System and Method for Detecting Prepaid Internet Connection and a Charging Mechanism for Same

• US 20150095217A1
• Filed: 11/23/2012
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chikka Pte Limited
• Original Assignee: Chikka Pte Limited
• Inventors: Mendiola, Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 9,985,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1457 using an account
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1467 involving prepayment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8228 Session based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths

Abstract

A system for detecting and charging for internet connection provided to a computer device, the computer device configured to detect any internet connection available comprising an internet access adjustment facilitator arranged to receive requests for prepaid internet connection access from the computer device; and capable of facilitating the linking of the computer device to a designated prepaid internet account for purposes of charging; wherein upon detection by the software that the internet connection is a prepaid internet connection, access and caching of any Internet content will be chargeable to a designated prepaid internet account from the at least one prepaid internet account; and upon detecting that the internet connection is any other type of internet connection, the computer device caches any Internet content accessed by the user for synchronization with other computer devices in the system linked to the designated prepaid account.

Claims

1. A system for detecting and charging for internet connection provided to a computer device, the computer device configured to detect any internet connection available comprising

an internet access adjustment facilitator arranged to receive requests for prepaid internet connection access from the computer device;

and

capable of facilitating the linking of the computer device to a designated prepaid internet account for purposes of charging;

wherein upon detection that the internet connection is a prepaid internet connection, access and caching of any Internet content will be chargeable to a designated prepaid internet account from the at least one prepaid internet account; and

upon detecting that the internet connection is any other type of internet connection, the computer device caches any Internet content accessed by the user for synchronization with other computer devices in the system linked to the designated prepaid account.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein where the internet connection is a prepaid internet connection, accessing of previously charged cached internet content will be free from further charges.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein where the internet connection is a prepaid internet connection, updating cached Internet content is chargeable to the designated prepaid account.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein where the internet connection is a prepaid internet connection, the computer device notifies the user of the computer device that any Internet content accessed will be chargeable to the designated prepaid account before incurring the charge.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein charging of the Internet content is based on a pay per action model.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the pay per action model is activated by sending a request from the computer device to a server, the server operable to, upon receiving the request, toggle between an existing billing infrastructure which implements a pay-per-specific time model and an independent billing module implementing the pay per action model.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein each subsequent action to update or synchronize internet content is charged or billed based on a flat fee for a defined set of subsequent actions.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the computer device is capable of caching and synchronizing the Internet content accessed.

9. A method for detecting and charging for internet connection provided to a computer device, the computer device configured to detect any internet connection available comprising the following steps:

a. detecting if the internet connection is a prepaid internet connection;

b. charging any Internet content accessed or cached to a designated prepaid account if the internet connection is a prepaid broadband connection;

or

c. caching any accessed internet content without charging for the same upon detecting that the internet connection is other type of internet connection;

wherein the computer device caches any Internet content accessed by the user for synchronization with other computer devices in the system linked to the designated prepaid account.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein where the internet connection is a prepaid internet connection, accessing cached internet content previously charged will be free from further charges.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein where the internet connection is a prepaid internet connection, updating cached Internet content is chargeable to the designated prepaid account.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein where the internet connection is a prepaid internet connection the computer device notifies the user of the computer device that any Internet content accessed will be chargeable to the designated prepaid account before incurring the charge.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein charging of the Internet content is based on a pay per action model.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the pay per action model is activated by sending a request from the computer device to a server, the server operable to, upon receiving the request, toggle between an existing billing infrastructure which implements a pay-per-specific time model and an independent billing module implementing the pay per action model.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein each subsequent action to update or synchronize internet content is charged or billed based on a flat fee for a defined set of subsequent actions.

16. A method according to claim 9, wherein the computer device is capable of caching and synchronizing the Internet content accessed.

17. A computer device installed with software thereon, the software executable to perform the steps according to any of claims 9 to 16 to detect and charge for prepaid internet access.