Network tools for analysis, design, testing, and production of services

• US 20100188993A1
• Filed: 03/02/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Headwater Research LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Original Assignee: Greg Raleigh
• Inventors: Raleigh, Gregory G.
• Application Number:
  US12/380,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20100188993A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• 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 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0876 Aspects of the degree of configuration automation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 : Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 : Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5025 : by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 : Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 : Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 : for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 : Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0236 : Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 : for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 : using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 : by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/145 : avoiding end of session, e.g. keep-alive, heartbeats, resumption message or wake-up for inactive or interrupted session
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 : Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 : Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 : including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• 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 15/49 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 : based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 : based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 : Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 : Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8055 : Selecting cheaper transport technology for a given service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 : Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 : Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 : Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 : Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/037 : of the control plane, e.g. signalling traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 : Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 : Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 : based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 : using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/12 : using signalling between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 : Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 : using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 : Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 : Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 : Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 : Management or planning

Abstract

Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a network device publishes a test service profile to a group of communications devices, in which the test service profile provides for beta testing of the test service profile for a service on a network, and the test service profile includes service policy settings; and monitors use of the service by the group of communications devices based on the test service profile.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor of a communications device configured to;

implement a first test service profile for assisting control of the communications device use of a first service on a first network, wherein the first test service profile includes a plurality of service policy settings for the communications device;

monitor use of the first service based on the first test service profile; and

modify a first service policy setting of the first test service profile based on a first service test; and

a memory of the communications device coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the communications device is a mobile communications device, and the first service includes one or more Internet based services.

3. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the communications device is further configured to:

request user input for user feedback related to the first test service profile user experience.

4. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the communications device is further configured to:

report user input for user feedback related to the first test service profile user experience.

5. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the communications device is further configured to:

detect when the communications device is connected to a second network, wherein a second test service profile is associated with the use of the first service on the second network;

implement the second test service profile for assisting control of the communications device use of the first service on the second network, wherein the second test service profile includes a plurality of service policy settings; and

monitor use of the first service by the communications device based on the second test service profile.

6. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the communications device is further configured to:

display an option to participate in a beta test, the option including an incentive to participate in the beta test.

7. A method, comprising:

implementing a first test service profile for assisting control of a communications device use of a first service on a first network, wherein the first test service profile includes a plurality of service policy settings for the communications device;

monitoring use of the first service based on the first test service profile using a processor of the communications device; and

modify a first service policy setting based on a first service test.

8. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

implementing a first test service profile for assisting control of the communications device use of a first service on a first network, wherein the first test service profile includes a plurality of service policy settings for the communications device;

monitoring use of the first service based on the first test service profile; and

modifying a first service policy setting based on a first service test.

9. A system, comprising:

a processor of a network device configured to;

publish a first test service profile to a first group of communications devices, wherein the first test service profile provides for beta testing of the first test service profile for a first service on a first network, and the first test service profile includes a plurality of service policy settings, and wherein the first group of communications devices includes a plurality of communications devices; and

monitor use of the first service by the first group of communications devices based on the first test service profile; and

a memory of the network device coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

10. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the network device is a beta test server.

11. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the monitored use of the first service by the first group of communications devices is based on network based service usage information.

12. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the monitored use of the first service by the first group of communications devices is based on device based service usage information.

13. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the first group of communications devices include a plurality of mobile communications device, and the first service includes one or more Internet based services.

14. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

receive and store the monitored use of the first service by the first group of communications devices based on the first test service profile.

15. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

report and store user input for user feedback related to the first test service profile user experience for the first group of communications devices.

16. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

request user input for user feedback related to the first test service profile user experience for the first group of communications devices.

17. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

receive and store the monitored use of the first service by the first group of communications devices based on the first test service profile; and

determine whether the first test service profile satisfies a first criteria based on the monitored use of the first service by the first group of communications devices.

18. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

receive and store the monitored use of the first service by the first group of communications devices based on the first test service profile; and

determine whether the first test service profile satisfies a first criteria based on a statistical analysis of the monitored use of the first service by the first group of communications devices.

19. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

receive and store the monitored use of the first service by the first group of communications devices based on the first test service profile; and

determine whether the first test service profile satisfies a first criteria based on a statistical analysis of the monitored use of the first service by the first group of communications devices, wherein the statistical analysis provides for isolation of statistics for one or more of the following parameters;

average service usage, probability distribution function or equivalent for service usage, cumulative distribution function or equivalent for service usage, list of service activities that cause a significant percentage of service usage, list of service usage activities that cause a small amount of service usage, real-time service usage statistics, historical service usage statistics, service usage statistics by device type, service usage statistics by device group, service usage statistics by OEM or device manufacturer, service usage statistics by access technology, service usage statistics by carrier network, service usage statistics by service owner, service usage statistics by website or network address identifier, service usage statistics by application type, service usage statistics by time of day, service usage statistics by service profile or service plan, service usage statistics by test service profile, service usage statistics by operating system, service usage statistics by content type, service usage statistics by transaction type, service usage statistics by bill by account descriptor, service usage statistics by service subsidy partner, service usage statistics by service usage activity, service usage statistics by device activity, service usage statistics by device or user location, service usage statistics by area or geography, service usage statistics by location for use, service usage statistics by user activity, service usage statistics by user, service usage statistics by user group, service usage statistics by roaming partner, service usage statistics by ad type, advertising activity or advertising partner, service cost statistics, service profitability statistics, service cost by device activity, service profitability by device activity, service cost by time of day, service cost by location, service cost by website or network address, service cost by application, service usage by service profile, service cost by service profile, service usage by ambient service activity, service cost by ambient service activity, and service cost by bill by account activity.

20. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

receive and store user feedback related to the first test service profile user experience for the first group of communications devices; and

determine whether the first test service profile satisfies a first criteria based on the user feedback.

21. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

publish a second test service profile to a second group of communications devices, wherein the second test service profile provides for beta testing of the second test service profile for the first service on the first network, and the second test service profile includes a plurality of service policy settings, and wherein the second group of communications devices includes a plurality of communications devices;

monitor use of the first service by the second group of communications devices based on the second test service profile.

22. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

detect when a first communications device is connected to a second network, wherein a second test service profile is associated with the use of the first service on the second network; and

publish the second test service profile to the first communications device.

23. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

define a first service profile based on the first test service profile; and

publish the first service profile to a second group of communications devices, wherein the first service profile provides for an implementation of the first service on the first network, and the first service profile includes a plurality of service policy settings, and wherein the second group of communications devices includes a plurality of communications devices that exceeds a number of devices included in the first group of communications devices.

24. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

partition a plurality of device groups into a plurality of secure access partitions, wherein the partitioned device groups are accessed by a first beta test user based on access privileges, wherein the access privileges allows the first beta test user to only access the one or more device groups owned by or allocated to the first beta test workstation user.

25. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

send to the first group of communications an option to participate in a beta test, the option including an incentive to participate in the beta test.

26. A method, comprising:

publishing a first test service profile to a first group of communications devices, wherein the first test service profile provides for beta testing of the first test service profile for a first service on a first network, and the first test service profile includes a plurality of service policy settings, and wherein the first group of communications devices includes a plurality of communications devices; and

monitoring use of the first service by the first group of communications devices based on the first test service profile using a processor of a network device.

27. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

publishing a first test service profile to a first group of communications devices, wherein the first test service profile provides for beta testing of the first test service profile for a first service on a first network, and the first test service profile includes a plurality of service policy settings, and wherein the first group of communications devices includes a plurality of communications devices; and

monitoring use of the first service by the first group of communications devices based on the first test service profile.