received by the International Bureau on 01 June 2015 (01.06.2015)

What is claimed is:

1. A method for providing real time data network usage information for a subscriber utilizing a subscription profile repository (SPR), the method comprising:

receiving a request for real time data network usage information for a subscriber;

in response to the request, effecting a data change for the subscriber in an SPR by triggering an existing mechanism of the SPR to notify a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) serving the subscriber of the data change;

at the SPR, in response to the data change, requesting real time data network usage information from the PCRF;

at the PCRF:

receiving the request for real time data network usage information;

in response to the request, requesting real time data network usage information for the subscriber from at least one policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF);

receiving the real time data network usage information from the at least one PCEF; and

providing an indication of the real time data network usage information to the SPR.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a request for real time data network usage information concerning a subscriber includes receiving the request at an information technology (IT) system of a data network operator.

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein receiving the request includes receiving the request via one of a phone call, a text message, or an e-mail from the subscriber.

4. The method of any of the preceding claims wherein effecting a data change for the subscriber in the SPR includes setting a flag in a profile for the subscriber maintained by the SPR.

5. The method of any of the preceding claims wherein sending a message to the PCRF to obtain the real time usage information includes sending a push notification request (PNR) message to the PCRF.

6. The method of any of the preceding claims comprising, at the PCRF, in response to receiving the request, identifying at least one PCEF serving the subscriber, wherein the PCRF receives data network usage information from the at least one PCEF and determines a total current data network usage count for the subscriber.

7. The method of any of the preceding claims wherein providing the indication of the real time data network usage information to the SPR includes providing usage information to the SPR via a profile update request (PUR) message.

8. The method of any of the preceding claims comprising providing the real time data network usage information from the SPR to an information technology (IT) system that interacts with the subscriber.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the real time data network usage information from the at least one PCEF includes receiving a byte count from the PCEF reflecting data network usage information for the subscriber while the subscriber is participating in one or more data network sessions.

10. The method of any of the preceding claims wherein the real time data usage information comprises long term evolution (LTE) data network usage information.

1 1. A system for providing real time data network usage information for a subscriber utilizing a subscription profile repository (SPR), the system comprising:

an information technology (IT) system configured to receive a request for real time data network usage information for a subscriber and, in response to the request, to effect a data change for the subscriber;

an SPR configured to receive the data change from the IT system and, in response to the data change, request real time data network usage information from the subscriber; and

a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) configured to receive the request for real time data network usage information, in response to the request, to request real time data network usage information from at least one policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF), to receive the real time data network usage information from the at least one PCEF, and to provide the real time data network usage information to the SPR, wherein the IT system effects the data change for the subscriber by triggering an existing mechanism of the SPR to notify the PCRF of the data change.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the IT system is managed by a data network operator.

13. The system of claim 1 1 or claim 12 wherein the IT system is configured to receive the request via one of a phone call, a text message, or an e-mail from the subscriber.

14. The system of any of claims 1 1 to 13 wherein the IT system is configured to effect the data change for the subscriber in the SPR by setting a flag in a profile for the subscriber maintained by the SPR.

15. The system of any of claims 11 to 14 wherein the SPR is configured to send a push notification request (PNR) message to the PCRF to trigger the PCRF to obtain the real time data network usage information.

16. The system of any of claims 1 1 to 15 wherein the PCRF is configured to identify the at least one PCEF serving the subscriber, wherein the PCRF receives data network usage information from the at least one PCEF and determines a total current data network usage count for the subscriber.

17. The system of any of claims 1 1 to 16 wherein the PCRF is configured to provide the usage information to the SPR via a profile update request (PUR) message.

18. The system of any of claims 11 to 17 wherein the SPR is configured to provide the real time data network usage information to the IT system.

19. The system of any of claims 1 1 to 18 wherein the PCRF is configured to receive a byte count from the at least one PCEF reflecting data network usage information for the subscriber while the subscriber is participating in one or more data network sessions.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by the processor of a computer control the computer to perform steps comprising:

at a subscription profile repository (SPR):

receiving a communication from an information technology (IT) system for effecting a data change for a subscriber in the SPR by triggering an existing mechanism of the SPR to notify a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) serving the subscriber of the data change;

in response to the communication for effecting the data change, requesting real time data network usage information from the PCRF; receiving a communication from the PCRF containing an indication of the real time data network usage information; and

providing the indication of the real time data network usage information to the IT system.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 20 having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by the processor of a computer control the computer to perform a method according to any of claims 1 to 10.