Verifiable device assisted service usage billing with integrated accounting, mediation accounting, and multi-account

• US 8,588,110 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• 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:
  US13/615,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20130003613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 455405-410, 455/414.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 709/203, 709/217, 709/223, 709/224, 709/226, 370/235, 370/259, 370/329, 370/389
• US Class Current: 370/259
• 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 communications device implements a service policy for assisting billing for the communications device use of a service on a network; and monitors use of the service based on the service policy, in which a local service usage is synchronized with a network based service usage.

Claims

1. A wireless device comprising:

one or more modems for enabling the wireless device to communicate over at least two wireless networks, the at least two wireless networks comprising a first wireless network and a second wireless network;

a user interface;

memory configured to store;

a first service policy associated with the first wireless network, the first service policy configured to at least assist in reducing data usage associated with a first service activity over the first wireless network, the first service activity being less than all service activities available to the wireless device, the first service policy for enabling control of the first service activity on the first wireless network that is different from how the first service activity is controlled on the second wireless network; and

one or more processors for executing one or more agents, the one or more agents configured to;

obtain, through the user interface, a user input specifying at least an aspect of the first service policy,

identify that the wireless device is connected to the first wireless network,

identify an intended, attempted, or successful data communication over the first wireless network, the intended, attempted, or successful data communication over the first wireless network being associated with the first service activity, and

apply the first service policy.

2. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the first service activity is associated with an application on the wireless device, a network communication end point, a traffic type, a content type, a download, an upload, or a combination of these.

3. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more agents are further configured to:

identify that the wireless device is connected to the second wireless network,

identify an intended, attempted, or successful data communication over the second wireless network, the intended, attempted, or successful data communication over the second wireless network being associated with the first service activity, and

apply the first service policy.

4. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to store a second service policy associated with the second wireless network, the second service policy configured to assist in reducing data usage over the second wireless network associated with the first service activity, and wherein the one or more agents are further configured to:

identify that the wireless device is connected to the second wireless network,

identify an intended, attempted, or successful data communication over the second wireless network, the intended, attempted, or successful data communication over the second wireless network being associated with the first service activity, and

apply the second service policy.

5. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein reducing data usage comprises blocking the first service activity.

6. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein reducing data usage comprises blocking the first service activity when the wireless device is connected to the first wireless network and allowing the first service activity when the wireless device is connected to the second wireless network.

7. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein reducing data usage comprises throttling or traffic shaping the first service activity.

8. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein reducing data usage comprises delaying the first service activity, or assigning the first service activity to a lower-priority traffic queue than a traffic queue to which the first service activity would otherwise be assigned.

9. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the first service policy is dependent on a network type, a roaming network connection condition, a WiFi network condition, a background download condition, a user designation that the first service activity is non-critical, a geographic location, or a combination of these.

10. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the first service activity comprises a background activity or a software update, and wherein reducing data usage comprises delaying, deferring, throttling, or blocking the first service activity.

11. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein reducing data usage comprises directing communications associated with the first service activity to a particular network end point, route, or tunnel.

12. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more agents comprise a policy control agent and one or more low-level policy agents, and the policy control agent is configured to:

obtain the first service policy,

obtain information about the first service activity,

based on the information about the first service activity and the first service policy, determine a low-level policy rule or setting for the one or more low-level policy agents, the low-level policy rule or setting for assisting in achieving the first service policy, and

provide the low-level policy rule or setting to the one or more low-level agents.

13. The wireless device recited in claim 12, wherein the one or more low-level policy agents comprise an application interface agent, a policy implementation agent, a service monitor agent, or a combination of these.

14. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the first service policy is further configured to assist the one or more agents in:

determining a usage measure associated with the first service activity, and

presenting information about the usage measure through the user interface.

15. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the first service policy is further configured to assist the one or more agents to:

detect that a service usage pattern associated with the first service activity has occurred, or that a service usage amount associated with the first service activity has been consumed, and

in response to detecting that the service usage pattern associated with the first service activity has occurred, or that the service usage amount associated with the first service activity has been consumed, present a notification through the user interface.

16. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the first service policy is further configured to assist the one or more agents in presenting a notification through the user interface, the notification comprising information associated with the first service activity.

17. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the first service policy is further configured to assist the one or more agents in presenting a notification through the user interface, the notification providing information about a roaming network or a roaming condition of the wireless device.

18. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the first service policy is further configured to assist the one or more agents in:

presenting a notification through the user interface, the notification providing information about one or more available wireless networks, and

obtaining a first user response through the user interface, the first user response indicating a selection of one of the one or more available wireless networks.

19. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the first service policy is further configured to assist the one or more agents in presenting a notification through the interface, the notification for providing an indication that data usage over the first wireless network associated with the first service activity has reached a particular amount or a limit.

20. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the first service policy is further configured to assist the one or more agents in presenting a notification through the user interface, the notification for notifying a user about a particular condition associated with the first service activity, and wherein the one or more agents are further configured to:

assist in presenting the notification through the user interface,

obtain a user response to the notification through the user interface, and

restrict or quarantine communications over the first wireless network or over the second wireless network unless the user response comprises an acknowledgment of the particular condition associated with the first service activity.

21. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more agents are further configured to obtain at least a portion of the first service policy from a network element.

22. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the first service policy is further configured to assist the one or more agents to:

determine a usage measure associated with the first service activity,

generate a report based on the usage measure, and

assist in sending the report to a network element over the first wireless network or over the second wireless network.

23. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein, after obtaining the user input, the one or more agents are further configured to:

send a message to a network element, the message configured to provide information about the user input, and

obtain at least a portion of the first service policy from the network element.

24. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the first wireless network is a cellular network or a roaming network.

25. The wireless device recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more modems include a wireless wide-area network modem for enabling the wireless device to communicate over at least the first wireless network and a local-area network modem for enabling the wireless device to communicate with one or more end-user devices over a local-area network, and wherein the one or more agents are further configured to assist in providing an intermediate networking device forwarding service for forwarding traffic between a particular end-user device of the one or more end-user devices and at least one network communication end point over the first wireless network, and wherein the first service activity includes traffic associated with the particular end-user device.

26. A wireless device comprising:

means for obtaining, through a user interface of the wireless device, a user input specifying at least an aspect of a first service policy, the first service policy configured to at least assist in reducing data usage associated with a first service activity over the first wireless network, the first service activity being less than all service activities available to the wireless device, the first service policy for enabling control of the first service activity on the first wireless network that is different from how the first service activity is controlled on a second wireless network;

means for identifying that the wireless device is connected to the first wireless network;

means for identifying an intended, attempted, or successful data communication over the first wireless network, the intended, attempted, or successful data communication being associated with the first service activity; and

means for applying the first service policy.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing machine-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a wireless device, cause the one or more processors to:

obtain, through a user interface of the wireless device, a user input specifying at least an aspect of a first service policy, the first service policy configured to at least assist in reducing data usage associated with a first service activity over the first wireless network, the first service activity being less than all service activities available to the wireless device, the first service policy for enabling control of the first service activity on the first wireless network that is different from how the first service activity is controlled on a second wireless network;

identify that the wireless device is connected to the first wireless network;

identify an intended, attempted, or successful data communication over the first wireless network, the intended, attempted, or successful data communication being associated with the first service activity; and

apply the first service policy.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 27, wherein reducing data usage comprises blocking the first service activity.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 27, wherein the first service activity comprises a background activity or a software update, and wherein reducing data usage comprises delaying, deferring, throttling, or blocking the first service activity.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium recited in claim 27, wherein, when executed by the one or more processors of the wireless device, the machine-executable instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

determine a usage measure associated with the first service activity; and

cause information about the usage measure to be presented through a user interface of the wireless device.