Methods, devices and computer program products for tracking usage of a network by a plurality of users of a mobile phone

• US 8,229,394 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Karlberg, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIVJI, NIZAR N
• Application Number:
  US11/565,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20080132201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,063 Days
• Field of Search: 455/407, 455/406, 455/405, 455/411, 379/88.02, 379/130, 705/14, 705/26, 713/183, 713/184
• US Class Current: 455/407
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• 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 15/28 with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/705 Account settings, e.g. limits or numbers or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/715 Activating new subscriber or card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/721 using the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/725 by the operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/771 per terminal or location, e.g. mobile device with multiple directory numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/774 per card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/84 Types of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/844 Message, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/888 severing connection after predetermined time or data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/01 Cocot systems, i.e. private ownership of payphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0144 Release upon reaching limit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 : Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 : Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7009 : Account settings, e.g. users, terminals, limits, numbers or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7027 : Activate new subscriber or card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7045 : Using Internet or WAP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7063 : Administer via operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 : Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7259 : per terminal or location; Mobile with multiple directory numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7272 : per card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 : Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/81 : Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8129 : Type of notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8137 : Message, e.g. alphanumeric text, SMS, MMS, EMS or www-based messaging service

Abstract

Methods for tracking usage of a network by a plurality of users of a mobile phone include associating a plurality of user accounts with the mobile phone, where ones of the plurality of user accounts correspond to ones of the plurality of users of the mobile phone. Usage of the network by the mobile phone is automatically attributed to one of the plurality of user accounts responsive to receiving identifying information for a corresponding one of the plurality of users of the mobile phone. Charges for the one of the plurality of user accounts are calculated based on the usage attributed to the one of the plurality of user accounts. Related devices and computer program products are also discussed.

Claims

1. A method for tracking usage of a network by a plurality of users of a mobile phone, the method comprising:

associating a plurality of user accounts with the mobile phone, wherein each of the plurality of user accounts corresponds to a different one of the plurality of users of the mobile phone;

receiving a first log-on request provided by a first one of the plurality of users of the mobile phone;

receiving a second log-on request provided by a second one of the plurality of users of the mobile phone;

establishing respective wireless wide-area network communication connections as being associated with one of first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts;

storing usage units associated with the respective wireless wide-area network communication connections established by the mobile phone, the usage units including corresponding times of the communication connections;

automatically attributing usage of the network by the mobile phone to the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts responsive to the first and second log-on requests, respectively, by correlating the stored usage units for the communication connections to the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts based on respective times of receipt of the first and second log-on requests and the times of the communication connections; and

automatically calculating respective charges for the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts based on the usage attributed to the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts,

wherein the first and second log-on requests include identifying information for the first and second ones of the plurality of users, respectively, and wherein establishing the respective wireless wide-area network communication connections as being associated with one of the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts comprises;

receiving one of the first and second log-on requests including the identifying information from a current user of the mobile phone via a user interface of the mobile phone;

authenticating the current user as one of the first and second ones of the plurality of users based on the identifying information;

establishing the respective wireless wide-area network communication connections including the respective usage units associated therewith as being associated with the one of the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts corresponding to the current user; and

then

receiving a log off request from the current user of the mobile phone via the user interface of the mobile phone,

wherein automatically attributing the usage comprises automatically attributing a sum of the usage units between receiving the one of the first and second log-on requests and receiving the log off request to the corresponding one of the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts as the usage of the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile phone is configured to provide voice transmission over the wireless wide-area network communication connection.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the mobile phone is further configured to provide the voice transmission based on a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage units comprises a number of sent and/or received calls, a number of sent and/or received text messages, a number of sent and/or received picture messages, an amount of sent and/or received data, and/or a time of and/or duration of the communication connection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein authenticating the current user comprises:

preventing use of the mobile phone responsive to a failure in authenticating the current user as one of the first and second ones of the plurality of users.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing respective usage information based on the usage units attributed to the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying respective usage information based on the usage units attributed to the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts and/or the charges for the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically calculating the charges comprises:

automatically calculating the respective charges for the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts based on the usage units attributed to the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts and a predetermined pricing scheme including a network traffic component determined by a network service provider and a profit component determined by an owner of the mobile phone different from the plurality of users thereof.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined pricing scheme includes a predetermined network tariff rate, and wherein automatically calculating the respective charges further comprises:

downloading the predetermined network tariff rate; and

calculating the respective charges based on the predetermined network tariff rate.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts is associated with a pre-paid spending limit, and further comprising:

preventing further usage of the network by the mobile phone when the charges for the at least one of the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts are greater than or equal to the pre-paid spending limit.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile phone is associated with a plurality of different broadcast identifiers respectively corresponding to ones of the plurality of user accounts, and further comprising:

broadcasting a first one of the plurality of broadcast identifiers corresponding to the first one of the plurality of user accounts responsive to receiving the first log-on request at the mobile phone; and

broadcasting a second one of the plurality of broadcast identifiers corresponding to the second one of the plurality of user accounts responsive to receiving the second log-on request at the mobile phone.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile phone is associated with a plurality of different broadcast identifiers respectively corresponding to ones of the plurality of user accounts, and wherein automatically attributing the usage comprises:

automatically attributing the usage of the network to one of the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts responsive to broadcast of a corresponding one of the plurality of broadcast identifiers from the mobile phone at a time of the usage.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

billing the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts associated with the mobile phone based on the usage attributed to the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts.

14. A system for tracking usage of a network by a plurality of users of a mobile phone, wherein the system is configured to carry out the method of claim 1.

15. A computer program product for tracking usage of a network by a plurality of users of a mobile phone, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium including computer readable program code therein configured to carry out the method of claim 1.

16. A mobile phone, comprising:

a transceiver configured to establish wireless wide-area network communication connections;

a user interface configured to receive a first log-on request from a first one of a plurality of users of the mobile phone and a second log-on request from a second one of the plurality of users of the mobile phone;

a memory unit configured to store usage units associated with the wireless wide-area network communication connections established by the mobile phone, the usage units including corresponding times of the communication connections; and

a controller configured to associate a plurality of user accounts with the mobile phone wherein each of the plurality of user accounts corresponds to a different one of the plurality of users, automatically attribute usage of a network by the mobile phone to first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts responsive to receiving the first and second log-on requests from the first and second ones of the plurality of users, respectively, by correlating the stored usage units for the communication connections to the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts based on respective times of receipt of the first and second log-on requests and the times of the communication connections, and automatically calculate respective charges for the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts based on the usage attributed to the connections of the plurality of user accounts,

wherein the user interface is further configured to receive one of the first and second log-on requests including identifying information from a current user of the mobile phone and is configured to receive a log off request from the current user of the mobile phone, and

wherein the controller is configured to authenticate the current user as one of the first and second ones of the plurality of users based on the identifying information, establish the respective wireless wide-area network communication connections including the respective usage units associated therewith as being associated with one of the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts corresponding to the current user, and automatically attribute a sum of the usage units between receipt of the one of the first and second log-on requests and receipt of the log off request to the corresponding one of the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts as the usage of the network.

17. The mobile phone of claim 16, wherein the mobile phone is configured to provide voice transmission over the communication connection.

18. The mobile phone of claim 17, wherein the mobile phone is further configured to provide the voice transmission based on a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM).

19. The mobile phone of claim 16, wherein the usage units comprises a number of sent and/or received calls, a number of sent and/or received text messages, a number of sent and/or received picture messages, an amount of sent and/or received data, and/or a time of and/or duration of the communication connection.

20. The mobile phone of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to prevent use of the mobile phone if the controller is unable to authenticate the current user as one of the first and second ones of the plurality of users.

21. The mobile phone of claim 16, wherein the memory unit is further configured to store respective user account data for the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts including usage information based on the usage units attributed to the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts.

22. The mobile phone of claim 16, wherein the user interface is configured to display respective usage information based on the usage units attributed to the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts and/or is configured to display the respective charges for the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts.

23. The mobile phone of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to automatically calculate the respective charges for the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts based on the usage units attributed to the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts and a predetermined pricing scheme including a network traffic component determined by a network service provider and a profit component determined by an owner of the mobile phone different from the plurality of users thereof.

24. The mobile phone of claim 23, wherein the predetermined pricing scheme includes a predetermined network tariff rate, wherein the transceiver is configured to download the predetermined network tariff rate, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically calculate the charges based on the predetermined network tariff rate.

25. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the memory unit is configured to store a pre-paid spending limit associated with at least one of the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts, and wherein the controller is configured to prevent further usage of the network by the mobile phone when the charges for the at least one of the first and second ones of the plurality of user accounts are greater than or equal to the pre-paid spending limit.

26. The mobile phone of claim 16, wherein the mobile phone is associated with a plurality of different broadcast identifiers respectively corresponding to the plurality of user accounts, and wherein the controller is configured to broadcast a first one of the plurality of broadcast identifiers corresponding to the first one of the plurality of user accounts via the transceiver responsive to receiving the first log-on request, and broadcast a second one of the plurality of broadcast identifiers corresponding to the second one of the plurality of user accounts via the transceiver responsive to receiving the second log-on request.