Method and apparatus for billing for usage-based group communication between wireless devices

• US 7,155,203 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Brewer, Beth Ann, Kenagy, Jason B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gary, Erika A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, David Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/877,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20050287982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 455/518, 455/521, 455/405, 455/421, 455/512, 455/445, 455/466, 455/406, 455/519, 455/432.3, 379/122.01, 379/122.25, 379/114.01
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8207 Time based data metric aspects, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/825 based on the number of used channels, e.g. bundling channels, frequencies or CDMA codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2093 Push to talk
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7813 Time based data, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7853 Based on the number of used channels, e.g. bundling channels or frequencies or CDMA codes

Abstract

A method and apparatus for billing for the usage of direct group communication services, such as push-to-talk services. A direct group communication service provider sets up an account for each direct communication service user whereby the user can establish a target group of wireless devices associated with his account. A billing server monitors the direct communication attempts of the wireless device of the user with the target group and bills the user based upon a predetermined criteria, such as number of wireless devices in the target group communicated with, use of a direct communication service, or duration of talk time.

Claims

1. A system for billing for direct mobile device to mobile device communication services, comprising:

a server performing billing services in communication with a wireless communication network; and

a first mobile device capable of selectively directly communicating with a predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices across the wireless communication network,

wherein upon starting to communicate with the target set through a direct communication, the server gathers billing information from network usage parameters established for the first mobile device; and

wherein the server determines if direct communication between the first mobile device and the predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices is permitted base on the network usage parameters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the direct communication being established through a half-duplex channel.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the network usage parameters include the number of second mobile devices in the target set.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the network usage parameters include the cumulative talk time.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the network usage parameters include the number of responses received from the target set.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the network usage parameters include number of direct communications initiated by the first mobile device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the server communicates the result of the determining to the wireless communication network;

and

the wireless communication network permits communication between the first mobile device and the predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices if the result of the determining allows the direct communication.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the network usage parameters include a prepayment method by the first mobile device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the server communicates the result of the determining to the wireless communication network;

and

the wireless communication network permits communication between the first mobile device and the predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices if the result of the determining allows the direct communication.

10. A system for billing for direct mobile device to mobile device communication services, comprising:

means for providing billing service in communication with a wireless communication network;

first mobile means for communication capable of selectively directly communicating with a predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices across the wireless communication network,

wherein upon starting to communicate with the target set through a direct communication, the means for providing billing service gathers billing information from network usage parameters established for the first mobile means for communication; and

wherein the means for providing billing service determines if direct communication between the first mobile device and the predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices is permitted base on the network usage parameters.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the direct communication being established through a half-duplex channel.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the network usage parameters include the number of second mobile devices in the target set.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the network usage parameters include a cumulative talk time.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the network usage parameters include a number of responses received from the target set.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the network usage parameters include a number of direct communications initiated by the first mobile device.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the network usage parameters include a prepayment method by the first mobile device.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for providing billing service communicates the result of the determining to the wireless communication network;

and

the wireless communication network permits communication between the first mobile device and the predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices if the result of the determining allows the direct communication.

18. A method for billing for direct mobile device to mobile device communication services, comprising the steps of:

receiving at a server a direct communication request from a first mobile device, the direct communication request being directed to a predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices;

retrieving target set information;

staffing to track a direct communication attempt between the first mobile device and the target set according to the target set information;

tracking network usage parameters related to the direct communication between the first mobile device and at least one second mobile device in the target set;

generating billing information for the first mobile device according to the network usage parameters; and

determining if direct communication between the first mobile device and the predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices is permitted based on the network usage parameters.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprises the steps of:

receiving the target set information from the first mobile device; and

storing the target set information.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of starting to track a direct communication attempt further comprises the step of tracking an attempt to establish a half-duplex channel between the first mobile device and the target set.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprises the steps of:

receiving a response from at least one second mobile device; and

forwarding the response from the at least one second mobile device to the first mobile device.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprises the step of tracking a number of second mobile devices in the target set.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprises the step of tracking a number of devices that the first mobile device establishes contact with.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprises the step of tracking a cumulative talk time.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprises the step of tracking a number of responses received from the target set.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprises the step of tracking a number of direct communications initiated by the first mobile device.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprises a prepayment method by the first mobile device.

28. The method of claim 18, further comprises the steps of:

communicating the result of the determining to a wireless communication network; and

permitting communication between the first mobile device and the predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices through the wireless communication network if the result of the determining allows the direct communication.

29. An apparatus for billing for direct mobile device to mobile device communication services, comprising:

a server in communication with a wireless communication network, the sewer being capable of performing the steps of;

receiving a direct communication request from a first mobile device, the direct communication request being directed to a predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices;

retrieving target set information;

staffing to track a direct communication attempt between the first mobile device and the target set according to the target set information;

tracking network usage parameters related to the direct communication between the first mobile device and at least one second mobile device in the target set;

generating billing information for the first mobile device according to the network usage parameters; and

determining if direct communication between the first mobile device and the predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices is permitted based on the network usage parameters.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the server further being capable of performing the steps of:

receiving the target set information from the first mobile device; and

storing the target set information.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the server further being capable of performing the steps of establishing a half duplex channel between the first mobile device and the target set.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the server further being capable of performing the steps of:

receiving a response from at least one second mobile device; and

forwarding the response from the at least one second mobile device to the first mobile device.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprises the step of tracking a number of second mobile devices in the target set.

34. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprises tracking a number of devices that the first mobile device establishes contact with.

35. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprises the step of tracking a cumulative talk time.

36. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprises the step of tracking a number of responses received from the target set.

37. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprises the step of tracking a number of direct communications initiated by the first mobile device.

38. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the step of tracking network usage parameters further comprises a prepayment method by the first mobile device.

39. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the server further being capable of performing the steps of:

communicating the result of the determining to the wireless communication network; and

permitting communication between the first mobile device and the predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices through the wireless communication network if the result of the determining allows the direct communication.

40. A computer-readable medium comprising at least one instruction, which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations for billing of direct mobile device to mobile device communication services, the instruction comprising:

a set of the instructions for receiving a direct communication request from a first mobile device, the direct communication request being directed to a predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices;

a set of the instructions for retrieving target set information;

a set of the instructions for tracking a direct communication attempt between the first mobile device and the target set according to the target set information;

a set of the instructions for tracking network usage parameters related to the direct communication between the first mobile device and at least one second mobile device in the target set;

a set of the instructions for generating billing information for the first mobile device according to the network usage parameters; and

a set of the instructions for determining if direct communication between the first mobile device and the predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices is permitted based on the network usage parameters.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, further comprising a set of instructions for:

receiving the target set information from the first mobile device; and

storing the target set information.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, further comprising a set of instructions for establishing a half-duplex channel between the first mobile device and the target set.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, further comprising:

a set of instructions for receiving a response from at least one second mobile device; and

a set of instructions for forwarding the response from the at least one second mobile device to the first mobile device.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, further comprising a set of instructions for tracking a number of second mobile devices in the target set.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, further comprising a set of instructions for tracking a number of devices that the first mobile device establishes contact with.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, further comprising a set of instructions for tracking a cumulative talk time.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, further comprising a set of instructions for tracking a number of responses received from the target set.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, further comprising a set of instructions for tracking a number of direct communications initiated by the first mobile device.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, further comprises a set of instructions for a prepayment method by the first mobile device.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, further comprises:

a set of instructions for communicating the result of the determining to a wireless communication network; and

a set of instructions for permitting communication between the first mobile device and the predesignated target set of one or more second mobile devices through the wireless communication network if the result of the determining allows the direct communication.