Device group partitions and settlement platform

• US 10,064,033 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Headwater Research LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Original Assignee: Headwater Research LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Inventors: Raleigh, Gregory G.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US15/287,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20170223516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 705300, 705 261, 705 34- 37, 709203, 709217-224, 455403-409, 4554141, 4554321
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/28 with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/30 the meter or calculation of charges not being controlled from an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/31 Distributed metering or calculation of charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/53 using mediation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/75 Account location specifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/752 Terminal based account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0172 Mediation, i.e. device or program to reformat CDRS from one or more switches in order to adapt to one or more billing programs formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/72 Account specifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7213 Terminal based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/96 Distributed calculation of charges, e.g. in different nodes like for mobiles between HLR and VLR, or between the terminal and the billing function
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Device group partitions and a settlement platform are provided. In some embodiments, device group partitions (e.g., partitions of devices based on associated device groups) are provided. In some embodiments, a settlement platform service is provided. In some embodiments, a settlement platform service is provided for partitioned devices. In some embodiments, collecting device generated service usage information for one or more devices in wireless communication on a wireless network; and aggregating the device generated service usage information for a settlement platform for the one or more devices in wireless communication on the wireless network is provided. In some embodiments, a settlement platform implements a service billing allocation and/or a service/transactional revenue share among one or more partners. In some embodiments, service usage information includes micro-CDRs, which are used for CDR mediation or reconciliation that provides for service usage accounting on any device activity that is desired. In some embodiments, each device activity that is desired to be associated with a billing event is assigned a micro-CDR transaction code, and a service processor of the device is programmed to account for that activity associated with that transaction code. In some embodiments, a service processor executing on a wireless communications device periodically reports (e.g., during each heartbeat or based on any other periodic, push, and/or pull communication technique(s)) micro-CDR usage measures to, for example, a service controller or some other network element for CDR mediation or reconciliation.

Claims

1. A method performed by a network system communicatively coupled to a plurality of wireless end-user devices over a wireless data network, the method comprising:

accepting, through respective secure access to an administrator interface, respective secure information from each of a plurality of entities, the respective secure information for each given entity comprising an identification of one or more device-based network data service usage activities for a respective group of the wireless end-user devices managed by that entity, and one or more rules associated with the identified activities,

obtaining one or more charging data records (CDRs) from one or more CDR sources for each of the wireless end-user devices, with at least one CDR source for each specific one of the wireless end-user devices being that specific wireless end-user device, wherein each CDR of the one or more CDRs comprises information identifying one or more of a plurality of device-based network data service usage activities associated with a specific one of the end-user devices, and wherein each CDR indicates a wireless network data usage amount associated with each of the one or more identified device-based network data service usage activities; and

generating, using one or more associated rules and at least one of the one or more CDRs for a specific first one of the end-user devices in a given group, accounting and settlement information configured to assist in apportioning the wireless network data usage indicated in the at least one of the CDRs to different service plan data usage classes based on the information identifying the device-based network data service usage activities and associated wireless network data usage amounts.

2. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising accepting, through the administrator interface, information identifying the given group.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the information identifying one or more device activities comprises one or more transaction codes.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more device activities comprises a network access associated with a search, online commerce, book downloading, music downloading, application downloading, or a transaction.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more device-based network data service usage activities comprises a network access associated with a particular end-user device application or program, a particular network end point, a particular website, a particular content source, a particular content type, a particular transaction service, or a particular online commerce service.

6. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising generating a reconciliation record based on the accounting and settlement information.

7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more CDR sources is a network element.

8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more CDR sources include the end-user device and a network element, and the one or more CDRs include a first CDR from the end-user device and a second CDR from the network element.

9. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more CDR sources include a first network element and a second network element, and the one or more CDRs include a first CDR from the first network element and a second CDR from the second network element.

10. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more rules are configured to assist in

allocating to a partner entity at least a first portion of usage of the wireless data network associated with the one or more device-based network data service usage activities indicated by the at least one of the one or more CDRs, and

allocating to a second entity at least a second portion of the usage of the wireless data network associated with the one or more device-based network data service usage activities indicated by the at least one of the one or more CDRs.

11. The method recited in claim 10, wherein the one or more CDRs identify a first device activity and a second device activity.

12. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more rules are configured to:

determine an offset based on the at least one of the one or more CDRs and based on a user behavior,

include at least a portion of the offset in the accounting and settlement information.

13. The method recited in claim 12, wherein the user behavior comprises activation of the end-user device, selection of a data plan for the end-user device, activation of the end-user device within a particular period of time, or a purchase.

14. The method recited in claim 1, wherein a partner entity to which a portion of the wireless network data usage is apportioned comprises a device group partner for the given group to which the first one of the end-user devices belongs.

15. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the given first device group is associated with an enterprise.

16. A network system communicatively coupled to a plurality of wireless end-user devices over a wireless data network, the network system comprising:

means for accepting, through respective secure access to an administrator interface, respective secure information from each of a plurality of entities, the respective secure information for each given entity comprising an identification of one or more device-based network data service usage activities for a respective group of the wireless end-user devices managed by that entity, and one or more rules associated with the identified activities,

means for obtaining one or more charging data records (CDRs) from one or more CDR sources for each of the wireless end-user devices, with at least one CDR source for each specific one of the wireless end-user devices being that specific wireless end-user device, wherein each CDR of the one or more CDRs comprises information identifying one or more of a plurality of device-based network data service usage activities associated with a specific one of the end-user devices, and wherein each CDR indicates a wireless network data usage amount associated with each of the one or more identified device-based network data service usage activities; and

means for generating, using one or more associated rules and at least one of the one or more CDRs for a specific first one of the end-user devices in a given group, accounting and settlement information configured to assist in apportioning the wireless network data usage indicated in the at least one of the CDRs to different service plan data usage classes based on the information identifying the device-based network data service usage activities and associated wireless network data usage amounts.