System and Methods for User-Centric Mobile Device-Based Data Communications Cost Monitoring and Control

• US 20110276442A1
• Filed: 05/04/2010
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amdocs Canadian Managed Services Inc. (Amdocs Ltd.), Amdocs Development Limited (Amdocs Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Bridgewater Systems Corp. (Amdocs Ltd.)
• Inventors: Momtahan, Parham, Jones, D. Mark, Freen, Russ
• Granted Patent: US 9,203,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1417 Advice of charge with threshold, e.g. user indicating maximum cost
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/145 trading network capacity or selecting route based on tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1492 negotiation of tariff
• 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 15/66 Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8228 Session based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8351 before establishing a communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8353 during the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/84 Types of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/844 Message, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/846 optical, e.g. icon
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/848 Tone, e.g. beeper
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/85 characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/853 Calculate maximum communication time or volume
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/204 : UMTS; GPRS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing user-centric device-based data communications cost monitoring and controls. In an embodiment, the method operates by sending a registration request associated with a subscriber session, determining current data usage associated with the subscriber, and sending data usage thresholds. The method further comprises sending quotas associated with the subscriber session after collecting data usage information associated with the subscriber session. The method receives a notification at the subscriber'"'"'s mobile device when a pre-determined quota is exceeded during the subscriber session to control data usage. The system communicates with a usage policy server and a usage policy application. The usage policy application allows a subscriber to alter terms and service tiers of a subscription. The usage policy application displays current data usage information on a per-network and per-application basis using subscriber profile information, subscriber session information, and prior subscriber usage history received from the usage policy server.

Claims

1. A method for providing data communications cost monitoring and control for a subscriber session, comprising:

sending, from a mobile device associated with a subscriber, to a usage policy server, a registration request associated with the subscriber session;

determining current data usage associated with the subscriber session;

sending, from the mobile device, to the usage policy server, one or more data usage thresholds and one or more quotas associated with the subscriber session;

sending, from the mobile device, to the usage policy server, data usage information associated with the subscriber session;

receiving, at the mobile device, a notification indicating that the subscriber exceeds a pre-determined quota during the subscriber session; and

controlling data usage for the subscriber session when the subscriber exceeds a pre-determined quota during the subscriber session

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is one or more of an email message, a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message, and a prompt in a user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining current data usage comprises:

sending subscriber profile data from a subscriber data repository; and

determining the whether a quota has been exceeded based on a service tier associated with the subscriber.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a notification to the subscriber when a pre-determined threshold is exceeded during the subscriber session.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the notification is one or more of an email message, a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message, and a prompt in a user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing data usage information in a subscriber data repository stored on the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, from the mobile device, to the usage policy server, a request to change a service tier associated with the subscriber session; and

receiving, at the mobile device, an updated subscriber profile based upon the request to change a service tier.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, from the mobile device, to the usage policy server, a request to change a threshold associated with the subscriber session; and

receiving, at the mobile device, an updated subscriber profile based upon the request to change the threshold.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, from the mobile device, to the usage policy server, a request to change a quota associated with the subscriber session; and

receiving, at the mobile device, an updated subscriber profile based upon the request to change the quota.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more quotas comprise a maximum amount of data usage for a period, a maximum amount of data usage for an application, a maximum amount of data usage for a group of applications, and a maximum amount of data usage for the mobile device associated with the subscriber.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more data usage thresholds comprise a percentage of data usage as compared to a quota.

12. A system for providing user-centric data communications cost monitoring and control for a subscriber session, comprising:

a mobile device associated with the subscriber, wherein the mobile device is configured to send a registration request associated with the subscriber session;

wherein the mobile device comprises;

a sending module configured to send one or more data usage thresholds and one or more quotas associated with the subscriber session;

a mobile policy application configured to determine current data usage associated with the subscriber session;

a collection module configured to collect data usage information associated with the subscriber session;

a notification module configured to receive a notification when the subscriber exceeds a pre-determined quota during the subscriber session; and

a control module configured to limit data usage for the subscriber session when the subscriber exceeds a pre-determined quota during the subscriber session.

13. The system of claim 12, the mobile device further comprising a data usage limit module configured to receive and display modifications to data usage limits associated with the subscriber session.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the data usage limit module is further configured receive and display modifications to data usage limits associated with one or more applications running on the mobile device.

15. The system of claim 12, the mobile device further comprising a tariff notification module configured to receive notifications of modifications to tariffs associated with the subscriber session.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the tariff definition module is further configured to display modified tariffs associated with associated with the subscriber session.

17. The system of claim 12, the mobile device further comprising a special offer module configured to receive and display marketing offers from one or more network service providers to alter a service tier associated with the subscriber session.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the special offer module is further configured to:

enable the subscriber to accept one or more of the marketing offers; and

send notification of the acceptance of one or more marketing offers from the mobile device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the special offer module is further configured receive and display marketing offers from a home network service provider associated with the subscriber session.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the special offer module is further configured receive and display marketing offers from a roamed network service provider associated with the subscriber session.

21. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having computer program logic stored thereon for enabling a processor to control and monitor data communications and costs for a subscriber session on a mobile device associated with a subscriber, comprising:

a breach probability calculation module adapted to determine a usage breach probability for the subscriber session;

a breach analysis module adapted to analyze usage data based in part on the usage breach probability;

a usage update interval module adapted to determine an interim interval at which subscriber usage updates are collected based at least in part on the usage breach probability;

a network service provider interface adapted to communicate with network service provider facilities;

a subscriber profile interface adapted to interface with a subscriber profile database; and

a subscriber usage interface adapted to interface with a subscriber usage database.

22. The computer program product according to claim 21, further comprising:

a marketing offer module adapted to generate a marketing offer in response to the breach probability calculation module determining that a usage breach probability exceeds a marketing threshold.

23. The computer program product according to claim 22, further comprising:

a special offer interface on a mobile device associated with the subscriber session, wherein the special offer interface is coupled to the marketing offer module and adapted to display an offer message on the mobile device if the usage breach probability exceeds a marketing threshold.