Systems and/or Methods For Delivering Notifications On A Communications Network

• US 20120284208A1
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Östh, Karl-Johan, Blomqvist, Elias, Fuster Millan, Jose Maria, Kristiansson, Ulf
• Application Number:
  US13/102,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20120284208A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/62 based on trigger specification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/835 Time or frequency of notifications, e.g. Advice of Charge [AoC]
• 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 15/85 characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/851 Determined tariff

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate to sending notifications over mobile communications networks. At least one node in a communications network tracks resource usage. A consumption rate is calculated based on the track resource usage and is compared against another consumption rate. A notification message is triggered based on the comparison. A notification message is sent to a user equipment device based on the triggered event. Certain embodiments suppress notification messages based on notification criteria.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for providing a notification to a user equipment device that is configured to interface with a communications network, the method comprising:

determining a first amount of resources used by a first user equipment device;

calculating a first rate based at least in part on

     1) the determined first amount of resources and

     2) a first time period;

comparing the first rate against a comparison rate;

triggering a first notification event based on at least the comparison of the first rate against the comparison rate; and

sending a notification message to a second user equipment device based at least in part on the first notification event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the first rate is further based on a tariff rate or a price per unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user equipment device is the second user equipment device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification message includes a message suggesting an increase in usage when the first notification event is related to a decreased rate or the notification message includes a message suggesting a decrease in usage when the first notification event is related to an increased rate.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising suppressing the first notification event based on suppression criteria,

wherein the suppression criteria includes suppressing the first notification event when a previously sent notification based on a similar notification event was sent to the second user equipment device within a predetermined time period.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first rate is further based on an average over a sliding window of time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time period is at least one of a last reservation period, a total session time, and/or an amount of time associated with an account that is associated with the first user equipment device or the second user equipment device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a second amount of resources used by a user equipment device over a second time period;

calculating a second rate based on the determined second amount of resources and the second time period; and

comparing the calculated second rate against a second predetermined threshold rate,

wherein the comparison rate is a first predetermined threshold rate.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first notification event is triggered further based on the comparison of the second rate against the second predetermined threshold rate.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

triggering a second notification event based on at least the comparison of the second rate against the second predetermined threshold rate.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising prioritizing the first and second notification events according to a predetermined order.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising suppressing the first or second notification event based on a notification priority order.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparison rate is a second rate and the method further comprises:

determining a second amount of resources used by the user equipment device; and

calculating the comparison rate based at least in part on

     1) the determined second amount of resources and

     2) a second time period.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein comparing the first rate against the second rate further includes calculating a difference between the first rate and the second rate, calculating an angle of change that is formed by the first and second rates, and/or assigning the first rate and the second rate, respectively, to first and second states of a plurality of states.

15. The method of claim 13, furthering comprising:

classifying the first rate to a first state from among a plurality of states; and

classifying the second rate to a second state from among the plurality of states,

wherein comparing the first rate against the second rate includes a difference between the first state and the second state.

16. A computer implemented method for sending a notification to a user equipment device that is configured to communicate with a communications network, the method comprising:

determining resource usage over first and second time periods;

assigning first and second consumption values, respectively, to first and second consumption levels among a plurality of consumption levels, the assignment based on the determined resource usage over the first and second time periods, respectively;

assigning first and second price per consumption unit values, respectively, to first and second price levels among a plurality of price levels;

assigning the first consumption level and the first price level to a first state of a state table;

assigning the second consumption level and the second price level to a second state of the state table;

triggering a notification event based on a difference between the first state and the second state; and

sending a notification message to the user equipment device based at least in part on the notification event.

17. A computer readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions for performing a notification method for use on a processing in a communications network that is configured to communicate with a user equipment device, the stored instructions comprising instructions configured to:

determine resource usage over first and second time periods;

assign first and second consumption values, respectively, to first and second consumption levels among a plurality of consumption levels, the assignment based on the determined resource usage over the first and second time periods, respectively;

assign first and second price per consumption unit values, respectively, to first and second price levels among a plurality of price levels;

assign the first consumption level and the first price level to a first state of a state table;

assign the second consumption level and the second price level to a second state of the state table;

trigger a notification event based on a difference between the first state and the second state; and

cause the communications network to send a notification message to the user equipment device based at least in part on the notification event.

18. A node configured to communicate with a communications network that provides communications service to a user equipment device, the node comprising:

a processing system configured to;

determine a first amount of resources used by a first user equipment device;

calculate a first rate based at least in part on

     1) the determined first amount of resources and

     2) a first time period;

compare the first rate against a comparison rate;

trigger a first notification event based on at least the comparison of the first rate against the comparison rate; and

communicate with the communications network to send a notification message to a second user equipment device based at least in part on the first notification event.

19. The node of claim 18, wherein the calculation of the first rate is further based on a tariff rate or a price per unit.

20. The node of claim 18, wherein the first user equipment device is the second user equipment device.

21. The node of claim 18, wherein the notification message includes a message suggesting an increase in usage when the first notification event is related to a decreased rate or the notification message includes a message suggesting a decrease in usage when the first notification event is related to an increased rate.

22. The node of claim 18, wherein the processing system is further configured to suppress the first notification event based on suppression criteria,

wherein the suppression criteria includes suppression of the first notification event when a previously sent notification based on a similar notification event was sent to the second user equipment device within a predetermined time period.

23. The node of claim 18, wherein the calculation of the first rate is further based on an average over a sliding window of time.

24. The node of claim 18, wherein the first time period is a last reservation period, a total session time, and/or an amount of time associated with an account that is associated with the first user equipment device or the second user equipment device.

25. The node of claim 18, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

determine a second amount of resources used by a user equipment device over a second time period;

calculate a second rate based on the determined second amount of resources and the second time period; and

compare the calculated second rate against a second predetermined threshold rate,

wherein the comparison rate is a first predetermined threshold rate.

26. The node of claim 25, wherein triggering of the first notification event is further based on the comparison of the second rate against the second predetermined threshold rate.

27. The node of claim 25, wherein the processing system is further configured to trigger a second notification event based on at least the comparison of the second rate against the second predetermined threshold rate.

28. The node of claim 27, wherein the processing system is further configured to prioritize the first and second notification events according to a predetermined order.

29. The node of claim 27 wherein the processing system is further configured to suppress the first or second notification event based on a notification priority order.

30. The node of claim 18, wherein the comparison rate is a second rate and the processing system is further configured to:

determine a second amount of resources used by the user equipment device; and

calculate the second rate based at least in part on

     1) the determined second amount of resources and

     2) a second time period.

31. The node of claim 30, wherein comparison of the first rate against the second rate further includes calculating a difference between the first rate and the second rate, calculating of an angle of change that is formed by the first and second rates, and/or assigning the first rate and the second rate, respectively, to first and second states of a plurality of states.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

classify the first rate to a first state from among a plurality of states; and

classify the second rate to a second state from among the plurality of states,

wherein comparison of the first rate against the second rate includes a difference between the first state and the second state.

33. A computer readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions for performing a notification method for use on a processing system in a communications network that is configured to communicate with a user equipment device, the stored instructions comprising instructions configured to:

determine a first amount of resources used by a first user equipment device;

calculate a first rate based at least in part on

     1) the determined first amount of resources and

     2) a first time period;

compare the first rate against a comparison rate;

trigger a first notification event based on at least the comparison of the first rate against the comparison rate; and

interface with the communications network to send a notification message to a second user equipment device based at least in part on the first notification event.

34. The medium of claim 33, wherein the calculation of the first rate is further based on a tariff rate or a price per unit.

35. The medium of claim 33, wherein the first user equipment device is the second user equipment device.

36. The medium of claim 33, wherein the notification message includes a message suggesting an increase in usage when the first notification event is related to a decreased rate or the notification message includes a message suggesting a decrease in usage when the first notification event is related to an increased rate.

37. The medium of claim 33, wherein the processing system is further configured to suppress the first notification event based on suppression criteria,

wherein the suppression criteria includes suppression of the first notification event when a previously sent notification based on a similar notification event was sent to the second user equipment device within a predetermined time period.

38. The medium of claim 33, wherein the calculation of the first rate is further based on an average over a sliding window of time.

39. The medium of claim 33, wherein the first time period is a last reservation period, a total session time, and/or an amount of time associated with an account that is associated with the first user equipment device or the second user equipment device.

40. The medium of claim 33, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

determine a second amount of resources used by a user equipment device over a second time period;

calculate a second rate based on the determined second amount of resources and the second time period; and

compare the calculated second rate against a second predetermined threshold rate,

wherein the comparison rate is a first predetermined threshold rate.

41. The medium of claim 40, wherein triggering of the first notification event is further based on the comparison of the second rate against the second predetermined threshold rate.

42. The medium of claim 40, wherein the processing system is further configured to trigger a second notification event based on at least the comparison of the second rate against the second predetermined threshold rate.

43. The medium of claim 40, wherein the processing system is further configured to prioritize the first and second notification events according to a predetermined order.

44. The medium of claim 40, wherein the processing system is further configured to suppress the first or second notification event based on a notification priority order.

45. The medium of claim 33, wherein the comparison rate is a second rate and the processing system is further configured to:

determine a second amount of resources used by the user equipment device; and

calculate the second rate based at least in part on

     1) the determined second amount of resources and

     2) a second time period.

46. The medium of claim 45, wherein comparison of the first rate against the second rate further includes calculating a difference between the first rate and the second rate, calculating an angle of change that is formed by the first and second rates, assigning the first rate and the second rate, respectively, to first and second states of a plurality of states.

47. The medium of claim 45, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

classify the first rate to a first state from among a plurality of states; and

classify the second rate to a second state from among the plurality of states,

wherein comparison of the first rate against the second rate includes a difference between the first state and the second state.