Feature management of a communication device
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a processor; and
a memory bearing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to at least;
based on a plan managed by an administrator and associated with a network serviced by a service provider, the plan indicative of units of value shared between a plurality of managed computing devices, allocate a first set of units of value from the plan into a first allowance associated with a first computing device from the plurality of managed computing devices and a second set of the units of value from the plan into a second allowance associated with a second computing device from the plurality of managed computing devices;
in response to receiving a request for a use of a function of the first computing device, allow or disallow the use of the function based on(i) a determination whether a global rule allowing use independent of the plan applies,(ii) a local setting, defined by the administrator, to allow or disallow access to the function independent of units of value; and
(iii) a policy that restricts the use of the function based on units of value required to access the function, andwherein the local setting, the policy, and the allocation of the units of value into the first allowance are defined based on input at a feature manager associated with the administrator of the plurality of managed computing devices, wherein the feature manager provides a user interface to define local settings for a plurality of features for each of the plurality of managed computing devices, and rules for permitting units of value to be shared between managed computing devices; and
in response to allowing the use of the function, determine whether units of value associated with the use of the function are decremented from the first allowance or from at least the second allowance based on a rule, defined by the administrator at the feature manager, permitting the second allowance to be used in place of the first allowance based on the second allowance being associated with the first computing device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for the real-time management of a device, and more particularly to the establishment and enforcement of policies or rules associated with the feature or functions that may be performed with the device, such as making and receiving calls, exchanging data, playing games and music, sending and receiving email, accessing web sites, and paying for goods and services. If a child or employee is using the device, there may be a need to regulate how that device can be used and to determine who will pay for what goods or services. In addition to providing all of the features associated with a device, service providers need to be able to establish and enforce rules (policies) regulating how and when that device can be used and who will pay for a good or service requested by the user of the device.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a processor; and a memory bearing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to at least; based on a plan managed by an administrator and associated with a network serviced by a service provider, the plan indicative of units of value shared between a plurality of managed computing devices, allocate a first set of units of value from the plan into a first allowance associated with a first computing device from the plurality of managed computing devices and a second set of the units of value from the plan into a second allowance associated with a second computing device from the plurality of managed computing devices; in response to receiving a request for a use of a function of the first computing device, allow or disallow the use of the function based on (i) a determination whether a global rule allowing use independent of the plan applies, (ii) a local setting, defined by the administrator, to allow or disallow access to the function independent of units of value; and (iii) a policy that restricts the use of the function based on units of value required to access the function, and wherein the local setting, the policy, and the allocation of the units of value into the first allowance are defined based on input at a feature manager associated with the administrator of the plurality of managed computing devices, wherein the feature manager provides a user interface to define local settings for a plurality of features for each of the plurality of managed computing devices, and rules for permitting units of value to be shared between managed computing devices; and in response to allowing the use of the function, determine whether units of value associated with the use of the function are decremented from the first allowance or from at least the second allowance based on a rule, defined by the administrator at the feature manager, permitting the second allowance to be used in place of the first allowance based on the second allowance being associated with the first computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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based on a plan managed by an administrator and associated with a network serviced by a service provider, the plan indicative of units of value shared between a plurality of managed computing devices, allocating a first set of units of value from the plan into a first allowance associated with a first computing device from the plurality of managed computing devices and a second set of units of value from the plan into a second allowance associated with a second computing device from the plurality of managed computing devices; in response to receiving a request for a use of a function of the first computing device, allowing or disallowing the use of the function based on; (i) a determination whether a global rule allowing use independent of the plan applies; (ii) a local setting, defined by the administrator, to allow or disallow access to the function independent of units of value; and (iii) a policy that restricts the use of the function, based on units of value required to access the function, wherein the local setting, the policy, and the allocation of the units of value into the first allowance are defined based on input at a feature manager associated with the administrator of the plurality of managed computing devices, wherein the feature manager provides a user interface to define local settings for a plurality of features for each of the plurality of managed computing devices, and rules for permitting units of value to be shared between managed computing devices; and in response to allowing the use of the function, determining whether units of value associated with the use of the function are decremented from the first allowance or from at least the second allowance based on a rule, defined by the administrator at the feature manager, permitting the second allowance to be used in place of the first allowance based on the second allowance being associated with the first computing device. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification