Service platform on wireless network

• US 20020176377A1
• Filed: 02/02/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bytemobile Network Services Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bytemobile Network Services Corporation
• Inventors: Hamilton, Thomas E.
• Application Number:
  US10/061,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20020176377A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8228 Session based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7833 Session based
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A method of operating a wireless network is provided. A method of providing a sponsored packet switched data service including receiving a request in a wireless network for a sponsored packet switched data service from a user, determining a sponsor for the requested service in accordance with stored policies, determining a billing in accordance with the stored policies, monitoring a session between the user and the sponsor, and billing the sponsor on completion of the session. A method includes, in a wireless network, receiving a request from a user for a packet switched data service, determining a provider for the service according to stored policies, determining a billing arrangement for the service according to the stored policies, and tracking the service between the user and the provider.

Claims

1. A method of providing a sponsored packet switched data service comprising:

receiving a request in a network for a sponsored packet switched data service from a user;

determining a sponsor for the requested service in accordance with stored policies;

determining a billing in accordance with the stored policies;

monitoring a session between the user and the sponsor; and

billing the sponsor on completion of the session.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the stored policies include pre-arrangements between a network provider and sponsors of packet switched data services.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the stored polices include factors.

4. The method of claim 3 in which the factors include a user identity, a user location, a time of day, a user class, a service provider class, network conditions, pre-agreement rules and/or governmental regulations.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the sponsor is a packet switched data service provider.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the sponsor is an operator of the network.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the sponsor is a third party packet switched data service.

8. The method of claim 1 in which monitoring the session comprises:

detecting a start of the session with a set of detection points;

tracking the session in a session charging record; and

detecting an end of the session with the set of detection points.

9. The method of claim 8 in which detecting a start of the session comprises:

detecting starts of sub-sessions within the session with the set of detection points.

10. The method of claim 9 in which tracking further comprises:

tracking the sub-sessions.

11. The method of claim 10 in which detecting the end comprises:

detecting the end of each of the sub-sessions within the session with the set of detection points.

12. The method of claim 8 in which billing comprises:

sending the charging record to the sponsor.

13. The method of claim 1 in which the network is a second generation wireless network.

14. The method of claim 1 in which the network is a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) network.

15. The method of claim 14 in which the GSM network is General Packet Radio System (GPRS) enabled.

16. The method of claim 1 in which the network is a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network.

17. The method of claim 1 in which the network is a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network.

18. The method of claim 1 in which the network is a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network.

19. The method of claim 1 in which the network is a TETRA network.

20. The method of claim 1 in which the network is a Tetrapol network.

21. The method of claim 1 in which the network is a DECT network.

22. The method of claim 1 in which the network is an AMPS network.

23. The method of claim 1 in which the network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

24. The method of claim 1 in which the network is a third generation wireless network.

26. The method of claim 25 in which the stored polices include how the user is to be billed and a basis for the billing.

27. The method of claim 26 in which the stored polices include policy decisions that are entrusted to the provider.

28. The method of claim 25 in which the stored polices include pre-arrangements between an operator of the network and the provider.

29. The method of claim 25 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to a user'"'"'s time of connection.

30. The method of claim 25 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to a user'"'"'s location.

31. The method of claim 25 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to a time of day.

32. The method of claim 25 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to a user class.

33. The method of claim 25 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to a service class.

34. The method of claim 25 in which the stored policies include matching a provider to network conditions.

35. The method of claim 25 in which tracking comprises:

detecting a start of the service with a set of detection points;

tracking the service in a charging record; and

detecting an end of the service with the set of detection points.

36. The method of claim 35 in which detecting a start of the service comprises:

detecting starts of sub-services within the service with the set of detection points.

37. The method of claim 36 in which tracking further comprises:

tracking the sub-services in the service with the set of detection points.

38. The method of claim 37 in which detecting the end comprises:

detecting the end of each of the sub-sessions.

39. The method of claim 25 in which billing comprises:

sending the charge record to the user.

40. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

determining whether the user is authorized to use the service.

41. The method of claim 40 in which determining comprises:

checking a user account for payment history.

42. The method of claim 40 further comprising:

billing the user upon completion of the service; and

reconciling billing between a network operator and the provider.

43. The method of claim 40 in which the service includes multiple transaction services represented by multiple sub-services.

44. The method of claim 25 in which the wireless network is a second generation wireless network.

45. The method of claim 25 in which the wireless network is a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) network.

46. The method of claim 45 in which the GSM network is General Packet Radio System (GPRS) enabled.

47. The method of claim 25 in which the wireless network is a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network.

48. The method of claim 25 in which the wireless network is a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network.

49. The method of claim 25 in which the wireless network is a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network.

50. The method of claim 25 in which the network is a TETRA network.

51. The method of claim 25 in which the network is a Tetrapol network.

52. The method of claim 25 in which the network is a DECT network.

53. The method of claim 25 in which the network is a AMPS network.

54. The method of claim 25 in which the network is a third generation wireless network.

55. The method of claim 25 in which the network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

56. The method of claim 1 in which the network is a fixed network.

57. The method of claim 25 in which the network is a fixed network.

25. A method comprising:

in a network, receiving a request from a user for a packet switched data service;

determining a provider for the service according to stored policies;

determining a billing arrangement for the service according to the stored policies; and

tracking the service between the user and the provider.