Patent ID: 8761726

Claim:
A method providing charging control for a charging controlled service accessed by a terminal in a communication network using a first account having a first account balance associated with the terminal, the method comprising: receiving a first request for a charging reservation relating to the first account balance associated with the terminal; responsive to the first request for a charging reservation and responsive to a first status of the first account balance, reserving a first consumer deduction amount from the first account balance in a reservation balance associated with the terminal to allow the charging controlled service for the terminal based on the reservation balance associated with the terminal; while allowing the charging controlled service for the terminal based on the first consumer deduction amount reserved from the first account balance in the reservation balance, generating a replenishment request directed to a second account balance responsive to a second status of the first account balance; responsive to the replenishment request, deducting a replenishment amount from the second account balance wherein the replenishment amount represents a quantity of communication service; updating the first account balance based on the replenishment amount deducted from the second account balance; after updating the first account balance, receiving a second request for a charging reservation relating to the first account balance associated with the terminal; and responsive to the second request for a charging reservation and responsive to a third status of the first account balance, reserving a second consumer deduction amount from the first account balance in the reservation balance associated with the terminal to allow the charging controlled service for the terminal based on the reservation balance associated with the terminal; wherein the quantity of communication service represents a first quantity of communication service, wherein each of the first and second consumer deduction amounts represents a second quantity of communication service, and wherein the first quantity of communication service is greater than the second quantity of communication service.