Connection and data application billing

• US 20070010231A1
• Filed: 07/06/2005
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Du, Xiaohui
• Granted Patent: US 9,008,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• 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 15/8214 Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8228 Session based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2013 Fixed data network, e.g. PDN, ATM, B-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/782 Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7833 Session based
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A server and related method embodiments for determining usage on a wireless network are described. The server includes a connection detector, a connection classifier connected with the connection detector, and a usage tracker connected with the connection classifier. The connection detector detects a connection from a mobile station. The connection classifier determines the type of the detected connection. The usage tracker determines usage for each detected connection based on the connection type. A connecting mobile station for accessing the server includes a session controller for controlling a session with the server, a connection controller for controlling a connection related to the session, and an application assigner for controlling assignment of an application executed by the client to a particular connection.

Claims

1. A server for determining usage on a wireless network, comprising:

a connection detector operative to detect a connection from a mobile station;

a classifier operatively connected with the connection detector and operative to determine the type of the detected connection; and

a usage tracker operatively connected with the connection classifier and operative to determine usage for each detected connection based on the connection type.

2. The server of claim 1, wherein the classifier includes predetermined connection types.

3. The server of claim 2, wherein the predetermined connection types include application types.

4. The server of claim 1, wherein the detected connection includes connection type information.

5. The server of claim 1, wherein the usage tracker determines usage based on the classifier detecting a change of connection type.

6. The server of claim 1, wherein the classifier operatively accesses a mapping table to determine the type of the detected connection.

7. The server of claim 6, wherein the mapping table includes information relating address information from the connection to a connection type.

8. The server of claim 1, the usage tracker operative to transmit usage information related to the mobile station, the usage information including duration and amount per connection type.

9. A mobile station for accessing a wireless network, comprising:

a session controller operative to control a session with a server;

a connection controller operatively connected with the session controller and operative to control a connection related to a session with a server;

an application assigner operatively connected with the connection controller and operative to control assignment of an application executed by the client to a particular connection.

10. The client of claim 9, wherein the application assigner includes a predetermined mapping of applications to connections and operatively assigns a particular application to a particular connection based on the mapping.

11. The client of claim 9, wherein the application assigner operatively notifies the connection controller of the connection type of an application-connection assignment.

12. The client of claim 11, wherein the connection controller operatively transmits the connection type over the connection of the application-connection assignment.

13. A method of determining usage on a wireless network, comprising:

determining a connection type responsive to detection of establishment of a connection with a mobile station; and

capturing usage information for each established connection by connection type.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating billing information according to connection type based on the captured usage information.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the determining step is performed based on information received over the established connection.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the determining step is performed based on a predetermined mapping table.

17. A method of determining usage on a wireless network, comprising:

determining an application type change based on detection of a destination address in a packet differing from a previous destination address in a previous packet; and

capturing usage information for the application type determined by analyzing the detected different destination address.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the analyzing further comprises:

accessing a mapping table to determine the type of the detected application.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the mapping table includes information relating address information from the connection to an application type.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

generating billing information according to application type based on the captured usage information.

21. A memory or a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to determine a connection type responsive to detection of a connection with a mobile station and capture usage information for each established connection by connection type.

22. A memory or a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to determine an application type change based on detection of a destination address in a packet differing from a previous destination address in a previous packet and capture usage information for the application type determined by analyzing the detected different destination address.

23. A server for determining usage on a wireless network, comprising:

a communication device;

a processor coupled with the communication device; and

a memory coupled with the processor and storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine a connection type responsive to detection of a connection with a mobile station and capture usage information for each established connection by connection type.

24. A server for determining usage on a wireless network, comprising:

a communication device;

a processor coupled with the communication device; and

a memory coupled with the processor and storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine an application type change based on detection of a destination address in a packet differing from a previous destination address in a previous packet and capture usage information for the application type determined by analyzing the detected different destination address.

25. A server for determining usage on a wireless network, comprising:

connection detecting means for detecting a connection from a mobile station;

classifying means connected with the connection detecting means and arranged to determine the type of the detected connection; and

usage tracking means connected with the connection classifying means and arranged to determine usage for each detected connection based on the connection type.