APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES

• US 20150156331A1
• Filed: 12/03/2014
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nobel Group Limited
• Original Assignee: Kanfield Capital SA
• Inventors: Sorescu, Bogdan Ionut
• Granted Patent: US 9,723,156 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1414 in real-time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1471 splitting of costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/54 for revenue sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7652 shared by users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects

Abstract

Methods and apparatus of improving telecommunication network efficiency by increasing user device registration with and use of the network are disclosed. Improved user device registration and use, and thus increased efficiency may be achieved by allocating revenue generated by operation of a telecommunication network between user devices, a network operator device, and a third party device. The allocation of revenue may be based, at least in part, on a hierarchical relationship between user devices registered with the network and information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the user devices.

Claims

1. A method for improving telecommunication network operational efficiency for a telecommunication network connecting a server and client side telecommunication devices, the method comprising:

providing a server to communicate with first and second telecommunication devices;

registering the first and second telecommunication devices with the server;

determining, at the server, a hierarchical relationship between the first and second telecommunication devices;

storing, in a computer memory associated with the server, an indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices;

storing, in the computer memory, information concerning use of the telecommunication network by the second telecommunication device;

determining an end user credit for the first telecommunication device based at least in part on the indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices, and based at least in part on the information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the second telecommunication device; and

transmitting a signal to the first telecommunication device or other computer associated with the first telecommunication device based on the determined end user credit, said signal being adapted to produce a physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit at the first telecommunication device and/or other computer associated with the first telecommunication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining an end user credit for the second telecommunication device based at least in part on the information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the second telecommunication device; and

transmitting a signal to the second telecommunication device and/or other computer associated with the second telecommunication device based on the determined end user credit for the second telecommunication device, said signal being adapted to produce a physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit.

4. The method of claims 1 wherein the hierarchical relationship is determined based on a referral relationship between the first and second telecommunication devices.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the output of the determined end user credit represents virtual currency.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the output of the determined end user credit represents actual currency.

7. The method of claims 1 wherein the information concerns use of the telecommunication network for telephone calls.

8. The method of claims 1 wherein the information concerns use of the telecommunication network for text or SMS messages.

9. The method of claims 1 wherein the information concerns use of the telecommunication network for email messages.

10. The method of claims 1 wherein the information concerns use of the telecommunication network for instant messages.

11. The method of claims 1 wherein the information concerns use of the telecommunication network to download video information.

12. The method of claims 1 wherein the information concerns use of the telecommunication network to access the Internet.

13. The method of claims 1 wherein the end user credit for the first telecommunication device is applied in real time to reduce charges associated with use of the first telecommunication device.

14. A method for improving telecommunication network operational efficiency for a telecommunication network connecting a server and client side telecommunication devices, the method comprising:

providing a server to communicate with first, second and third telecommunication devices;

registering the first, second and third telecommunication devices with the server;

determining, at the server, a hierarchical relationship between the first and second telecommunication devices;

determining, at the server, a hierarchical relationship between the second and third telecommunication devices;

storing, in a computer memory associated with the server, an indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices and an indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the second and third telecommunication devices;

storing, in the computer memory, information concerning use of the telecommunication network by the third telecommunication device;

determining an end user credit for the first telecommunication device based at least in part on the indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices, based at least in part on the indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the second and third telecommunication devices, and based at least in part on the information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the third telecommunication device; and

transmitting a signal to the first telecommunication device or other computer associated with the first telecommunication device based on the determined end user credit, said signal being adapted to produce a physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

determining an end user credit for the second telecommunication device based at least in part on the indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the second and third telecommunication devices, and based at least in part on the information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the third telecommunication device; and

transmitting a signal to the second telecommunication device and/or other computer associated with the second telecommunication device based on the determined end user credit, said signal being adapted to produce a physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the end user credit for the second telecommunication device is greater than the end user credit for the first telecommunication device.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the end user credit for the second telecommunication device is different than the end user credit for the first telecommunication device.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of displaying the physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit at the first telecommunication device and/or other computer associated with the first telecommunication device.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

determining an end user credit for the third telecommunication device based at least in part on the information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the third telecommunication device; and

transmitting a signal to the third telecommunication device and/or other computer associated with the third telecommunication device based on the determined end user credit for the third telecommunication device, said signal being adapted to produce a physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit.

20. The method of claims 14 wherein the hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices is determined based on a referral relationship between the first and second telecommunication devices, and

wherein the hierarchical relationship of the second and third telecommunication devices is determined based on a referral relationship between the second and third telecommunication devices.

21. The method of claims 14 wherein the information concerns use of the telecommunication network for telephone calls.

22. The method of claims 14 wherein the information concerns use of the telecommunication network for text or SMS messages.

23. The method of claims 14 wherein the information concerns use of the telecommunication network for email messages.

24. The method of claims 14 wherein the information concerns use of the telecommunication network for instant messages.

25. The method of claims 14 wherein the information concerns use of the telecommunication network to download video information.

26. The method of claims 14 wherein the information concerns use of the telecommunication network to access the Internet.

27. The method of claims 14 wherein the end user credit for the first telecommunication device is applied in real time to reduce charges associated with use of the first telecommunication device.

28. A system for improving telecommunication network operational efficiency for a telecommunication network connecting a server and client side telecommunication devices, the system comprising:

a server adapted to communicate with first and second telecommunication devices; and

first and second telecommunication devices registered with the server;

a computer memory associated with the server;

means for determining a hierarchical relationship between the first and second telecommunication devices and determining an end user credit for the first telecommunication device based at least in part on the indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices, and based at least in part on the information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the second telecommunication device; and

means for transmitting a signal to the first telecommunication device or other computer associated with the first telecommunication device based on the determined end user credit, said signal being adapted to produce a physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit.

29. A system for improving telecommunication network operational efficiency for a telecommunication network connecting a server and client side telecommunication devices, the system comprising:

a server adapted to communicate with first, second and third telecommunication devices;

first, second and third telecommunication devices registered with the server;

a computer memory associated with the server;

means for determining a hierarchical relationship between the first and second telecommunication devices, and a hierarchical relationship between the second and third telecommunication devices and determining an end user credit for the first telecommunication device based at least in part on the indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices, based at least in part on the indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the second and third telecommunication devices, and based at least in part on the information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the third telecommunication device; and

means for transmitting a signal to the first telecommunication device or other computer associated with the first telecommunication device based on the determined end user credit, said signal being adapted to produce a physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the means for determining further comprises means for determining an end user credit for the second telecommunication device based at least in part on the indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the second and third telecommunication devices, and based at least in part on the information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the third telecommunication device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the end user credit for the second telecommunication device is greater than the end user credit for the first telecommunication device.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the end user credit for the second telecommunication device is different than the end user credit for the first telecommunication device.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the first telecommunication device further comprises means for displaying the physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit.