System and method for providing virtual user groups in a network environment
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- communicating an access request from a general packet radio service support node (“
GGSN”
) to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (“
AAA”
) element, wherein the access request is associated with network authentication relating to a subscriber; and
receiving at the GGSN from the AAA element in response to the access request an access response that includes a profile associated with the subscriber, wherein the profile includes a group attribute that defines the subscriber as being part of a group of subscribers comprising a virtual user group sharing a network data plan that defines a data allotment assigned to the group over a specified time interval;
wherein the communicating and receiving occur during an attachment of the subscriber to a network to establish a communications session via the network; and
wherein the receiving includes receiving a unique data string sent by the AAA element, and wherein the unique data string identifies a full set of subscribers belonging to the virtual user group.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided in one example and includes communicating an access request to a network element, the access request is associated with network authentication relating to a subscriber. The method also includes receiving an access response that includes a profile associated with the subscriber. The profile can include a group attribute that defines the subscriber as being part of a group of subscribers sharing a network data plan, which defines a data allotment assigned to the group over a specified time interval. In more detailed embodiments, a unique data string sent by an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting element is received, where the unique data string identifies a full set of subscribers belonging to the group. Data underutilization of a first subscriber is offset by data overutilization of a second subscriber, where a summation of the data underutilization and the data overutilization do not exceed the data allotment assigned.
14 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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communicating an access request from a general packet radio service support node (“
GGSN”
) to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (“
AAA”
) element, wherein the access request is associated with network authentication relating to a subscriber; andreceiving at the GGSN from the AAA element in response to the access request an access response that includes a profile associated with the subscriber, wherein the profile includes a group attribute that defines the subscriber as being part of a group of subscribers comprising a virtual user group sharing a network data plan that defines a data allotment assigned to the group over a specified time interval; wherein the communicating and receiving occur during an attachment of the subscriber to a network to establish a communications session via the network; and wherein the receiving includes receiving a unique data string sent by the AAA element, and wherein the unique data string identifies a full set of subscribers belonging to the virtual user group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory tangible media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor operable to perform operations comprising:
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communicating an access request from a general packet radio service support node (“
GGSN”
) to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (“
AAA”
) element, wherein the access request is associated with network authentication relating to a subscriber; andreceiving at the GGSN from the AAA element in response to the access request an access response that includes a profile associated with the subscriber, wherein the profile includes a group attribute that defines the subscriber as being part of a group of subscribers comprising a virtual user group sharing a network data plan that defines a data allotment assigned to the group over a specified time interval; wherein the communicating and receiving occur during an attachment of the subscriber to a network to establish a communications session via the network; and wherein the receiving includes receiving a unique data string sent by the AAA element, and wherein the unique data string identifies a full set of subscribers belonging to the virtual user group. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus, comprising:
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a memory element configured to store data, a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data, and a group module configured to; communicate an access request from a general packet radio service support node (“
GGSN”
) to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (“
AAA”
) element, wherein the access request is associated with network authentication relating to a subscriber; andreceive at the GGSN from the AAA element in response to the access request an access response that includes a profile associated with the subscriber, wherein the profile includes a group attribute that defines the subscriber as being part of a group of subscribers comprising a virtual user group sharing a network data plan that defines a data allotment assigned to the group over a specified time interval; wherein the communicating and receiving occur during an attachment of the subscriber to a network to establish a communications session via the network; and wherein the receiving includes receiving a unique data string sent by the AAA element, and wherein the unique data string identifies a full set of subscribers belonging to the virtual user group. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification