TEMPORARY INTERNET SPEED INCREASE

• US 20100299236A1
• Filed: 08/06/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: P'Simer, Leah, CASSELL, STUART
• Granted Patent: US 9,367,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5072 Grid computing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5006 Creating or negotiating SLA contracts, guarantees or penalties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A temporary Internet bandwidth increase is provided. A speed preview interface is presented for obtaining a request for an Internet bandwidth increase from a customer. The eligibility of the customer for the requested increase of the Internet bandwidth is verified. The increase of Internet bandwidth for the customer is provisioned for a predetermined period of time based on the verification of eligibility of the customer. The predetermined period of time may be a temporary fixed period of time or a period of time based on billing status. When the predetermined period of time is a temporary fixed period of time, the increase in Internet bandwidth is terminated after lapse of the temporary fixed period of time.

Claims

1. A method for providing a temporary Internet bandwidth increase, comprising:

presenting a speed preview interface for obtaining a request for an Internet bandwidth increase from a customer;

verifying eligibility of the customer for the requested increase of the Internet bandwidth; and

provisioning the increase of Internet bandwidth for the customer for a predetermined period of time based on the verification of eligibility of the customer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period of time is a period of time determined by billing status.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period of time is a temporary fixed period of time.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising terminating the increase in Internet bandwidth after lapse of the temporary fixed period of time.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising terminating the increase in Internet bandwidth unless the customer requests a permanent tier modification.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying the eligibility of the customer comprises obtaining billing data and information regarding tier speeds and prices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the provisioning an increase of Internet bandwidth for the customer further comprises creating an upgrade order in the billing system for a permanent increase in Internet bandwidth for the customer.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprises monitoring and managing the high speed Internet network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the monitoring and managing the high speed Internet network comprises monitoring and managing a processing device of the customer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the processing device of the customer is a modem.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprises retrieving a current subscription tier of the user and service information regarding the increase in Internet bandwidth.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the retrieving service information regarding the increase in Internet bandwidth further comprises generating a status for the increase in Internet bandwidth, a start and stop time, a time remaining.

13. A system for providing a temporary Internet bandwidth increase, comprising:

a portal for presenting a speed preview interface for obtaining a request for an Internet bandwidth increase from customer;

a middleware module, coupled to the portal, for receiving the request for the Internet bandwidth increase from the customer and verifying eligibility of the customer for the requested increase of the Internet bandwidth; and

a cable modem termination system, coupled to a service broker, for provisioning the increase of Internet bandwidth for the customer for a predetermined period of time based on the verification of eligibility of the customer.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the predetermined period of time is a period of time determined by billing status.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the predetermined period of time is a temporary fixed period of time.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the cable modem termination system terminates the increase in Internet bandwidth after lapse of the temporary fixed period of time.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the service broker obtains billing data and information regarding tier speeds and prices.

18. A computer readable medium including executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, provides a temporary Internet bandwidth increase by:

presenting a speed preview interface for obtaining a request for an Internet bandwidth increase from a customer;

verifying eligibility of the customer for the requested increase of the Internet bandwidth; and

provisioning the increase of Internet bandwidth for the customer for a predetermined period of time based on the verification of eligibility of the customer.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the predetermined period of time is temporary fixed period of time.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18 further comprising terminating the increase in Internet bandwidth after lapse of the temporary fixed period of time.