SERVICE UTILIZATION BROWSER PLUG-IN

• US 20150039481A1
• Filed: 08/05/2013
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Calix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Calix Incorporated
• Inventors: Els, Henning, Fine, Phil, Sodhi, Ari
• Application Number:
  US13/959,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20150039481A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

A method of using a data monitoring service may include transmitting a request for subscriber billing status information; in response to the request, receiving the subscriber billing status information in a response message; formatting a status message based in part on the received subscriber billing status information, the status message including an estimated cost for a billing cycle of the subscriber; and presenting the status message in a network application.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting a request for subscriber billing status information;

in response to the request, receiving the subscriber billing status information in a response message;

formatting a status message based in part on the received subscriber billing status information, the status message including an estimated cost for a billing cycle of the subscriber; and

presenting the status message in a network application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

parsing the response message to determine a base charge amount; and

parsing the response message to determine a billing estimate for the billing cycle of the subscriber.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

changing the format of the status message when the billing estimate for the billing cycle is over the base charge amount by a threshold amount.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

periodically transmitting the request for the subscriber billing status information; and

updating the status message based on subscriber billing status information received in response to the periodically transmitted request.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the status message is displayed in a web browser and is displayed separate from content of a web page.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for subscriber billing status information includes a subscriber identification.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a plurality of billing thresholds; and

alerting a user each time a billing threshold of the plurality of billing thresholds is reached or passed.

9. A computer-readable storage device comprising instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, configure the at least one processor to:

transmit a request for subscriber billing status information;

in response to the request, receive the subscriber billing status information in a response message;

format a status message based in part on the received subscriber billing status information, the status message including an estimated cost for a billing cycle of the subscriber; and

present the status message in a network application.

10. The computer-readable storage device of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

parse the response message to determine a base charge amount; and

parse the response message to determine a billing estimate for the billing cycle of the subscriber.

11. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

change the format of the status message when the billing estimate for the billing cycle is over the base charge amount by a threshold amount.

12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

periodically transmit the request for the subscriber billing status information; and

update the status message based on subscriber billing status information received in response to the periodically transmitted request.

13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 9, wherein the status message is displayed in a web browser and is displayed separate from content of a web page.

14. The computer-readable storage device of claim 9, wherein the status message includes a future estimated billing for the billing cycle.

15. A system comprising:

a storage device comprising instructions;

at least one processor to execute the instructions, wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

transmit a request for subscriber billing status information;

in response to the request, receive the subscriber billing status information in a response message;

format a status message based in part on the received subscriber billing status information, the status message including an estimated cost for a billing cycle of the subscriber; and

present the status message in a network application.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the status message includes data identifying data usage of devices associated with the subscriber during the billing cycle.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the status message is formatted as a percentage indicating a ratio of data usage of the subscriber during the billing cycle to allowed data usage of the subscriber for the billing cycle.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the status message is a graphical status message indicating a range of possible future billing estimates.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the request for the subscriber usage information includes a subscriber identification.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the request includes an application protocol interface key.