MANAGEMENT OF MOBILE HOTSPOT CONNECTIONS

• US 20110294502A1
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: OERTON, Kevin John
• Granted Patent: US 8,804,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A system and method implemented at a communication device or mobile hotspot device for providing access to data services over a wireless communication network to one or more user devices. The communication or hotspot device is adapted to provide router, mobile hotspot-type or ad hoc networking functions to user devices such as laptops, tablets, and other entertainment and productivity devices adapted to communicate over a wireless LAN and to provide access to broadband data services. The data services provided over the network may be subject to one or more data allowances or data transfer limits. The communication or hotspot device is adapted to manage the user device connections and data transfer to and from the communication device within the data allowances or according to predetermined prioritization.

Claims

1. A method for managing one or more connections to a data service, the method comprising:

providing, by a first device in communication with a wireless network providing the data service, access to the data service to a plurality of user devices;

monitoring, at the first device, data transfer by the plurality of user devices using the data service within at least a first region; and

when a limit of data transfer has been reached at the first device, implementing a management protocol to manage connectivity of the plurality of user devices with the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the management protocol comprises disconnecting at least one of the plurality of user devices from the first device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein connections of each of the plurality of user devices with the first device are prioritized, and the management protocol comprises disconnecting a user device with a lowest priority.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the management protocol comprises disabling the data service at the first device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the limit of data transfer is associated with the first region.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the limit of data transfer is an aggregate amount associated with all regions in which the first device accesses data services.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the limit of data transfer is reached by aggregated data transfer by more than one of the plurality of user devices.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring data transfer by the plurality of user devices comprises the first device monitoring the data transfer between the first device and the data service in real time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the limit of data transfer is associated with a predefined reporting period.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein monitoring further comprises receiving data transfer information associated with a first reporting period over the wireless network;

reconciling the received data transfer information with real time data transfer information recorded at the first device; and

allocating any real time data transfer information not reconciled with the received data transfer information to a further reporting period.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises either a smartphone or a mobile hotspot device.

12. A device for managing one or more connections to a data service, the device comprising:

a first communications subsystem for communicating wirelessly with a plurality of mobile devices;

a second communications subsystem for providing access to data services supplied over a wireless network; and

a processor adapted to;

monitor data transfer by the plurality of user devices using the data service within at least a first region; and

when a limit of data transfer has been reached, implement a management protocol to manage access by the plurality of user devices to the data service.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the second communications subsystem is configured to communicate with a smartphone, the smartphone being configured to communication over the wireless network.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the second communications subsystem is configured to communicate over the wireless network.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the device comprises a smartphone.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the first communications subsystem is configured to implement an 802.11 protocol.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the management protocol comprises disconnecting at least one of the plurality of user devices from said device.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein connections of each of the plurality of user devices with the first device are prioritized, and the management protocol comprises disconnecting a user device with a lowest priority.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein the management protocol comprises disabling the data service at the first device.

20. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium bearing code which, when executed by a communication device, causes said device to carry out the method of:

providing, by the communication device in communication with a wireless network providing the data service, access to the data service to a plurality of user devices;

monitoring, at the communication device, data transfer by the plurality of user devices using the data service within at least a first region; and

when a limit of data transfer has been reached at the first device, implementing a management protocol to manage connectivity of the plurality of user devices with the communication device.