Methods, systems, and computer program products for monitoring service usage

• US 9,100,310 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2014
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aaron, Jeffrey A., Alin, Jun-Gang
• Primary Examiner(s): Tieu, Binh
• Application Number:
  US14/169,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20140207949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 379/32.01, 379/32.04, 379/88.11, 379/88.12, 379/111, 379/112.01, 379/112.04, 379/112.06, 379/112.07, 379/112.08, 379/114.01, 379/114.13, 379/114.17, 379/121.01, 379/121.02, 379/121.03, 379/121.04, 379/122, 379/127.01, 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/418, 370/352
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• 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 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/67 Transmitting arrangements for sending billing related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8257 Unit based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• 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 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/70 : Administration aspects, modify settings or limits or counter-check correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7072 : Validate charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 : Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

Usage information is received that describes usage of communication services by a communications device. The usage information is compared to monitoring criteria. When the monitoring criteria are satisfied, an electronic notification message is sent to the communications device before an additional charge is incurred.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a computer from a network, different electronic usage information associated with a communications device that utilizes multiple services in a communications system;

combining, by the computer, the different electronic usage information for the multiple services into a combined usage;

comparing, by the computer, the combined usage to a monitoring criterion for incurring additional charges to an account associated with the communications device;

determining, by the computer, that the combined usage satisfies the monitoring criteria; and

sending, before the additional charges are incurred, an electronic message into the network for delivery to the communications device, the electronic message alerting of the additional charges.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising alerting that the monitoring criterion is satisfied.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a text message to an identifier associated with the communications device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising including the combined usage in the electronic message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising including balance information in the electronic message.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising including data transferred in the electronic message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the combined usage to a threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the combined usage to one of multiple thresholds.

9. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that when executed cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving different electronic usage information associated with a communications device accessing multiple services in a communications system;

combining the different electronic usage information for the multiple services into a combined usage;

comparing the combined usage to a monitoring criterion for incurring additional charges to an account associated with the communications device;

determining the combined usage satisfies the monitoring criteria; and

sending, before the additional charges are incurred, an electronic message to the communications device that alerts of the additional charges.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise alerting that the monitoring criterion is satisfied.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise sending a text message to an identifier associated with the communications device.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise including the combined usage in the electronic message.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise including balance information in the electronic message.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise including data transferred in the electronic message.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise comparing the combined usage to a threshold.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise comparing the combined usage to one of multiple thresholds.

17. A memory device storing code that when executed causes a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving different electronic usage information of a communications device accessing multiple services in a communications system;

combining the different electronic usage information for the multiple services into a combined usage;

comparing the combined usage to a monitoring criterion for incurring additional charges to an account associated with the communications device;

determining the combined usage satisfies the monitoring criteria; and

sending, before the additional charges are incurred, an electronic message to the communications device that alerts of the additional charges.

18. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise alerting that the monitoring criterion is satisfied.

19. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise sending a text message to an identifier associated with the communications device.

20. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise including the combined usage in the electronic message.