System and method for a flexible device-based rating engine

• US 20030187794A1
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netcracker Technology Solutions Inc (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Convergys Corporation (Synnex Corporation)
• Inventors: Birch, Robert Dennis, Irwin, Scott Andrew, Weagraff, Stephen DeWayne, Lupo, Joseph Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,484,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• 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 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/92 Autonomous calculations of charges in terminal, i.e. meter not controlled from exchange

Abstract

A system and method for computerized metering, rating, billing and managing of account balances on an end computing device is disclosed herein wherein the end device may facilitate such processing whether the device is connected or is not connected to a network. The end device, furthermore, initiates communications with a host processor to obtain updated algorithms, rating tables and other accouterments necessary or desired to meter, rate, and process payments for transaction events. The end device initiates communications with the host processor or another end device to facilitate the synchronization of usage for pricing plans that span one or more devices.

Claims

1. A computerized system for processing transaction events comprising an end device and a host system wherein said end device comprises

an engine configured to process a transaction event;

wherein said engine may further receive an event for processing;

process said event while disconnected from said host system; and

selectively establish a communication link with said host system to synchronize with said host system.

2. A computerized system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said host system further comprises a billing system.

3. A computerized system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said host system further comprises a settlement agent.

4. A computerized system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said host system further comprises a rating engine.

5. A computerized system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said host system comprises a content provider system.

6. A computerized system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said synchronization with said host system may include one or more account balances, one or more usage records, one or more price plans, one or more payment classifications, and/or one or more credit policies.

7. A computerized system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said engine selectively establishes said communication link when a level of traffic within a network, connecting said end device and said host system, is operating within a predetermined level.

8. A computerized system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said engine may send said event to said host system for further processing.

9. A computerized system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said engine receives said event from a third party application program residing on said end device.

10. A computerized system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said engine may send said event to a third party application provider for further processing.

11. A computerized system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said third party application provider sends a credit to a subscriber in response to an event processed by said engine by sending a new event comprising said credit in a set of metadata embodied in said new event.

12. A computerized system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said event may comprise either a content consumption event or a transaction event.

13. A computerized system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said engine may determine a content type for said content consumption event and choose an algorithm appropriate for said type.

14. A computerized system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said engine further includes a journal, comprising a summary of events processed on said end device, accessible via a user interface on said end device and wherein a user of said device may access said journal and view said summary of events.

15. A computerized system for processing events wherein said computerized system comprises:

a first end device and at least one additional end device wherein said first and said at least one additional end device each comprise

an engine configured to independently process at least one event;

wherein said engine of said first end device may selectively establish a communication link with said at least one additional end device to synchronize one or more events processed on said at least one additional end device with said first end device.

16. A computerized system for processing events as claimed in claim 15 wherein said first end device maintains a master balance to be utilized by said engine to settle a cost associated with said event.

17. A computerized system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said master balance may be allocated among one or more providers of said events.

18. A computerized system for processing events as claimed in claim 16 wherein said at least one additional end device may initiate a link with said first end device to reallocate said master balance across said first end device and said at least one additional end device.

19. A computerized system for processing events as claimed in claim 18 wherein said master balance may be reallocated according to a predetermined formula.

20. A computerized system for processing events as claimed in claim 15 wherein said at least one additional end device comprises another type of end device than said first end device.

21. A computerized system for processing events as claimed in claim 16 wherein a single rating plan encompasses activity on said first end device and said second end device.

22. A set of application program interfaces embodied on a computer-readable medium for execution a device-based rating engine configured to independently process an event while disconnected from a host system and selectively establish a link with said host system to synchronize algorithms, rating data, and processed events comprising:

a first interface that receives at least one event from a third party application program for processing;

a second interface that receives a query from said third party application program for information pertaining to said at least one event received from said third party application program.

23. A set of application program interfaces as claimed in claim 22 wherein a third party application program may be configured to produce an event specialized for said third party application program.