Method and system for sponsoring location based mobile data services

• US 9,621,736 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2016
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Broadview Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: Broadview Communications, LLC
• Inventors: Payne, III, William Andrew, Chu, Andrew, Ali, Irfan
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US15/050,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20160248916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/46 Real-time negotiation between users and providers or operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/725 by the operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8214 Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A method includes determining that a mobile computing device is within an enterprise geographic location. The method further includes, when the mobile computing device is within the enterprise geographic location, determining that a user of the mobile computing device is eligible for an enterprise sponsored mobile data service. The method further includes, when the user of the mobile computing device is eligible, determining use parameters for the enterprise sponsored mobile data service. The method further includes registering the mobile computing device for the enterprise sponsored mobile data service with an enterprise server and/or a mobile data service provider. The method further includes the mobile computing device receiving the enterprise sponsored mobile data services in accordance with the use parameters. The method further includes adjusting, by the mobile data service provider, billing rate of the mobile computing device while receiving the enterprise sponsored mobile data service.

Claims

1. A method for sponsoring mobile data services that is executed by one or more computing devices, the method comprises:

determining that a mobile computing device is within an enterprise geographic location and is within the enterprise geographic location for engaging with an enterprise regarding an enterprise service, wherein the enterprise is associated with the enterprise geographic location;

when the mobile computing device is within the enterprise geographic location;

determining that a user of the mobile computing device is eligible for one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services;

when the user of the mobile computing device is eligible for the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services;

determining use parameters for the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services based on one or more of;

user profile data, type of sponsorship, type of sponsored mobile data service, and mobile computing device data subscription;

registering the mobile computing device for the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services with at least one of an enterprise server and a mobile data service provider;

receiving, by the mobile computing device, the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services in accordance with the use parameters; and

adjusting, by the mobile data service provider, billing rate of the mobile computing device while receiving the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the mobile computing device is within the enterprise geographic location comprises:

determining a geographic location of the mobile computing device based one or more of global positioning satellite information, Bluetooth beacon reception, registration with a wireless local area network of the enterprise, location data entry into the mobile computing device, and data entry into an enterprise local computer;

obtaining boundary information of the enterprise geographic location;

comparing the geographic location of the mobile computing device with the boundary information; and

when the comparison is favorable, indicating that the mobile computing device is within the enterprise geographic location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that the user of the mobile computing device is eligible for one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services comprises one or more of:

accessing user profile data;

requesting, by the mobile computing device, the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services and, in response to the requesting, granting, by the at least one of an enterprise server and a mobile data service provider, the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services;

verifying that the user of the mobile computing device has an authorized ticket to an event occurring within the enterprise geographic location and the authorized ticket includes the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services for a duration of the event; and

determining that the user of the mobile computing device is eligible for one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services as a default for being within the enterprise geographic location.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

the use parameters include one or more of;

providing the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services only while the mobile computing device is within the enterprise geographic location,

providing the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services for a specified time duration, and

providing the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services while data consumption during the receiving of the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services by the mobile computing device remains below a data consumption threshold;

the user profile data includes one or more of;

the user of the mobile computing device being a registered guest of the enterprise, an enterprise award program to which the user of the mobile computing device has subscribed, a level of client, and the user of the mobile computing device being affiliated with an event occurring within the enterprise geographic location;

the type of sponsorship includes one or more of;

an event based sponsorship, a time based sponsorship, a location based sponsorship, a client reward based sponsorship, a data consumption based sponsorship; and

the type of sponsored mobile data service includes one or more of;

unique data content at no cost, reduced rate data service, and zero cost data services.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the registering the mobile computing device for the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services comprises:

sending, by the enterprise server, a notice message to the mobile data service provider server, wherein the notice message indicates that the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services are to be available to the mobile computing device;

authorizing, by the mobile data service provider server, the mobile computing device receiving the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services based on the mobile computing device data subscription and subscriber information of the mobile computing device; and

sending, by the at least one of the enterprise server and the mobile data service provider server, an acknowledgement of authorization for receiving the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services to the mobile computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the registering the mobile computing device for the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services comprises:

sending, by the mobile computing device, a request to mobile data service provider server for authorization to receive the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services;

sending, by the mobile data service provider server and in response to receiving the request, an enterprise authorization request to enterprise server;

receiving, by the mobile data service provider server, a favorable enterprise authorization response; and

in response to the favorable enterprise authorization response, sending, by the mobile data service provider server, an acknowledgement of authorization for receiving the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services to the mobile computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the billing rate comprises one of:

reducing the billing rate to zero; and

reducing the billing rate by a percentage of a non-sponsored billing rate.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

determining that a related mobile computing device of the mobile computing device is within the enterprise geographic location;

when the user of the related mobile computing device is eligible for the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services;

providing the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services in accordance with the use parameters to the related mobile computing device; and

adjusting, by the mobile data service provider server, billing rate of the related mobile computing device while receiving the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprises one or more of:

continue providing of the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services when the mobile computing device is no longer within the enterprise geographic location;

suspending providing of the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services when the mobile computing device is no longer within the enterprise geographic location; and

resuming the providing of the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services when the mobile computing device has returned to the enterprise geographic location.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein engaging with the enterprise regarding the enterprise service comprises one or more of:

shopping for goods at a store of a retail business enterprise;

receiving a service from a service business enterprise;

shopping for consumable goods at a store of a food service business; and

attending an event hosted by an event hosing business enterprise.

11. A sponsored data communication system comprises:

a first module that, when operable within a first computing device, causes the first computing device to;

determine that a mobile computing device is within an enterprise geographic location and is within the enterprise geographic location for engaging with an enterprise regarding an enterprise service, wherein the enterprise is associated with the enterprise geographic location;

a second module that, when operable within at least one of the first computing device and a second computing device, causes the at least one of the first and second computing devices to;

when the mobile computing device is within the enterprise geographic location;

determine that a user of the mobile computing device is eligible for one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services;

when the user of the mobile computing device is eligible for the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services;

determine use parameters for the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services based on one or more of;

user profile data, type of sponsorship, type of sponsored mobile data service, and mobile computing device data subscription; and

register the mobile computing device for the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services;

a third module that, when operable within the mobile computing device, causes the mobile computing device to;

receive the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services in accordance with the use parameters; and

a fourth module that, when operable within the at least one of the first and second computing devices, causes the at least one of the first and second computing devices to;

adjust billing rate of the mobile computing device while receiving the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services.

12. The sponsored data communication system of claim 11, wherein the first module, when operable within the first computing device, further causes the first computing device to determine that the mobile computing device is within the enterprise geographic location by:

determining a geographic location of the mobile computing device based one or more of global positioning satellite information, Bluetooth beacon reception, registration with a wireless local area network of the enterprise, location data entry into the mobile computing device, and data entry into an enterprise local computer;

obtaining boundary information of the enterprise geographic location;

comparing the geographic location of the mobile computing device with the boundary information; and

when the comparison is favorable, indicating that the mobile computing device is within the enterprise geographic location.

13. The sponsored data communication system of claim 11, wherein the second module, when operable within at least one of the first and second computing devices, further causes the at least one of the first and second computing devices to determine that the user of the mobile computing device is eligible for one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services by one or more of:

accessing user profile data;

receiving, from the mobile computing device, a request for the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services and, in response to the request, granting the request for the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services;

verifying that the user of the mobile computing device has an authorized ticket to an event occurring within the enterprise geographic location and the authorized ticket includes the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services for a duration of the event; and

determining that the user of the mobile computing device is eligible for one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services as a default for being within the enterprise geographic location.

14. The sponsored data communication system of claim 11 further comprises:

the use parameters include one or more of;

providing the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services only while the mobile computing device is within the enterprise geographic location,

providing the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services for a specified time duration, and

providing the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services while data consumption during the receiving of the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services by the mobile computing device remains below a data consumption threshold;

the user profile data includes one or more of;

the user of the mobile computing device being a registered guest of the enterprise, an enterprise award program to which the user of the mobile computing device has subscribed, a level of client, and the user of the mobile computing device being affiliated with an event occurring within the enterprise geographic location;

the type of sponsorship includes one or more of;

an event based sponsorship, a time based sponsorship, a location based sponsorship, a client reward based sponsorship, a data consumption based sponsorship; and

the type of sponsored mobile data service includes one or more of;

unique data content at no cost, reduced rate data service, and zero cost data services.

15. The sponsored data communication system of claim 11, wherein the second module, when operable within at least one of the first and second computing devices, further causes the at least one of the first and second computing devices to register the mobile computing device for the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services by:

sending a notice message to indicate that the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services are to be available to the mobile computing device;

authorizing the mobile computing device receiving the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services based on the mobile computing device data subscription and subscriber information of the mobile computing device; and

sending an acknowledgement of authorization for receiving the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services to the mobile computing device.

16. The sponsored data communication system of claim 11, wherein the second module, when operable within at least one of the first and second computing devices, further causes the at least one of the first and second computing devices to register the mobile computing device for the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services by:

receiving, from the mobile computing device, a request for authorization to receive the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services;

sending, in response to receiving the request, an enterprise authorization request;

receiving a favorable enterprise authorization response; and

in response to the favorable enterprise authorization response, sending an acknowledgement of authorization for receiving the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services to the mobile computing device.

17. The sponsored data communication system of claim 11, wherein the fourth module that, when operable within the at least one of the first and second computing devices, causes the at least one of the first and second computing devices to adjust the billing rate by one of:

reducing the billing rate to zero; and

reducing the billing rate by a percentage of a non-sponsored billing rate.

18. The sponsored data communication system of claim 11 further comprises:

the first module that, when operable within the first computing device, further causes the first computing device to;

determine that a related mobile computing device of the mobile computing device is within the enterprise geographic location;

the second module that, when operable within the at least one of the first and second computing devices, further causes the at least one of the first and second computing devices to;

when the user of the related mobile computing device is eligible for the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services, provide the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services in accordance with the use parameters to the related mobile computing device; and

the fourth module that, when operable within the at least one of the first and second computing devices, further causes the at least one of the first and second computing devices to;

adjust billing rate of the related mobile computing device while receiving the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services.

19. The sponsored data communication system of claim 11 further comprises:

a fifth module that, when operable within the at least one of the first and second computing devices, causes the at least one of the first and second computing devices to perform at least one of;

continue providing of the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services when the mobile computing device is no longer within the enterprise geographic location;

suspend providing of the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services when the mobile computing device is no longer within the enterprise geographic location; and

resume the providing of the one or more enterprise sponsored mobile data services when the mobile computing device has returned to the enterprise geographic location.

20. The sponsored data communication system of claim 11, wherein the first module that, when operable within a first computing device, further causes the first computing device to engage with the enterprise regarding the enterprise service by one or more of further comprises:

shopping for goods at a store of a retail business enterprise;

receiving a service from a service business enterprise;

shopping for consumable goods at a store of a food service business; and

attending an event hosted by an event hosing business enterprise.