Limiting data transmission to and/or from a communication device as a data transmission cap is approached and graphical user interface for configuring same

• US 9,380,167 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Runstedler, Christopher James, Hardy, Michael Thomas, Jain, Rohit Rocky, Scriver, Aaron David
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Thai
• Application Number:
  US12/331,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20100144312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,757 Days
• Field of Search: 455405-408, 455418-420, 37911401-11429, 709223-226
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 15/8005 Flat-fee
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/82 Criteria or parameters used for performing billing operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8214 Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/835 Time or frequency of notifications, e.g. Advice of Charge [AoC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/84 Types of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/844 Message, e.g. SMS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/846 optical, e.g. icon
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/85 characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/851 Determined tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/852 Low balance or limit reached
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/853 Calculate maximum communication time or volume
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/858 Request users acknowledgement prior to use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/881 for continuing the call beyond the limit using allow grace
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0112 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/012 : Continue allow grace, e.g. accept negative balance
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 : WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/78 : Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/782 : Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/81 : Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8104 : Time or frequency of notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8129 : Type of notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8137 : Message, e.g. alphanumeric text, SMS, MMS, EMS or www-based messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8141 : Optical, e.g. flashing indication of a lamp, icon, soft-key or symbol
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/815 : Notification when a specific condition, service or event is met
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8158 : Low balance or limit reached
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8162 : Calculate maximum communication time or volume
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 : Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8183 : Request users acknowledgement prior to use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 : Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

A data transmission cap represents a maximum amount of data that can be transmitted to and/or from a communication device during a subscriber billing cycle without incurring a penalty under a subscriber rate plan. To limit data transmission to and/or from the communication device as the data transmission cap is approached, a graphical user interface (GUI) is displayed. The GUI includes one or more GUI controls for selecting a data transmission limiting tactic from a plurality of distinct data transmission limiting tactics and for specifying a data transmission threshold at which the selected tactic is to take effect, the threshold being below the operative cap. Upon user interaction with the GUI control(s), user input indicating the selected data transmission tactic and specified data transmission threshold is received. The communication device or another electronic device in communication therewith is configured to effect the selected data transmission limiting tactic when the specified data transmission threshold is reached.

Claims

1. A method of limiting data transmission to, from, or to and from a communication device, the method comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface (GUI), said GUI comprising one or more GUI controls for selecting first and second data transmission limiting tactics from a plurality of distinct data transmission limiting tactics and for specifying first and second data transmission thresholds at which the selected first and second data transmission limiting tactics respectively are to take effect, both of said first and second data transmission thresholds being below an operative data transmission cap, said data transmission cap representing a maximum amount of data that can be transmitted to, from, or to and from said communication device during a subscriber billing cycle without incurring a penalty under a subscriber rate plan, wherein said first and second data transmission limiting tactics are distinct and wherein said first and second data transmission thresholds are also distinct;

by way of said one or more GUI controls, receiving user input indicating the selected first and second data transmission tactics and the specified first and second data transmission thresholds; and

based on said user input, configuring said communication device or another electronic device in communication therewith to effect the selected first data transmission limiting tactic when the specified first data transmission threshold is reached and configuring said communication device or said other electronic device in communication therewith to effect the second data transmission limiting tactic, in addition to said first data transmission limiting tactic that is already in effect, when the second data transmission threshold is reached, so as to cause data transmission to be automatically and progressively limited through a progressive increase in the number of distinct data transmission limiting tactics that are in effect, even absent user awareness of a current data transmission tally, as the data transmission cap is approached;

wherein each of the plurality of data transmission limiting tactics changes at least one setting at the communication device to reduce the data transmitted to, from, or to and from the communication device; and

wherein, when the second data transmission limiting tactic is effected, non-emergency data transmission to and from the communication device is not stopped.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second data transmission thresholds are each expressed within said GUI as a relative amount of the operative data transmission cap.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said relative amount is a percentage less than 100% or a fraction less than one.

4. A method of limiting data transmission to, from, or to and from a communication device, the method comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface (GUI), said GUI comprising one or more GUI controls for selecting first and second data transmission limiting tactics from a plurality of distinct data transmission limiting tactics and for specifying first and second data transmission thresholds at which the selected first and second data transmission limiting tactics respectively are to take effect, both of said first and second data transmission thresholds being below an operative data transmission cap, said data transmission cap representing a maximum amount of data that can be transmitted to, from, or to and from said communication device during a subscriber billing cycle without incurring a penalty under a subscriber rate plan, wherein said first and second data transmission limiting tactics are distinct and wherein said first and second data transmission thresholds are also distinct;

by way of said one or more GUI controls, receiving user input indicating the selected first and second data transmission tactic and the specified data first and second transmission thresholds; and

based on said user input, configuring said communication device or another electronic device in communication therewith to effect the selected first data transmission limiting tactic when the specified first data transmission threshold is reached and configuring said communication device or said other electronic device in communication therewith to effect the second data transmission limiting tactic, in addition to said first data transmission limiting tactic that is already in effect, when the second data transmission threshold is reached, so as to cause data transmission to be automatically and progressively limited through a progressive increase in the number of distinct data transmission limiting tactics that are in effect, even absent user awareness of a current data transmission tally, as the data transmission cap is approached,

wherein each of the plurality of data transmission limiting tactics changes at least one setting at the communication device to reduce the data transmitted to, from, or to and from the communication device said plurality of data transmission limiting tactics includes two or more of;

reducing a size of chunks into which an electronic message exceeding a threshold size is subdivided for individual on-demand transmission to or from said communication device;

reducing a size of a body of an electronic message prior to its transmission to or from said communication device by changing a format of said electronic message from a hypertext markup language (HTML) format to a non-markup language textual format;

transmitting only a header portion of an electronic message to or from said communication device;

transmitting data to or from said communication device not over a primary transmission medium to which said data transmission cap is applicable, but over a secondary transmission medium to which said data transmission cap is not applicable; and

configuring a browser at said communication device to refrain from requesting images within browsed documents; and

wherein, when the second data transmission limiting tactic is effected, non-emergency data transmission to and from the communication device is not stopped.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said communication device is a wireless communication device, said primary transmission medium is a wireless transmission medium, and said secondary transmission medium is a wired transmission medium.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said first and second data transmission thresholds are each expressed within said GUI as a relative amount of the operative data transmission cap.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said relative amount is a percentage less than 100% or a fraction less than one.

8. A non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions for limiting data transmission to, from, or to and from a communication device that, when executed by one or more processors of said communication device, cause said communication device to:

display a graphical user interface (GUI), said GUI comprising one or more GUI controls for selecting first and second data transmission limiting tactics from a plurality of distinct data transmission limiting tactics and for specifying first and second data transmission thresholds at which the selected first and second data transmission limiting tactics respectively are to take effect, both of said first and second data transmission thresholds being below an operative data transmission cap, said data transmission cap representing a maximum amount of data that can be transmitted to, from, or to and from said communication device during a subscriber billing cycle without incurring a penalty under a subscriber rate plan, wherein said first and second data transmission limiting tactics are distinct and wherein said first and second data transmission thresholds are also distinct;

by way of said one or more GUI controls, receive user input indicating the selected first and second data transmission tactics and the specified first and second data transmission thresholds; and

based on said user input, configure said communication device or another electronic device in communication therewith to effect the selected first data transmission limiting tactic when the specified first data transmission threshold is reached and configure said communication device or said other electronic device in communication therewith to effect the second data transmission limiting tactic, in addition to said first data transmission limiting tactic that is already in effect, when the second data transmission threshold is reached, so as to cause data transmission to be automatically and progressively limited through a progressive increase in the number of distinct data transmission limiting tactics that are in effect, even absent user awareness of a current data transmission tally, as the data transmission cap is approached,

wherein each of the plurality, of data transmission limiting tactics charges at least one setting at the communication device to reduce the data transmitted to, from, or to and from the communication device said plurality of data transmission limiting tactics includes two or more of;

reducing a size of chunks into which an electronic message exceeding a threshold size is subdivided for individual on-demand transmission to or from said communication device;

reducing a size of a body of an electronic message prior to its transmission to or from said communication device by changing a format of said electronic message from a hypertext markup language (HTML) format to a non-markup language textual format;

transmitting only a header portion of an electronic message to or from said communication device;

transmitting data to or from said communication device not over a primary transmission medium to which said data transmission cap is applicable, but over a secondary transmission medium to which said data transmission cap is not applicable; and

configuring a browser at said communication device to refrain from requesting images within browsed documents; and

wherein, when the second data transmission limiting tactic is effected, non-emergency data transmission to and from the communication device is not stopped.

9. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8 wherein said communication device is a wireless communication device, said primary transmission medium is a wireless transmission medium, and said secondary transmission medium is a wired transmission medium.

10. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 8 wherein said first and second data transmission thresholds are each expressed within said GUI as a relative amount of the operative data transmission cap, said relative amount being a percentage less than 100% or a fraction less than one.

11. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 8 wherein either said first data transmission limiting tactic or said second data transmission limiting tactic comprises transmitting data to or from said communication device not over a primary transmission medium to which said data transmission cap is applicable, but over a secondary transmission medium to which said data transmission cap is not applicable.

12. A non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions for limiting data transmission to, from, or to and from a communication device that, when executed by one or more processors of said communication device, cause said communication device to:

display a graphical user interface (GUI), said GUI comprising one or more GUI controls for selecting first and second data transmission limiting tactics from a plurality of distinct data transmission limiting tactics and for specifying first and second data transmission thresholds at which the selected first and second data transmission limiting tactics respectively are to take effect, both of said first and second data transmission thresholds being below an operative data transmission cap, said data transmission cap representing a maximum amount of data that can be transmitted to, from, or to and from said communication device during a subscriber billing cycle without incurring a penalty under a subscriber rate plan, wherein said first and second data transmission limiting tactics are distinct and wherein said first and second data transmission thresholds are also distinct;

by way of said one or more GUI controls, receive user input indicating the selected first and second data transmission tactics and the specified first and second data transmission thresholds; and

based on said user input, configure said communication device or another electronic device in communication therewith to effect the selected first data transmission limiting tactic when the specified first data transmission threshold is reached and configure said communication device or said other electronic device in communication therewith to effect the second data transmission limiting tactic, in addition to said first data transmission limiting tactic that is already in effect, when the second data transmission threshold is reached, so as to cause data transmission to be automatically and progressively limited through a progressive increase in the number of distinct data transmission limiting tactics that are in effect, even absent user awareness of a current data transmission tally, as the data transmission cap is approached;

wherein each of the plurality of data transmission limiting tactics changes at least one setting at the communication device to reduce the data transmitted to, from, or to and from the communication device; and

wherein, when the second data transmission limiting tactic is effected, non-emergency data transmission to and from the communication device is not stopped.

13. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 12 wherein said first and second data transmission thresholds are each expressed within said GUI as a relative amount of the operative data transmission cap.

14. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13 wherein said relative amount is a percentage less than 100% or a fraction less than one.

15. A communication device comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory interconnected with said at least one processor storing instructions for limiting data transmission to, from, or to and from said communication device that, when executed by said processor, cause said communication device to;

display a graphical user interface (GUI), said GUI comprising one or more GUI controls for selecting first and second data transmission limiting tactics from a plurality of distinct data transmission limiting tactics and for specifying first and second data transmission thresholds at which the selected first and second data transmission limiting tactics respectively are to take effect, said data transmission threshold being below an operative data transmission cap, said data transmission cap representing a maximum amount of data that can be transmitted to, from, or to and from said communication device during a subscriber billing cycle without incurring a penalty under a subscriber rate plan, wherein said first and second data transmission limiting tactics are distinct and wherein said first and second data transmission thresholds are also distinct;

by way of said one or more GUI controls, receive user input indicating the selected first and second data transmission tactics and the specified data first and second transmission thresholds;

based on said user input, configure said communication device or another electronic device in communication therewith to effect the selected first data transmission limiting tactic when the specified first data transmission threshold is reached and configuring said communication device or said other electronic device in communication therewith to effect the second data transmission limiting tactic, in addition to said first data transmission limiting tactic that is already in effect, when the second data transmission threshold is reached, so as to cause data transmission to be automatically and progressively limited through a progressive increase in the number of distinct data transmission limiting tactics that are in effect, even absent user awareness of a current data transmission tally, as the data transmission cap is approached;

wherein each of the plurality of data transmission limiting tactics changes at least one setting at the communication device to reduce the data transmitted to, from, or to and from the communication device; and

wherein, when the second data transmission limiting tactic is effected, non-emergency data transmission to and from the communication device is not stopped.

16. The communication device of claim 15 wherein said first and second data transmission thresholds are each expressed within said GUI as a relative amount of the operative data transmission cap.

17. The communication device of claim 16 wherein said relative amount is a percentage less than 100% or a fraction less than one.

18. A communication device comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory interconnected with said at least one processor storing instructions for limiting data transmission to, from, or to and from said communication device that, when executed by said processor, cause said communication device to;

display a graphical user interface (GUI), said GUI comprising one or more GUI controls for selecting first and second data transmission limiting tactics from a plurality of distinct data transmission limiting tactics and for specifying first and second data transmission thresholds at which the selected first and second data transmission limiting tactics respectively are to take effect, both of said first and second data transmission thresholds being below an operative data transmission cap, said data transmission cap representing a maximum amount of data that can be transmitted to, from, or to and from said communication device during a subscriber billing cycle without incurring a penalty under a subscriber rate plan, wherein said first and second data transmission limiting tactics are distinct and wherein said first and second data transmission thresholds are also distinct;

by way of said one or more GUI controls, receive user input indicating the selected first and second data transmission tactics and the specified data first and second transmission thresholds; and

based on said user input, configure said communication device or another electronic device in communication therewith to effect the selected first data transmission limiting tactic when the specified first data transmission threshold is reached and configuring said communication device or said other electronic device in communication therewith to effect the second data transmission limiting tactic, in addition to said first data transmission limiting tactic that is already in effect, when the second data transmission threshold is reached, so as to cause data transmission to be automatically and progressively limited through a progressive increase in the number of distinct data transmission limiting tactics that are in effect, even absent user awareness of a current data transmission tally, as the data transmission cap is approached,

wherein each of the plurality of data transmission limiting tactics changes at least one setting at the communication device to reduce the data transmitted to, from, or to and from the communication device, said plurality of data transmission limiting tactics includes two or more of;

reducing a size of chunks into which an electronic message exceeding a threshold size is subdivided for individual on-demand transmission to or from said communication device;

reducing a size of a body of an electronic message prior to its transmission to or from said communication device by changing a format of said electronic message from a hypertext markup language (HTML) format to a non-markup language textual format;

transmitting only a header portion of an electronic message to or from said communication device;

transmitting data to or from said communication device not over a primary transmission medium to which said data transmission cap is applicable, but over a secondary transmission medium to which said data transmission cap is not applicable; and

configuring a browser at said communication device to refrain from requesting images within browsed documents; and

wherein, when the second data transmission limiting tactic is effected, non-emergency data transmission to and from the communication device is not stopped.

19. The communication device of claim 18 wherein said communication device is a wireless communication device, said primary transmission medium is a wireless transmission medium, and said secondary transmission medium is a wired transmission medium.

20. The communication device of claim 18 wherein said first and second data transmission thresholds are each expressed within said GUI as a relative amount of the operative data transmission cap, said relative amount being a percentage less than 100% or a fraction less than one.