Feature management of a communication device
First Claim
1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for managing a computing device associated with a plan, the medium storing thereon computer readable instructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to at least:
- store a rule that determines whether units of value associated with a use of a function operable on the computing device will be deducted from a first allowance associated with the computing device or from a second allowance associated with the computing device;
store a policy that controls the use of the function on the computing device;
receive an update to the rule or to the policy from a server;
determine, in real time, whether the use of the function to interact with a remote computing device is allowed based on the policy and the update;
interact with the remote computing device based on the determination;
determine, in real time, whether charges associated with the use of the function are to be deducted from the first allowance or from the second allowance based on the rule and the update; and
automatically deduct, in real time, units of value from the first allowance or from the second allowance in response to the interaction, the deduction being based on the determination.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for managing a computing device associated with a plan, the medium storing thereon computer readable instructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to at least:
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store a rule that determines whether units of value associated with a use of a function operable on the computing device will be deducted from a first allowance associated with the computing device or from a second allowance associated with the computing device; store a policy that controls the use of the function on the computing device; receive an update to the rule or to the policy from a server; determine, in real time, whether the use of the function to interact with a remote computing device is allowed based on the policy and the update; interact with the remote computing device based on the determination; determine, in real time, whether charges associated with the use of the function are to be deducted from the first allowance or from the second allowance based on the rule and the update; and automatically deduct, in real time, units of value from the first allowance or from the second allowance in response to the interaction, the deduction being based on the determination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for managing a computing device based on a plan associated with a network managed by a service provider, the system being separate from the computing device, the system comprising a memory bearing instructions that, when executed on the system, cause the system to at least:
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based on the plan, allocate units of value to an allowance associated with the computing device; receive, by the system, a request to use a function on the computing device, wherein the request is sent from the computing device; determine whether a first rule defined by the service provider controls the request independently of a policy, the use of the function being controlled in part by the policy; generate, by the system, a decision to grant or deny the request based on the policy when the first rule is inapplicable to the request; send, by the system, data indicative of an action that is consistent with the decision to the computing device for enforcement of the decision; and deduct, in real time, units of value from the units of value allocated to the allowance or units of value associated with the plan and unallocated to the allowance when the decision grants the request, the deducted units of value being based on a second rule that is based on input provided by an administrator of the computing device via a user interface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A computer-implemented method for managing a first computing device associated with a plan, the method comprising:
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storing a rule that determines whether units of value associated with a use of a function of the first computing device will be deducted from a first allowance associated with the first computing device or from a second allowance associated with the first computing device; storing a policy that controls the use of the function; determining, in real time, whether the use of the function causes the first computing device to interact with a remote computing device and whether the use of the function is allowed based on the policy; interacting with the remote computing device based on the determination; making a real time determination as to whether charges associated with the use of the function are to be deducted from the first allowance or from the second allowance based on the rule; and based on the determination, deducting units of value from the first allowance or from the second allowance in response to the interaction. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification