Verifiable service billing for intermediate networking devices

• US 20100188994A1
• Filed: 03/02/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Headwater Research LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Original Assignee: Greg Raleigh
• Inventors: Raleigh, Gregory G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,023,425 B2
• 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, an intermediate networking device provides a service intermediary or intermediate connection between a network and one or more communications devices; implements a service policy set for assisting control of the intermediate networking device use of a service on the network, in which the service policy set includes one or more service policies, each policy being associated with either the intermediate networking device or a communications device; and monitors use of the service based on the service policy set; and in which the implementation of the service policy set is verified.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor of an intermediate networking device configured to;

provide a service intermediary or intermediate connection between a first network and one or more communications devices;

implement a first service policy set for assisting control of the intermediate networking device use of a first service on the first network, wherein the first service policy set includes one or more service policies, each policy being associated with either the intermediate networking device or a communications device; and

monitor use of the first service based on the first service policy set; and

a memory of the intermediate networking device coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions,

wherein the implementation of the first service policy set is verified.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more communications devices include one or more mobile communications devices, and the service includes one or more Internet based services.

3. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more communications devices include one or more of the following:

a mobile phone, a PDA, an eBook reader, a music device, an entertainment/gaming device, a computer, laptop, a netbook, a home networking system, and a modem or communications device supporting machine to machine communications.

4. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the intermediate networking device communicates, forwards, routes, passes or bridges network communications between the first network and the one or more of the communications devices.

5. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the intermediate networking device includes a first modem to connect with the first network and a second modem to connect with the one or more communications devices.

6. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the intermediate networking device includes a first modem to connect with the first network and a second modem to connect with the one or more communications devices, and wherein the first modem communicates using one or more of the following communication protocols:

WiFi, WWAN, Bluetooth, Ziggby, satellite, DSL, and DOCSIS/cable.

7. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the intermediate networking device includes a first modem to connect with the first network and a second modem to connect with the one or more communications devices, and wherein the second modem communicates using one or more of the following communication protocols:

WiFi, WWAN, Bluetooth, Ziggby, satellite, DSL, and DOCSIS/cable.

8. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the intermediate networking device includes one or more of the following:

a WWAN to WiFi bridge or router, a femto cell, a wired WAN access router or gateway, a DSL modem, a cable modem router, a gateway, a satellite modem router or gateway, a cell phone, a handheld device, and a computer.

9. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the implementation of the first service policy set is verified using network based service usage information.

10. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the implementation of the first service policy set is verified using device assisted service usage information.

11. The system recited in claim 1, wherein service usage notification is synchronized with a network based measure.

12. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the intermediate networking device is further configured to:

associate the monitored use based on the first service policy set with one or more billing events.

13. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the intermediate networking device is further configured to:

associate the monitored use based on the first service policy set with one or more billing events; and

report the one or more billing events to a billing system or an intermediary billing system.

14. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the intermediate networking device is further configured to:

associate the monitored use based on the first service policy set with one or more billing events for each of the one or more communications devices; and

report the one or more billing events to a billing system or an intermediary billing system, wherein the report categorizes the one or more billing events for each of the one or more communications devices.

15. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the intermediate networking device is further configured to:

associate the monitored use based on the first service policy set with one or more bill by account billing events for each of the one or more communications devices; and

report the one or more bill by account billing events to a billing system, wherein the report categorizes the one or more bill by account billing events for each of the one or more communications devices.

16. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the intermediate networking device is further configured to:

provide ambient services for the one or more communications devices that are not activated on a service plan for use of the first service on the first network.

17. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the intermediate networking device is further configured to:

aggregate a plurality of service usage measurements for the one or more communications devices use of the first service on the first network;

compare the plurality of service usage measurements to the first service policy set to verify the implementation of the first service policy set.

18. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the intermediate networking device is further configured to:

aggregate a plurality of service usage measurements for a first communications device use of the first service on the first network;

perform a responsive action if the first communications device use of the first service on the first network is out of policy, wherein the responsive action includes one or more of the following;

quarantine the first communications device, suspend the first communications device, bill for a service usage overage, route or copy device traffic to a device behavior analysis function, and notify a network manager or network troubleshooting function.

19. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the intermediate networking device is further configured to:

send a notification to a first communications device if the monitored use based on the first service policy set associated with the first communications device exceeds a service usage policy limit setting.

20. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the intermediate networking device is further configured to:

bill a service account associated with a first communications device for a service usage overage if the monitored use based on the first service policy set associated with the first communications device exceeds a service usage policy limit setting.

21. A method, comprising:

providing a service intermediary or intermediate connection between a first network and one or more communications devices;

implementing a first service policy set for assisting control of an intermediate networking device use of a first service on the first network, wherein the first service policy set includes one or more service policies, each policy being associated with either the intermediate networking device or a communications device; and

monitoring use of the first service based on the first service policy set using a processor of the intermediate networking device,

wherein the implementation of the first service policy set is verified.

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

providing a service intermediary or intermediate connection between a first network and one or more communications devices;

implementing a first service policy set for assisting control of the intermediate networking device use of a first service on the first network, wherein the first service policy set includes one or more service policies, each policy being associated with either the intermediate networking device or a communications device; and

monitoring use of the first service based on the first service policy set, wherein the implementation of the first service policy set is verified.