The invention relates to a system for controlling communication between
user terminals using a telecommunications network. One embodiment
includes an interface between a real-time charging control system for
controlling usage of network resources during such usage and a group
communications control node which is capable of controlling group
communications sessions. Improved real-time charging control mechanisms
can be implemented to account for usage of group communications services,
for example where charging for an entire group communications session may
be applied to a selected single party. Charging for a group
communications session may be conducted with the flexibility of being
able to charge according to the number of participants without having to
transmit separate charging control signals from each participant's leg of
the session to the real-time charging control system, thus reducing the
signaling load in the network.