System and methods for managing the utilization of a communications device
First Claim
1. A system for managing in real-time a communication device used by a user, comprising:
- a user wallet for electronically storing units of value, the user wallet being accessible by the user and being associated with the communication device;
an administrator wallet for electronically storing units of value and being associated with at least the communication device, the administrator wallet being accessible by an administrator; and
a function manager for managing a function of the communication device in real-time, the function manager having a global rule that specifies whether the function is permitted and a local rule that applies if the function is permitted by the global rule and that specifies whether a number of units of value associated with the function will be charged to the user wallet or the administrator wallet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for the real-time management of a device, and more particularly to the allocation of electronic wallets that are associated with one or more devices and various controls that enable at least two entities to manage how the device is utilized for various activities and to pay for goods and services. Each device is associated with at least two electronic wallets, a user wallet and an administrator wallet. The administrator can establish rules that designate how and when the device can be used and which wallet will be used to pay for goods and services desired by the user, but in the event the user wallet is depleted or low on funds, the administrator wallet can serve as a backup funding source for specified types of goods and/or services. Additional wallets can also be associated with the device to authorize and pay for goods and services, under the control of the administrator wallet, such as a promotional wallet that could be designated for use with the device before a primary or administrative wallet was used, or a dynamic wallet that could be associated for use with multiple different devices as well as other wallets, but acts in conjunction with the user and administrator wallets. Additional rules can be established to perform many other functions, such as manage the movement of value between wallets and from other sources to the wallets.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A system for managing in real-time a communication device used by a user, comprising:
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a user wallet for electronically storing units of value, the user wallet being accessible by the user and being associated with the communication device; an administrator wallet for electronically storing units of value and being associated with at least the communication device, the administrator wallet being accessible by an administrator; and a function manager for managing a function of the communication device in real-time, the function manager having a global rule that specifies whether the function is permitted and a local rule that applies if the function is permitted by the global rule and that specifies whether a number of units of value associated with the function will be charged to the user wallet or the administrator wallet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A system for funding in real-time one or more communication devices, comprising:
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a dynamic wallet for electronically storing units of value, the dynamic wallet being accessible by a financier and being represented by a unique identifier; one or more user wallets for electronically storing units of value, the user wallets being associated with the communication devices; a function manager for managing a function of the communication devices in real-time, the function manager having at least one global rule that specifies whether the function is permitted and at least one local rule that applies if the function is permitted by the global rule and that specifies whether a number of units of value associated with the function will be charged to the user wallet or to the dynamic wallet; an administrator wallet for electronically storing units of value and being associated with the communication devices, the administrator wallet being accessible by an administrator; and a funding manager accessible by the financier that enables the financier to associate the dynamic wallet with the communication devices and to transfer units of value from the dynamic wallet to the administrator wallet or the user wallets.
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Specification