Sharing of network resources within a managed network

• US 9,906,988 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2015
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mascarenhas, Patrick, Ho, Ming-Ju
• Primary Examiner(s): Miah, Liton
• Application Number:
  US14/969,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20160105822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/43 using shared identity modules, e.g. SIM sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/53 based on regulatory allocation policies

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a processor which when executing computer instructions performs the operations including receiving network operator-approved credentials associated with a first communications device. Pre-assigned network resources are accessible by the first communications device by way of the network operator-approved credentials. The processor also performs operations including replicating the network operator-approved credentials, and receiving a request from a second communications device for access to the pre-assigned network resources of the first communications device. A copy of the replicated network operator-approved credentials is forwarded to enable the second mobile device to access the pre-assigned network resources. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a processing system comprising a processor, mobile network operator credentials associated with a first mobile device, wherein mobile network resources are accessible by the first mobile device by way of the mobile network operator credentials;

replicating, by the processing system, the mobile network operator credentials as replicated mobile network operator credentials, wherein the replicated mobile network operator credentials are stored at the processing system;

notifying, by the processing system, a second mobile device of an availability of the mobile network resources of the first mobile device responsive to the replicating the mobile network operator credentials for the second mobile device;

receiving, by the processing system, a request to allocate a portion of the mobile network resources to the second mobile device for access to the portion of the mobile network resources of the first mobile device, wherein the request is generated according to user-input, wherein the user-input indicates a first resources threshold for allocation of the portion of the mobile network resources to the second mobile device for a first service of a first data type, and wherein the user-input indicates a second resources threshold for allocation of the portion of the mobile network resources to the second mobile device for a second service of a second data type;

forwarding, by the processing system, the replicated mobile network operator credentials to the second mobile device to enable the second mobile device to access the portion of the mobile network resources of the first mobile device;

reallocating, by the processing system, the portion of the mobile network resources to the second mobile device;

monitoring, by the processing system, a use of the portion of the mobile network resources of the first mobile device consumed by the second mobile device;

determining, by the processing system, that the use of the portion of the mobile network resources exceeds the first resources threshold and determining the use of the portion of the mobile network resources does not exceed the second resources threshold;

restricting, by the processing system, the use of the portion of the mobile network resources for the first service of the first data type; and

allowing, by the processing system, the use of the portion of the mobile network resources for the second service of the second data type.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from a website portal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from the first mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the mobile network resources comprise a time allocation of a voice service of a mobile network operated by a mobile network operator through which the mobile network resources are provided.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the mobile network resources comprise or a data size allocation of a data service of a mobile network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the system, identification of an authorized entity wherein the forwarding the replicated mobile network operator credentials is responsive to an identification of the second mobile device corresponding to the authorized entity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first service is a voice service and the second service is a cellular data service, and wherein the first data type is voice data and the second data type is cellular data.

8. A system, comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

obtaining network operator credentials associated with a first communications device, wherein network resources are accessible by the first communications device using the network operator credentials;

notifying a second communications device of an availability of the network resources of the first communications device responsive to the obtaining the network operator credentials for the second communications device;

receiving a request to allocate a portion of the network resources to the second communications device, wherein the request is generated according to user-input, wherein the user-input indicates a first resources threshold for allocation of the portion of the network resources to the second communication device for a first service of a first data type, and wherein the user-input indicates a second resources threshold for allocation of the portion of the network resources to the second communication device for a second service of a second data type;

forwarding a copy of the network operator credentials of the first communications device to the second communications device to enable the second communications device to access the portion of the network resources;

reallocating the portion of the network resources to the second communications device;

monitoring a use of the network resources of the first communications device consumed by the second communications device;

determining that the use of the portion of the network resources exceeds the first resources threshold and determining the use of the portion of the network resources does not exceed the second resources threshold;

restricting the use of the portion of the network resources for the first service of the first data type; and

allowing the use of the portion of the network resources for the second service of the second data type.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the request is received from a portal.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the request is received from the first communications device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the portion of the network resources comprise a time allocation of a voice service of an operator-managed network through which the network resources are provided, or a data allocation of a data service of the operator-managed network.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the forwarding the copy of the network operator credentials is responsive to obtaining an identification from the second communications device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the first service is a voice service and the second service is a cellular data service, and wherein the first data type is voice data and the second data type is cellular data.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the network operator credentials comprise subscriber identity module data.

15. A machine-readable storage device, comprising instructions, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, a processor performs operations comprising:

receiving a request to allocate a portion of network resources assigned to a first communications device to a second communications device, wherein the request is generated according to user-input, wherein the user-input indicates a first resources threshold for allocation of the portion of the network resources to the second communication device for a first service of a first data type, and wherein the user-input indicates a second resources threshold for allocation of the portion of the network resources to the second communication device for a second service of a second data type;

notifying the second communications device of an availability of the network resources of the first communications device responsive to the receiving the request to allocate the portion of network resources to the second communications device;

forwarding a copy of network operator credentials of the first communications device to the second communications device to enable the second communications device to access the portion of the network resources;

reallocating the portion of the network resources to the second communications device;

monitoring a use of the portion of the network resources of the first communications device consumed by the second communications device;

determining that the use of the portion of the network resources exceeds the first resources threshold and determining the use of the portion of the network resources does not exceed the second resources threshold;

restricting the use of the portion of the network resources for the first service of the first data type; and

allowing the use of the portion of the network resources for the second service of the second data type.

16. The machine-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the request is received from user-generated input obtained at a website.

17. The machine-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the request is received from the first communications device.

18. The machine-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the portion of the network resources comprise a time allocation of a voice service of an operator-managed network through which the network resources are provided, or a data allocation of a data service of the operator-managed network.

19. The machine-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the first service is a voice service and the second service is a cellular data service, and wherein the first data type is voice data and the second data type is cellular data.

20. The machine-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the network operator credentials comprise subscriber identity module data.