Feature management of a communication device

• US 8,706,079 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• 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): Beamer, Temica M
• Application Number:
  US13/786,917
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 455405-408, 455/410, 455/411, 705/52, 705/53
• US Class Current: 455/405
• 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 system operable to manage a communication device, the system comprising:

an administrator wallet configured to electronically store one or more units of value, the administrator wallet being associated with an administrator and with a plan configured to allow a voice or data function of the communication device, the plan being shared with a user;

a user wallet configured to electronically store one or more units of value, the user wallet being associated with the user and with the plan; and

a function manager operable to manage execution of the voice or data function by the communication device, the function manager having a global rule that specifies whether the voice or data function is permitted, the function manager having one or more local rules specify whether a charge of credits associated with the voice or data function will be charged to the user wallet or to the administrator wallet.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device is a mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a rule of the one or more local rules specifies that the administrator wallet is to be charged for the function if the user wallet lacks sufficient units of value to pay for the function.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a rule of the one or more local rules specifies that even if the administrator wallet is to be charged for the function, if the administrator wallet lacks sufficient units of value to pay for the function, then the user wallet is to be charged for the function if the user wallet contains sufficient units of value to pay for the function.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the units of value are credits usable to pay for services or applications.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a rule of the one or more local rules specifies that charges associated with sending or receiving content between the communication device and the administrator are charged to the administrator wallet.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a rule of the one or more local rules specifies a list of names or numbers corresponding to other communication devices or persons, and wherein the rule specifies that charges associated with sending or receiving content between the communication device and the other communication devices or persons on the list are to be charged to the user wallet.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein a rule of the one or more local rules specifies a list of names or numbers corresponding to other communication devices or persons, and wherein the rule specifies that charges associated with sending or receiving content between the communication device and the other communication devices or persons on the list are to be charged to the administrator wallet.

9. A method for managing a communication device, the method comprising:

storing one or more units of value in an administrator wallet, the administrator wallet being associated with the communication device by using an identifier of the communication device and being associated with an administrator that manages a plan configured to allow a voice or data function of the communication device for a user;

storing one or more units of value in a user wallet, the user wallet being associated with the communication device by using the identifier of the communication device and being associated with a use of the plan by the user; and

managing execution of the voice or data function by the communication device, the managing being based on a global rule that specifies whether the voice or data function is permitted, the managing being further based on one or more local rules that specify whether a charge of credits associated with the voice or data function will be charged to the user wallet or to the administrator wallet.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing units of value in a promotional wallet associated with the communication device, wherein the global rule specifies one or more promotional functions that can be charged to the promotional wallet, and wherein the local rule specifies that if sufficient units of value are stored in the promotional wallet, then charges associated with the promotional functions are to be charged to the promotional wallet.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein if the units of value stored in the user wallet exceed a level specified by the administrator, the administrator and/or the user is alerted.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the managing is based on a plurality of global rules and one or more of the plurality of global rules cannot be changed by the administrator or the user.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising causing generation of a website, wherein the website allows the administrator to select a first global rule and/or a first local rule.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first local rule specifies that if the units of value stored in the user wallet exceed a level specified by the administrator, an alert is generated and directed to the administrator.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the administrator wallet is associated with the communication device and a plurality of additional communication devices associated with a plurality of additional users, and wherein the managing allows the administrator to choose the user or one of the plurality of additional users to administer.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising allowing the administrator to make a transfer of units of value between the administrator wallet and the user wallet.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the transfer comprises an automatic transfer of a predetermined number of units of value to the user wallet from the administrator wallet based on a periodic schedule.

18. A system operable to manage a communication device, the system comprising:

an administrator wallet configured to electronically store one or more units of value, the administrator wallet being associated with an administrator and with a plan configured to allow a voice or data function of the communication device, the plan being shared with a plurality of computing devices;

a user wallet configured to electronically store one or more units of value, the user wallet being associated with a user and with the plan; and

a function manager operable to manage execution of at least the voice or data function by the communication device, the function manager having one or more local rules that specify whether a charge of credits associated with the voice or data function will be charged to the user wallet or to the administrator wallet.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a third party wallet and a transfer function operable to make a transfer of units of value between the user wallet and the third party wallet.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the transfer of units of value is usable to pay for communication services, and wherein the third party wallet is associated with a sponsor.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the transfer or units of value is used to pay for a previously purchased product or service.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the transfer of units of value is used to make a payment for a purchase of a product or a service.

23. The system of claim 18 further comprising a gift function operable to allow a deposit of units of value to either the user wallet or the administrator wallet.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the gift function further allows a third party to communicate with the user and/or the administrator regarding the deposit.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the gift function further allows a third party to transfer of units of value from another communication device to either the user wallet or the administrator wallet and to have a charge associated with the transfer added to a bill associated with the other communication device.

26. A system operable to manage a communication device, the system comprising:

an administrator wallet configured to electronically store one or more units of value, the administrator wallet being associated with an administrator and with a plan configured to allow a voice or data function of the communication device;

a device wallet configured to electronically store one or more units of value, the device wallet being associated with the communication device and with the plan; and

a function manager operable to manage execution of at least the voice or data function by the communication device, the function manager having a local rule that specifies a list of names or numbers corresponding to other communication devices associated with persons or entities and that charges associated with sending or receiving content between the communication device and the other communication devices associated with the list are to be charged to the administrator wallet or to the device wallet based on the plan.

27. The system of claim 26 further comprising a transfer function operable to allow the administrator to automatically transfer units of value, up to a predetermined maximum level, to the device wallet when the units of value stored in the device wallet exceed a predetermined level.

28. The system of claim 26 further comprising a refill function operable to allow the administrator to deposit units of value to the device wallet on a periodic basis up to a predetermined maximum level.

29. A system operable to manage a computing device, the system comprising a memory bearing instructions that, when executed on the system, cause the system to at least:

generate an administrator wallet that stores one or more credits, the administrator wallet being associated with an administrator and with a plan configured to allow a voice or data function of the computing device, the plan being shared with a plurality of computing devices;

generate a user wallet that stores one or more credits, the user wallet being associated with a user of the computing device and with the plan;

generate a promotional wallet that stores one or more credits, the promotional wallet being associated with the user; and

manage execution of at least the voice or data function by the computing device, the managing based at least on one or more global rules that specify whether execution of the voice or data function is permitted and whether a charge of credits associated with the voice or data function will be charged to the promotional wallet, and one or more local rules that specify whether the charge of credits associated with the voice or data function will be charged to the user wallet or to the administrator wallet when the promotional wallet has insufficient credits to cover the charge of credits.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the promotional wallet is defined based on input associated with a third party and is associated with a promotional function.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the one or more global rules specify whether an execution of the promotional function is permitted.

32. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a system operable to manage a computing device, cause the system to at least:

generate an administrator wallet that stores one or more units of value, the administrator wallet being associated with an administrator and with a plan configured to allow a voice or data function of the computing device, the plan being shared with a plurality of computing devices;

generate a user wallet that stores one or more units of value, the user wallet being associated with a user of the computing device and with the plan;

generate a dynamic wallet that stores one or more units of value, the dynamic wallet being associated with a financier; and

manage execution of at least the voice or data function by the computing device, the managing based at least on one or more global rules that specify whether the voice or data function is permitted, and one or more local rules that specify whether a charge of credits associated with the voice or data function will be charged to the user wallet or to the administrator wallet and whether units of value from the dynamic wallet will be transferred to the user wallet or the administrator wallet.

33. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions, when executed on the system, further cause the system to at least generate a transfer function operable to transfer units of value between the administrator wallet and the user wallet.

34. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein the transfer of the units of value is based on input associated with the administrator.

35. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein the transfer of the units of value is automatic when the total of the one or more units of value in the user wallet exceeds a predefined threshold.

36. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the administrator wallet is associated with a plurality of computing devices, and wherein the user wallet is uniquely associated with the computing device of the user.