DYNAMIC USAGE INEQUITY DETECTION AND/OR REMEDY

• US 20110086610A1
• Filed: 10/12/2009
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baldwin, Richard, Marini, Neil
• Granted Patent: US 8,958,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/122 Counter-measures against attacks; Protection against rogue devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/43 using shared identity modules, e.g. SIM sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

The described subject matter relates to an architecture that can dynamically detect and/or automatically remedy service usage inequities in a communications network. In particular, based upon a comparison of incoming call detail records (CDRs) to various subscriber information (e.g., service plan, blacklisted devices for the service plan, historic or current billing cycle usage, etc.), the architecture can identify when a usage inequity occurs or is likely to occur, substantially in real time.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates automatic or dynamic detection or remedy of service usage inequities in a communications network, comprising:

an extraction component that retrieves subscriber information associated with a subscriber to a communications network, wherein the subscriber information includes at least a call detail record (CDR) associated with a communication transaction of the subscriber; and

a detection component that examines the subscriber information and that generates a data usage event message when a usage inequity is identified.

2. The system of claim 1, the extraction component retrieves the CDR from a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Serving Support Node (SGSN) associated with the communications network.

3. The system of claim 1, the subscriber information further comprises rules data or provision data that includes data relating to at least one of a provisioned service agreement agreed to by the subscriber, enabled features associated with the service agreement, terms and conditions associated with the service agreement, other available service plans.

4. The system of claim 3, the extraction component retrieves the provision data from an accounts data store associated with the communications network.

5. The system of claim 1, the usage inequity relates to avoidable high data usage charges deemed likely to arise during a billing cycle or otherwise, or to usage that is more suitable for a disparate service agreement or features thereof.

6. The system of claim 5, the detection component identifies the avoidable high data usage charges by forecasting usage relative to time remaining in a billing cycle or by identifying usage that surpasses a respective threshold at one or more periods of a billing cycle.

7. The system of claim 1, the usage inequity relates to a usage violation in which usage of the communications network violates a provisioned service agreement agreed to by the subscriber.

8. The system of claim 7, the detection component, in order to identify the usage violation, converts an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) included in the CDR into an IMEI type that identifies a type or class of equipment employed for the communication transaction.

9. The system of claim 8, the detection component, in order to identify the usage violation, compares the IMEI type to allowable equipment included in the subscriber information or to a blacklist equipment list based upon the subscriber information.

10. The system of claim 1, the usage inequity is at least one of a Subscriber Information Module (SIM) swap to an unauthorized or blacklisted device or a communication-based device tethering of user equipment to an unauthorized or blacklisted device.

11. The system of claim 1, the usage inequity is identified substantially in real time.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

a control service component that receives the data usage event message and that determines, based upon rules data, a suitable treatment to apply in connection with the subscriber;

or

an interface component that enables authorized administrators to create or update the rules data.

13. The system of claim 12, the suitable treatment includes at least one of (1) a notification to the subscriber, wherein the notification includes one or more of the usage inequity, suggested remedies, potential actions should the usage inequity continue, or further contact information;

(2) facilitate additional or more detailed monitoring of data usages associated with the subscriber;

(3) a restriction to data usage or services associated with the subscriber;

or (4) a termination of data usage or services associated with the subscriber.

14. The system of claim 13, the control service component facilitates transmission of the notification to the subscriber by way of short message service (SMS), email, or mail.

15. The system of claim 14, the control service component automatically facilitates an update to a provisioned service agreement or associated features when the subscriber authorizes the update or requests an exemption in response to the notification.

16. The system of claim 12, the control service component does not apply treatment during a provisional period for a newly created or updated rule in which the service component instead facilitates an audit trail to measure the effects of treatment defined by the newly created or updated rule.

17. A method for automatically or dynamically detecting or remedying service usage inequities for a communications network, comprising:

receive at least one call detail record (CDR) associated with at least one communication transaction of at least one subscriber to the communications network;

obtaining additional subscriber information relating to service agreements or to features, options, terms, conditions, or rules data related thereto;

comparing CDR data to the additional subscriber information for determining an usage inequity; and

outputting a data usage event message describing the usage inequity.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising at least one of the following acts:

determining the usage inequity when avoidable high data usage charges are inferred to arise during a current billing cycle;

determining the usage inequity when usage of the communication network violates a provisioned service agreement agreed to by the at least one subscriber;

translating an International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) included in the at least one CDR to an IMEI type that indicates a type or class of equipment employed for the at least one communication transaction associated with the at least one CDR;

comparing the IMEI type to allowable equipment included in the additional subscriber information or to a blacklist equipment list particular to a service agreement associated with the at least one subscriber;

utilizing the IMEI or the IMEI type for detecting an unauthorized subscriber information module (SIM) swap or an unauthorized communication-based device tethering;

or

outputting the data usage event message substantially in real time.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising at least one of the following acts:

providing an interface for enabling authorized administrators to create or update the rules data;

determining a treatment to apply based upon the data usage event message and the rules data;

propagating a notification associated with the treatment to the subscriber by way of at least one of short message service (SMS), email, or mail;

automatically facilitating an update to a provisioned service or an agreement thereof or associated features when the at least one subscriber authorizes the update or requests an exemption in response to the notification;

foregoing application of the treatment during a provisional period for a newly created or newly updated rule;

or

generating an audit trail for measuring effects of treatment defined by the newly created or newly updated rule during the provisional period.

20. A system that facilitates automatic or dynamic detection or remedy of service usage inequities in a communications network, comprising:

an extraction component that retrieves subscriber information associated with a subscriber to a communications network, wherein the subscriber information includes at least a call detail record (CDR) associated with a communication transaction of the subscriber;

a detection component that examines the subscriber information and that generates a data usage event message when a usage inequity is identified; and

a control service component that receives the data usage event message and that determines, based upon rules data, a suitable treatment to apply in connection with the subscriber.