES; and Provisional Application No. 61/237,753, filed Aug. 28, 2009, entitled ADAPTIVE AMBIENT SERVICES; Provisional Application No. 61/252,151, filed Oct. 15, 2009, entitled SECURITY TECHNIQUES FOR DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES; Provisional Application No. 61/252,153, filed Oct. 15, 2009, entitled DEVICE GROUP PARTITIONS AND SETTLEMENT PLATFORM; Provisional Application No. 61/264,120, filed Nov. 24, 2009, entitled DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES INSTALL; Provisional Application No. 61/264,126, filed Nov. 24, 2009, entitled DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES ACTIVITY MAP; Provisional Application No. 61/348,022, filed May 25, 2010, entitled DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES FOR PROTECTING NETWORK CAPACITY; Provisional Application No. 61/381,159, filed Sep. 9, 2010, entitled DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES FOR PROTECTING NETWORK CAPACITY; Provisional Application No. 61/381,162, filed Sep. 9, 2010, entitled SERVICE CONTROLLER INTERFACES AND WORKFLOWS; Provisional Application No. 61/384,456, filed Sep. 20, 2010, entitled SECURING SERVICE PROCESSOR WITH SPONSORED SIMS; Provisional Application No. 61/389,547, filed Oct. 4, 2010, entitled USER NOTIFICATIONS FOR DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES; Provisional Application No. 61/385,020, filed Sep. 21, 2010, entitled SERVICE USAGE RECONCILIATION SYSTEM OVERVIEW; Provisional Application No. 61/387,243, filed Sep. 28, 2010, entitled ENTERPRISE AND CONSUMER BILLING ALLOCATION FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE SERVICE USAGE ACTIVITIES; Provisional Application No. 61/387,247, filed September 28, entitled SECURED DEVICE DATA RECORDS, 2010; Provisional Application No. 61/407,358, filed Oct. 27, 2010, entitled SERVICE CONTROLLER AND SERVICE PROCESSOR ARCHITECTURE; Provisional Application No. 61/418,507, filed Dec. 1, 2010, entitled APPLICATION SERVICE PROVIDER INTERFACE SYSTEM; Provisional Application No. 61/418,509, filed Dec. 1, 2010, entitled SERVICE USAGE REPORTING RECONCILIATION AND FRAUD DETECTION FOR DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES; Provisional Application No. 61/420,727, filed Dec. 7, 2010, entitled SECURE DEVICE DATA RECORDS; Provisional Application No. 61/422,565, filed Dec. 13, 2010, entitled SERVICE DESIGN CENTER FOR DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES; Provisional Application No. 61/422,572, filed Dec. 13, 2010, entitled SYSTEM INTERFACES AND WORKFLOWS FOR DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES; Provisional Application No. 61/422,574, filed Dec. 13, 2010, entitled SECURITY AND FRAUD DETECTION FOR DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES; Provisional Application No. 61/435,564, filed Jan. 24, 2011, entitled FRAMEWORK FOR DEVICE ASSISTED SERVICES; Provisional Application No. 61/472,606, filed Apr. 6, 2011, entitled MANAGING SERVICE USER DISCOVERY AND SERVICE LAUNCH OBJECT PLACEMENT ON A DEVICE; Provisional Application No. 61/550,906, filed Oct. 24, 2011, entitled SECURITY FOR DEVICE-ASSISTED SERVICES.