Feature management of a communication device

• US 8,755,768 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kajeet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kajeet, Inc.
• Inventors: Weintraub, Ben Julian, Baker, Matthew Donald, Geller, Steven Ira, Kesser, Douglas Owen, Neal, Daniel John, Politi, Carol Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer, Temica M
• Application Number:
  US13/786,788
• Time in Patent Office: 468 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 for controlling a computing device, the system comprising a memory bearing instructions that, when executed on the system, cause the system to at least:

allocate a subset of units of value to an allowance, the allowance being associated with the computing device, the allocation being based on input associated with an administrator of the computing device, the units of value being associated with a plan that manages one or more functions associated with a plurality of computing devices that include the computing device;

generate a first rule based on input associated with a service provider of the plan and the input associated with the administrator, the first rule determining whether a use of a function of the computing device is permitted independently of the plan and whether the use of the function is permitted independently of the allowance when the use of the function is permitted dependently on the plan, the determination being based on whether the use of the function causes the computing device to interact with another computing device associated with a list of one or more trusted contacts; and

generate a second rule based on the input associated with the administrator, the second rule being applicable when the use of the function is permitted dependently on the plan, and the second rule determining whether a cost associated with using the function is charged to the subset allocated to the allowance or to units of value associated with the plan and unallocated to the allowance.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the allowance limits a use of the function of the computing device based on the units of value allocated to the allowance.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the function comprises at least one of voice calling, messaging, data surfing, gaming, content accessing, goods purchasing, and service purchasing.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a mobile phone, and wherein the units of value comprise credits representing services or applications provided by the service provider.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the input associated with the service provider is used to specify whether using the function is permitted independently of the plan, and wherein the input associated with the administrator is used to specify whether using the function is permitted dependently on the plan.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the list of one or more trusted contacts is defined based on the input associated with the administrator.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the input associated with the administrator is further used to specify whether using the function is permitted dependently on the allowance.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second rule determines to charge the cost to units of value associated with the plan and unallocated to the allowance when the allowance lacks sufficient units of value to pay for using the function and when the use of the function causes the computing device to interact with the other computing device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second rule determines to charge the cost to the allowance when the allowance comprises sufficient units of value to pay for the use of the function.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second rule determines to charge the cost to the allowance when the allowance comprises sufficient units of value to pay for the cost and when the use of the function causes the computing device to interact with a computing device unassociated with the list of one or more trusted contacts.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed on the system, further cause the system to generate a third rule that overrides the second rule.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the third rule determines to charge the cost to the allowance even if the second rule determines to charge the cost to the units of value associated with the plan and unallocated to the allowance, the third rule applying when the units of value associated with the plan and unallocated to the allowance are insufficient to pay for the cost.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the third rule determines to charge the cost to a third party.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the third party is the service provider or a sponsor.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the input associated with the service provider specifies when the third rule overrides the second rule.

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

allocate a set of units of value to an allowance, the allowance being associated with the computing device, the allocation being based on input associated with an administrator of a plan that is associated with the units of value, the plan managing one or more functions of a plurality of computing devices that include the computing device;

generate a first rule that is agnostic of the computing device, the first rule determining whether performing a function of the computing device is permitted independently of the plan;

generate a second rule that depends on the computing device, the second rule being applicable when performing the function depends on the plan, and the second rule determining whether performing the function is charged to the allowance or to units of value associated with the plan and unallocated to the allowance; and

generate a third rule that depends on the plan, the third rule determining whether applying the second rule is charged to units of value associated with the plan.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the third rule is defined based on information associated with a service provider of the plan.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein applying the second rule is associated with units of value charged by the service provider to the plan.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the third rule is associated with a promotion defined based on information associated with the service provider, wherein the promotion allows a charge associated with applying the second rule to be reduced.

20. A method for managing a mobile device, the method comprising:

causing generation of a graphical user interface for display to an administrator of the mobile device, the graphical user interface comprising one or more fields for inputting information associated with a determination whether an execution of a function of the mobile device is to be allowed and whether the execution of the function is to be charged to an account associated with a user of the mobile device or to an account associated with the administrator;

generating a plan based on the information inputted at the graphical user interface, the plan comprising a list of allowed contacts, a list of blocked contacts, and a rule that determines whether the function, when executed, is to be charged to the account associated with the user or to the account associated with the administrator;

allowing or disallowing the execution of the function based on the generated plan; and

when the execution of the function is allowed, charging the execution of function to the account of the user or to the account of the administrator based on the generated plan.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the one or more fields comprise one or more of a time-based restriction, a location-based restriction, and a function-based restriction.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the one or more fields comprise a selection associated with a contact, wherein the selection is to determine whether the contact should be allowed or should be blocked.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the contact is associated with another computing device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the execution of the function allows the mobile device to interact with the other computing device.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the plan further comprises a list of trusted contacts, wherein the rule determines to charge the account associated with the administrator when the execution of the function causes the mobile device to interact with a computing device associated with a trusted contact from the list of trusted contacts and when the account associated with the user lacks sufficient funds to pay for the interaction.

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

means for allocating units of value associated with a plan to a first allowance, the plan being associated with an administrator and the first computing device, the allocation being based on input associated with the administrator, the first allowance being associated with a function of the computing device;

means for generating a first rule based on input associated with a service provider of the plan and the input associated with the administrator, the first rule determining whether a use of the function is permitted independently of the plan and whether the use of the function is permitted dependently on the first allowance when the use of the function is permitted dependently on the plan; and

means for generating a second rule based on the input associated with the administrator, the second rule being applicable when the use of the function is permitted dependently on the plan, and the second rule determining whether the use of the function is charged to units of value in the first allowance or to units of value that are associated with the plan and that are unallocated to the allowance.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the plan is shared between the first computing device and at least a second computing device associated with administrator.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the second computing device is associated with a second allowance, and units of value associated with the plan and unallocated to the first allowance are allocated to the second allowance.

29. The system of claim 28 further comprising means for transferring units of value between the first allowance and the second allowance.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the second rule determines to charge units of value to the second allowance when the use of the function causes the first computing device to interact with a third computing device associated with a trusted contact and when the first allowance lacks sufficient units of value to pay for the interaction.