Method and system for accessing wireless account information

• US 7,979,350 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phunware, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoTV Networks Incorporated (Phunware, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carion, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Kazimi; Hani
• Assistant Examiner(s): MADAMBA, CLIFFORD B
• Application Number:
  US11/977,186
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 705/40, 455406-409, 4554141-4142
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• 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 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/705 Account settings, e.g. limits or numbers or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/71 Modifying recharging resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/72 by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/721 using the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/725 by the operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/018 On-line real-time billing, able to see billing information while in communication, e.g. via the internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A method for managing wireless account information. A list of applications is presented via a web interface on a computing device. The applications are operable to run on a wireless handheld device and a plurality of billing options are presented. In response to receiving a selection of an application, a wireless account is updated via a link between a web account and a wireless account according to the selected application, such that the selected application is available when a wireless account is accessed via a wireless handheld device.

Claims

1. A method for managing wireless account information, comprising:

presenting a list of a plurality of applications via a web interface on a computing device associated with a web account, said plurality of applications configured to run on a wireless handheld device;

receiving, from said computing device, a selection of an application from said plurality of applications;

presenting, via said web interface, an interactive preview of said application;

presenting, via said web interface, a plurality of billing options for said application from said plurality of applications;

receiving, via the web interface, a selected billing option from said plurality of billing options;

setting an expiration date for said application from said plurality of applications based on said selected billing option; and

updating, after presenting the interactive preview, a wireless carrier account via a link between said web account and said wireless carrier account according to said selection of said application such that said application is available when said wireless carrier account is accessed via said wireless handheld device, fees associated with said application from said plurality of applications configured to be automatically billed via said wireless carrier account based on said selected billing option, said web account being independent of said wireless carrier account.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein said web interface is independent of a wireless carrier website.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a secure connection between the computing device and a server storing the plurality of applications.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a signal to said wireless handheld device, said signal configured to cause said wireless handheld device to display a message indicating access to said application has expired.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting application customization options.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein said wireless carrier account is a wireless service account.

7. A system for accessing information for wireless applications, comprising:

a non-transitory processor-readable medium;

a customization component implemented in the non-transitory processor-readable medium, the customization component configured to present a list of a plurality of applications via a web interface of a computing device associated with a web account, said plurality of applications configured to run on a wireless handheld device;

an account management component for managing the web account and for managing authentication information associated with the web account;

a billing component for managing billing and purchasing of an application from the plurality of applications, said billing component configured to present, via said web interface, a plurality of billing options for said application, said billing component configured to set an expiration date for said application from said plurality of applications based on a selected billing option from said plurality of billing options;

an account setup component for defining the web account and associating the web account with a wireless carrier account associated with the wireless handheld device such that said application is available when said wireless carrier account is accessed via said wireless handheld device, fees associated with said application from said plurality of applications configured to be automatically billed via the wireless carrier account based on said selected billing option, said web account being independent of said wireless carrier account; and

an interactive preview component configured to present an interactive preview of the application via the web interface of the computing device associated with the web account prior to purchasing the wireless application for execution on the wireless handheld device.

8. The system of claim 7,

wherein the web account is a first web account, the system further comprising:

a sending component configured to send the application from the plurality of applications to a second web account based on purchasing the application using the first web account.

9. The system of claim 8,

wherein said sending component is configured to send a notification message associated with the application from the plurality of applications to the second web account.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a customization component that allows selection of one or more application objects.

11. The system of claim 10,

wherein said one or more application objects are RSS feeds.

12. The system of claim 10,

wherein said one or more application objects are icons.

13. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a customization component for customizing information associated with said wireless carrier account.