A method, device and computer program product for controlling use of electronic communication services

摘要

A method of controlling use of electronic communication services in an electronic communications network (103), the method comprising:
receiving (301) a first credit control request for usage quota from a system providing service (104) for an electronic communication service requested by a first subscriber (101-1);
retrieving (302) subscriber account information for the first subscriber (101-1) to be charged for the requested service by a first charging device (105);
determining (303a) based on the retrieved subscriber account information at least a second subscriber (102-1) to be charged for at least part of the requested service;
determining (303c) a first hash of a rate plan for the first subscriber;
setting (305a) a status to indicate that control of the subscriber account information of the first subscriber (101-1) is temporary transferred to the second charging device (106);
sending (306) to the second charging device (106) a second credit control request for the electronic communication service (101-1; 102-1),
receiving (307) from the second charging device (106):
-modified subscriber account information of the first subscriber (101-1) including the requested usage quota; and
sending (310) a credit response message including the usage quota to the requesting system providing service (104).