Message broadcasting billing system and method

• US 20070117538A1
• Filed: 11/20/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Envision IT LLC
• Original Assignee: Envision IT LLC
• Inventors: Weiser, Douglas, Wood, Mark, preston, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,917,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1432 Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A system and method for billing for network usage for broadcast transmission to broadcast message receiving devices located within a broadcast target area includes validating the broadcast message record for transmission over a broadcast transmission network and generating a validated broadcast message record as a function of the validating. The method also includes determining a density of broadcast receiving devices associated with the broadcast transmission network in the broadcast target area, calculating an area for message broadcast transmission within the broadcast target area served by the broadcast transmission network, and determining a length of the broadcast message contained within the validated broadcast message record. The method further includes calculating an incurred broadcast message billing amount for the broadcast message as a function of the determined broadcast message length, the calculated broadcast area, the determined density, the broadcast message originator identifier, and a broadcast transmission network billing rate parameter.

Claims

1. A method of determining broadcast message billing rate parameter for transmitting a broadcast message to broadcast message receiving devices located within a broadcast transmission network serving, at least a portion of, a broadcast target area, the method comprising:

determining a base density of broadcast message receiving devices in a typical network serving area contained within the broadcast target area;

determining an base length of the broadcast message as a function of a broadcast message page; and

defining a broadcast message shot as a function of the determined base density and the determined base length.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a base number of transmissions by the broadcast transmitting network and as requested by the broadcast message originator, wherein defining the broadcast message shot includes defining as a function of the base number of transmissions.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a base density includes determining a base subscriber count for a particular broadcast transmission network and/or a particular broadcast transmission network serving area.

4. A method of billing for transmitting a broadcast message to broadcast message receiving devices located within a broadcast target area by a broadcast transmission network, the method comprising:

receiving a broadcast message record after authorizing the forwarding of the validated broadcast message to the broadcast transmission network, the broadcast message record including the broadcast message, the broadcast target area, and a broadcast message originator identifier;

determining a density of broadcast receiving devices associated with the broadcast transmission network in the broadcast target area;

calculating an area for network transmission within the broadcast target area by the broadcast transmission network;

determining a length of the broadcast message contained within the validated broadcast message record; and

calculating an incurred broadcast message billing amount for the forwarded broadcast message as a function of the determined broadcast message length, the determined density, the calculated broadcast area, the broadcast message originator identifier, and a broadcast message billing rate parameter.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the broadcast message record include a request repetition rate for the broadcast message, further comprising determining a number of transmissions of the broadcast message by the broadcast transmitting network as a function of the requested repetition rate, wherein calculating includes calculating the incurred broadcast message billing amount as a function of the determined number of transmission.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the requested repetition rate is about 15 repetitions and a repetition rate is one broadcast message every minute for 15 minutes.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

validating the broadcast message record for transmission by the broadcast transmission network;

generating the validated broadcast message record; and

authorizing the forwarding the validated broadcast message record to a distributor for distribution to the broadcast transmission network.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the broadcast message billing rate parameter includes a broadcast message shot, the broadcast message shot being a function of a base density and a base length.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the broadcast message shot is defined as a function of about 15 broadcast message pages of message text transmitted to an area having approximately 10,000 broadcast message subscribers, wherein a broadcast message page is about equal to 80 bytes of data.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein calculating a broadcast message billing amount is a function of a broadcast transmission network parameter associated with the broadcast transmission network.

11. The method of claim 4, further comprising issuing a billing invoice to a broadcast message system by the broadcast transmission network in response to transmitting the broadcast message to broadcast message receiving devices located within the broadcast target area served by the broadcast transmission network.

12. The method of claim 4, further comprising issuing a billing invoice to a broadcast message originator by the broadcast message system in response to validating, routing, and forwarding the broadcast message as provided by the broadcast message originator for transmission to broadcast message receiving devices located in the broadcast target area.

13. The method of claim 4, further comprising issuing a billing invoice to a first broadcast message system by a second broadcast message system in response to validating, routing and forwarding the broadcast message as provided by the first broadcast message system for transmission to broadcast message receiving devices located in a broadcast target area serviced by the second broadcast message system.

14. The method of claim 4, further comprising issuing a billing invoice to a broadcast message monitoring system by a broadcast message system in response to the broadcast message system providing a copy of the validated broadcast message record to the broadcast message monitoring system.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the broadcast message monitoring system provides the broadcast message to a broadcast message receiving device located in an area different from the broadcast target area within the broadcast message record and wherein the issued billing invoice is a function of the provided broadcast message.

16. The method of claim 4, further comprising issuing a billing invoice including the incurred broadcast message billing amount and a fixed fee for a billing period.

17. The method of claim 4, further comprising appending the incurred broadcast message billing amount to the validated broadcast message record.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising setting a reporting flag associated with validated broadcast message record following the appending of the incurred broadcast message billing amount.

19. The method of claim 4, further comprising storing the incurred broadcast message billing amount in a broadcast message originator file and in a broadcast transmission network file.

20. A system for billing a broadcast message system for network usage for broadcast message transmission, the system comprising:

a broadcast message billing module configured for receiving a validated broadcast message record associated with a broadcast transmission network adapted to provide a transmission of the broadcast message within the validated broadcast record to broadcast receiving devices located within a broadcast target area, the broadcast message billing module configured for generating an incurred broadcast message billing amount as a function of one or more of a density of broadcast receiving devices located within the broadcast target area served by the broadcast transmission network, an area served by the broadcast transmission network within the broadcast target area, a length of the broadcast message, the broadcast message originator identifier, and a broadcast transmission network billing rate parameter.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the broadcast message system includes a broadcast request interface configured for receiving a broadcast message record having a broadcast message, a defined broadcast target area, and a broadcast message originator identifier, a broadcast admission control module configured for receiving the broadcast message record, validating the broadcast message record for transmission over a broadcast message transmission network, and generating a validated broadcast message record as a function of the validating, and a broadcast message distributor module configured for receiving the validated broadcast message record and forwarding the broadcast message to the broadcast transmission network

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the broadcast message billing module is configured for one or more of determining the density of broadcast receiving devices associated with the broadcast transmission network in the broadcast target area, calculating the area for message broadcast transmission within the broadcast target area served by the broadcast transmission network, determining the length of the broadcast message contained within the validated broadcast message record.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the broadcast message billing module is configured for appending the incurred broadcast message billing amount to the validated broadcast message record.

24. The system of claim 20 wherein the broadcast message billing module is configured for storing the incurred broadcast message billing amount in a broadcast message originator file and in a broadcast transmission network file.

25. A method of billing for network usage for broadcast transmission to broadcast message receiving devices located within a broadcast target area, the method comprising:

validating the broadcast message record for transmission over a broadcast transmission network;

generating a validated broadcast message record as a function of the validating;

determining a density of broadcast receiving devices associated with the broadcast transmission network in the broadcast target area;

calculating an area for message broadcast transmission within the broadcast target area served by the broadcast transmission network;

determining a length of the broadcast message contained within the validated broadcast message record; and

calculating an incurred broadcast message billing amount for the broadcast message as a function of the determined broadcast message length, the calculated broadcast area, the determined density, the broadcast message originator identifier, and a broadcast transmission network billing rate parameter.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein validating the broadcast message record for transmission over the broadcast transmission network is a function one or more of the broadcast message originator identifier, the broadcast target area, and a broadcast transmission network parameter.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising appending the incurred broadcast message billing amount to the validated broadcast message record and generating an invoice to the broadcast message system from the broadcast transmission network as a function of the broadcast message record.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising setting a reporting flag associated with validated broadcast message record following the appending of the incurred broadcast message billing amount.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising storing the incurred broadcast message billing amount in a broadcast message originator file and in a broadcast transmission network file.

30. A system for billing a first broadcast message system for processing a broadcast message record provided by the first broadcast message system to a second broadcast message system for validating and transmission of a broadcast message to broadcast message receiving devices located within a broadcast target area associated with the second broadcast message system, the system comprising:

a broadcast message billing module configured for receiving a validated broadcast message record from the second broadcast message system and for generating an incurred broadcast message billing amount as a function of one or more of a density of broadcast receiving devices located within the broadcast target area served by the broadcast transmission network, an area served by the broadcast transmission network within the broadcast target area, a length of the broadcast message, the broadcast message originator identifier, a broadcast transmission network billing rate parameter, and a broadcast message system processing billing parameter.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the broadcast message billing module is configured for one or more of determining the density of broadcast receiving devices associated with the broadcast transmission network in the broadcast target area, calculating the area for message broadcast transmission within the broadcast target area served by the broadcast transmission network, determining the length of the broadcast message contained within the validated broadcast message record.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the broadcast message billing module is configured for appending the incurred broadcast message billing amount to the validated broadcast message record.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein the broadcast message billing module is configured for storing the incurred broadcast message billing amount in a broadcast message originator file and in a broadcast transmission network file.

34. A method for billing a first broadcast message system for processing a broadcast message record provided by the first broadcast message system to a second broadcast message system for transmission of a broadcast message to broad message receiving devices located within a broadcast target area associated with a broadcast transmission network served by the second broadcast message system, the method comprising:

validating the broadcast message record;

receiving the validated broadcast message record;

determining a density of broadcast receiving devices associated with the second broadcast transmission network in the broadcast target area;

calculating an area for message broadcast transmission within the broadcast target area served by the broadcast transmission network;

determining a length of the broadcast message contained within the validated broadcast message record; and

calculating an incurred broadcast message billing amount for the broadcast message as a function of the determined broadcast message length, the calculated broadcast area, the determined density, the broadcast message originator identifier, and a broadcast message system processing billing parameter.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein validating the broadcast message record for transmission over the broadcast transmission network is a function one or more of the broadcast message originator identifier, the broadcast target area, and a broadcast transmission network parameter.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising appending the incurred broadcast message billing amount to the validated broadcast message record and generating an invoice to the first broadcast message systems as a function of the broadcast message record.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising setting a reporting flag associated with validated broadcast message record following the appending of the incurred broadcast message billing amount, wherein generating is in response to the setting of the reporting flag.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising transmitting the validated broadcast message to the first broadcast message center.

39. A system for billing a broadcast message originator for processing a broadcast message record for transmission of a broadcast message to broadcast message receiving devices located within a broadcast target area, the system comprising:

a broadcast message billing module configured for receiving a validated broadcast message record associated with a broadcast transmission network configured to provide a transmission of the broadcast message within the validated broadcast record to broadcast receiving devices located within a broadcast target area, the broadcast message billing module configured for generating an broadcast message billing amount as a function of one or more of a density of broadcast receiving devices located within the broadcast target area served by the broadcast transmission network, an area served by the broadcast transmission network within the broadcast target area, a length of the broadcast message, the broadcast message originator identifier, and a broadcast message system billing rate parameter.

40. A method for billing a broadcast message originator for processing a broadcast message record for transmitting a broadcast message to a broad message receiving devices located within a broadcast target area, the method comprising:

receiving the broadcast message record from the broadcast message originator, the broadcast message record including the broadcast message, the broadcast target area, and a broadcast message originator identifier;

validating the broadcast message record for transmission over a broadcast transmission network;

generating a validated broadcast message record as a function of the validating;

determining a density of broadcast receiving devices associated with the broadcast transmission network in the broadcast target area;

calculating an area for message broadcast transmission within the broadcast target area served by the broadcast transmission network;

determining a length of the broadcast message contained within the validated broadcast message record; and

calculating an incurred broadcast message billing amount for the broadcast message as a function of the determined broadcast message length, the calculated broadcast area, the determined density, the broadcast message originator identifier, and a broadcast message billing rate parameter.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein validating the broadcast message record for transmission over the broadcast transmission network is a function one or more of the broadcast message originator identifier, the broadcast target area, and a broadcast transmission network parameter.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising appending the incurred broadcast message billing amount to the validated broadcast message record and generating a broadcast message originator invoice as a function of the broadcast message record.

43. The method of claim 40, further comprising setting a reporting flag associated with validated broadcast message record following the appending of the incurred broadcast message billing amount, wherein generating is in response to the setting of the reporting flag.

44. A system for billing a broadcast message monitoring system for a validated broadcast message record provided by a broadcast message system, the validated broadcast message record including a broadcast message and a broadcast target area, the system comprising:

a broadcast admission control module configured for receiving a broadcast message record from a broadcast message originator, validating the broadcast message record and generating a validated broadcast message record as a function of the validating;

a broadcast message system interface configured for providing the validated broadcast message record to the broadcast message monitoring system;

a broadcast message billing module configured for receiving a validated broadcast message record from the broadcast message system, determining a length of the broadcast message contained within the validated broadcast message record, calculating a broadcast message billing amount for the broadcast message record as a function of the determined broadcast message length, the broadcast message originator identifier, and a broadcast message system billing rate parameter.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein the broadcast message billing module receives a signal from the broadcast message monitoring system including a number of copies of the broadcast message provided by the broadcast message monitoring system to at least one of a broadcast message receiving device, a database, a database query, a web page, a subscriber, a second broadcast message monitoring system, wherein the broadcast message billing module is configured for calculating the broadcast message billing amount as a function of the provided number of copies.

46. The system of claim 44 wherein the broadcast admission control module is configured for validating the broadcast message record for transmission over the broadcast transmission network as a function one or more of the broadcast message originator identifier, the broadcast target area, and a broadcast transmission network parameter.

47. A method for billing a broadcast message monitoring system for a validated broadcast message record provided by a broadcast message system, the validated broadcast message record including a broadcast message and a broadcast target area, the method comprising:

validating the broadcast message record for transmission over a broadcast transmission network;

generating a validated broadcast message record as a function of the validating;

determining a length of the broadcast message contained within the validated broadcast message record; and

calculating a broadcast message billing amount for the broadcast message record as a function of the determined broadcast message length, the broadcast message originator identifier, and a broadcast message billing rate parameter.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising determining a number of copies of the broadcast message provided by the broadcast message monitoring system to at least one of a broadcast message receiving device, a database, a database query, a web page, a subscriber, a second broadcast message monitoring system.

49. The method of claim 47 wherein validating the broadcast message record for transmission over the broadcast transmission network is a function one or more of the broadcast message originator identifier, the broadcast target area, and a broadcast transmission network parameter.

50. A system for billing a user for a broadcast message wherein the user is not located within the broadcast target area defined by the broadcast message record containing the broadcast message, the system comprising:

a broadcast message receiving module configured for receiving a validated broadcast message record from a broadcast message system arranged for validating a broadcast message for transmission to broadcast receiving devices located within the broadcast target area;

a database configured for storing the received broadcast message record;

a user access module configured for providing the broadcast message to the user; and

a broadcast message monitoring billing module configured for calculating a broadcast message billing amount in response to the user access the broadcast message from the user access module.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein the billing module is configured for initiating an invoice being sent to the user as a function of the broadcast message billing amount.

52. The system of claim 50, further comprising a reporting system configured for tracking a number of user accesses provided by the user access module to the broadcast message.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein the user accesses are a function of one or more of a broadcast message receiving device, a database, a database query, a web page, a subscriber, and a second broadcast message monitoring system.

54. A method for billing a user for a broadcast message wherein the user is not located within the broadcast target area defined by a validated broadcast message record containing the broadcast message, the method comprising:

receiving a validated broadcast message record from a broadcast message system configured for validating a broadcast message for transmission to broadcast receiving devices located within the broadcast target area;

producing a copy of the validated broadcast message record;

providing the broadcast message within the validated broadcast message record to the user;

calculating a broadcast message billing amount in response to the providing of the broadcast message.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising determining a length of the broadcast message contained within the validated broadcast message record, wherein calculating a broadcast message billing amount is a function of the determined broadcast message length.

56. The method of claim 54 wherein calculating a broadcast message billing amount is a function of a broadcast message originator identifier included within the validated broadcast message record.

57. The method of claim 54, further comprising tracking a number of broadcast messages provided to the user.

58. The system of claim 54 wherein providing the broadcast message includes providing user access as a function of one or more of a broadcast message receiving device, a database, a database query, a web page, a subscriber, and a second broadcast message monitoring system.