Verifiable device assisted service usage billing with integrated accounting, mediation accounting, and multi-account

• US 20100191576A1
• 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 8,321,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• 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 communications device implements a service policy for assisting billing for the communications device use of a service on a network; and monitors use of the service based on the service policy, in which a local service usage is synchronized with a network based service usage.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor of a communications device configured to;

implement a first service policy for assisting billing for the communications device use of a first service on a first network; and

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

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

wherein a local service usage is synchronized with a network based service usage.

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

determine bill by account information based on the monitored use of the first service; and

report the bill by account information.

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

determine bill by account information based on the monitored use of the first service, wherein the bill by account information associates the monitored use of the first service based on one or more of the following;

application type, content type, network address identifier, transaction, and network chatter; and

report the bill by account information.

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

determine bill by account information based on the monitored use of the first service; and

send a billing report to a billing server, wherein the billing report includes billing allocations based on one or more of the following;

service usage information for an ambient service, service usage information for a transaction based service, service usage information for a partner application, and service usage information for network chatter.

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

report a cost of service usage for the communications device based on one or more of the following;

a network address identifier, an application type, a service type, a content type, a time of day, and an associated service usage level.

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

determine a cost projection for a projected service usage for the communications device, wherein the cost projection excludes service usage costs for the communications device that are related to one or more of the following;

network chatter and bill by account.

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

determine a cost projection for a projected service usage for the communications device; and

display a notification, the notification including the cost projection.

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

determine if the monitored use of the first service exceeds a service usage limit setting of a first service plan associated with the communications device, wherein the use of the first service results in a service cost overage, and wherein the service usage limit setting is stored in the communications device, and the service usage limit setting is associated with a service usage level record stored in a network device; and

billing for the service cost overage.

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

receive network based service usage information;

determine if the monitored use of the first service exceeds a service usage limit setting of a first service plan associated with the communications device using the network based service usage information, wherein the use of the first service results in a service cost overage, and wherein the service usage limit setting is stored in the communications device, and the service usage limit setting is associated with a service usage level record stored in a network device; and

billing for the service cost overage.

10. A method, comprising:

implementing a first service policy for assisting billing for the communications device use of a first service on a first network; and

monitoring use of the first service using a processor of the communications device based on the first service policy, wherein a local service usage is synchronized with a network based service usage.

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

implementing a first service policy for assisting billing for the communications device use of a first service on a first network; and

monitoring use of the first service based on the first service policy,

wherein a local service usage is synchronized with a network based service usage.

12. A system, comprising:

a processor of a communications device configured to;

implement a first service policy for assisting billing for the communications device use of a first service on a first network; and

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

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

wherein the implementation of the first service policy is verified.

13. A system, comprising:

a processor of a communications device configured to;

implement a first billing policy for assisting billing for the communications device use of a first service on a first network; and

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

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

wherein the implementation of the first billing policy is verified based at least on a periodic synchronization of a local service usage with a network based service usage.

14. A system, comprising:

a processor of a network device configured to;

implement a first service policy for assisting billing for a first communications device use of a first service on a first network; and

monitor use of the first service by the first communications device based on the first service policy; and

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

wherein a local service usage is synchronized with a network based service usage.

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

monitor service usage by the first communications device to bill by account.

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

monitor service usage by the first communications device to facilitate bill by account, wherein the bill by account for the first service is controlled by a service provider, a mobile virtual network operator, or a virtual service provider.

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

receive a billing report including device based service usage billing information from the first communications device;

verify the billing report; and

send the billing report to a billing server.

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

collect a plurality of network based service usage measurements for the first communications device;

receive a billing report including a plurality of device based service usage measurements from the first communications device; and

compare the plurality of network based service usage measurements and plurality of the device based service usage measurements to verify the billing report.

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

determine bill by account information for a plurality of service usage measurements for the first communications device; and

report the bill by account information to a billing server.

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

determine bill by account information for a plurality of service usage measurements for the first communications device, wherein the bill by account information categorizes service usage based on one or more of the following;

application type, content type, website, transaction and network chatter; and

report the bill by account information to a billing server.

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

determine bill by account information for a plurality of service usage measurements for the first communications device; and

send a billing report, wherein the billing report includes billing allocations based on one or more of the following;

service usage information for an ambient service, service usage information for a transaction based service, service usage information for a partner application, and service usage information for network chatter.

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

report billing for service usage information for the first communications device based on one or more of the following;

network address identifier, application, service type, content type, time of day and associated service usage level.

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

determine if the use of the first service by the first communications device exceeds a service usage limit for a first service plan associated with the first communications device, wherein the use of the first service by the first communications device results in a service cost overage; and

billing for the service cost overage.

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

associate a service usage limit record with a service usage limit setting, wherein the service usage limit setting is based on a service usage limit of a first service plan associated with the first communications device, and wherein the service usage limit setting is stored in the first communications device, and the service usage limit record is stored in the network device;

determine if the use of the first service by the first communications device exceeds the service usage limit setting, wherein the use of the first service by the first communications device results in a service cost overage; and

billing for the service cost overage.

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

associate a service usage limit record with a service usage limit setting, wherein the service usage limit setting is based on a service usage limit of a first service plan associated with the first communications device, and wherein the service usage limit setting is stored in the first communications device, and the service usage limit record is stored in the network device;

determine if the use of the first service by the first communications device exceeds the service usage limit setting using network based service usage information, wherein the use of the first service by the first communications device results in a service cost overage; and

billing for the service cost overage.

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

associate a service usage limit record with a service usage limit setting, wherein the service usage limit setting is based on a service usage limit for the first communications device that is received or requested from a billing system, an intermediary billing system, or the first communications device, and wherein the service usage limit setting is stored in the first communications device, and the service usage limit record is stored in the network device;

determine if the use of the first service by the first communications device exceeds the to service usage limit setting using network based service usage information, wherein the use of the first service by the first communications device results in a service cost overage; and

billing for the service cost overage.

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

determine a cost projection for a projected service usage for the first communications device, wherein the cost projection excludes service usage costs for the first communications device that are related to one or more of the following;

network chatter and bill by account.

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

determine a cost projection for a projected service usage for the first communications device; and

send a notification to the first communications device, the notification including the cost projection.

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

perform deep packet inspection to monitor service usage by the first communications device based on the first service policy;

send a notification to the first communications device, the notification including the monitored service usage by the first communications device; and

report billing for the monitored service usage by the first communications device to the first communications device or to a billing server.

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

perform deep packet inspection to monitor service usage by the first communications device based on the first service policy;

send a notification to the first communications device, the notification including the monitored service usage by the first communications device;

implement a deep packet control policy based on the first service policy;

store the monitored service usage in a service usage history based on the first service policy; and

determine billing for the monitored service usage based on the first service policy.

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

perform deep packet inspection to monitor service usage by the first communications device based on the first service policy;

send a notification to the first communications device, the notification including the monitored service usage by the first communications device;

implement a deep packet control policy based on the first service policy;

store the monitored service usage in a service usage history based on the first service policy;

determine billing for the monitored service usage based on the first service policy; and

communicate with a service processor located on the first communications device using a service control server link.

32. The system recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a billing server; and

a service usage monitoring aggregation and billing intermediary server in communication with the first communications device, wherein the service usage monitoring aggregation and billing intermediary server collects device based service usage information and network based service usage information, and wherein the intermediate service usage monitoring aggregation server is integrated with or in communication with the billing server.

33. The system recited in claim 14, further comprising:

collect device based service usage information and network based service usage information, wherein the network based service usage information is based at least in part on a CDR information feed; and

determine a billing offset based on the collected device service usage information and network based service usage information, wherein the billing offset is reported to one or more of the following;

a billing server, a billing intermediary server, and the first communications device.

34. A system, comprising:

a processor of a network device configured to;

implement a first service policy for assisting billing for the first communications device use of a first service on a first network; and

monitor use of the first service by the first communications device based on the first service policy; and

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

wherein the implementation of the first service policy is verified.

35. A system, comprising:

a processor of a network device configured to;

implement a first billing policy for assisting billing for the first communications device use of a first service on a first network; and

monitor use of the first service by the first communications device based on the first billing policy; and

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

wherein the implementation of the first billing policy is verified based at least on a periodic synchronization of a local service usage located on the first communications device with a network based service usage.

36. A method, comprising:

implementing a first service policy for assisting billing for a first communications device use of a first service on a first network; and

monitoring use of the first service by the first communications device based on the first service policy using a processor of the network device.

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

implementing a first service policy for assisting billing for a first communications device use of a first service on a first network; and

monitoring use of the first service by the first communications device based on the first service policy.