SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING VIRTUAL USER GROUPS IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- communicating an access request to a network element, wherein the access request is associated with network authentication relating to a subscriber; and
receiving an access response that includes a profile associated with the subscriber, wherein the profile includes a group attribute that defines the subscriber as being part of a group of subscribers sharing a network data plan that defines a data allotment assigned to the group over a specified time interval.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided in one example and includes communicating an access request to a network element, the access request is associated with network authentication relating to a subscriber. The method also includes receiving an access response that includes a profile associated with the subscriber. The profile can include a group attribute that defines the subscriber as being part of a group of subscribers sharing a network data plan, which defines a data allotment assigned to the group over a specified time interval. In more detailed embodiments, a unique data string sent by an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting element is received, where the unique data string identifies a full set of subscribers belonging to the group. Data underutilization of a first subscriber is offset by data overutilization of a second subscriber, where a summation of the data underutilization and the data overutilization do not exceed the data allotment assigned.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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communicating an access request to a network element, wherein the access request is associated with network authentication relating to a subscriber; and receiving an access response that includes a profile associated with the subscriber, wherein the profile includes a group attribute that defines the subscriber as being part of a group of subscribers sharing a network data plan that defines a data allotment assigned to the group over a specified time interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Logic encoded in one or more tangible media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor operable to perform operations comprising:
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communicating an access request to a network element, wherein the access request is associated with network authentication relating to a subscriber; and receiving an access response that includes a profile associated with the subscriber, wherein the profile includes a group attribute that defines the subscriber as being part of a group of subscribers sharing a network data plan that defines a data allotment assigned to the group over a specified time interval. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus, comprising:
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a memory element configured to store data, a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data, and a group module configured to; communicate an access request to a network element, wherein the access request is associated with network authentication relating to a subscriber; and receive an access response that includes a profile associated with the subscriber, wherein the profile includes a group attribute that defines the subscriber as being part of a group of subscribers sharing a network data plan that defines a data allotment assigned to the group over a specified time interval. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification