Dedicated wireless device business method

• US 20060019632A1
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pache, Stacia Lynn, Cunningham, Ivy, Cannon, James L., Bosland, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/940,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20060019632A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/408
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• 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 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/57 for integrated multimedia messaging subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/82 Criteria or parameters used for performing billing operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• 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 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/208 : IMS, i.e. Integrated Multimedia messaging Subsystem
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 : Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/28 : SMS billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 : Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 : Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/78 : Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

A business model that is dedicated to supporting a wireless messaging device. The model offers unlimited services on a dependent device, including mixed limited/unlimited usage models, pre-and post-pay models, and models not found in a conventional monthly recurring charge system. The model further includes components that address service selection, suspension, resumption, service add-ons, account limitations and restrictions, detect device compatibility with support services, account analysis, charging cycles, billing methods, third-party add-ons and interfacing, and troubleshooting support.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates the management of services of a dedicated wireless device, comprising:

a business model component that provides limited/unlimited messaging services and accounting services for the dedicated wireless device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the business model component further comprises a post-payment billing component that facilitates a postpaid billing plan that pays for services rendered.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the business model component further comprises a pre-payment billing component that facilitates a prepaid billing plan that pays for services to be rendered.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the business model component includes a support component that facilitates accessing customer support via the wireless messaging device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the business model component includes an optional services component that facilitates the selection of additional services.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the business model component includes a service interruption component that processes service suspension and resumption.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the business model component includes a third-party component that facilitates communications with third-party portals and payments apportioned to the third-party portals thereto in accordance with services provided thereby.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the business model component further comprises a charging cycle component that determines a charging cycle that is applied to at least one of the limited and unlimited messaging services.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the business model component includes a charging cycle component that imposes a daily recurring charge that is additional to a normal billing charge.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the business model component further comprises a restrictions component that determines if the dedicated wireless device meets predetermined criteria for operating in accordance with the limited and unlimited messaging services.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the business model component further comprises a restrictions component that limits access to at least one of the limited messaging services and unlimited messaging services of an existing subscriber plan.

12. A server that employs the business model of claim 1.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the business model component further comprises an accounts analysis component that employs a probabilistic and/or statistical-based analysis to prognose or infer an action that a user desires to be automatically performed.

14. A system that facilitates the management of services of a wireless messaging device, comprising:

a basic services component that provides limited and unlimited messaging services solely for the wireless messaging device;

an accounts component that tracks usage of an account of a subscriber; and

a payment component that facilitates applying a postpaid plan that automatically pays for the messaging services according to a monthly recurring charge (MRC) based on the account usage of the subscriber.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a support component that facilitates customer support of the wireless device.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising an optional services component that facilitates the selection of additional services billed according to at least one of an additional MRC, a per-use billing, and volume-based billing.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising a service interruption component that processes service suspension and resumption.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising a third-party component that facilitates communications with third-party portals and payments apportioned to the third-party portals thereto in accordance with services provided thereby.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the business model component includes a charging cycle component that imposes a daily recurring charge that is additional to the MRC.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising a restrictions component that determines if the wireless messaging device meets predetermined criteria for operating in accordance with the limited and unlimited messaging services and limits access to at least one of the limited messaging services and unlimited messaging services of an existing subscriber plan.

21. A server that employs the business model of claim 14.

22. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for carrying out the system of claim 14.

23. A system that facilitates the management of services of a wireless messaging device, comprising:

a basic services component that provides limited and unlimited messaging services solely for the wireless messaging device;

an accounts component that tracks usage of an account of a subscriber; and

a payment component that facilitates applying a prepaid plan that automatically pays for the messaging services based on a recurring charge according to the account usage of the subscriber.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a support component that facilitates customer support of the wireless device.

25. The system of claim 23, further comprising an optional services component that facilitates selection of additional services.

26. The system of claim 23, further comprising a service interruption component that processes service suspension and resumption.

27. The system of claim 23, further comprising a billing method component that facilitates payment by at least one of electronic funds transfer (EFT), recurring credit card, debit card, check, and stored-value account payment.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the limited and unlimited messaging services are charged according to a daily recurring charge (DRC).

29. The system of claim 23, further comprising adding international mobile-originated (MO) short message service (SMS) messages for an additional fee.

30. A system that facilitates the management of wireless services of a wireless messaging device, comprising:

a message service component that enables communication of an SMS signal of a domestic MO message with an SMS provider;

a message service component that enables communication of an SMS signal of a domestic mobile-terminated (MT) message with an SMS provider;

an e-mail service component that enables communication of an e-mail message via at least one e-mail provider;

an instant messaging (IM) service component that enables IM communications with an IM provider;

a value-added service component that enables communication with a third-party portal provider; and

a single recurring charge that is imposed periodically on a user account in a post-paid manner for at least one of the services related to the SMS signals, the e-mail message, the IM service, and the third-party portal provider.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein at least one of the MO message and the MT message services accommodates an unlimited number of corresponding SMS messages.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the e-mail service enables an unlimited number of e-mail messages.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the e-mail service facilitates e-mail messaging with an existing account of the user.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the e-mail service facilitates e-mail messaging with an existing Internet-accessible POP3 account of the user.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the e-mail service prohibits an attachment to an e-mail message.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein the IM service facilitates an unlimited number of IM messages.

37. The system of claim 30, wherein the single recurring charge is a monthly recurring charge.

38. The system of claim 30, wherein the value-added service includes at least one of an additional e-mail account and an additional IM account.

39. The system of claim 30, the value-added service provides access to an additional third-party portal provided that is charged according to an additional fee.

40. The system of claim 30, further comprising a message service that enables international mobile-originated SMS messages.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the message service for the international SMS messages is charged according to an additional fee.

42. The system of claim 30, further comprising a voice service that facilitates processing voice communications via the wireless messaging device for an additional fee.

43. The system of claim 30, wherein the wireless messaging device is a dedicated messaging-centric device.

44. A system that facilitates the management of wireless services of a wireless messaging device, comprising:

a message service component that enables unlimited domestic MO and MT SMS messaging;

an e-mail service component that enables communication of an unlimited number of e-mail messages via an existing subscriber POP3 e-mail account;

an IM service component that enables IM communications of an unlimited number of IM messages via an IM provider;

an included value-added service that enables communications via a third-party portal provider of at least one of IM and e-mail;

a charging cycle component that facilitates a single MRC that is imposed periodically on a user account in a post-paid manner for at least one of the services related to SMS messaging, the e-mail messages, the IM messages, and the included value-added service; and

an optional value-added service that enables communication via the third-party portal provider for an additional fixed MRC.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the e-mail service component prohibits an attachment to an e-mail message.

46. The system of claim 44, further comprising a message service component that enables international MO SMS messages according to an additional fee.

47. The system of claim 44, further comprising an optional service component that facilitates adding voice communications capability to the wireless messaging device for an additional fee.

48. The system of claim 44, wherein the wireless messaging device is a dedicated messaging-centric device.

49. The system of claim 44, where the charging cycle component limits the amount of money that can be spent by the user account.

50. A system that facilitates the management of wireless messaging, comprising:

a wireless messaging-centric device that communicates messages; and

a messaging infrastructure dedicated to providing messaging services in association with the messaging-centric device, the infrastructure comprising,

a message service component that enables unlimited domestic MO and MT SMS messaging;

an e-mail service component that enables communication of an unlimited number of e-mail messages via an existing subscriber POP3 e-mail account;

an IM service component that enables IM communications of an unlimited number of IM messages via an IM provider;

an included value-added service that enables communication via a third-party portal provider of at least one of IM and e-mail;

a charging cycle component that facilitates a single MRC that is imposed periodically on a user account in a post-paid manner for at least one of the services related to the SMS messaging, the e-mail messages, the IM messages, and the included value-added service; and

an optional value-added service that enables communication via a third-party portal provider for an additional fixed MRC.

51. A method of facilitating management of wireless messaging, comprising:

providing a business model that facilitates limited/unlimited messaging services and accounting services for a dedicated wireless messaging device, which business model includes,

providing SMS services that include unlimited domestic MO and MT SMS messaging traffic;

providing an e-mail service that includes unlimited e-mail traffic via one or more existing subscriber e-mail accounts;

providing an IM service that includes unlimited IM traffic;

providing an included value-added portal service of at least one of an additional IM portal, and an additional e-mail portal;

providing a post-payment billing plan that facilitates paying for services and activity on the subscriber account; and

providing a single MRC that is imposed periodically on the subscriber account in a post-paid manner for at least one of the SMS services, the e-mail service, the IM service, and the included value-added service.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising providing a support service that facilitates accessing customer support via the wireless messaging device.

53. The method of claim 51, further comprising processing restrictions that determine if the wireless messaging device meets predetermined criteria for operating the wireless messaging device in accordance with the limited/unlimited messaging services.

54. The method of claim 51, further comprising providing an option for optional services that facilitates the selection of additional services.

55. The method of claim 51, further comprising providing a service interruption component that processes service suspension and resumption.

56. The method of claim 51, further comprising imposing restrictions that limit access to limited/unlimited messaging services.

57. The method of claim 51, further comprising providing a pre-payment billing plan that prepays for services to be rendered.

58. The method of claim 51, further comprising remitting a portion of at least one of the MRC and a DRC to a third-party portal provider for allowing access to associated portal services.

59. A method of facilitating management of wireless messaging, comprising:

providing a business model that facilitates limited/unlimited messaging services and accounting services for a dedicated wireless messaging device, which business model includes,

providing SMS services that include unlimited domestic MO and MT SMS messaging traffic;

providing an e-mail service that includes unlimited e-mail traffic via one or more existing subscriber e-mail accounts;

providing an IM service that includes unlimited IM traffic;

providing an included value-added portal service of at least one of an additional IM portal, and an additional e-mail portal;

providing a post-payment billing plan that facilitates paying for services and activity on the subscriber account; and

providing a DRC that is imposed on the subscriber account in a pre-paid manner that subtracts funds from the subscriber account for at least one of the SMS services, the e-mail service, the IM service, and the included value-added service.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising providing a support service that facilitates accessing customer support via the wireless messaging device.

61. The method of claim 59, further comprising processing restrictions that determine if the wireless messaging device meets predetermined criteria for operating the wireless messaging device in accordance with the limited/unlimited messaging services.

62. The method of claim 59, further comprising providing an option for optional services that facilitates the selection of additional services.

63. The method of claim 59, further comprising providing a service interruption component that processes service suspension and resumption.

64. The method of claim 59, further comprising imposing restrictions that limit access to limited/unlimited messaging services.

65. The method of claim 59, further comprising providing a pre-payment billing plan that prepays for services to be rendered.

66. The method of claim 59, further comprising remitting a portion of at least one of the MRC and a DRC to a third-party portal provider for allowing access to associated portal services.