SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR MANAGING THE UTILIZATION OF A COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE

• US 20090005000A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kajeet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kajeet, Inc.
• Inventors: Baker, Matthew, Geller, Steven, Neal, Daniel, Politi, Carol, Weintraub, Ben, Kesser, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,945,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 based on the service used
• 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 17/35 Pay as you go
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system and method for the real-time management of a device, and more particularly to the allocation of electronic wallets that are associated with one or more devices and various controls that enable at least two entities to manage how the device is utilized for various activities and to pay for goods and services. Each device is associated with at least two electronic wallets, a user wallet and an administrator wallet. The administrator can establish rules that designate how and when the device can be used and which wallet will be used to pay for goods and services desired by the user, but in the event the user wallet is depleted or low on funds, the administrator wallet can serve as a backup funding source for specified types of goods and/or services. Additional wallets can also be associated with the device to authorize and pay for goods and services, under the control of the administrator wallet, such as a promotional wallet that could be designated for use with the device before a primary or administrative wallet was used, or a dynamic wallet that could be associated for use with multiple different devices as well as other wallets, but acts in conjunction with the user and administrator wallets. Additional rules can be established to perform many other functions, such as manage the movement of value between wallets and from other sources to the wallets.

Claims

1. A system for managing in real-time a communication device used by a user, comprising:

a user wallet for electronically storing units of value, the user wallet being accessible by the user and being associated with the communication device;

an administrator wallet for electronically storing units of value and being associated with at least the communication device, the administrator wallet being accessible by an administrator; and

a function manager for managing a function of the communication device in real-time, the function manager having a global rule that specifies whether the function is permitted and a local rule that applies if the function is permitted by the global rule and that specifies whether a number of units of value associated with the function will be charged to the user wallet or the administrator wallet.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication device is a mobile device.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the local rule specifies that the administrator wallet is to be charged for the function if the user wallet lacks sufficient units of value to pay for the function.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the local rule specifies that even if the administrator wallet is to be charged for the function, if the administrator wallet lacks sufficient units of value to pay for the function, then the user wallet is to be charged for the function if the user wallet contains sufficient units of value to pay for the function.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the administrator wallet is associated with a charge card, and wherein the charge card is charged if the administrator wallet lacks sufficient units of value to pay for the function.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the units of value are credits representing services or applications.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the local rule specifies that charges associated with sending or receiving content between the communication device and the administrator are charged to the administrator wallet.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the local rule specifies a list of names or numbers corresponding to other communication devices or persons, and wherein the local rule specifies that charges associated with sending or receiving content between the communication device and the other communication devices or persons on the list are to be charged to the user wallet.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the local rule specifies a list of names or numbers corresponding to other communication devices or persons, and wherein the local rule specifies that charges associated with sending or receiving content between the communication device and the other communication devices or persons on the list are to be charged to the administrator wallet.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a promotional wallet for storing units of value and being associated with the communication device, wherein the global rule specifies one or more promotional functions that can be charged to the promotional wallet, and wherein the local rule specifies that if sufficient units of value are stored in the promotional wallet, then charges associated with the promotional functions are to be charged to the promotional wallet.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein if the units of value stored in the user wallet equal or pass a level specified by the administrator, the administrator and/or the user is alerted.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the user wallet is associated with a charge card, and wherein the charge card is charged a pre-specified amount if the units of value stored in the user wallet equal or pass the level.

13. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the function manager includes a plurality of global rules and one or more of the plurality of global rules are predetermined and cannot be changed by the administrator or the user.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the function manager is accessible by the administrator through a website that enables the administrator to choose the function and to choose a first global rule and/or a first local rule.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the first local rule specifies that if the units of value stored in the user wallet equal or pass a level specified by the administrator, the function manager will provide an alert to the administrator.

16. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the administrator wallet is associated with the communication device and a plurality of additional communication devices used by a plurality of additional users, and wherein the function manager enables the administrator to choose the user or one of the plurality of additional users to administer.

17. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a support service for assisting the administrator and/or the user in using the function manager.

18. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a transfer function for enabling the administrator to make a transfer of units of value between the administrator wallet and the user wallet.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the transfer function automatically makes the transfer of a predetermined number of units of value to the user wallet from the administrator wallet on a periodic schedule.

20. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a third party wallet and a transfer function for enabling the user to make a transfer of units of value from the user wallet to the third party wallet.

21. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein the transfer of units of value is used to pay for communication services.

22. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein the transfer or units of value is used to pay for a previously purchased product or service.

23. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein the transfer or units of value is used to make a payment for a purchase of a product or a service.

24. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a gift function for enabling a third party to make a deposit of units of value to either the user wallet or the administrator wallet.

25. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the gift function further enables the third party to communicate with the user and/or the administrator regarding the deposit.

26. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein the gift function further enables the third party to make a transfer of units of value from an other communication device to either the user wallet or the administrator wallet and to have a charge associated with the transfer added to a bill associated with the other communication device.

27. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a support service for assisting a third party in making a deposit of units of value to either the user wallet or the administrator wallet.

28. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the deposit results in a charge associated with the deposit being added to a bill associated with a third party communication device associated with the third party.

29. The system as recited in claim 27, wherein the support service further assists the third party in communicating with the user and/or the administrator regarding the deposit.

30. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a transfer function for enabling the administrator to automatically make a transfer of units of value, up to a predetermined maximum level, to the user wallet when the units of value stored in the user wallet equal or pass a predetermined level.

31. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a refill function for enabling the administrator to make a deposit of units of value to the user wallet on a periodic basis up to a predetermined maximum level.

32. A system for funding in real-time one or more communication devices, comprising:

a dynamic wallet for electronically storing units of value, the dynamic wallet being accessible by a financier and being represented by a unique identifier;

one or more user wallets for electronically storing units of value, the user wallets being associated with the communication devices;

a function manager for managing a function of the communication devices in real-time, the function manager having at least one global rule that specifies whether the function is permitted and at least one local rule that applies if the function is permitted by the global rule and that specifies whether a number of units of value associated with the function will be charged to the user wallet or to the dynamic wallet;

an administrator wallet for electronically storing units of value and being associated with the communication devices, the administrator wallet being accessible by an administrator; and

a funding manager accessible by the financier that enables the financier to associate the dynamic wallet with the communication devices and to transfer units of value from the dynamic wallet to the administrator wallet or the user wallets.