MOBILE APPLICATION MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20090177567A1
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Storey, Marvin E., Espinoza-Dawson, Venetia, Zerbe, James S., McKerlich, Ian, McNeel, Warren
• Granted Patent: US 9,633,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2416 Real-time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/07 Split billing, i.e. both A-party and B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers

Abstract

A method and system to test, monitor, and share revenue associated with third-party software applications operating on mobile devices over a network operator'"'"'s wireless network. An application may be tested by the mobile application monitoring system to simulate the expected load of the application on a mobile device and the wireless network utilized by the mobile device, and to determine any services utilized by the application. Based on the simulation, the system determines a compensation arrangement under which revenue associated with the application will be shared between the network operator and the application provider. In some embodiments, the compensation arrangement is determined from a variable reward table. Revenue is shared inversely with an application'"'"'s impact on customers and on the network operator.

Claims

1. A system for sharing revenue between an application provider associated with an application that operates on a mobile device and a network operator that operates a wireless telecommunications network that is utilized by the mobile device, the system comprising:

a monitoring module configured to monitor the operation of an application that is created by an application provider and resides on a mobile device, the mobile device utilizing a wireless telecommunications network operated by a network operator, the monitoring module;

measuring an impact on the wireless network by the operation of the application,

assessing the operation of the application to identify one or more services utilized during the operation of the application, and

determining a revenue sharing arrangement between the application provider and the network operator for operation of the application on mobile devices, wherein the revenue sharing arrangement is based on the measured impact of the application on the wireless network and the identified services utilized during the operation of the application; and

a reconciliation module configured to direct the distribution of revenue associated with the application to the application provider and the network provider in accordance with the revenue sharing arrangement.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a greater amount is distributed under the revenue sharing arrangement to the network operator if complex services are utilized and a lesser amount is distributed to the network operator if simple services are utilized.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a greater amount is distributed under the revenue sharing arrangement to the network operator if services of greater value are utilized and a lesser amount is distributed to the network operator if services of lesser value are utilized.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a greater amount is distributed under the revenue sharing arrangement to the network operator as the number of utilized services increases.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the services are network or device services.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the impact on the wireless network includes the bandwidth consumed by the application.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the impact on the wireless network includes the frequency that services are called by the application.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the impact on the wireless network includes the number and type of access points utilized by the application.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the impact on the wireless network includes the volume of customer care calls as a result of the application.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the amount distributed to the network operator increases as the impact on the wireless network increases.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the operation of the application on a mobile device to measure an impact on the mobile device imposed by the application, wherein the revenue sharing arrangement is further based on the measured impact on the mobile device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the impact on the mobile device includes the processing burden on the mobile device processor.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the revenue associated with the application includes advertising revenue.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the revenue sharing arrangement is determined using a table having one axis corresponding to the impact of the application on the wireless network and another axis corresponding to the utilized services.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising generating an interface for the application provider to view the measured impact of the application on the wireless network.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface depicts how to increase the revenue share to be paid to the application provider for operation of the application on mobile devices.

17. A method of charging an application provider to allow an application to operate on mobile devices and utilize a wireless telecommunications network operated by a network operator, the method comprising:

monitoring the operation of an application created by an application provider and residing on a mobile device to measure an impact on the wireless network by the operation of the application;

assessing the operation of the application to identify one or more services utilized during the operation of the application;

determining a cost to be paid by the application provider for operation of the application on mobile devices, wherein the determined cost is based on the measured impact of the application on the wireless network and the identified services utilized during the operation of the application; and

charging the application provider in accordance with the determined cost.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the determined cost is increased if complex services are utilized and decreased if simple services are utilized.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the determined cost is increased if services of greater value are utilized and decreased if services of lesser value are utilized.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the determined cost increases as the number of utilized services increases.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the services are network or device services.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the impact on the wireless network includes the bandwidth consumed by the application.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the impact on the wireless network includes the frequency that services are called by the application.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the impact on the wireless network includes the number and type of access points utilized by the application.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the impact on the wireless network includes the volume of customer care calls as a result of the application.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the determined cost increases as the impact on the wireless network increases.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising monitoring the operation of the application on a mobile device to measure an impact on the mobile device imposed by the application, wherein the determined cost is further based on the measured impact on the mobile device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the impact on the mobile device includes the processing burden on the mobile device processor.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the determined cost is calculated by a revenue share, with a portion of revenue associated with the application paid to a network operator and a portion of the revenue associated with the application paid to the application provider.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein the cost is determined using a table having one axis corresponding to the impact of the application on the wireless network and another axis corresponding to the utilized services.

31. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating an interface for the application provider to view the measured impact of the application on the wireless network.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the interface for the application provider depicts how to lower the cost to be paid for operation of the application on mobile devices.

33. A method of determining an amount to charge an application provider to allow an application to operate on mobile devices and utilize a wireless telecommunications network operated by a network operator, the method comprising:

receiving an application from an application provider, the application to be deployed on mobile devices that utilize a wireless network;

testing the received application to estimate an impact on the wireless network by the operation of the received application;

assessing the operation of the received application to identify one or more services utilized during the operation of the application;

determining an initial cost to be paid by the application provider for operation of the application on mobile devices, wherein the initial cost is based on the estimated impact of the application on the wireless network and the identified services utilized during the operation of the application; and

charging the application provider in accordance with the initial cost.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

monitoring the actual impact of the application on the wireless network following deployment of the application to mobile devices;

determining a final cost based on the actual impact of the application; and

charging the application provider in accordance with the final cost.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the monitoring is performed periodically.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the monitoring is performed continuously.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the actual impact on the wireless network includes the bandwidth consumed by the application.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the actual impact on the wireless network includes the frequency that services are called by the application.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the actual impact on the wireless network includes the number and type of access points utilized by the application.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the actual impact on the wireless network includes the volume of customer care calls as a result of the application.

41. The method of claim 33, further comprising testing the received application on a mobile device to estimate an impact on the mobile device by the operation of the application, wherein the initial cost is further based on the estimated impact on the mobile device.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the estimated impact on the mobile device includes the processing burden on the mobile device processor.

43. The method of claim 33, wherein the initial cost and final cost are calculated by a revenue share, with a portion of revenue associated with the application paid to a network operator and a portion of the revenue associated with the application is paid to the application provider.

44. The method of claim 33, wherein the initial cost and final cost is determined using a table having one axis corresponding to the impact of the application on the wireless network and another axis corresponding to the utilized services.

45. The method of claim 34, further comprising generating an interface for the application provider to view the actual impact of the application on the wireless network.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the interface for the application depicts how to lower the cost to be paid for operation of the application on mobile devices.

47. A system for determining a revenue sharing arrangement between an application provider associated with an application that operates on a mobile device and a network operator that operates a wireless telecommunications network that is utilized by the mobile device, the system comprising:

a testing module that receives an application from an application provider, the application to be deployed on mobile devices that utilize a wireless network operated by a network operator, the testing module testing the received application to estimate an impact on the wireless network by the operation of the received application and assessing the operation of the received application to identify one or more services utilized during the operation of the application;

an estimation module for determining an initial revenue sharing arrangement between the application provider and the network operator for operation of the application on mobile devices, wherein the initial revenue sharing arrangement is based on the estimated impact of the application on the wireless network and the identified services utilized during the operation of the application; and

a reconciliation module for directing the distribution of revenue associated with the application to the application provider and the network provider in accordance with the initial revenue sharing arrangement following installation of the application on mobile devices.

48. The system of claim 47, further comprising a monitoring module for monitoring the actual impact of the application on the wireless network following installation of the application on mobile devices and determining a final revenue sharing arrangement based on the actual impact of the application, wherein the reconciliation module subsequently directs the distribution of revenue in accordance with the final revenue sharing arrangement.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the monitoring is performed periodically.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein the monitoring is performed continuously.

51. The system of claim 48, wherein the actual impact on the wireless network includes the bandwidth consumed by the application.

52. The system of claim 48, wherein the actual impact on the wireless network includes the frequency that services are called by the application.

53. The system of claim 48, wherein the actual impact on the wireless network includes the number and type of access points utilized by the application.

54. The system of claim 48, wherein the actual impact on the wireless network includes the volume of customer care calls as a result of the application.

55. The system of claim 47, wherein the testing module further tests the received application on a mobile device to estimate an impact on the mobile device by the operation of the application, and wherein the initial revenue sharing arrangement is further based on the estimated impact on the mobile device.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the estimated impact on the mobile device includes the processing burden on the mobile device processor.

57. The system of claim 47, wherein the revenue associated with the application includes advertising revenue.

58. The system of claim 47, wherein the revenue sharing arrangement is determined using a table having one axis corresponding to the impact of the application on the wireless network and another axis corresponding to the utilized services.

59. The system of claim 48, further comprising generating an interface for the application provider to view the actual impact of the application on the wireless network.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the interface depicts how to increase the revenue share to be paid to the application provider for operation of the application on mobile devices.