Network based ambient services

• US 8,250,207 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2009
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Headwater Research LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Original Assignee: Headwater Partners I LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Inventors: Raleigh, Gregory G.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US12/380,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 705/16, 705/7.11, 705/28, 705/30, 705/34, 455/406, 455/407, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/414.1, 709217-219, 709/223, 709/224, 370/252, 370/331, 370/351
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0876 Aspects of the degree of configuration automation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 : Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 : Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5025 : by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 : Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 : Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 : for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 : Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0236 : Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 : for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 : using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 : by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/145 : avoiding end of session, e.g. keep-alive, heartbeats, resumption message or wake-up for inactive or interrupted session
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 : Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 : Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 : including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• 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 15/49 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 : based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 : based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 : Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 : Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8055 : Selecting cheaper transport technology for a given service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 : Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 : Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 : Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 : Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/037 : of the control plane, e.g. signalling traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 : Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 : Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 : based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 : using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/12 : using signalling between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 : Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 : using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 : Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 : Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 : Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 : Management or planning

Abstract

Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a network device implements a service profile for assisting control of a communications device use of a service on a network, in which the service profile includes service policy settings, and the service profile is associated with an ambient service plan for the communications device that provides for initial access to the service with limited service capabilities prior to activation of a new service plan for the communications device; and monitors use of the service by the communications device based on the service profile.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor of a network device configured to;

implement a first service profile for assisting control of a use by a first end-user device of a first service class on a first network, the first service class comprising at least one of a set of one or more network data services less than all available network data services available to the first end-user device or a set of one or more applications less than all applications available to the first end-user device, wherein the first service profile includes a plurality of service policy settings, and wherein the first service profile is associated with an initial service plan for the first end-user device that provides for initial access to the first service class with limited service capabilities prior to activation of a new service plan for the first end-user device;

monitor use of the first service class by the first end-user device based on the first service profile; and

allocate at least a portion of the use of the first service class to a first sponsor entity, the sponsor entity being an entity other than a user of the first end-user device or an operator of the first network; and

memory of the network device coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the network device is in communication with the first network, and wherein the network device includes one or more of the following:

a billing system;

an authentication/authorization/accounting (AAA) system;

a gateway;

a router;

a switch;

a network server;

a device that generates, aggregates, manages or stores charging data records (CDRs);

a base station controller; and

a base station.

3. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the initial service plan allows for access to the first service class with limited service capabilities that are limited based on one or more of the following:

period of time, network address, service type, content type, application type, bandwidth, and data usage.

4. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the initial service plan is a low cost or free trial service plan that is bundled or provided as an option for purchase at a point of sale of the first end-user device.

5. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first end-user device is activated prior to a point of sale of the first end-user device, and the initial service plan is associated with the first end-user device during activation.

6. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the initial service plan is associated with the first end-user device during one or more of the following:

a manufacture of the first end-user device, a distribution of the first end-user device, or a point of sale of the first end-user device.

7. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the initial service plan includes an option to purchase a new service plan for the first end-user device, wherein the new service plan includes additional service capabilities.

8. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first service profile is programmable by one or more of the following:

a manufacturer, a service provider, a distributor, a virtual service provider, and a device manager.

9. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first service class includes a transaction based service, wherein service usage by the first end-user device is not billed, and wherein electronic commerce based transactions performed using the first end-user device are billed as transaction based charges.

10. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first service class includes a transaction based service, wherein electronic commerce based transactions performed using the first end-user device are billed as transaction based charges, and wherein a portion or all of service usage costs are billed to one or more of the following:

an advertiser, a transaction provider, a mobile virtual network operator, a virtual service provider, and an ambient service provider.

11. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first end-user device is quarantined or suspended upon an expiration of time for initial access.

12. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first end-user device is suspended upon an expiration of a period of time of service usage inactivity.

13. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first end-user device is a mobile communications device, and the first service class includes one or more Internet based services.

14. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first end-user device is a mobile communications device, and the first service class includes one or more Internet based services, and wherein the mobile communications device includes one or more of the following:

a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), an eBook reader, a music device, an entertainment/gaming device, a computer, laptop, a netbook, and a home networking system.

15. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first end-user device includes a modem, and the processor is located in the modem.

16. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first service profile includes one or more of the following:

access control settings, traffic control settings, billing system settings, user notification with acknowledgement settings, user notification with synchronized service usage information, user privacy settings, user preference settings, authentication settings, admission control settings, application access settings, content access settings, transaction settings, and network or device management communication settings.

17. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the implementation of the first service profile is verified based on one or more of the following:

device based service usage information and network based service usage information.

18. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

detect when the first end-user device is connected to the first network; and

provide a notification to the first end-user device, the notification including an option to upgrade to a new service plan.

19. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

modify the first service profile upon an initial access to the first network.

20. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

modify the first service profile upon a selection of a new service plan.

21. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

modify the first service profile based upon one or more of the following;

an expiration of time for initial access, a device service usage pattern, a device transaction pattern, a device service sign-up pattern, a time of day, a network capacity, a network connection type, a service provider, a user, a user group, an update to the first service profile, a trial offer, a point of sale, a master agent identifier, and a device location.

22. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

modify the first service profile when a service usage for the first service class by the first end-user device does not meet a first threshold.

23. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

modify the first service profile when service or transaction revenue for the first service class by the first end-user device does not meet a first threshold.

24. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

detect when the first end-user device is connected to a second network or a roaming network; and

modify the first service profile.

25. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

request user input prior to an initial access to the first service class.

26. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

request user input including billing information prior to an initial access to the first service class.

27. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

request user input including billing information prior to an initial access to the first service class, wherein the billing information includes an authorization to bill for a service usage overage.

28. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

request user input including billing information prior to an initial access to the first service class, wherein the billing information is used to setup a service account; and

billing the service account for one or more of the following;

a transaction and a service usage.

29. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

perform a responsive action if the use of the first service class on the first network is out of policy based on the first service profile, wherein the responsive action includes one or more of the following;

quarantine the first end-user device, suspend the first end-user device, bill for a service usage overage, route or copy device traffic to a device behavior analysis function, and notify a network manager or network troubleshooting function.

30. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

provide a notification to the first end-user device, the notification including an approaching expiration of time for initial access.

31. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

provide a notification to the first end-user device, the notification including an option to upgrade to a new service plan.

32. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

provide a notification to the first end-user device, the notification including a promotion offer, the promotion offer including an option for a new service plan.

33. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

monitor use of the first service class by the first end-user device for billing after an expiration of time for initial access.

34. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

denigrate access to the first service class for the first end-user device upon an expiration of time for initial access.

35. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

recursively denigrate access to the first service class upon an expiration of time for initial access.

36. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

determine bill by account information for use of the first service class by the first end-user device.

37. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

send a service usage report to a billing server, wherein the service usage report includes bill by account information.

38. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

end a service usage report to a billing server, wherein the first service class includes a transaction based service, and wherein service usage for the first end-user device is billed to an advertiser, a transaction provider, a mobile virtual network operator, a virtual service provider, an initial service provider, or a partner for the transaction based service.

39. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

permit the first end-user device to have initial access to the first network; and

subsequently permit the first end-user device to have access to a second network, wherein the first network is provided by a device based initial services provider, and the second network is provided by a general services provider.

40. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

set access control to a predetermined destination; and

download the plurality of service policy settings for the first service profile.

41. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

set access control to a predetermined destination, wherein the predetermined destination includes one or more of the following;

a world wide web page and a wireless application protocol page.

42. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

set access control to a predetermined destination that provides a plurality of service plan options, wherein the plurality of service plan options include one or more of the following;

data usage, service types, time period for access, and cost.

43. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

set a maximum data rate for use of the first service class; and

determine if a monitored data rate for use of the first service class exceeds the maximum data rate.

44. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

associate the first end-user device with the initial service plan based at least in part on device credentials, wherein the device credentials include one or more of the following;

a temporarily assigned device identifier, a phone number, a device identification, a device security signature, a subscriber identity module (SIM), a device type identifier, an internet protocol (IP) address, a media access control (MAC), address, a device group, a device class, a device service owner, a service provider, a virtual service provider, a device manufacturer, a device distributor, a service distributor, one or more service processor settings or versions, a user identification, a user type, a user group, and a user class.

45. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the processor of the network device is further configured to:

analyze service usage information for the first end-user device, wherein the service usage is used for one or more of the following;

network traffic analysis, service plan design and analysis, service plan upgrade offers, and beta testing and service publishing.

46. A method, comprising:

implementing a first service profile for assisting control of a use by a first end-user device of a first service class on a first network, the first service class comprising at least one of a set of one or more network data services less than all available network data services available to the first end-user device or a set of one or more applications less than all applications available to the first end-user device, wherein the first service profile includes a plurality of service policy settings, and wherein the first service profile is associated with an initial service plan for the first end-user device that provides for initial access to the first service class with limited service capabilities prior to activation of a new service plan for the first end-user device;

monitoring use of the first service class by the first end-user device based on the first service profile using a processor of a network device; and

allocating at least a portion of the use of the first service class to a first sponsor entity, the sponsor entity being an entity other than a user of the first end-user device or an operator of the first network.

47. A computer readable storage medium for storing computer readable code for causing a computer to perform the steps of:

implementing a first service profile for assisting control of a use by a first end-user device of a first service class on a first network, the first service class comprising at least one of a set of one or more network data services less than all available network data services available to the first end-user device or a set of one or more applications less than all applications available to the first end-user device, wherein the first service profile includes a plurality of service policy settings, and wherein the first service profile is associated with an initial service plan for the first end-user device that provides for initial access to the first service class with limited service capabilities prior to activation of a new service plan for the first end-user device;

monitoring use of the first service class by the first end-user device based on the first service profile; and

allocating at least a portion of the use of the first service class to a first sponsor entity, the sponsor entity being an entity other than a user of the first end-user device or an operator of the first network.