On-demand bandwidth activation for detailed billing

• US 20040100990A1
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Abraham Y. Chen, Darru Kenneth Hsu, David Ta-Wei Chen
• Original Assignee: Abraham Y. Chen, Darru Kenneth Hsu, David Ta-Wei Chen
• Inventors: Chen, David Ta-Wei, Hsu, Darru Kenneth, Chen, Abraham Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/305,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20040100990A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1446 inter-operator billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• 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 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• 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 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling

Abstract

A method of requesting broadband content service with associated bandwidth provisioning in near real time is disclosed. With this concise facility, broadband services may be deployed in the conventional “always-on” mode but at a bare minimum bandwidth. This will encourage much larger subscriber base than currently possible. The convenience of obtaining premium service on-demand offers content providers and carriers opportunity to realize profits based on subscriber'"'"'s improved willingness.

The ability to associate a bandwidth request to a specific consuming node disclosed in this invention not only allows service providers to issue detailed billing statements that minimizes potential disputes, but also enables the ability to curb non-subscriber access or unauthorized use of bandwidth by certain subscribers taking advantage of the always-on broad bandwidth.

Claims

1. A method of requesting near real time broadband content service and bandwidth provisioning initiated by subscriber, yet under full control by content and connection providers comprising the steps of;

said subscriber communicates via a Wide Area Network (WAN) means to said content provider to request said broadband content service;

said content provider receives said request utilizing interactive communications equipment appropriate to interact with said WAN means being used by said subscriber;

said content provider executes said content service request by first making a request to said connection provider to activate said bandwidth required prior to commencing delivery of said content service.

2. A system of requesting near real time bandwidth as recited in claim 1, facilitates said broadband connection service to be offered at bare minimum bandwidth for “

alwayson”

connection.

3. A system of requesting near real time bandwidth as recited in claim 1, comprising interface means to conventional billing equipment in Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) for minimum cost in processing service charges.

5. A system of delivering broadband content service as recited in claims 1 and 4, comprising means to associate identity of said request with that of a device consuming said content service, enabling said billing system to issue detailed billing statement associating said device to said service.

6. A system as recited in claim 5, enables said connection provider to utilize available bandwidth to its fullest extend for intended said subscribers, effectively stopping bandwidth abuse by unauthorized accesses.

4. A method of requesting near real time broadband content service and bandwidth provisioning initiated by subscriber, yet under full control by content and connection providers comprising the steps of;

said subscriber communicates via a Wide Area Network (WAN) means to said content provider to request submission of content;

said content provider receives said request utilizing interactive communications equipment appropriate to interact with said WAN means being used by said subscriber;

said content provider executes said content submission request by first making a request to said connection provider to activate said bandwidth required prior to commencing receipt of said content.