MOBILE BILLBOARD AND USAGE ADVISOR

• US 20090054030A1
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Golds, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• 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 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/835 Time or frequency of notifications, e.g. Advice of Charge [AoC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8351 before establishing a communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8353 during the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8358 Dynamic change of the length or frequency of the notification interval
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/84 Types of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/844 Message, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/846 optical, e.g. icon
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/85 characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/851 Determined tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/858 Request users acknowledgement prior to use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0112 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 : On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 : Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 : Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/74 : Rating aspects, e.g. rating parameters or tariff determination apects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 : Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/81 : Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8104 : Time or frequency of notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8108 : before establishing a communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8112 : during the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8125 : Dynamic change of the length/frequency of the length of the notification interval, e.g. depending on the remaining available prepaid credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8129 : Type of notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8137 : Message, e.g. alphanumeric text, SMS, MMS, EMS or www-based messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8141 : Optical, e.g. flashing indication of a lamp, icon, soft-key or symbol
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/815 : Notification when a specific condition, service or event is met
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8154 : Determined tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 : Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8183 : Request users acknowledgement prior to use
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

System for providing dynamic recommendations associated with usage of a wireless communication service from a service provider (SP) of a user. A memory area stores at least one or more of the following service usage information: a service plan of the wireless communication service of the user, a service charge structure of a wireless communication service, a service coverage area of the wireless communication service provider (SP), a usage information of the wireless communication service of the user, and tariff information associated with the usage. A processor is configured to execute computer-executable instructions for monitoring the usage of the wireless communication service. The processor is also configured to correlate the monitored usage with the service usage information stored on the memory area. The processor is configured to generate a recommendation based on the correlation of the monitored usage and the service usage information. The generated recommendation provides a cost analysis of using the wireless communication service by the user. An interface provides the generated recommendation associated with the usage to the user.

Claims

1. A system for providing dynamic recommendations associated with usage of a wireless communication service from a wireless device of a user, said system comprising:

a memory area for storing at least one or more of the following service usage information;

a service plan of the wireless communication service of the user, a service charge structure of a wireless communication service, a service coverage area of the wireless communication service provider (SP), a usage information of the wireless communication service of the user, and tariff information associated with the usage;

a processor having configured to execute computer-executable instructions for;

monitoring the usage of the wireless communication service;

correlating the monitored usage with the service usage information stored on the memory area;

generating a recommendation based on the correlation of the monitored usage and the service usage information, said generated recommendation providing a cost analysis of using the wireless communication service by the user; and

an interface for providing the generated recommendation associated with the usage to the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory area further stores service information relating to at least one service plan of a second SP, wherein the information relating to the at least one service plan of the second SP includes at least one or more of the following relating to the second SP:

service plans, a service charge structure, a service coverage area, and tariff information.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to determine an estimate of a cost of the usage of the user based on the stored service information of the second SP.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to detect whether the monitored usage is outside the service coverage area.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to provide a notification during the monitored usage in response to the detected usage, said notification being indicative of the usage being outside the service coverage area of the wireless communication SP of the user, and wherein the interface provides the notification to the user.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the notification includes an alert indicating to that user that the user is roaming outside the service coverage area and indicating a cost estimate associated with using the wireless service while the user is roaming outside the service coverage area.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to terminate a connection of the wireless communication service of the user as a function of the detected usage, the monitored usage, and the service plan information.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to establish a history of usage by the user and wherein the interface provides a report of the history of usage to the user.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to provide the notification to the user when the cost of the wireless communication service exceeds a threshold established by the user.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to provide the notification to the user indicating an availability of Wi-Fi wireless technology and a cost estimate associated with the Wi-Fi wireless technology.

11. A method for providing dynamic recommendations associated with usage of a wireless communication service from a service provider (SP) of a user, said method comprising:

retrieving at least one or more of the following service usage information on a wireless device of the user;

a service plan of the wireless communication service of the user, a service charge structure of a wireless communication service, a service coverage area of the wireless communication service provider (SP), a usage information of the wireless communication service of the user, and tariff information associated with the usage;

monitoring the usage of the wireless communication service on the wireless device;

correlating the monitored usage with the service usage information; and

transmitting a recommendation based on the correlation of the monitored usage and the service usage information, said transmitted recommendation providing a cost analysis of using the wireless communication service by the user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining whether the monitored usage is outside the service coverage area.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a notification during the monitored usage in response to the detected usage, said notification being indicative of the usage being outside the service coverage area of the wireless communication SP of the user, and wherein the interface provides the notification to the user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the notification includes an alert indicating to that user that the user is roaming outside the service coverage area and indicating a cost estimate associated with using the wireless service while the user is roaming outside the service coverage area.

15. A method for providing dynamic recommendations associated with usage of a wireless communication service from a wireless device of a user, said method comprising:

storing at least one or more of the following service usage information on a wireless device of the user;

a service plan of the wireless communication service of the user, a service charge structure of a wireless communication service, a service coverage area of the wireless communication service provider (SP), a usage information of the wireless communication service of the user, and tariff information associated with the usage;

monitoring the usage of the wireless communication service on the wireless device;

correlating the monitored usage with the service usage information stored on the wireless device;

generating a recommendation based on the correlation of the monitored usage and the service usage information, said generated recommendation providing a cost analysis of using the wireless communication service by the user; and

providing the generated recommendation associated with the usage to the user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein storing comprises storing service information relating to at least one service plan of a second SP, wherein the information relating to the at least one service plan of the second SP includes at least one or more of the following relating to the second SP:

service plans, a service charge structure, a service coverage area, and tariff information.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining an estimate of a cost of the usage of the user based on the stored service information of the second SP.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing an alert indicating to that user that the user is roaming outside the service coverage area and indicating a cost estimate associated with using the wireless service while the user is roaming outside the service coverage area.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising detecting whether the monitored usage is outside the service coverage area.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising terminating a connection of the wireless communication service of the user as a function of the detected usage, the monitored usage, and the service plan information.