NETWORK SERVICE PLAN DESIGN

• US 20130304616A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Headwater Research LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Original Assignee: Headwater Partners I LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Inventors: Raleigh, Gregory G., Green, Jeffrey, Lavine, James, James, Justin
• Granted Patent: US 9,858,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3267 In-app payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/384 using social networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/10 Tax strategies
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1417 Advice of charge with threshold, e.g. user indicating maximum cost
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1435 volume-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5051 Service on demand, e.g. definition and deployment of services in real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/72 by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 : Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

A technique involves modular storage of network service plan components and provisioning of same. A subset of the capabilities of a service design system can be granted to a sandbox system to enable customization of service plan offerings or other controls.

Claims

1. A method of provisioning a service to be delivered to an end-user device via a network, the method comprising:

prompting a service designer, on a user interface of a computing device, to specify an aspect of an access control policy and an aspect of an access accounting policy;

generating, within the computing device, an access control policy instruction based at least in part on the aspect of the access control policy and an access accounting policy instruction based at least in part on the aspect of the access accounting policy; and

outputting, from the computing device, the access control policy instruction and the access accounting policy instruction to one or more processing elements accessible via the network to enable the one or more processing elements to apply, in connection with the service, an access control action in accordance with the access control policy instruction and an access accounting action in accordance with the access accounting policy instruction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein prompting the service designer to specify the aspect of the access control policy comprises prompting the service designer to specify one or more criteria that enable detection of a request from the end-user device to use the service.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein prompting the service designer to specify one or more criteria that enable detection of the request from the end-user device to use the service comprises prompting the service designer to specify at least one of a domain name associated with the service, an internet-protocol (IP) address associated with the service, a protocol associated with the service, or a communication port number associated with the service.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein prompting the service designer to specify the aspect of the access control policy comprises prompting the service designer to specify a network state to be detected by the one or more processing elements before applying the access control action.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein prompting the service designer to specify the aspect of the access control policy comprises prompting the service designer to specify the access control action to be applied by the one or more processing elements.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein prompting the service designer to specify the aspect of the access accounting policy comprises prompting the service designer to specify a party to be charged for delivery of the service to the end-user device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein prompting the service designer to specify the aspect of the access accounting policy comprises prompting the service designer to specify a price to be charged for delivery of the service to the end-user device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein outputting the access control policy instruction and the access accounting policy instruction to one or more processing elements accessible via the network comprises outputting at least one of the access control policy instruction or the access accounting policy instruction to a service processor within the end-user device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein outputting the access control policy instruction and the access accounting policy instruction to one or more processing elements accessible via the network comprises outputting at least one of the access control policy instruction or the access accounting policy instruction to a network element that performs access control functions or access accounting functions for a plurality of end-user devices, the plurality of end-user devices including the end-user device to which the service is to be delivered.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein outputting the access control policy instruction and the access accounting policy instruction to one or more processing elements accessible via the network comprises outputting the access control policy instruction and the access accounting policy instruction to respective processing elements via the network.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prompting the service designer to specify an aspect of a notification policy;

generating a notification instruction based at least in part on the aspect of the notification policy; and

outputting the notification instruction from the computing device to the one or more processing elements to enable the one or more processing elements to render, on a user-interface of the end-user device, a notification indicated by the notification instruction.

12. A system for provisioning a service to be delivered to an end-user device via a network, the system comprising:

a user interface; and

computing circuitry, including one or more processors and memory to store program code which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to;

prompt a service designer, via the user interface, to specify an aspect of an access control policy and an aspect of an access accounting policy;

generate an access control policy instruction based at least in part on the aspect of the access control policy and an access accounting policy instruction based at least in part on the aspect of the access accounting policy; and

output, from the system, the access control policy instruction and the access accounting policy instruction to one or more processing elements accessible via the network to enable the one or more processing elements to apply, in connection with the service, an access control action in accordance with the access control policy instruction and an access accounting action in accordance with the access accounting policy instruction.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the program code which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to prompt the service designer to specify the aspect of the access control policy comprises instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to prompt the service designer to specify one or more criteria that enable detection of a request from the end-user device to use the service.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to prompt the service designer to specify one or more criteria that enable detection of the request from the end-user device to use the service comprise instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to prompt the service designer to specify at least one of a domain name associated with the service, an internet-protocol (IP) address associated with the service, a protocol associated with the service, or a communication port number associated with the service.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the program code which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to prompt the service designer to specify the aspect of the access control policy comprises instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to prompt the service designer to specify a network state to be detected by the one or more processing elements before applying the access control action.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the program code which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to prompt the service designer to specify the aspect of the access control policy comprises instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to prompt the service designer to specify the access control action to be applied by the one or more processing elements.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the program code which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to prompt the service designer to specify the aspect of the access accounting policy comprises instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to prompt the service designer to specify a party to be charged for delivery of the service to the end-user device.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the program code which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to prompt the service designer to specify the aspect of the access accounting policy comprises instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to prompt the service designer to specify a price to be charged for delivery of the service to the end-user device.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the program code which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to output the access control policy instruction and the access accounting policy instruction to one or more processing elements accessible via the network comprises instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to output at least one of the access control policy instruction or the access accounting policy instruction to a service processor within the end-user device.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein the program code which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to output the access control policy instruction and the access accounting policy instruction to one or more processing elements accessible via the network comprises instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to output at least one of the access control policy instruction or the access accounting policy instruction to a network element that performs access control functions or access accounting functions for a plurality of end-user devices, the plurality of end-user devices including the end-user device to which the service is to be delivered.

21. The system of claim 12 wherein the program code which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to output the access control policy instruction and the access accounting policy instruction to one or more processing elements accessible via the network comprises instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to output the access control policy instruction and the access accounting policy instruction to respective processing elements via the network.

22. The system of claim 12 wherein the program code, when executed by the one or more processors, further causes the one or more processors to:

prompt the service designer to specify an aspect of a notification policy;

generate a notification instruction based at least in part on the aspect of the notification policy; and

output the notification instruction from the computing device to the one or more processing elements to enable the one or more processing elements to render, on a user-interface of the end-user device, a notification indicated by the notification instruction.

23. A method of generating provisioning instructions for one or more network-delivered services, the method comprising:

prompting a service designer, via a user interface of a computing device, to;

specify a first service policy that defines a first access control action to be performed in response to detecting a first service request from an end-user device,

include the first service policy within a first service plan, and

include the service plan within a collection of service plans; and

generating a plurality of provisioning instructions for the collection of service plans, the plurality of provisioning instructions indicating operations to be executed by one or more processing elements coupled the network to provision the collection of service plans, the plurality of provisioning instructions including one or more provisioning instructions defined by the first service policy within the first service plan.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising prompting the service designer, via the user interface of the computing device, to specify accounting information that indicates a monetary amount to be charged for usage of the first service plan.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein generating the plurality of provisioning instructions for the collection of service plans comprises generating a plurality of instructions for accounting for usage of the service plans, including one or more accounting instructions for accounting for usage of the first service plan in accordance with the monetary amount to be charged for usage of the first service plan.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising prompting the service designer, via the user interface of the computing device, to specify a second service policy that defines a second access control action to be performed in response to detecting a second service request from the end-user device and to include the second service policy within the first service plan.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising prompting the service designer, via the user interface of the computing device, to include the first service policy within a second service plan and to include the second service plan within the collection of service plans.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein prompting the service designer to specify the first service policy that defines a first control action to be performed in response to detecting the first service access request comprises prompting the service designer to specify one or more classification criteria, a network state with respect to the end-user device and the first control action to be performed if the one or more classification criteria are met while the end-user device is in the network state.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein prompting the service designer to specify the first service policy that defines a first control action to be performed in response to detecting the first service access request comprises prompting the service designer to specify one or more classification criteria, a service usage state with respect to the end-user device and the first control action to be performed if the one or more classification criteria are met after service usage within the end-user device has reached the service usage state.

30. The method of claim 23 wherein prompting the service designer to specify the first service policy comprises prompting the service designer to specify the first control action and one or more first classification criteria to be met before the first control action is to be performed.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising prompting the service designer to specify the first service policy further comprising prompting the service designer to specify, as part of the first service policy, a second control action and one or more second classification criteria to be met before the second control action is to be performed.

32. The method of claim 23 wherein at least one of the one or more processing elements coupled to the network to provision the collection of service plans comprises the end-user device.