Hybrid network based metering server and tracking client for wireless services

• US 10,368,215 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2018
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TracFone Wireless, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TracFone Wireless, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Ramprasad, Satish, Rivera, Sergio
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Phuoc H
• Application Number:
  US16/011,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20180302764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 4555752, 455405, 370331, 705 34, 3405721, 379130
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/141 Indication of costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1414 in real-time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1435 volume-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1439 time-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1467 involving prepayment
• 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 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions

Abstract

A process of tracking usage of a wireless device in a third party wireless network with a metering system includes implementing the metering system in a network separate from the third party wireless network and activating the wireless device in response to identification of the wireless device and confirmation of use of a tracking system to the metering system. The process further includes obtaining, by the metering system, an amount of wireless services used by the wireless device. The obtaining includes at least one of obtaining an amount of wireless services used from the third party wireless network and obtaining an amount of wireless services used from the tracking system.

Claims

1. A process of tracking usage of a wireless device in a wireless network with a metering system comprising:

implementing the metering system in a network separate from the wireless network;

receiving with the metering system identification information from the wireless device implementing a tracking client;

receiving usage statistics with the metering system from the tracking client implemented in the wireless device;

receiving with the metering system an amount of wireless services used by the wireless device determined by the wireless network; and

comparing with the metering system the amount of wireless services used by the wireless device determined by the wireless network to the amount of wireless services used by the wireless device received from the tracking client of the wireless device; and

controlling with the metering system access to the wireless network for the wireless device based in response to the amount of wireless services used by the wireless device.

2. The process of tracking usage of a wireless device according to claim 1 further comprising receiving with the metering system a confirmation of use of the tracking client from the wireless device.

3. The process of tracking usage of a wireless device according to claim 1 further comprising implementing with the metering system over the air modification of the tracking client implemented in the wireless device.

4. The process of tracking usage of a wireless device according to claim 1 further comprising controlling with the metering system a wireless network access for the wireless device based in response to a confirmation of use of the tracking client from the wireless device.

5. The process of tracking usage of a wireless device according to claim 1 further comprising deactivating wireless service for the wireless device when there has been wireless service usage overage.

6. The process of tracking usage of a wireless device according to claim 1 wherein the wireless services comprise at least one of voice call usage, data usage, and text message usage.

7. The process of tracking usage of a wireless device according to claim 1 wherein the wireless device comprises an open mobile operating system.

8. The process of tracking usage of a wireless device according to claim 1 further comprising deactivating wireless service for the wireless device when there has been wireless service usage overage, a past due account status, or fraudulent activity.

9. The process of tracking usage of a wireless device according to claim 1 further comprising:

receiving with the metering system a confirmation of use of the tracking client from the wireless device;

receiving with the metering system an amount of wireless services used by the wireless device from the tracking client of the wireless device; and

controlling with the metering system a wireless network access for the wireless device based in response to the confirmation of use of the tracking client from the wireless device.

10. The process of tracking usage of a wireless device according to claim 1 further comprising:

deactivating wireless service for the wireless device when there has been wireless service usage overage, a past due account status, or fraudulent activity,

wherein the wireless device comprises an open mobile operating system.

11. A system configured to track usage of a wireless device in a wireless network comprising:

a metering server configured to be implemented in a network separate from the wireless network;

the metering server configured to receive identification information from the wireless device implementing a tracking client;

the metering server is further configured to receive usage statistics from the tracking client implemented in the wireless device;

the metering server is further configured to receive an amount of wireless services used by the wireless device determined by the wireless network;

the metering server is further configured to compare the amount of wireless services used by the wireless device determined by the wireless network to the amount of wireless services used by the wireless device received from the tracking client of the wireless device; and

the metering server configured to control access to the wireless network for the wireless device based in response to the amount of wireless services used by the wireless device.

12. The system configured to track usage of a wireless device in a wireless network according to claim 11 wherein the metering server configured to receive a confirmation of use of the tracking client from the wireless device.

13. The system configured to track usage of a wireless device in a wireless network according to claim 11 wherein the metering server is further configured to implement over the air modification of the tracking client implemented in the wireless device.

14. The system configured to track usage of a wireless device in a wireless network according to claim 11 wherein the metering server configured to control a wireless network access for the wireless device based in response to a confirmation of use of the tracking client from the wireless device.

15. The system configured to track usage of a wireless device in a wireless network according to claim 11 wherein the metering server is further configured to deactivate wireless service for the wireless device when there has been wireless service usage overage.

16. The system configured to track usage of a wireless device in a wireless network according to claim 11 wherein the wireless services comprise at least one of voice call usage, data usage, and text message usage.

17. The system configured to track usage of a wireless device in a wireless network according to claim 11 wherein the wireless device comprises an open mobile operating system.

18. The system configured to track usage of a wireless device in a wireless network according to claim 11 wherein the metering server is further configured to deactivate wireless service for the wireless device when there has been wireless service usage overage, a past due account status, or fraudulent activity.

19. The system configured to track usage of a wireless device in a wireless network according to claim 11 wherein:

the metering server configured to receive a confirmation of use of the tracking client from the wireless device;

the metering server configured to receive an amount of wireless services used by the wireless device from the tracking client of the wireless device; and

the metering server configured to control a wireless network access for the wireless device based in response to the confirmation of use of the tracking client from the wireless device.

20. The system configured to track usage of a wireless device in a wireless network according to claim 11 wherein:

the metering server is further configured to receive the usage statistics from the tracking client implemented in the wireless device; and

the metering server is further configured to deactivate wireless service for the wireless device when there has been wireless service usage overage, a past due account status, or fraudulent activity, wherein the wireless device comprises an open mobile operating system.