Computer-implemented method for compensating ancillary use of a remotely accessible network device

• US 8,645,518 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scott L. David
• Original Assignee: Scott L. David
• Inventors: David, Scott L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tiv, Backhean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chou, Alan S
• Application Number:
  US13/245,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20120014290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 370/255, 370/254
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/173 using an interconnection network, e.g. matrix, shuffle, pyramid, star, snowflake
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for compensating ancillary use of a wireless service device for excess transmission bandwidth is provided. Wireless service devices are discovered. Each wireless service device is interoperable on a wireless service network operated by a service provider. For each wireless service device, a primary function performable by a subscriber through the wireless service network and an ancillary function performable by a third party through the wireless service network based on availability of capacity for excess transmission bandwidth are determined. The wireless service devices include an available capacity to perform the ancillary function over the service network is identified. The ancillary function is performed over the excess transmission bandwidth using the identified wireless service devices through combination, modification and integration of data from the two or more other such identified wireless service devices. Participants of the ancillary function in exchange for the performance of the ancillary function are compensated.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for compensating ancillary use of a wireless service device for excess transmission bandwidth, comprising:

discovering a multiplicity of wireless service devices, which are each interoperable on a wireless service network operated by a service provider;

for each wireless service device, determining a primary function performable by a subscriber through the wireless service network and an ancillary function performable by a third party through the wireless service network based on availability of capacity for excess transmission bandwidth;

identifying each of the wireless service devices comprising an available capacity to perform the ancillary function over the service network;

performing the ancillary function over the excess transmission bandwidth using at least one of the identified wireless service devices through the combination, modification and integration of data from the two or more other such identified wireless service devices; and

compensating participants of the ancillary function in exchange for the performance of the ancillary function, comprising;

identifying and awarding benefits inuring to the subscriber in addition to economic benefit of enhanced network service access;

identifying and awarding benefits inuring to the service provider in addition to economic benefit of increased service volume and bandwidth usage and increased subscriber fees generated by subscriber use of related services; and

identifying and awarding benefits inuring to the third party in addition to economic benefit of costs avoided to build out a network of sensors, repeaters or other functionality through the use of existing, in-place devices, which are controlled by the subscribers.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the subscriber from the service provider comprising at least one of direct payments, direct credits that can be applied against subscriber charge, services provided by the service provider, indirect credits based on payments made by the third party to the service provider on behalf of the subscriber.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the subscriber from the third party comprising at least one of direct payments based on time, data, instances of access, and similar factors, indirect payments made to or through the service provider for the benefit of the subscriber, and services and add-on services provided by the third party.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the service provider from the third party comprising at least one of direct payments for participation in a service program to enable the third party to access subscriber devices, services provided to the service provider for their own use for use in providing services to the subscriber or to be re-transferred to the subscriber in recognition of benefit received by access to the service network, and equipment or software provided to the service provider for their own use for use in providing services to the subscriber or to be re-transferred to the subscriber in recognition of benefit received by access to the service network.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the third party from the subscriber comprising access to devices for certain governmental, commercial, or private functions.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the service provider from the service provider comprising at least one of direct payments directed to funding the development of new hardware or software and corresponding new services that the service provider might offer, direct payments based on volume or other service measure that reflects the increased service provider revenue volume generated by any service indirectly attributable to the third party, and services in recognition of a benefit received by the service provider.

7. A computer-implemented method for compensating ancillary use of a wireless service device for excess processing capacity, comprising:

discovering a multiplicity of wireless service devices, which are each interoperable on a wireless service network operated by a service provider;

for each wireless service device, determining a primary function performable by a subscriber through the wireless service network and an ancillary function performable by a third party through the wireless service network based on availability of capacity for excess processing capacity;

identifying each of the wireless service devices comprising an available capacity to perform the ancillary function over the service network;

performing the ancillary function through the excess processing capacity using at least one of the identified wireless service devices through the combination, modification and integration of data from the two or more other such identified wireless service devices; and

compensating participants of the ancillary function in exchange for the performance of the ancillary function, comprising;

identifying and awarding benefits inuring to the subscriber in addition to economic benefit of enhanced network service access;

identifying and awarding benefits inuring to the service provider in addition to economic benefit of increased service volume and bandwidth usage and increased subscriber fees generated by subscriber use of related services; and

identifying and awarding benefits inuring to the third party in addition to economic benefit of costs avoided to build out a network of sensors, repeaters or other functionality through the use of existing, in-place devices, which are controlled by the subscribers.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the subscriber from the service provider comprising at least one of direct payments, direct credits that can be applied against subscriber charge, services provided by the service provider, indirect credits based on payments made by the third party to the service provider on behalf of the subscriber.

9. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the subscriber from the third party comprising at least one of direct payments based on time, data, instances of access, and similar factors, indirect payments made to or through the service provider for the benefit of the subscriber, and services and add-on services provided by the third party.

10. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the service provider from the third party comprising at least one of direct payments for participation in a service program to enable the third party to access subscriber devices, services provided to the service provider for their own use for use in providing services to the subscriber or to be re-transferred to the subscriber in recognition of benefit received by access to the service network, and equipment or software provided to the service provider for their own use for use in providing services to the subscriber or to be re-transferred to the subscriber in recognition of benefit received by access to the service network.

11. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the third party from the subscriber comprising access to devices for certain governmental, commercial, or private functions.

12. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the service provider from the service provider comprising at least one of direct payments directed to funding the development of new hardware or software and corresponding new services that the service provider might offer, direct payments based on volume or other service measure that reflects the increased service provider revenue volume generated by any service indirectly attributable to the third party, and services in recognition of a benefit received by the service provider.

13. A computer-implemented method for compensating ancillary use of a wireless service device with add-on functional capacity, comprising:

discovering a multiplicity of wireless service devices, which are each interoperable on a wireless service network operated by a service provider;

for each wireless service device, determining a primary function performable by a subscriber through the wireless service network and an ancillary function performable by a third party through the wireless service network based on availability of capacity for add-on functional capacity;

identifying each of the wireless service devices comprising an available capacity to perform the ancillary function over the service network;

augmenting at least one of the identified wireless service devices with the add-on functional capacity provided by a source of add-on functional capacity comprising one of an equipment manufacturer and a software developer;

performing the ancillary function through the add-on functional capacity using at least one of the identified wireless service devices through the combination, modification and integration of data from the two or more other such identified wireless service devices; and

compensating participants of the ancillary function in exchange for the performance of the ancillary function, comprising;

identifying and awarding benefits inuring to the subscriber in addition to economic benefit of enhanced network service access;

identifying and awarding benefits inuring to the service provider in addition to economic benefit of increased service volume and bandwidth usage and increased subscriber fees generated by subscriber use of related services;

identifying and awarding benefits inuring to the third party in addition to economic benefit of costs avoided to build out a network of sensors, repeaters or other functionality through the use of existing, in-place devices, which are controlled by the subscribers; and

identifying and awarding benefits inuring to the add-on functional capacity source in addition to economic benefit from an expanded market for their products and services.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the subscriber from the service provider comprising at least one of direct payments, direct credits that can be applied against subscriber charge, services provided by the service provider, indirect credits based on payments made by the third party to the service provider on behalf of the subscriber.

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the subscriber from the third party comprising at least one of direct payments based on time, data, instances of access, and similar factors, indirect payments made to or through the service provider for the benefit of the subscriber, and services and add-on services provided by the third party.

16. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the service provider from the third party comprising at least one of direct payments for participation in a service program to enable the third party to access subscriber devices, services provided to the service provider for their own use for use in providing services to the subscriber or to be re-transferred to the subscriber in recognition of benefit received by access to the service network, and equipment or software provided to the service provider for their own use for use in providing services to the subscriber or to be re-transferred to the subscriber in recognition of benefit received by access to the service network.

17. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the third party from the subscriber comprising access to devices for certain governmental, commercial, or private functions.

18. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the service provider from the service provider comprising at least one of direct payments directed to funding the development of new hardware or software and corresponding new services that the service provider might offer, direct payments based on volume or other service measure that reflects the increased service provider revenue volume generated by any service indirectly attributable to the third party, and services in recognition of a benefit received by the service provider.

19. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the add-on functional capacity source from the third party comprising at least one of receipts generated by sale or lease of equipment or sale, lease or licensing of software to the third party or to the subscriber or the service provider that want to participate in a third party program, direct payments or funding for the development of products or services that are complementary to those products or services produced or manufactured by others or are needed to establish the third party program, direct and indirect assistance in product or software development or in establishing standards and specifications associated with third party programs that benefits the third party or the add-on functional capacity source by reducing development and program costs, and direct or indirect benefits associated with the market demand for equipment manufacturer and software developer products resulting from their compatibility or use with various subscriber services or equipment or software.

20. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the add-on functional capacity source from the third party comprising receipts generated by sale or lease of equipment or software.

21. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the add-on functional capacity source from the service provider comprising receipts generated by sale or lease of equipment or lease or licensing of software.

22. A computer-implemented method for compensating ancillary use of a wireless service device for signal propagation, comprising:

discovering a multiplicity of wireless service devices, which are each interoperable on a wireless service network operated by a service provider;

for each wireless service device, determining a primary function performable by a subscriber through the wireless service network and an ancillary function performable by a third party through the wireless service network based on availability of capacity for signal propagation;

identifying each of the wireless service devices comprising an available capacity to perform the ancillary function over the service network;

performing the ancillary function by propagating a signal using at least one of the identified wireless service devices through the combination, modification and integration of data from the two or more other such identified wireless service devices; and

compensating participants of the ancillary function in exchange for the performance of the ancillary function, comprising;

identifying and awarding benefits inuring to the subscriber in addition to economic benefit of enhanced network service access;

identifying and awarding benefits inuring to the service provider in addition to economic benefit of increased service volume and bandwidth usage and increased subscriber fees generated by subscriber use of related services; and

identifying and awarding benefits inuring to the third party in addition to economic benefit of costs avoided to build out a network of sensors, repeaters or other functionality through the use of existing, in-place devices, which are controlled by the subscribers.

23. A method according to claim 22, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the subscriber from the service provider comprising at least one of direct payments, direct credits that can be applied against subscriber charge, services provided by the service provider, indirect credits based on payments made by the third party to the service provider on behalf of the subscriber.

24. A method according to claim 22, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the subscriber from the third party comprising at least one of direct payments based on time, data, instances of access, and similar factors, indirect payments made to or through the service provider for the benefit of the subscriber, and services and add-on services provided by the third party.

25. A method according to claim 22, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the service provider from the third party comprising at least one of direct payments for participation in a service program to enable the third party to access subscriber devices, services provided to the service provider for their own use for use in providing services to the subscriber or to be re-transferred to the subscriber in recognition of benefit received by access to the service network, and equipment or software provided to the service provider for their own use for use in providing services to the subscriber or to be re-transferred to the subscriber in recognition of benefit received by access to the service network.

26. A method according to claim 22, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the third party from the subscriber comprising access to devices for certain governmental, commercial, or private functions.

27. A method according to claim 22, further comprising:

providing the benefits inuring to the service provider from the service provider comprising at least one of direct payments directed to funding the development of new hardware or software and corresponding new services that the service provider might offer, direct payments based on volume or other service measure that reflects the increased service provider revenue volume generated by any service indirectly attributable to the third party, and services in recognition of a benefit received by the service provider.