MANAGEMENT OF MOBILE HOTSPOT CONNECTIONS

• US 20140295830A1
• Filed: 06/16/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: OERTON, Kevin John
• Granted Patent: US 9,386,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A system and method implemented at a communication device or mobile hotspot device for providing access to data services over a wireless communication network to one or more user devices. The communication or hotspot device is adapted to provide router, mobile hotspot-type or ad hoc networking functions to user devices such as laptops, tablets, and other entertainment and productivity devices adapted to communicate over a wireless LAN and to provide access to broadband data services. The data services provided over the network may be subject to one or more data allowances or data transfer limits. The communication or hotspot device is adapted to manage the user device connections and data transfer to and from the communication device within the data allowances or according to predetermined prioritization.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

at least one wireless communication subsystem;

a processor in operative communication with the at least one wireless communication subsystem, the processor being configured to;

establish a wireless connection over a wireless network for accessing one or more data services for consumption by the mobile device;

transfer a first amount of data between the mobile device and the wireless network via the at least one wireless communication subsystem for consumption by the mobile device;

establish a local wireless ad hoc network with at least one user device, wherein the mobile device provides access to the one or more data services over the wireless network for consumption by the at least one user device;

monitor a total amount of data transferred between the mobile device and the wireless network, the total amount of data including the first amount of data; and

when the total amount of data transferred reaches a usage cap defined for the mobile device, implement a management protocol to manage connectivity of the at least one user device in the local wireless ad hoc network.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the total amount of data comprises both the first amount of data and a further amount of data transferred between the mobile device and the wireless network via the at least one wireless communication subsystem for accessing the one or more data services for consumption by each user device of the at least one user device.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive an instruction via a user input interface to override the management protocol in respect of the at least one user device when the total amount of data reaches the usage cap defined for the mobile device.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the at least one user device comprises a plurality of user devices, and the processor is further configured to receive input assigning a priority to each of the plurality of user devices, the management protocol being implemented against the plurality of user devices in accordance with their assigned priority.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the at least one user device is selected from the group consisting of:

laptops, tablets, smartphones, personal digital assistants, personal computers, and cameras.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is either a smartphone or a tablet.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive via a user input interface and store in memory of the mobile device an input value comprising a limit on a cost of data services incurred by the mobile device, the input value defining the usage cap.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the usage cap defined for the mobile device is a first usage cap associated with data transfer while the mobile device is connected to a home wireless network, and the processor is configured to:

store, in memory of the mobile device, the first usage cap and a second usage cap associated with data transfer while the mobile device is roaming,

such that the management protocol is implemented when either the total amount of data transferred while the mobile device is connected to the home wireless network reaches the first usage cap, or the total amount of data transferred while the mobile device is roaming reaches the second usage cap.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the management protocol comprises disconnecting one or more of the at least one user device in the local wireless ad hoc network, while the mobile device maintains access to the one or more data services for consumption by the mobile device.

10. A method implemented by a mobile device, the method comprising:

establishing a wireless connection over a wireless network for accessing one or more data services for consumption by the mobile device;

transferring a first amount of data between the mobile device and the wireless network via at least one wireless communication subsystem for consumption by the mobile device;

establishing a local wireless ad hoc network with at least one user device and providing access to the one or more data services over the wireless network for consumption by the at least one user device;

monitoring a total amount of data transferred between the mobile device and the wireless network, the total amount of data including the first amount of data; and

when the total amount of data transferred reaches a usage cap defined for the mobile device, implementing a management protocol to manage connectivity of the at least one user device in the local wireless ad hoc network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the total amount of data comprises both the first amount of data and a further amount of data transferred between the mobile device and the wireless network via the at least one wireless communication subsystem for accessing the one or more data services for consumption by each user device of the at least one user device.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving an instruction via a user input interface of the mobile device to override the management protocol in respect of the at least one user device when the total amount of data reaches the usage cap defined for the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one user device comprises a plurality of user devices, the method further comprising receiving input assigning a priority to each of the plurality of user devices, the management protocol being implemented against the plurality of user devices in accordance with their assigned priority.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one user device is selected from the group consisting of:

laptops, tablets, smartphones, personal digital assistants, personal computers, and cameras.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile device is either a smartphone or a tablet.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving via a user input interface and storing in memory of the mobile device an input value comprising a limit on a cost of data services incurred by the mobile device, the input value defining the usage cap.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the usage cap defined for the mobile device is a first usage cap associated with data transfer while the mobile device is connected to a home wireless network, the method further comprising:

storing, in memory of the mobile device, the first usage cap and a second usage cap associated with data transfer while the mobile device is roaming,

such that the management protocol is implemented when either the total amount of data transferred while the mobile device is connected to the home wireless network reaches the first usage cap, or the total amount of data transferred while the mobile device is roaming reaches the second usage cap.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the management protocol comprises disconnecting one or more of the at least one user device in the local wireless ad hoc network, while the mobile device maintains access to the one or more data services for consumption by the mobile device.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code which, when executed by a processor of a mobile device comprising at least one wireless communication subsystem, causes the mobile device to implement the method of:

establishing a wireless connection over a wireless network for accessing one or more data services for consumption by the mobile device;

transferring a first amount of data between the mobile device and the wireless network via the at least one wireless communication subsystem for consumption by the mobile device;

establishing a local wireless ad hoc network with at least one user device and providing access to the one or more data services over the wireless network for consumption by the at least one user device;

monitoring a total amount of data transferred between the mobile device and the wireless network, the total amount of data including the first amount of data; and

when the total amount of data transferred reaches a usage cap defined for the mobile device, implementing a management protocol to manage connectivity of the at least one user device in the local wireless ad hoc network.