SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC TARIFF NEGOTIATION

• US 20090063357A1
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: VirnetX Inc. (Virnetx Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: VirnetX Inc. (Virnetx Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Munger, Edmund C., Short, Robert D. III
• Application Number:
  US12/201,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20090063357A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1457 using an account
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1464 using a card, such as credit card, prepay card or SIM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1492 negotiation of tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5006 Creating or negotiating SLA contracts, guarantees or penalties
• 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 15/46 Real-time negotiation between users and providers or operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/805 Bidding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2013 Fixed data network, e.g. PDN, ATM, B-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/56 On line or real-time flexible agreements between service providers and telecoms operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7457 Biding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/81 Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user

Abstract

A method of and system for providing opportunistic internet connections is disclosed. The method and system receive a request from a first electronic device having network account with a first entity to negotiate a connection for a second electronic device; determine a network account associated with the second electronic device; and automatically connect the second electronic device in accordance with one or more rules including determination of a tariff for making the connection.

Claims

1. A method of providing opportunistic internet connections, comprising:

receiving a request from a first electronic device having network account with a first entity to negotiate a connection for a second electronic device;

determining a network account associated with the second electronic device; and

automatically connecting the second electronic device in accordance with one or more rules including determination of a tariff for making the connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network account associated with the second electronic device is with a second entity, and wherein automatically connecting the second device includes negotiating the tariff for making the connection.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein negotiating a tariff comprises:

receiving one or more negotiation rules from a negotiation server associated with the second electronic device;

comparing the one or more negotiation rules from the negotiation server associated with the second electronic device with one or more pre-authorized rules associated with the first electronic device; and

accepting the tariff if the rules from the negotiation server associated with the second electronic device do not conflict with the one or more pre-authorized rules associated with the first electronic device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more negotiation rules from the negotiation server associated with the second electronic device includes rules indicating one or more of the minimum connection speed required and a minimum acceptable quality factor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein network account associated with the second electronic device is with the first entity, and the first electronic device connects to the second electronic device remotely by roaming through a network associated with the second entity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a network account associated with the second electronic device comprises performing a DNS lookup of the second electronic device to find a negotiation server associated with the second electronic device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the network account associated with the second electronic device is with a second entity, and wherein the second entity is a second internet service provider different from the first internet service provider.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electronic device connects to the network via the first entity after the tariff has been determined.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first entity is a first internet service provider.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first entity is a dedicated secure virtual private domain (SVPD) service provider.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein upon completion of the connection, the tariff is calculated based on metadata associated with the connection.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the metadata includes one or more of the duration of the connection, the amount of data exchanged, and the protocols used.

13. A system for automatically negotiating network connections comprising:

a financial server configured to create a financial account associated with a secure virtual private domain;

a negotiation server configured to automatically negotiate tariffs for connecting one or more devices in the secure virtual private domain to one or more network carriers;

a settlement server for processing usage data upon completion of a network connection; and

a secure domain name server for storing records associated with the one or more devices in the secure virtual private domain.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the financial server is configured to process tariff payments from one or more of a checking account, savings account, or credit card.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the negotiation server is configured to automatically negotiate tariffs based on one or more rules selected by a domain controller associated with the secure virtual private domain.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more rules includes a rule specifying a connection fee schedule.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more rules includes a rule specifying a quality of service metric.

18. A method of providing opportunistic internet connections, comprising:

automatically determining a tariff in order to access a network of a network provider so as to allow a communication device not having a network account with the network provider to connect to the network through a second communication device having a different network account.

19. A method of claim 18, wherein automatically determining a tariff includes automatically negotiating the tariff when the different network account is with a different network provider.

20. A method of claim 18, wherein automatically determining a tariff includes a predetermined tariff when the different network account is with the same network provider.