Controlling Mobile Device Communications On a Roaming Network Based on Device State

• US 20140094159A1
• Filed: 12/10/2013
• Published: 04/03/2014
• 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., Raissinia, Alireza, Lavine, James
• Granted Patent: US 9,253,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition

Abstract

A device that determines an aspect of a service policy based on a state of the device, and applies the service policy. The state is based on a user interaction, or a lack of user interaction, with the device. The service policy applies a first control to a first activity over a roaming network and a second control to the first activity over a home network, wherein the first control controls the first activity differently than the second control controls the first activity. The first activity is caused by a first software component on the device and comprises a first set of prospective or successful communications over an available wireless network. The aspect of the service policy controls the first activity differently from a second activity over a roaming network, where the second activity is associated with a second software component on the device.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more machine-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a wireless end-user device, cause the one or more processors to:

determine at least an aspect of one or more service policies based on a state of the wireless end-user device, the state of the wireless end-user device being based on a user interaction, or a lack of user interaction, with the wireless end-user device, the one or more service policies for applying a first control to a first service usage activity when a wireless network available to the wireless end-user device comprises a roaming network and for applying a second control to the first service usage activity when the wireless network available to the wireless end-user device comprises a home network, wherein the first control controls the first service usage activity differently than the second control controls the first service usage activity, the first service usage activity being caused by a first software component of a plurality of software components on the wireless end-user device, the first service usage activity comprising a first set of one or more prospective or successful communications over the wireless network available to the wireless end-user device, the at least an aspect of the one or more service policies for controlling the first service usage activity differently from a second service usage activity when the wireless network available to the wireless end-user device comprises the roaming network, the second service usage activity being associated with a second software component of the plurality of software components on the wireless end-user device, the second service usage activity comprising a second set of one or more prospective or successful communications over the wireless network available to the wireless end-user device; and

apply the one or more service policies to the first service usage activity.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the roaming network comprises a cellular network.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the first control restricts the first service usage activity, and wherein the second control does not restrict the first service usage activity.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the first control blocks, restricts, limits, throttles, or delays the first service usage activity.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the first control blocks, restricts, limits, throttles, or delays the first service usage activity based on a threshold or a limit.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the state of the wireless end-user device comprises that the device has been inactive for a period of time.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the state of the wireless end-user device comprises that a user has not interacted with the device for a period of time or that the wireless end-user device has not detected a user input for a period of time.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the state of the wireless end-user device comprises that a user has picked up the device.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein determining the at least an aspect of the one or more service policies based on the state of the wireless end-user device comprises detecting a transition from a first device state to a second device state.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 9, wherein the first device state or the second device state comprises a power save state.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more service policies are further based on a device connection state change.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more service policies are further based on an attempt to launch or a successful launch of the first software component or the second software component.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein determining the at least an aspect of the one or more service policies based on the state of the wireless end-user device comprises detecting a power state of the wireless end-user device or a power state change by the wireless end-user device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more service policies are further based on a user input or a user preference.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 14, wherein the user input or the user preference specifies at least an aspect of the first control or the second control.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the first software component or the second software component comprises an application.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the first service usage activity, the second service usage activity, the first software component, or the second software component comprises a process, a function, or an operating system service.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the first service usage activity is associated with a classification of service usage.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 18, wherein:

the classification of service usage is by one or more uniform resource locators (URLs), by network domain, by website, by network traffic type, by application, by application type, or a combination of these, or

the first service usage activity is associated with a software update, a background network access, a synchronization service, streaming content, a backup, or a download.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more service policies are further based on whether the first service usage activity comprises a first background activity.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 20, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors of the wireless end-user device, the one or more machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to determine that the first service usage activity comprises the first background activity, and wherein applying the one or more service policies to the first service usage activity comprises blocking the first service usage activity.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 20, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors of the wireless end-user device, the one or more machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to determine that the second service usage activity comprises a second background activity, and wherein applying the one or more service policies to the second service usage activity comprises allowing the second service usage activity.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors of the wireless end-user device, the one or more machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to obtain at least a portion of the one or more service policies from a network system communicatively coupled to the wireless end-user device.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors of the wireless end-user device, the one or more machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to obtain at least a portion of the one or more service policies from a service provider.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more service policies are further based on a service or usage cost or a connection cost of the wireless network available to the wireless end-user device.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more service policies are further based on a roaming network deal associated with the wireless network available to the wireless end-user device.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors of the wireless end-user device, the one or more machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors of the wireless end-user device to:

detect the first service usage activity;

determine that the wireless network available to the wireless end-user device comprises the roaming network;

based on the detected first service usage activity and the determination that the wireless network available to the wireless end-user device comprises the roaming network, prevent the wireless end-user device from establishing a connection to the roaming network.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 27, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors of the wireless end-user device, the one or more machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors of the wireless end-user device to:

detect the second service usage activity;

based on the detected second service usage activity, allow the wireless end-user device to establish the connection to the roaming network; and

allow the second service usage activity over the roaming network.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless network available to the wireless end-user device comprises the roaming network, and wherein the one or more service policies establish whether the wireless end-user device is authorized to connect to the roaming network.

30. A wireless end-user device, comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

determine at least an aspect of one or more service policies based on a state of the wireless end-user device, the state of the wireless end-user device being based on a user interaction, or a lack of user interaction, with the wireless end-user device, the one or more service policies for applying a first control to a first service usage activity when a wireless network available to the wireless end-user device comprises a roaming network and for applying a second control to the first service usage activity when the wireless network available to the wireless end-user device comprises a home network, wherein the first control controls the first service usage activity differently than the second control controls the first service usage activity, the first service usage activity being caused by a first software component of a plurality of software components on the wireless end-user device, the first service usage activity comprising a first set of one or more prospective or successful communications over the wireless network available to the wireless end-user device, the at least an aspect of the one or more service policies for controlling the first service usage activity differently from a second service usage activity when the wireless network available to the wireless end-user device comprises the roaming network, the second service usage activity being associated with a second software component of the plurality of software components on the wireless end-user device, the second service usage activity comprising a second set of one or more prospective or successful communications over the wireless network available to the wireless end-user device, and

apply the one or more service policies to the first service usage activity; and

memory configured to store the one or more instructions.