SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VARIABLE PRICING OF DATA USAGE

• US 20140006237A1
• Filed: 06/12/2013
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University (Princeton University)
• Original Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University (Princeton University)
• Inventors: Chiang, Mung, Ha, Sangtae, Sen, Soumya, Joe-Wong, Carlee
• Granted Patent: US 9,865,009 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 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call

Abstract

A system and method for delivering variable pricing of data usage to a user device operated by a user is disclosed. The system includes a server configured with a usage monitor configured to identify the user and monitor usage patterns of the user device. The server has a pricing policy engine configured to generate pricing information based on at least one of the identity of the user and the usage patterns. The pricing policy engine is configured to transmit the pricing information to the user device. The user device is configured with a usage controller having a user interface configured to receive a delay preference selection identifying at least one delay tolerant application. The usage controller is configured to receive pricing information from the pricing policy engine and to delay data usage to the delay tolerant application based on the delay preference selection and the pricing information.

Claims

1. A system configured to deliver variable pricing of data usage to a user device operated by a user, the system comprising:

a server configured with a usage monitor configured to identify the user and monitor usage patterns of the user device, the server having a pricing policy engine configured to generate pricing information based on at least one of the identity of the user and the usage patterns, the pricing policy engine being configured to transmit the pricing information to the user device;

the user device being configured with a usage controller having a user interface configured to receive a delay preference selection identifying at least one delay tolerant application, the usage controller being configured to receive pricing information from the pricing policy engine and to delay data usage to the delay tolerant application based on the delay preference selection and the pricing information.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the usage controller is configured to delay data usage to the delay tolerant application based on data usage pricing for a node to which the user device is connected.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the usage controller is configured to allow data usage to the delay tolerant application when the user device is coupled to a node having data pricing below a preemptive download threshold price.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the usage controller is configured to temporarily suspend a data usage by the delay tolerant application when the user device is connected to a node having data pricing above a maximum price threshold.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the usage controller is configured to resume data usage by the delay tolerant application when the user device is connected to a node having data pricing below the maximum price threshold.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the usage controller is configured to delay data usage to the delay tolerant application based on a congestion level at the node to which the user device is connected.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the usage controller is configured to delay data usage to the delay tolerant application based on an amount of data used by the user device over a given time period.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to allow selection between congestion-dependent, location-dependent, and usage-based pricing plans.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the user interface is configured to present a data usage budget and a current usage level.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the user interface is configured to present data usage and time/date information.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the user interface is configured to present currently available price discounts.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the user interface is configured to present a historical bandwidth usage of at least two applications running on the user device.

13. A server configured to deliver variable pricing of data usage to a user device operated by a user, the server comprising:

a usage monitor configured to identify the user and monitor usage patterns of the user device;

a pricing policy engine configured to generate pricing information based on at least one of the identity of the user and the usage patterns;

a delegation controller configured to receive a delay preference selection including pricing plan information; and

a usage controller configured to receive pricing information from the pricing policy engine, the server being configured to delay data usage to the delay tolerant application based on the delay preference selection and the pricing information.

14. The server of claim 13 wherein the delay preference selection includes identifying at least one delay tolerant application.

15. The server of claim 13 wherein the usage controller is configured to delay data usage to the delay tolerant application based on data usage pricing for a node to which the user device is connected.

16. The server of claim 13 wherein the usage controller is configured to allow data usage to the delay tolerant application when the user device is coupled to a node having data pricing below a preemptive download threshold price.

17. The server of claim 13 wherein the usage controller is configured to temporarily suspend a data usage by the delay tolerant application when the user device is connected to a node having data pricing above a maximum price threshold.

18. The server of claim 17 wherein the usage controller is configured to resume data usage by the delay tolerant application when the user device is connected to a node having data pricing below the maximum price threshold.

19. The server of claim 13 wherein the usage controller is configured to delay data usage to the delay tolerant application based on a congestion level at the node to which the user device is connected.

20. The server of claim 13 wherein the usage controller is configured to delay data usage to the delay tolerant application based on an amount of data used by the user device over a given time period.

21. A method for delivering variable pricing of data usage to a user device operated by a user, the method comprising:

receiving user device communications at a server and identifying the user and monitoring usage patterns of the user device;

generating pricing information based on at least one of the identity of the user and the usage patterns;

transmitting the pricing information to the user device; and

receiving a delay preference selection at the user device, the delay preference selection identifying at least one delay tolerant application, receive pricing information at the user device and delaying data usage to the delay tolerant application based on the delay preference selection and the pricing information.

22. A method for delivering variable pricing of data usage to a user device operated by a user, the method comprising:

receiving user device communications at a server and identifying the user and monitoring usage patterns of the user device;

generating pricing information at the server based on at least one of the identity of the user and the usage patterns;

receiving a delay preference selection at the server, the delay preference selection including pricing plan information; and

receiving pricing information at the server and delaying data usage to the delay tolerant application based on the delay preference selection and the pricing information.

23. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer program for execution by a processor configured to perform a method for delivering variable pricing of data usage to a user device operated by a user, the method comprising:

receiving user device communications at a server and identifying the user and monitoring usage patterns of the user device;

generating pricing information based on at least one of the identity of the user and the usage patterns;

transmitting the pricing information to the user device;

receiving a delay preference selection at the user device, the delay preference selection identifying at least one delay tolerant application; and

receiving pricing information at the user device and delaying data usage to the delay tolerant application based on the delay preference selection and the pricing information.

24. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer program for execution by a processor configured to perform a method for delivering variable pricing of data usage to a user device operated by a user, the method comprising:

receiving user device communications at a server and identifying the user and monitoring usage patterns of the user device;

generating pricing information at the server based on at least one of the identity of the user and the usage patterns;

receiving a delay preference selection at the server, the delay preference selection including pricing plan information; and

receiving pricing information at the server and delaying data usage to the delay tolerant application based on the delay preference selection and the pricing information.