Machine-to-machine network optimization and online charging

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving efficiency in a mobile communications network are described. In one embodiment, a method granting data resources to one or more subscribers belonging to a group in a communications network comprises receiving a request to create an online charging session, wherein the request identifies a designated user group (“DUG”) associated with one or more subscribers. If the DUG is not associated with an existing online charging session, the DUG identifier can be used to request a new online charging session and receive from the online charging node policy data assigned to the DUG. In another embodiment, the method includes grating data resources to the one or more subscribers based on the policy data, which are shared by the one or more subscribers.

1 . A method for granting data resources to one or more subscribers belonging to a group in a communications network comprising:
 receiving a request to create an online charging session, wherein the request identifies a designated user group (“DUG”), which is associated with one or more subscribers;   determining whether the DUG is associated with an existing online charging session;
 if no existing online charging session is associated with the DUG, sending a message, which identifies the DUG, to an online charging node to request a new online charging session and receiving from the online charging node policy data that is assigned to the DUG; 
 if an existing online charging session is associated with the DUG, retrieving policy data previously assigned to the DUG; and 
   granting data resources to the one or more subscribers based on the policy data wherein the data resources are shared by the one or more subscribers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the policy data comprises one or more quotas, each quota associated with one or more services or rating groups. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the online charging node is an Online Charging System (“OCS”) server or a Policy Control and Charging Rules function (“PCRF”) server. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising caching the policy data. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising checking for updates to the policy data based on a predetermined time interval. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising deleting the online charging session only if a request to delete the session is associated with a last subscriber associated with the DUG. 
     
     
         7 . A non-transitory computer readable medium for granting data resources to one or more subscribers belonging to a group in a communications network comprising a network node configured to:
 receive a request to create an online charging session, wherein the request identifies a designated user group (“DUG”), which is associated with one or more subscribers;   determine whether the DUG is associated with an existing online charging session;
 if no existing online charging session is associated with the DUG, sending a message, which identifies the DUG, to an online charging node to request a new online charging session and receiving from the online charging node policy data that is assigned to the DUG; 
 if an existing online charging session is associated with the DUG, retrieving policy data previously assigned to the DUG; and 
   grant data resources to the one or more subscribers based on the policy data, wherein the data resources are shared by the one or more subscribers.   
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the policy data comprises one or more quotas, each quota associated with one or more services or rating groups. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the online charging node is an Online Charging System (“OCS”) server or a Policy Control and Charging Rules function (“PCRF”) server. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the network node is further configured to cache the policy data. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the network node is further configured to check for updates to the policy data based on a predetermined time interval. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the network node is further configured to delete the online charging session only if a request to delete the session is associated with a last subscriber associated with the DUG.