Revenue sharing

• US 9,934,520 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Neil, Douglas R., Rivera, Jose F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Iwarere, Oluseye
• Application Number:
  US14/334,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20140330687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 705 34, 705 736, 705 28, 709224, 455466, 455406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• 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 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• 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 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

A server provides data to software applications executing at mobile devices. Billing information for each wireless device is shared with a provider of a software application. The server formats usage information into a transaction record for the content provider. A customer of a network carrier is charged differently based upon a type of content accessed through the server.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a server, electronic data sent via the Internet from a software provider;

sending, by the server, the electronic data via a short messaging service message to a mobile device, the mobile device associated with a network address;

determining, by the server, a type of the electronic data sent via the short messaging service message to the mobile device;

receiving, by the server, electronic usage information sent via the short messaging service message from the mobile device, the electronic usage information describing a software application using the electronic data sent via the short messaging service message to the mobile device, the at least one software application executed by the mobile device;

adding, by the server, an entry in an electronic database, the entry electronically associating the type of the electronic data to the network address associated with the mobile device and to the software provider;

generating, by the server, an electronic billing record associated with the electronic usage information sent via the short messaging service message from the mobile device, the electronic billing record describing the type of the electronic data sent via the short messaging service message to the mobile device, and the electronic billing record sharing a revenue with the software provider; and

sending, by the server, the electronic billing record via the Internet to the software provider;

wherein the revenue is shared with the software provider based on the type of the electronic data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the electronic data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a time associated with the electronic data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a message to the mobile device, the message describing the type of the electronic data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a voice message describing the type of the electronic data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving an electronic message describing the type of the electronic data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a profile associated with the mobile device.

8. A system, comprising:

a hardware processor; and

a memory device, the memory device storing code, the code when executed causing the hardware processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving electronic data sent via the Internet from a software provider;

sending the electronic data via a short messaging service message to a mobile device, the mobile device associated with a network address;

receiving electronic usage information sent via the short messaging service message from the mobile device, the electronic usage information describing a type of the electronic data sent via the short messaging service message and used by a software application executed by the mobile device;

adding an entry in an electronic database, the entry electronically associating the type of the electronic data to the network address associated with the mobile device and to the software provider associated with the software application;

generating an electronic billing record for the electronic usage information sent via the short messaging service message from the mobile device, the electronic billing record describing the type of the electronic data sent via the short messaging service message to the mobile device, and the electronic billing record sharing a revenue with the software provider; and

sending the electronic billing record via the Internet to the software provider;

wherein the revenue is shared with the software provider based on the type of the electronic data.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise downloading the electronic data to the mobile device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise monitoring a time associated with the electronic data.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise sending a message describing the electronic data.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a voice message describing the electronic data.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving an electronic message describing the electronic data.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a profile associated with the mobile device.

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

receiving electronic data sent via the Internet from a software provider;

sending the electronic data via a short messaging service message to a mobile device, the mobile device associated with a network address;

receiving electronic usage information sent via the short messaging service message from the mobile device, the electronic usage information describing a type of the electronic data sent via the short messaging service message and used by a software application executed by the mobile device;

adding an entry in an electronic database, the entry electronically associating the type of the electronic data to the network address associated with the mobile device and to the software provider associated with the software application;

generating an electronic billing record for the electronic usage information sent via the short messaging service message from the mobile device, the electronic billing record describing the type of the electronic data sent via the short messaging service message to the mobile device, and the electronic billing record sharing a revenue with the software provider; and

sending the electronic billing record via the Internet to the software provider;

wherein the revenue is shared with the software provider based on the type of the electronic data.

16. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise receiving the electronic data.

17. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise monitoring a time associated with the electronic data.

18. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise sending a message describing the electronic data.

19. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a voice message describing the electronic data.

20. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving an electronic message describing the electronic data.