Method and apparatus for billing for usage-based group communication between wireless devices

• US 20050287982A1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Brewer, Beth Ann, Kenagy, Jason B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,155,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• 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 15/8207 Time based data metric aspects, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/825 based on the number of used channels, e.g. bundling channels, frequencies or CDMA codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2093 Push to talk
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7813 Time based data, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7853 Based on the number of used channels, e.g. bundling channels or frequencies or CDMA codes

Abstract

A method and apparatus for billing for the usage of direct group communication services, such as push-to-talk services. A direct group communication service provider sets up an account for each direct communication service user whereby the user can establish a target group of wireless devices associated with his account. A billing server monitors the direct communication attempts of the wireless device of the user with the target group and bills the user based upon a predetermined criteria, such as number of wireless devices in the target group communicated with, use of a direct communication service, or duration of talk time.

Claims

1. A system for billing for direct mobile device to mobile device communication services, comprising:

a billing server in communication with a wireless communication network; and

a first mobile device capable of selectively directly communicating with a predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices across the wireless communication network, the identity of the predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices being stored at a group communication server,

wherein upon starting to communicate with the target set through a direct communication, the billing server gathers billing information by tracking predefined network usage parameters established for the first mobile device according to a predefined criteria.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the billing server and the group communication server are the same.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the billing server is one or more computer devices and the group communication service is one or more computer devices.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the target set being a plurality of second mobile devices.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the direct communication being established through a half-duplex channel.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the network usage parameters include billing for the number of second mobile devices in the target set.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the network usage parameters include billing for the cumulative talk time.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the network usage parameters include billing for the number of responses received from the target set.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the network usage parameters include billing for number of direct communications initiated by the first mobile device.

10. A system for billing for direct mobile device to mobile device communication services, comprising:

means for providing billing service in communication with a wireless communication network; and

first mobile means for communication capable of selectively directly communicating with a predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices across the wireless communication network, the identity of the predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices being stored at a group communication server,

wherein upon starting to communicate with the target set through a direct communication, the means for providing billing service gathers billing information by tracking predefined network usage parameters established for the first mobile means for communication according to a predefined criteria.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for providing billing service and the group communication server are the same.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for providing billing service is one or more computer devices and the group communication service is one or more computer devices.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the target set being a plurality of second mobile devices.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the direct communication being established through a half-duplex channel.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the network usage parameters include billing for the number of second mobile devices in the target set.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the network usage parameters include billing for the cumulative talk time.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the network usage parameters include billing for the number of responses received from the target set.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the network usage parameters include billing for number of direct communications initiated by the first mobile device.

19. A method for billing for direct mobile device to mobile device communication services, comprising the steps of:

receiving at a billing server a direct communication request from a first mobile device, the direct communication request being directed to a predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices;

retrieving target set information;

starting to track a direct communication attempt between the first mobile device and the target set according to the target set information;

tracking network usage parameters related to the direct communication between the first mobile device and at least one second mobile device in the target set; and

generating billing information for the first mobile device according to the network usage parameters.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

receiving the target set information from the first mobile device; and

storing the target set information.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of starting to track a direct communication attempt further comprising the step of tracking an attempt to establish a half-duplex channel between the first mobile device and the target set.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a response from at least one second mobile device; and

forwarding the response from the at least one second mobile device to the first mobile device.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprising the step of tracking a number of second mobile devices in the target set.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters is tracking number of devices that first device establishes contact with.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprising the step of tracking a cumulative talk time.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprising the step of tracking a number of responses received from the target set.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprising the step of tracking a number of direct communications initiated by the first mobile device.

28. An apparatus for billing for direct mobile device to mobile device communication services, comprising:

a billing server in communication with a wireless communication network, the billing server being capable of performing the steps of;

receiving a direct communication request from a first mobile device, the direct communication request being directed to a predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices;

retrieving target set information;

starting to track a direct communication attempt between the first mobile device and the target set according to the target set information;

tracking network usage parameters related to the direct communication between the first mobile device and at least one second mobile device in the target set; and

generating billing information for the first mobile device according to the network usage parameters.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the billing server further being capable of performing the steps of:

receiving the target set information from the first mobile device; and

storing the target set information.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the billing server further being capable of performing the steps of establishing a half-duplex channel between the first mobile device and the target set.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the billing server further being capable of performing the steps of:

receiving a response from at least one second mobile device; and

forwarding the response from the at least one second mobile device to the first mobile device.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprising the step of tracking a number of second mobile devices in the target set.

33. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters is tracking number of devices that first device establishes contact with.

34. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprising the step of tracking a cumulative talk time.

35. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprising the step of tracking a number of responses received from the target set.

36. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprising the step of tracking a number of direct communications initiated by the first mobile device.

37. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for billing for direct mobile device to mobile device communication services, the computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer device, perform the steps of:

receiving a direct communication request from a first mobile device, the direct communication request being directed, to a predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices;

retrieving target set information;

tracking a direct communication attempt between the first mobile device and the target set according to the target set information;

tracking network usage parameters related to the direct communication between the first mobile device and at least one second mobile device in the target set; and

generating billing information for the first mobile device according to the network usage parameters.

38. The computer program of claim 37, further performing the steps of:

receiving the target set information from the first mobile device; and

storing the target set information.

39. The computer program of claim 37, wherein the step of establishing a direct communication further comprising the step of establishing a half-duplex channel between the first mobile device and the target set.

40. The computer program of claim 37, further performing the steps of:

receiving a response from at least one second mobile device; and

forwarding the response from the at least one second mobile device to the first mobile device.

41. The computer program of claim 37, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprising the step of tracking a number of second mobile devices in the target set.

42. The computer program of claim 37, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters is tracking number of devices that first device establishes contact with.

43. The computer program of claim 37, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprising the step of tracking a cumulative talk time.

44. The computer program of claim 37, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprising the step of tracking a number of responses received from the target set.

45. The computer program of claim 37, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprising the step of tracking a number of direct communications initiated by the first mobile device.