Apparatus and method for mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) hosting and pricing

• US 8,825,876 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2009
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Krishnaswamy, Dilip, Lundqvist, Patrik N., Daley, Robert S., Bychkovsky, Vladimir L.
• Primary Examiner(s): VOSTAL, ONDREJ C
• Application Number:
  US12/409,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: 709/228, 455/405, 455/411, 455/432.1, 455/435.1, 370/230
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus facilitating access to a communication session for a client is provided. The method may comprise receiving, at a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), an access request from a client, wherein the MVNO is associated with a set of mobile network operators (MNOs), receiving, from the client, client connection parameters associated with at least one of the set of MNOs, formulating at least one option for a communication session over a network associated with at least one of the set of MNOs, the at least one option based on the client connection parameters and MVNO-connection parameters associated with the set of MNOs, and establishing a selected communication session based on the at least one option.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating access to a communication session for a client, the method comprising:

receiving, at a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), an access request from a client, wherein the MVNO is associated with a set of mobile network operators (MNOs), wherein the access request is received via a wireless connection between the client and one of the set of MNOs;

receiving, from the client within a client device, client connection parameters associated with at least one of the set of MNOs;

formulating at least one option for a communication session over a network associated with at least one of the set of MNOs, the at least one option based on the client connection parameters and MVNO-connection parameters associated with the set of MNOs, wherein formulating comprises optimizing the at least one option for the communication session based on resources including link quality, connection cost, and connection strength, and wherein final optimization of the at least one option for the communication session is performed at the MVNO and at the client; and

establishing a selected communication session including the client and a selected MNO of the set of MNOs, based on the at least one option.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein formulating at least one option for a communication session comprises formulating a plurality of options for a plurality of communication sessions, further comprising sending the plurality of options to the client, and receiving an identification of the selected communication session from the plurality of options from the client.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein formulating at least one option for a communication session comprises formulating a plurality of options for a plurality of communication sessions, further comprising selecting for the client, by the MVNO, the selected communication session from the plurality of options.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the access request further comprises:

receiving a client credential associated with the client; and

authenticating the client credential for the selected communication session.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the client comprises a device provided with access information to access the MVNO via the one of the set of MNOs authorized to communicate with MVNO, and further comprising providing the client with a temporary identification for use in establishing the selected communication session.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the selected communication session further comprising establishing one of the set of MNOs as a host MNO for the communication session.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the client connection parameters include at least one of:

network availability for at least one network associated with the set of MNOs;

or

an estimation of link utilization based on local load level at the client;

or

a desired quality of service threshold selected by the client;

or

a link quality for a possible communication session over at least one network associated with the set of MNOs.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the MVNO connection parameters include at least one of:

network availability for at least one network associated with the set of MNOs;

or

an estimation of link utilization based on load level in at least one of the set of MNOs;

or

the system load for at least one network associated with the set of MNOs;

or

pricing options associated with the set of MNOs.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein optimizing comprises optimizing the at least one option for a communication session to minimize the resources comprising network resources and client resources, where network resources include at least one of network load, use and price, and where client resources include at least one of client energy use, service quality and price.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising switching the client to a second MNO from the set of MNOs during the communication session when the MVNO determines that at least one of the connection parameters associated with the selected MNO reaches a predetermined threshold.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the predetermined threshold comprises at least one of:

a network signal threshold level;

or

a network load threshold level;

or

a network price threshold level.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

examining spectrum utilization for at least one MNO from the set of MNOs; and

dynamically assigning the communication session to one of the MNOs based on the spectrum utilization.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

examining spectrum utilization for at least one MNO from the set of MNOs; and

statistically multiplexing a network for optimally allocating available spectrum, based on the spectrum utilization examination, for at least one MNO from the set of MNOs.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising managing, by the MVNO, control and data flow for the selected communication session between the client and the selected MNO of the set of MNOs, via a data tunnel through the MVNO.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising managing, by the MVNO, handover events for the communication session, the handover events including at least one of a handover from the selected MNO to a second MNO or a handover within the selected MNO.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein formulating at least one option for a communication session further comprises determining an option for a communication session for a subset of the set of MNOs, the subset including available MNOs accessible by the client.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein formulating at least one option for a communication session further comprises determining a subset of the set of MNOs, the subset including omitted MNOs that are not accessible for selection by the client.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of MNOs includes MNOs operated by at least two different service providers.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein a price for the selected communication session is based on a system load for at least one network or a link quality associated with the client.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of MNOs includes MNOs operated by at least two different service providers and using at least two different communication protocols.

21. An apparatus for facilitating communication session access for a client, the apparatus comprising:

an access module operable to;

receive, at a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), an access request from the client, wherein the MVNO is associated with a set of mobile network operators (MNOs) and wherein the access request is received via a wireless connection between the client and one of the set of MNOs; and

receive, from the client within a client device, client-connection parameters associated with at least one of the set of MNOs;

a connection module operable to formulate at least one option for a communication session over a network associated with at least one of the set of MNOs, the at least one option based on the client-connection parameters and MVNO-connection parameters associated with the set of MNOs; and

an optimizing module operable to optimize the at least one option for the communication session based on resources including link quality, connection cost, and connection strength, wherein final optimization of the at least one option for the communication session is performed at the MVNO and at the client;

wherein the connection module is further operable to establish a selected communication session including the client and a selected MNO of the set of MNOs, based on the at least one option.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the connection module is further operable to:

formulate a plurality of options for a plurality of communication sessions;

send the plurality of options to the client; and

receive an identification of the selected communication session from the plurality of options from the client.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the connection module is further operable to:

formulate a plurality of options for a plurality of communication sessions; and

select for the client, by the MVNO, the selected communication session selection from the plurality of options for the client by the MVNO.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the access module further comprises:

a credential manager module operable to;

receive a client credential associated with the client; and

authenticate the client credential for the communication session.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the access module further comprises:

a credential manager module operable to;

receive from the client access information to access the MVNO via the one of the set of MNOs authorized to communicate with MVNO; and

provide the client with a temporary identification for use in establishing the selected communication session.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein one of the set of MNOs is used by the MVNO as a host MNO for the communication session.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the client-connection parameters include at least one of:

network availability for at least one network associated with the set of MNOs;

or

an estimation of link utilization based on local load level at the client;

or

a desired quality of service threshold selected by the client;

or

a link quality for a possible communication session over at least one network associated with the set of MNOs.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the MVNO-connection parameters include at least one of:

network availability for at least one network associated with the set of MNOs;

or

an estimation of link utilization based on load level in at least one of the set of MNOs;

or

the system load for at least one network associated with the set of MNOs;

or

pricing options associated with the set of MNOs.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the optimizing module operable to optimize is further configured to optimize the at least one option for the communication session to minimize the resources comprises network resources and client resources, where network resources include at least one of network load, cost and price, and where client resources include at least one of client energy use, service quality and price.

30. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a handover manager module for switching the client to a second MNO from the set of MNOs during the communication session when the MVNO determines that at least one of the connection parameters associated with the selected MNO reaches a predetermined threshold.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the predetermined threshold at least one of:

a network signal threshold level;

or

a network load threshold level;

or

a network price threshold level.

32. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a spectrum analyzing module operable to examine spectrum utilization for at least one MNO from the set of MNOs, and dynamically assign the communication session to one of the MNOs based on the spectrum utilization.

33. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising

a spectrum analyzing module operable to examine spectrum utilization for at least one MNO from the set of MNOs, and statistically multiplex a network for optimally allocating available spectrum, based on the spectrum utilization examination, for at least one MNO from the set of MNOs.

34. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a control manager module and a data manager module operable to manage, by the MVNO, control and data flow for the selected communication session between the client and the selected MNO of the set of MNOs, via a data tunnel through the MVNO via a data tunnel through the MVNO.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising a handover manager module operable to manage, by the MVNO, handover events for the communication session, the handover events including at least one of a handover from the selected MNO to a second MNO and a handover within the selected MNO.

36. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a MNO evaluator module operable to determine an option for a communication session for a subset of the set of MNOs, the subset including available MNOs accessible by the client.

37. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a MNO evaluator module operable to determine a subset of the set of MNOs, the subset including omitted MNOs that are not accessible for selection by the client.

38. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the set of MNOs includes MNOs operated by at least two different service providers.

39. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein a price for the selected communication session is based on a system load for at least one network or a link quality associated with the client.

40. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the set of MNOs includes MNOs operated by at least two different service providers and using at least two different communication protocols.

41. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive, at a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), an access request from a client, wherein the MVNO is associated with a set of mobile network operators (MNOs) and wherein the access request is received via a wireless connection between the client and one of the set of MNOs;

a second set of codes for causing a computer to receive, from the client, within a client device, client connection parameters associated with at least one of the set of MNOs;

a third set of codes for causing the computer to formulate at least one option for a communication session over a network associated with at least one of the set of MNOs, the at least one option based on the client-connection parameters and MVNO-connection parameters associated with the set of MNOs, wherein to formulate comprises to optimize the at least one option for the communication session based on resources including link quality, connection cost, and connection strength, and wherein final optimization of the at least one option for the communication session is performed at the MVNO and at the client; and

a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to establish a selected communication session including the client and a selected MNO of the set of MNOs, based on the at least one option.

42. A method for facilitating access for a client to a communication session through a mobile virtual network operator, the method comprising:

transmitting from the client within a client device, an access request to a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), wherein the MVNO is associated with a set of mobile network operators (MNOs) and wherein the access request is transmitted via a wireless connection between the client and one of the set of MNOs;

optimizing at least one option for a communication session based on connection parameters associated with resources including link quality, connection cost, and connection strength, and wherein final optimization of the at least one option for the communication session is performed at the MVNO and at the client;

transmitting from the client client-connection parameters associated with at least one of the set of MNOs based on the optimization; and

establishing a selected communication session including the client and a selected MNO of the set of MNOs over a network associated with the selected MNO.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising:

receiving a plurality of options for a plurality of communication sessions; and

transmitting an identification of the selected communication session from the plurality of options from the client.

44. The method of claim 42 further comprising receiving a selection by the MVNO of selected communication session from a plurality of options.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein transmitting from the client an access request comprising transmitting a client credential associated with the client through at least one of the set of MNOs to the MVNO to allow the MVNO to authenticate the client credential for the communication session.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein transmitting an access request further comprises:

communicating with a neighboring node;

receiving access enabling information from the neighboring node, wherein the access enabling information is operable to provide access to a network for the communication session corresponding to at least one of the set of MNOs; and

transmitting the access enabling information.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein receiving the access enabling information further comprises receiving temporary credentials from the neighboring node.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein communicating with the neighboring node further comprises purchasing an access session from the neighboring node.

49. The method of claim 46 wherein receiving the neighboring node access enabling information further comprises receiving via a wireless communication link between the client and the neighboring node.

50. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

requesting, by the client, access enabling information for the communication session for a neighboring node from the MVNO;

receiving, in the client, access enabling information for the communication session for the neighboring node from the MVNO; and

providing the access enabling information for the communication session to the neighboring node, wherein the access enabling information for the communication session is operable to provide access to a network corresponding to at least one of the set of MNOs.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein receiving access enabling information for the communication session further comprises receiving temporary credentials for the neighboring node.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein requesting access enabling information for the communication session further comprises purchasing a communication session from the MVNO on behalf of the neighboring node.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein providing access enabling information for the communication session to the neighboring node further comprises transmitting via a wireless communication link between the client and the neighboring node the access enabling information for the communication session.

54. The method of claim 42, wherein the client-connection parameters include at least one of:

network availability for at least one network associated with the set of MNOs;

or

an estimation of link utilization based on local load level at the client;

or

a desired quality of service threshold selected by the client;

or

a link quality for a possible communication session over at least one network associated with the set of MNOs.

55. The method of claim 42, further comprising switching to a second MNO from the set of MNOs during the communication session when it is determined by the MVNO that at least one of the connection parameters associated with the selected MNO reaches a predetermined threshold.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the predetermined threshold at least one of:

a network signal threshold level;

or

a network load threshold level;

or

a network price threshold level.

57. The method of claim 42, wherein a price for the selected communication session is based on a system load for at least one network or a link quality associated with the client.

58. The method of claim 42, wherein the set of MNOs further includes a subset of MNOs, the subset of MNOs excluding non-available MNOs not accessible by the client.

59. An apparatus for facilitating access for a client to a communication session through a mobile virtual network operator, the apparatus comprising:

a transmission module operable to transmit from the client within a client device, an access request to a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), wherein the MVNO is associated with a set of mobile network operators (MNOs) and wherein the access request is transmitted via a wireless connection between the client and one of the set of MNOs;

an optimization module operable to formulate at least one option for a communication session comprising optimizing the at least one option for the communication session based on resources including link quality, connection cost, and connection strength, wherein final optimization of the at least one option for the communication session is performed at the MVNO and at the client;

wherein the transmission module is further operable to transmit from the client the access request including client-connection parameters associated with at least one of the set of MNOs based on the optimization; and

a connection module operable to establishing a selected communication session including the client and a selected MNO of the set of MNOs over a network associated with the selected MNO of the set of MNOs.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the connection module is further operable to:

receive a plurality of options for a plurality of communication sessions; and

transmit an identification of the selected communication session from the plurality of options from the client.

61. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the connection module is further operable to receive a selection by the MVNO of selected communication session from a plurality of options.

62. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the transmission module is further operable to transmit a client credential associated with the client through at least one of the set of MNOs to the MVNO to allow the MVNO to authenticate the client credential for the communication session.

63. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the transmission module is further operable to:

communicate with a neighboring node;

receive access enabling information from the neighboring node, wherein the access enabling information is operable to provide access to a network for the communication session corresponding to at least one of the set of MNOs; and

transmit the access enabling information.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the transmission module is further operable to receive temporary credentials from the neighboring node.

65. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the transmission module is further operable to purchase an access session from the neighboring node.

66. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the transmission module is further operable to receive the neighboring node access enabling information via a wireless communication link between the client and the neighboring node.

67. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the transmission module is further operable to:

request access enabling information for the communication session for a neighboring node from the MVNO;

receive access enabling information for the communication session for the neighboring node from the MVNO; and

provide the access enabling information for the communication session to the neighboring node, wherein the access enabling information for the communication session is operable to provide access to a network corresponding to at least one of the set of MNOs.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the transmission module is further operable to receive temporary credentials for the neighboring node.

69. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the transmission module is further operable to:

purchase a communication session from the MVNO on behalf of the neighboring node.

70. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the transmission module is further operable to transmit the neighboring node access enabling information via a wireless communication link between the client and the neighboring node the access enabling information for the communication session.

71. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the client-connection parameters include at least one of:

network availability for at least one network associated with the set of MNOs;

or

an estimation of link utilization based on local load level at the client;

or

a desired quality of service threshold selected by the client;

or

a link quality for a possible communication session over at least one network associated with the set of MNOs.

72. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the connection module is further configurable to allow switching to a second MNO from the set of MNOs during the communication session when it is determined by the MVNO that at least one of the connection parameters associated with the selected MNO reaches a predetermined threshold.

73. The apparatus of claim 72, wherein the predetermined threshold includes at least one of:

a network signal threshold level;

or

a network load threshold level;

or

a network price threshold level.

74. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein a price for the selected communication session is based on a system load for at least one network or a link quality associated with the client.

75. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the set of MNOs further includes a subset of MNOs, the subset of MNOs excluding non-available MNOs not accessible by the client.

76. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to transmit from the client an access request to a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), wherein the MVNO is associated with a set of mobile network operators (MNOs) and wherein the access request is transmitted via a wireless connection between the client and one of the set of MNOs;

a second set of codes for causing the computer to optimize at least one option for a communication session based on resources including link quality, connection cost, and connection strength, wherein final optimization of the at least one option for the communication session is performed at the MVNO and at the client;

a third set of codes for causing the computer to transmit from the client client-connection parameters associated with at least one of the set of MNOs based on the optimization; and

a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to establish a selected communication session including the client and a selected MNO of the set of MNOs over a network associated with the selected MNO.

77. An apparatus, comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting from a client an access request to a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), wherein the MVNO is associated with a set of mobile network operators (MNOs) and wherein the access request is transmitted via a wireless connection between the client and one of the set of MNOs; and

a processor coupled to the transmitter for optimizing at least one option for a communication session based on resources including link quality, connection cost, and connection strength, wherein final optimization of the at least one option for the communication session is performed at the MVNO and at the client;

wherein the transmitter is further configured for transmitting client-connection parameters associated with at least one of the set of MNOs based on the optimization; and

wherein the processor is further configured for establishing a selected communication session including the client and a selected MNO of the set of MNOs over a network associated with the selected MNO.