Apparatus and method for providing telecommunication services
First Claim
1. A method for improving telecommunication network operational efficiency for a telecommunication network connecting a server and client side telecommunication devices, the method comprising:
- providing a server to communicate with first and second telecommunication devices;
registering the first and second telecommunication devices with the server;
determining, at the server, a hierarchical relationship between the first and second telecommunication devices, wherein the hierarchical relationship resulted from the acceptance of an invite to establish the hierarchical relationship and wherein the invite was transmitted between the first and second telecommunication devices independent of use of the telecommunication network for a purpose other than to transmit the invite;
storing, in a computer memory associated with the server, an indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices;
storing, in the computer memory, information concerning use of the telecommunication network by the second telecommunication device;
determining an end user credit for the first telecommunication device based at least in part on the indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices, and based at least in part on the information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the second telecommunication device; and
transmitting a signal to the first telecommunication device or other computer associated with the first telecommunication device based on the determined end user credit, said signal being adapted to produce a physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus of improving telecommunication network efficiency by increasing user device registration with and use of the network are disclosed. Improved user device registration and use, and thus increased efficiency may be achieved by allocating revenue generated by operation of a telecommunication network between user devices, a network operator device, and a third party device. The allocation of revenue may be based, at least in part, on a hierarchical relationship between user devices registered with the network and information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the user devices.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for improving telecommunication network operational efficiency for a telecommunication network connecting a server and client side telecommunication devices, the method comprising:
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providing a server to communicate with first and second telecommunication devices; registering the first and second telecommunication devices with the server; determining, at the server, a hierarchical relationship between the first and second telecommunication devices, wherein the hierarchical relationship resulted from the acceptance of an invite to establish the hierarchical relationship and wherein the invite was transmitted between the first and second telecommunication devices independent of use of the telecommunication network for a purpose other than to transmit the invite; storing, in a computer memory associated with the server, an indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices; storing, in the computer memory, information concerning use of the telecommunication network by the second telecommunication device; determining an end user credit for the first telecommunication device based at least in part on the indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices, and based at least in part on the information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the second telecommunication device; and transmitting a signal to the first telecommunication device or other computer associated with the first telecommunication device based on the determined end user credit, said signal being adapted to produce a physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for improving telecommunication network operational efficiency for a telecommunication network connecting a server and client side telecommunication devices, the method comprising:
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providing a server to communicate with first, second and third telecommunication devices; registering the first, second and third telecommunication devices with the server; determining, at the server, a first hierarchical relationship between the first and second telecommunication devices, wherein the first hierarchical relationship resulted from the acceptance of an invite to establish the first hierarchical relationship and wherein the invite was transmitted between the first and second telecommunication devices independent of use of the telecommunication network for a purpose other than to transmit the invite; determining, at the server, a second hierarchical relationship between the second and third telecommunication devices, wherein the second hierarchical relationship resulted from the acceptance of an invite to establish the second hierarchical relationship and wherein the invite was transmitted between the second and third telecommunication devices independent of use of the telecommunication network for a purpose other than to transmit the invite; storing, in a computer memory associated with the server, an indicator of the first hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices and an indicator of the second hierarchical relationship of the second and third telecommunication devices; storing, in the computer memory, information concerning use of the telecommunication network by the third telecommunication device; determining an end user credit for the first telecommunication device based at least in part on the indicator of the first hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices, based at least in part on the indicator of the second hierarchical relationship of the second and third telecommunication devices, and based at least in part on the information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the third telecommunication device; and transmitting a signal to the first telecommunication device or other computer associated with the first telecommunication device based on the determined end user credit, said signal being adapted to produce a physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit.
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14. A method for improving telecommunication network operational efficiency for a telecommunication network connecting a server and client side telecommunication devices, the method comprising:
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providing a server to communicate with first, second and third telecommunication devices; registering the first, second and third telecommunication devices with the server; determining, at the server, a hierarchical relationship between the first and second telecommunication devices; determining, at the server, a hierarchical relationship between the second and third telecommunication devices; storing, in a computer memory associated with the server, an indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices and an indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the second and third telecommunication devices; storing, in the computer memory, information concerning use of the telecommunication network by the third telecommunication device; determining an end user credit for the first telecommunication device based at least in part on the indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices, based at least in part on the indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the second and third telecommunication devices, and based at least in part on the information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the third telecommunication device; transmitting a signal to the first telecommunication device or other computer associated with the first telecommunication device based on the determined end user credit, said signal being adapted to produce a physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit; determining an end user credit for the second telecommunication device based at least in part on the indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the second and third telecommunication devices, and based at least in part on the information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the third telecommunication device; and transmitting a signal to the second telecommunication device and/or other computer associated with the second telecommunication device based on the determined end user credit, said signal being adapted to produce a physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for improving telecommunication network operational efficiency for a telecommunication network connecting a server and client side telecommunication devices, the system comprising:
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a server adapted to communicate with first and second telecommunication devices; and first and second telecommunication devices registered with the server; a computer memory associated with the server; means for determining a hierarchical relationship between the first and second telecommunication devices and determining an end user credit for the first telecommunication device based at least in part on the indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices, and based at least in part on the information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the second telecommunication device; and means for transmitting a signal to the first telecommunication device or other computer associated with the first telecommunication device based on the determined end user credit, said signal being adapted to produce a physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit, wherein the hierarchical relationship resulted from the acceptance of an invite to establish the hierarchical relationship and wherein the invite was transmitted between the first and second telecommunication devices independent of use of the telecommunication network for a purpose other than to transmit the invite.
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28. A system for improving telecommunication network operational efficiency for a telecommunication network connecting a server and client side telecommunication devices, the system comprising:
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a server adapted to communicate with first, second and third telecommunication devices; first, second and third telecommunication devices registered with the server; a computer memory associated with the server; means for determining a hierarchical relationship between the first and second telecommunication devices, and a hierarchical relationship between the second and third telecommunication devices and determining an end user credit for the first telecommunication device based at least in part on the indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the first and second telecommunication devices, based at least in part on the indicator of the hierarchical relationship of the second and third telecommunication devices, and based at least in part on the information concerning the use of the telecommunication network by the third telecommunication device; and means for transmitting a signal to the first telecommunication device or other computer associated with the first telecommunication device based on the determined end user credit, said signal being adapted to produce a physically perceptible output of the determined end user credit. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification