Managing communication network capacity

• US 8,135,388 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2009
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Gailloux, Michael A., Samson, Kenneth, Shah, Gautam M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Agosta, Steve D
• Application Number:
  US12/350,066
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 455/409, 455406-408, 455/405, 455/410, 455/418, 370/310.2, 370/328, 379/111, 379/114.28, 379/127.02
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5064 Customer relationship management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5067 Customer-centric QoS measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• 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 15/8022 Determining tariff or charge band
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/85 characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/852 Low balance or limit reached
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A system is provided for managing communication network capacity. The system includes a processor, a data store, an analysis component, and a message component. The data store stores information associated with communication metrics for customers. The analysis component, when executed by the processor, determines a mean and a standard deviation for the communication metrics based on the stored information. The analysis component also determines whether the stored information associated with communication metrics for one of the customers is a predefined number of the standard deviation from the mean for more than a predefined number of days. The message component, when executed by the processor, sends a message to the one of the customers in response to a determination that stored information associated with the communication metrics for the one of the customers is the predefined number of the standard deviation from the mean for more than the predefined number of days.

Claims

1. A system for managing communication network capacity, comprising:

a processor;

a data store to store information associated with communication metrics for customers;

an analysis component, when executed by the processor, to determine a mean and a standard deviation for the communication metrics based on the stored information, to determine whether the stored information associated with communication metrics for one of the customers is a predefined number of the standard deviation from the mean for more than a predefined number of days, and to analyze communication patterns to identify a plurality of handsets associated with the one of the customers based on cell sectors used for at least one of a communication origin and a communication destination; and

a message component, when executed by the processor, to send a message to the plurality of handsets associated with the one of the customers in response to a determination that stored information associated with the communication metrics for the one of the customers is the predefined number of the standard deviation from the mean for more than the predefined number of days, wherein the message conveys one of an offer to assist with service, an encouragement to update a service plan in response to a determination of excessive usage, a notification of logging subsequent communications to ensure proper service, an acceptable usage policy, and a warning that action will be taken if improper usage does not stop.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored information is historical information based on previous communication metrics.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mean and the standard deviation for the communication metrics comprise one of a mean and a standard deviation for communication metrics duration and a mean and a standard deviation for communication metrics frequency.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the mean and the standard deviation for the communication metrics are further based on communication metrics that occur during one of a predefined peak communication time range and a predefined communication time range.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the message is one of a voice message and a text message.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the message component sends the message to a handset that is at least one of a mobile phone, a wireless handset, a pager, a personal digital assistant, a gaming device, an inventory control device, a media player, a digital camera, a digital calculator, a portable computer, a tablet computer, and a laptop computer.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the message component sends the message at a time outside of a predefined peak communication time range.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the message component sends the message based on a message priority established for the one of the customers.

7. A method for managing communication network capacity, comprising:

storing information associated with communication metrics for customers;

determining, by an analysis component stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by a processor, a mean and a standard deviation for the communication metrics based on the stored information;

determining, by the analysis component, whether stored information associated with communication metrics for one of the customers is a predefined number of the standard deviation from the mean for more than a predefined number of days;

sending, by a message component stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by a processor, a message to the one of the customers in response to a determination that stored information associated with the communication metrics for the one of the customers is the predefined number of the standard deviation from the mean for more than the predefined number of days, wherein the message conveys one of an offer to assist with service, an encouragement to update a service plan in response to a determination of excessive usage, a notification of logging subsequent communications to ensure proper service, an acceptable usage policy, and a warning that action will be taken if improper usage does not stop;

directing a communication from the one of the customers to a customer care center; and

responding to a customer complaint about one of a message and a direction of a communication to the customer care center by one of removing the one of the customers from a list that identifies customers to one of receive the message and have a communication redirected to the customer care center, and retaining the one of the customers on the list.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein directing the communication from the one of the customers to the customer care center comprises directing the communication to at least one of a recorded message and a customer care representative.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing the stored information associated with the communication metrics for the one of the customers to the customer care center.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising modifying a communication priority for the one of the customers and offering an opportunity for the one of the customers to upgrade a service plan.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising occasionally reestablishing the mean and the standard deviation for subsequent determinations.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising analyzing subsequent communication metrics associated with the one of the customers to evaluate a message impact.

10. A method for managing communication network capacity, comprising:

storing information associated with communication metrics for customers;

determining, by an analysis component stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by a processor, a mean and a standard deviation for the communication metrics based on the stored information;

determining, by the analysis component, whether stored information associated with communication metrics for one of the customers is a predefined number of the standard deviation from the mean for more than a predefined number of days;

sending, by a message component stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by a processor, a message to the one of the customers in response to a determination that stored information associated with the communication metrics for the one of the customers is the predefined number of the standard deviation from the mean for more than the predefined number of days, wherein the message conveys one of an offer to assist with service, an encouragement to update a service plan in response to a determination of excessive usage, a notification of logging subsequent communications to ensure proper service, an acceptable usage policy, and a warning that action will be taken if improper usage does not stop; and

analyzing, by the analysis component, communication patterns to identify a plurality of handsets associated with the one of the customers and sending, by the message component, the message to the plurality of handsets associated with the one of the customers, wherein analyzing communication patterns comprises analyzing the communication patterns based on cell sectors used for at least one of a communication origin and a communication destination.