Method for dynamic multi-level pricing for wireless communications according to quality of service

• US 8,712,457 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2008
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel N., Enzmann, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Safaipour, Bobbak
• Application Number:
  US12/331,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20090088130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,967 Days
• Field of Search: 455/506, 370/329, 370/448
• US Class Current: 455/506
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/745 Reaction in network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• 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 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7414 QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/566 of the information or information source or recipient
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/36 for reassigning the resources associated with the released connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 : Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

A method for pricing wireless communications services on a wireless network is described. A selection of a plurality of priorities available for transmitting a wireless communication transaction on a wireless network is provided, wherein the priority to be selected corresponds to the speed and allowable delay by which the transaction is to be transmitted. Transactions of lower priority are temporarily discontinued in favor of higher priority transactions when network capacity reaches a predetermined level. An amount is charged for the wireless communication transaction at a price corresponding to the priority and duration to be selected.

Claims

1. A method for managing access to a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a controller associated with the wireless network, a first request from an application of a mobile handset to transmit, via the wireless network, a communication configured by the application, the communication associated with a first priority level;

providing, by the controller, authorization to the mobile handset to transmit, via the wireless network, the communication based on the first priority level;

after a portion of the communication based on the first priority level is transmitted via the wireless network, receiving, at the controller, a second request from the mobile handset associating a remaining portion of the communication to be transmitted with a second priority level higher than the first priority level; and

providing, by the controller, authorization to the mobile handset to transmit the remaining portion of the communication based on the second priority level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmission of the portion of the communication based on the first priority level is charged a first amount corresponding to the first priority level and transmission of the remaining portion of the communication based on the second priority level is charged a second amount corresponding to the second priority level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the remaining portion of the communication transmitted based on the second priority level is transmitted immediately.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an acknowledgement from the mobile handset that transmission of the communication is complete; and

providing a charge associated with the communication after receipt of the acknowledgment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing, after the portion of the communication based on the first priority level is transmitted via the wireless network, a capacity message to the mobile handset, the capacity message indicating a status of the wireless network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the capacity message is provided after communications associated with the first priority level are denied access, over a predetermined amount of time, to the wireless network.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a charge associated with the communication before transmission of the communication is complete.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the second priority level associated with the remaining portion of the communication is selected by the mobile handset after receipt of the capacity message.

7. An access control manager for managing access to a wireless network, the access control manager operative to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first request from an application of a mobile handset to transmit, via the wireless network, a communication configured by the application, the communication associated with a first priority level;

providing authorization to the mobile handset to transmit the communication based on the first priority level;

after a portion of the communication based on the first priority level is transmitted via the wireless network, receiving a second request from the mobile handset associating a remaining portion of the communication to be transmitted with a second priority level higher than the first priority level; and

providing authorization to the mobile handset to transmit the remaining portion of the communication based on the second priority level.

8. The access control manager of claim 7, wherein transmission of the portion of the communication based on the first priority level is charged a first amount corresponding to the first priority level and transmission of the remaining portion of the communication based on the second priority level is charged a second amount corresponding to the second priority level.

9. The access control manager of claim 7, wherein the remaining portion of the communication transmitted based on the second priority level is transmitted immediately.

10. The access control manager of claim 7, wherein the access control manager is further operative to perform operations comprising:

receiving an acknowledgement from the mobile handset that transmission of the communication is complete; and

providing a charge associated with the communication after transmission of the acknowledgment.

11. The access control manager of claim 7, wherein the access control manager is further operative to perform operations comprising providing, after the portion of the communication based on the first priority level is transmitted, a capacity message indicating a status of the wireless network.

12. The access control manager of claim 11, wherein the capacity message is provided after communications associated with the first priority level are denied access, over a predetermined amount of time, to the wireless network.