METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SENDING COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20110117880A1
• Filed: 11/15/2010
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Du, Zhimin, Li, Yan
• Granted Patent: US 8,526,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• 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 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8088 involving increased rates, e.g. spam messaging billing differentiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for determining a charge for a communication with one or more devices may include identifying a communication from a first device to a second device. The methods and apparatus may further include determining if the first device has a relationship with the second device by identifying another communication between the first device and the second device prior to the time of the communication, and determining a charge amount based upon the determining.

Claims

1. A method of determining a charge for a communication with one or more devices, comprising:

identifying a communication from a first device to a second device;

determining if the first device has a relationship with the second device by identifying another communication between the first device and the second device prior to the time of the communication;

applying a first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined; and

applying a second charge amount for the communication if the relationship is not determined.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the another communication is based upon communications stored on a connection list.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the connection list is generated by a network based upon communications that occur over the network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the another communication further comprises at least one of identifying a response from the second device to the first device, or identifying an origination by the second device to the first device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the another communication further comprises searching billing records corresponding to at least one of the first device or the second device to identify the another communication.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if the first device has the relationship with the second device further comprises determining an existence of the relationship within a configurable time period from a time of the communication.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein applying the first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined further comprises initially applying an initial charge amount and subsequently applying an adjustment amount after the relationship is determined, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein initially applying the initial charge amount further comprises initially applying the second charge amount.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if the first device has the relationship with the second device further comprises determining whether the first device is classified as a special user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the special user is one of a preferred contact, an authorized public information promulgator, or an emergency system broadcaster.

12. At least one processor configured to determine a charge for a communication with one or more devices, comprising:

a first module for identifying a communication from a first device to a second device;

a second module for determining if the first device has a relationship with the second device by identifying another communication between the first device and the second device prior to the time of the communication;

a third module for applying a first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined; and

a fourth module for applying a second charge amount for the communication if the relationship is not determined.

13. A computer program product for determining a charge for a communication with one or more devices, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction executable by the computer to identify a communication from a first device to a second device;

at least one instruction executable by the computer to determine if the first device has a relationship with the second device by identifying another communication between the first device and the second device prior to the time of the communication;

at least one instruction executable by the computer to apply a first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined; and

at least one instruction executable by the computer to apply a second charge amount for the communication if the relationship is not determined.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

means for identifying a communication from a first device to a second device;

means for determining if the first device has a relationship with the second device by identifying another communication between the first device and the second device prior to the time of the communication;

means for applying a first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined; and

means for applying a second charge amount for the communication if the relationship is not determined.

15. An apparatus for determining a charge for a communication with one or more devices, comprising:

a communication receiving component operable to identify a communication from a first device to a second device;

a communication relationship determiner operable to determine if the first device has a relationship with the second device by identifying another communication between the first device and the second device prior to the time of the communication;

a billing component operable to apply a first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined; and

the billing component operable further to apply a second charge amount for the communication if the relationship is not determined.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein identifying the another communication is based upon communications stored on a connection list.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a communication history data store operable to generate the connection list based upon communications that occur over the network.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein identifying the another communication further comprises at least one of identifying a response from the second device to the first device, or identifying an origination by the second device to the first device.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein identifying the another communication further comprises searching billing records corresponding to at least one of the first device or the second device to identify the another communication.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the communication relationship determiner is further operable to determine an existence of the relationship within a configurable time period from a time of the communication.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein applying the first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined further comprises initially applying an initial charge amount and subsequently applying an adjustment amount after the relationship is determined, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein initially applying the initial charge amount further comprises initially applying the second charge amount.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.

24. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the communication relationship determiner is further operable to determine whether the first device is classified as a special user.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the special user is one of a preferred contact, an authorized public information promulgator, or an emergency system broadcaster.

26. A method for receiving a charge at a wireless device for sending a communication to a second device, the method comprising:

sending a communication from a wireless device to a second device;

receiving a first charge for sending the communication if a relationship exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication; and

receiving a second charge for sending the communication if a relationship does not exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the relationship further comprises determining an existence of the relationship within a configurable time period from a time of the communication.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first charge amount further comprises initially applying an initial charge amount and subsequently applying an adjustment amount after the relationship is determined, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein initially applying the initial charge amount further comprises initially applying the second charge amount.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.

31. At least one processor configured to receive a charge at a wireless device for sending a communication to a second device, comprising:

a first module for sending a communication from a wireless device to a second device;

a second module for receiving a first charge for sending the communication if a relationship exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication; and

a third module for receiving a second charge for sending the communication if a relationship does not exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication.

32. A computer program product for receiving a charge at a wireless device for sending a communication to a second device, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction executable by the computer to send a communication from a wireless device to a second device;

at least one instruction executable by the computer to receive a first charge for sending the communication if a relationship exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication; and

at least one instruction executable by the computer to receive a second charge for sending the communication if a relationship does not exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication.

33. An apparatus comprising:

means for sending a communication from a wireless device to a second device;

means for receiving a first charge for sending the communication if a relationship exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication; and

means for receiving a second charge for sending the communication if a relationship does not exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication.

34. An apparatus for receiving a charge at a wireless device for sending a communication to a second device, the apparatus comprising:

a communication request component operable to send a communication from a wireless device to a second device;

the communication request component is further operable to receive a first charge for sending the communication if a relationship exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication; and

the communication request component is further operable to receive a second charge for sending the communication if a relationship does not exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein determining the relationship further comprises determining an existence of the relationship within a configurable time period from a time of the communication.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the first charge amount further comprises initially applying an initial charge amount and subsequently applying an adjustment amount after the relationship is determined, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein initially applying the initial charge amount further comprises initially applying the second charge amount.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.