System and method for service activation in mobile network billing

• US 20060143098A1
• Filed: 11/29/2005
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Lazaridis, Mihal
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1457 using an account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• 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 15/7655 shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/773 per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/82 Criteria or parameters used for performing billing operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/84 Types of notifications
• 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 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7268 per technology, e.g. PSTN or wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/78 Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/81 Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8129 : Type of notification
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 : for initial activation of new user

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide a user with the ability to select from a list of available services that can be used on a mobile device. The services include device-based services and device-network based services. The activation, usage tracking and deactivation of a selected service can be conducted at a central location. Some of the services can be provided by different carrier network providers and in different geographical areas. The service selection can be performed from the mobile device, thus providing the user with maximum flexibility as to when and where the user requests the service.

Claims

1. A mobile network service activation system for wireless activation of a selected service for use by a user of a mobile device, the system comprising:

a) a central network node connectable to one or more wireless networks for communication with the mobile device and for provision of the selected service to the mobile device;

b) a device database connected to the central network node, the device database including device information for the mobile device and service information for the selected service; and

,

c) a billing server connected to the central network node, the billing server activating the selected service for use by the mobile device in response to a service activation message sent by the mobile device to request access to the selected service.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein once the user chooses the selected service from a list of available services, specifies a service usage, and provides confirmation, the mobile device generates the service activation message to include an indication of the selected service, the specified service usage, and device information for the mobile device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein after the user chooses the selected service and specifies the service usage, the billing server provides the user with a cost estimate and the mobile device provides the user with options for confirming the selected service, declining the selected service and changing the specified service usage.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the billing server checks and updates billing information for the user prior to enabling the selected service.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the system tracks actual service usage by monitoring data transmissions associated with the mobile device and the selected service and records the actual service usage in the device database, and the system deactivates the selected service when the specified service usage expires.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the system further includes at least one of a server and a gateway for providing the selected service to the mobile device.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more wireless networks connected to the central network node provide access to at least one of a server and a gateway for providing the selected service.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the list of available services include voice mail service, call forwarding service, call display service and call barring service.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the list of available services include short messaging service, multimedia message service, instant messaging service and IP modem service.

10. A mobile device communication device comprising:

a) a main processor for controlling the operation of the mobile communication device;

b) a communication subsystem connected to the main processor, the communication subsystem being adapted for wirelessly sending and receiving data;

c) a service request module for providing a user with a list of available services for use on the mobile device, and upon the user selecting a service and confirming the selected service, the service request module generates a service activation message including an indication of the selected service and sends the service activation message to a mobile network for enabling the selected service; and

,

d) an input unit for allowing the user to select and confirm the service.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the service activation message further includes a specified service usage for the selected service.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the service activation message further includes device information for the mobile device.

13. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the input device includes at least one of a keyboard, a thumbwheel, a mouse, a joystick, and a touch screen.

14. A service activation method for allowing a user to request a selected service from a wireless network for use on a mobile device, the method comprising:

a) providing a list of available services to the user from which the user can choose the selected service;

b) generating a service activation message including an indication of the selected service and a specified service usage after the user has confirmed the selected service; and

,

c) sending the service activation message to a billing server associated with the wireless network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein step (a) of the method further includes allowing the user to specify the service usage, and then providing the user with a cost estimate based on the selected service and the specified service usage.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein step (a) of the method further includes providing the user with options for confirming the selected service, declining the selected service and changing the specified service usage.

17. The method of claim 14, the method further comprises:

d) checking and updating billing information for the user based on the selected service and the specified service usage; and

,

e) sending a message to an appropriate network component to activate the selected service for use by the mobile device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

f) tracking actual service usage of the selected service; and

g) disabling the selected service when the specified service usage expires.

19. A computer program product for allowing a user of a mobile device to select a service from a wireless network for activation and use on a mobile device, the computer program product comprising a computer readable medium embodying program code means executable by a processor of the mobile device for implementing a service activation method as specified in claim 14.