Methods for making a business decision in response to information from a short distance wireless network

• US 7,340,216 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCO V CLO Transferor LLC (FIG LLC (d/b/a Fortress Investment Group LLC))
• Original Assignee: IXI Mobile (R&D) Ltd. (IXI Mobile, Inc.)
• Inventors: Haller, Amit, Fornell, Peter, Itzchak, Avraham, Haparnas, Ziv
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US11/217,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20060025077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411- 413, 455572-574, 455/426.1, 455423-425, 455418-420, 4555521-5531, 455405-408, 455/414.1, 705/10, 705/14, 705/17, 370/338, 370/352, 709/224, 709/32
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• 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 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0112 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method, among other methods, includes generating a short-range radio signal that indicates a type of a device in a short distance wireless network. A cellular signal is transmitted from the short distance wireless network to a cellular network that indicates the type of the device in the short distance wireless network. User information is obtained. A software component is then selected in response to the type of the device and the user information. A cellular signal from the cellular network is received that includes the software component to be used by the device in the short distance wireless network.

Claims

1. A method for providing an optimal usage plan to a device, being a part of a plurality of devices a short distance wireless network coupled to a cellular network, comprising the steps of:

generating a short range radio signal, by a first device in said short distance wireless network, that request access to said cellular network;

storing in said short distance wireless network, a type of said first device that request access to said cellular network;

transferring data, by a second device in said short distance wireless network, between said cellular network and said short distance wireless network in response to said short range radio signal;

storing in said short distance wireless network, the amount of data transferred between said cellular network and said short distance wireless network;

storing a period of time in which said data is transferred between said cellular network and said short distance wireless network;

transmitting a cellular signal from said short distance wireless network to said cellular network, said cellular signal indicates the type of said first device, said amount of data transferred and said period of time;

calculating the total cost according to the type of said first device, said amount of data transferred and said period of time;

informing a user of said short distance wireless network about said total cost; and

calculating an optimal usage plan for said user according to the calculated total cost and forwarding said plan to said user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising downloading, a software component to be used by the first device in response to the type of said first device, the amount of data transferred and the period of time.