System and method for adaptive billing

• US 20120059748A1
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Matsuo, Kotaro, Hall, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US12/807,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20120059748A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• 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 15/28 with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/30 the meter or calculation of charges not being controlled from an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/46 Real-time negotiation between users and providers or operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/882 for continuing the call beyond the limit using an alternative, e.g. alternative account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Provided are systems and methods for execution by a processor of a client device and/or a provisioning system to provide adaptive billing. One method comprises receiving one or more available network access plans from a network provider when a current usage of a client device has passed a usage threshold of a current network access plan, providing the available network access plans for selection by a user, receiving a selected network access plan from the user, and transmitting the selected network access plan to the network provider to increase usage of the client device according to the selected network access plan.

Claims

1. A method for execution by a processor of a client device to provide adaptive billing, the method comprising:

receiving one or more available network access plans from a network provider when a current usage of the client device has passed a usage threshold of a current network access plan;

providing the one or more available network access plans for a selection by a user;

receiving a selected network access plan among the one or more available network access plans from the user; and

transmitting the selected network access plan to the network provider to increase a usage of the client device according to the selected network access plan.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an account data from the network provider; and

reporting the account data to the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking the current usage of the client device using a local usage data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected network access plan comprises limiting access to a subset of a network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected network access plan comprises upgrading to a higher usage plan.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected network access plan comprises purchasing a set portion of additional usage.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected network access plan comprises switching a first type of usage plan for a second type of usage plan.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected network access plan comprises temporarily de-provisioning the client device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the one or more available network access plans to a client manager.

10. A client device for providing adaptive billing, the client device being configured to connect to a network and comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive one or more available network access plans from a network provider when a current usage of the client device has passed a usage threshold of a current network access plan;

provide the one or more available network access plans for a selection by a user;

receive a selected network access plan among the one or more available network access plans from the user; and

transmit the selected network access plan to the network provider to increase a usage of the client device according to the selected network access plan.

11. The client device of claim 10, wherein the client device is further configured to connect to another network;

the processor being further configured to;

receive another one or more available network access plans;

provide the another one or more available network access plans for another selection by the user;

receive another selected network access plan among the another one or more available network access plans from the user; and

transmit the another selected network access plan to increase the usage of the client device according to the another selected network access plan.

12. The client device of claim 10, wherein the network comprises a wide area network.

13. The client device of claim 10, wherein the network comprises a local area network.

14. A method for execution by a processor of a provisioning system to provide adaptive billing, the method comprising:

tracking a current usage of a client device, wherein the current usage is stored in an account data;

determining that the current usage of the client device has passed a usage threshold of a current network access plan based on the account data;

transmitting one or more available network access plans to the client device in response to the determining; and

receiving a selected network access plan from the client device chosen from the one or more available network access plans;

increasing a usage of the client device according to the selected network access plan.

15. The client device of claim 14, wherein the usage threshold is less than a maximum usage limit of the current network access plan.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

transmitting the one or more available network access plans to a client manager in response to the determining; and

receiving a manager'"'"'s option from the client manager chosen from the one or more available network access plans, wherein the manager'"'"'s option overrides the selected network access plan.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the selected network access plan comprises limiting access to a subset of a network.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the selected network access plan comprises upgrading to a higher usage plan.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the selected network access plan comprises switching a first type of usage plan for a second type of usage plan.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the selected network access plan comprises temporarily de-provisioning the client device.