Feature management of a communication device

• US 8,600,348 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kajeet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kajeet, Inc.
• Inventors: Baker, Matthew Donald, Geller, Steven Ira, Kesser, Douglas Owen, Neal, Daniel John, Politi, Carol Ann, Weintraub, Ben Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BRANDON J
• Application Number:
  US13/786,754
• Time in Patent Office: 272 Days
• Field of Search: 455405-408
• US Class Current: 455/408
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/35 Pay as you go
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system and method for the real-time management of a device, and more particularly to the establishment and enforcement of policies or rules associated with the feature or functions that may be performed with the device, such as making and receiving calls, exchanging data, playing games and music, sending and receiving email, accessing web sites, and paying for goods and services. If a child or employee is using the device, there may be a need to regulate how that device can be used and to determine who will pay for what goods or services. In addition to providing all of the features associated with a device, service providers need to be able to establish and enforce rules (policies) regulating how and when that device can be used and who will pay for a good or service requested by the user of the device.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for managing a first computing device, the medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a system, cause the system to at least:

allocate a first subset of a set of units of value associated with a plan to a function associated with the first computing device, the allocation being based on information received from a second computing device associated with an administrator of the plan, the set of units of value comprising a second subset distinct from the first subset;

store a list of one or more computing devices that the first computing device is allowed to interact with dependently on the plan and independently of the first subset;

deduct units of value from the second subset when performing the function is associated with a charge that exceeds the first subset and causes the first computing device to interact with a computing device associated with the list; and

disallow the first computing device from performing the function when performing the function is associated with a charge that exceeds the first subset and causes the first computing device to interact with a computing device unassociated with the list.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the set of units of value associated with the plan is associated with a charge for a service provided by a service provider and received at the first computing device.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the first subset of units of value is associated with a limit that is defined based on input associated with the administrator and that limits available airtime for performing voice calls on the first computing device.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the first subset of units of value is associated with a limit that is defined based on input associated with the administrator and that controls a number of text messages that a user of the first computing device can send and receive using the first computing device.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the first subset of units of value is associated with a limit that is allowed by the administrator and that specifies an available amount of data that can be downloaded to the first computing device.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the first subset of units of value is associated with an allowance that is set by the administrator and that limits available monetary value for purchasing a good or a service using the first computing device.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the system to provide an alert to the second computing device or to a third computing device associated with the administrator when the total of units of value in the first subset of units of value exceeds a threshold.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the units of value in the second subset are allocated to one or more functions associated with one or more computing devices that are associated with the plan.

9. A system for managing a computing device, the system comprising a memory bearing instructions that, when executed on the system, cause the system to at least:

allocate a first balance of units of value associated with a plan to a function associated with the computing device, the allocation being based on input associated with an administrator of the plan, the units of value associated with the plan comprising a second balance distinct from the first balance;

store a list of one or more contacts associated with one or more computing devices that the computing device is allowed to interact with dependently on the plan and independently of the first balance;

when the first balance comprises sufficient units of value to pay for a first charge associated with performing the function, (a) determine whether to use the first balance or the second balance to pay for the first charge, the determination being based on whether performing the function causes the computing device to interact with one or more computing devices associated with the list, and (b) deduct units of value associated with the first charge from the first balance or the second balance based on the determination in (a);

when performing the function is associated with a second charge that exceeds the first balance and causes the computing device to interact with one or more computing devices associated with the list, deduct units of value associated with the second charge from the second balance; and

when performing the function is associated with a third charge that exceeds the first balance and causes the computing device to interact with one or more computing devices unassociated with the list, disallow the computing device from performing the function.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the computing device is a mobile phone.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the function comprises at least one of voice calling, messaging, data surfing, gaming, content accessing, goods purchasing, and service purchasing.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed on the system further cause the system to deduct units of value associated with performing the function from the first balance when performing the function causes the computing device to interact with the one or more computing devices associated with the list and the total of units of value in the second balance is below a threshold.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed on the system, further cause the system to disallow the computing device from performing the function when performing the function is associated with a charge that exceeds the units of value in the first balance and causes the computing device to interact with one or more computing devices associated with the list and when the total of units of value in the second balance is below a threshold.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed on the system, further cause the system to determine a second list of one or more contacts associated with one or more computing devices that the computing device is allowed to interact with independently of the plan and independently of the first balance.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed on the system, further cause the system to avoid deducting units of value from the first balance and the second balance when performing the function causes the computing device to interact with one or more computing devices associated with the second list.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the second list is defined based on information associated with a service provider of the plan, and wherein one or more computing devices from the second list are associated with an emergency service.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the list is defined based on input associated with the administrator.

18. A method for managing a function of a first computing device, the method comprising:

allocating a first quantity of units of value associated with a plan to a first allowance and a second quantity of units of value associated with the plan to a second allowance, the plan being associated with the first computing device and a second computing device, the first allowance being associated with the first computing device and configured to pay for a charge associated with performing the function, and the second allowance being associated with the second computing device;

storing a list that identifies one or more computing devices that the first computing device can interact with when the function is performed, the interaction being independent of the first allowance;

storing a rule for determining whether to decrement units of value from the first allowance or from the second allowance, the determination being based on whether performing the function causes the first computing device to interact with a computing device associated with the list;

allowing the first computing device to perform the function without downloading any of the plan, the list, and the rule to the first computing device; and

decrementing units of value in response to allowing the first computing device to perform the function, the units of value being decremented based on the rule.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the plan is provided by a service provider that manages the system.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plan is managed by an administrator associated with the first computing device and the second computing device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein allocating the first quantity of units of value and the second quantity of units of value is based on input associated with the administrator.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein each allowance is updated in real-time based on input associated with the administrator.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising generating a rule for transferring units of value between the first allowance and the second allowance, wherein the rule is generated based on input associated with the administrator.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising causing generation of a user interface, wherein the user interface is operable to capture information associated with the allocations of units of value to the allowances and information associated with the list that identifies one more computing devices.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the user interface is further operable to allow a transfer of units of value from the second allowance to the first allowance.

26. A system for managing a first computing device, the system comprising:

means for allocating a first subset of a set of units of value associated with a plan to a wallet that is associated with the first computing device and that supports a function of the first computing device, the allocation being based on information received from a second computing device that is associated with an administrator of the plan, the set of units of value comprising a second subset distinct from the first subset;

means for determining a list that identifies one or more computing devices that the first computing device is allowed to interact with dependently on the plan and independently of the wallet;

means for deducting one or more units of value from the second subset when the first computing device executes the function to interact with one or more computing devices that are associated with the list and when a quantity of the units of value that are associated with the wallet is below a first threshold; and

means for disallowing the first computing device from interacting with one or more computing devices that are unassociated with the list when the quantity of units of value that are associated with the wallet is below the first threshold.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the first threshold is zero.

28. The system of claim 26 further comprising means for sending a notification to the second computing device or a third computing device associated with the administrator when the quantity of the units of value that are associated with the wallet reach the first threshold.

29. The system of claim 26 further comprising means for disallowing the first computing device from interacting with the one or more computing devices that are associated with the list when a quantity of units of value in the second subset is below a second threshold.

30. The system of claim 26 further comprising means for deducting one or more units of value from the quantity of units of value that are associated with the wallet (a) when the first computing device interacts with the one or more computing devices associated with the list, (b) when the quantity of units of value that are associated with the wallet exceed the threshold, and (c) when the quantity of units of value in the second subset is below a second threshold.