METHODS, APPARATUSES AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR FACILITATING TOLL FREE DATA ACCESS

• US 20120209753A1
• Filed: 01/27/2012
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syniverse Technologies LLC (Syniverse Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Syniverse Technologies Incorporated (Syniverse Corp.)
• Inventors: Hodges, Richard Lance
• Granted Patent: US 10,110,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/146 using digital cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1475 the splitting involving a third party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/805 Bidding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

An apparatus for facilitating toll free data access includes a processor and memory storing executable computer code causing the apparatus to at least perform operations including sending a request to a device requesting identification of one or more content providers that provide data to users in which the content providers pay for data, accessed from the content providers, on behalf of users. The accessed data is not considered data usage accrued by the users during a billing cycle or against a prepaid data plan. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to receive an indication from the device of a content provider(s) that pays for the provision of the data on behalf of users. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to determine whether a selected content provider pays for the provision of the data to users. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sending a request to a device requesting identification of one or more content providers that provide data to users in which the content providers pay for data, accessed from the content providers, on behalf of users, the accessed data is not considered data usage accrued by the users during a billing cycle or against a prepaid data plan;

receiving an indication from the device of at least one content provider that pays for the provision of the data on behalf of users; and

determining, via a processor, whether a selected content provider pays for the provision of the data to the users.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a request for data from the selected content provider in response to determining that the selected content provider pays for data accessed from the selected content provider; and

receiving toll free data from the selected content provider in response to sending the generated request to the selected content provider.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein prior to receiving the toll free data, the method further comprises:

generating a prompt requesting an authorization code to access data from the selected content provider; and

receiving an indication of a valid authorization code in response to the prompt which enables access to the data from the selected content provider.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a prompt requesting authorization from a user to access data of the selected content provider in response to determining that the selected content provider does not pay for data accessed from the selected content provider on behalf of users.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

generating a request for data access from the selected content provider in response to receipt of the authorization; and

receiving data from the selected content provider in response to sending the generated request to the selected content provider.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

advising a user of monetary charges associated with accessing the data from the selected content provider in response to determining that the selected content provider does not pay for data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises location information indicating a location of a user and wherein the at least one content provider is identified based in part on a determination that the content provider provides free data access in a proximity of the location of the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification comprises information requesting identifications of one or more toll free destination sites of the content providers.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more toll free destination sites comprises one or more web sites that provide data for free to devices of users during a predetermined time period.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a Data Session Management Platform configured to identify content providers that pay for data, accessed from the content providers, on behalf of users.

11. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

send a request to a device requesting identification of one or more content providers that provide data to users in which the content providers pay for data, accessed from the content providers, on behalf of users, the accessed data is not considered data usage accrued by the users during a billing cycle or against a prepaid data plan;

receive an indication from the device of at least one content provider that pays for the provision of the data on behalf of users; and

determine whether a selected content provider pays for the provision of the data to users.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

generate a request for data from the selected content provider in response to determining that the selected content provider pays for data accessed from the selected content provider; and

receive toll free data from the selected content provider in response to sending the generated request to the selected content provider.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein prior to receive the toll free data, the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

generate a prompt requesting an authorization code to access data from the selected content provider; and

receive an indication of a valid authorization code in response to the prompt which enables access to the data from the selected content provider.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

generate a prompt requesting authorization from a user to access data of the selected content provider in response to determining that the selected content provider does not pay for data accessed from the selected content provider on behalf of users.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

generate a request for data access from the selected content provider in response to receipt of the authorization; and

receive data from the selected content provider in response to sending the generated request to the selected content provider.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

advise a user of monetary charges associated with accessing the data from the selected content provider in response to determining that the selected content provider does not pay for the data.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the request comprises location information indicating a location of a user and wherein the at least one content provider is identified based in part on a determination that the content provider provides free data access in a proximity of the location of the user.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the identification comprises information requesting identifications of one or more toll free destination sites of the content providers.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the one or more toll free destination sites comprises one or more web sites that provide data for free to devices of users during a predetermined time period.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the device comprises a Data Session Management Platform configured to identify content providers that pay for data, accessed from the content providers, on behalf of users.

21. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile station.

22. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

program code instructions configured to send a request to a device requesting identification of one or more content providers that provide data to users in which the content providers pay for data, accessed from the content providers, on behalf of users, the accessed data is not considered data usage accrued by the users during a billing cycle or against a prepaid data plan;

program code instructions configured to cause receipt of an indication from the device of at least one content provider that pays for the provision of the data on behalf of users; and

program code instructions configured to determine whether a selected content provider pays for the provision of the data to the users.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, further comprising:

program code instructions configured to generate a request for data from the selected content provider in response to determining that the selected content provider pays for data accessed from the selected content provider; and

program code instructions configured to receive toll free data from the selected content provider in response to sending the generated request to the selected content provider.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein prior to receive the toll free data, the computer program product further comprises:

program code instructions configured to generate a prompt requesting an authorization code to access data from the selected content provider; and

program code instructions configured to cause receipt of an indication of a valid authorization code in response to the prompt which enables access to the data from the selected content provider.

25. The computer program product of claim 22, further comprising:

program code instructions configured to generate a prompt requesting authorization from a user to access data of the selected content provider in response to determining that the selected content provider does not pay for data accessed from the selected content provider on behalf of users.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising:

program code instructions configured to generate a request for data access from the selected content provider in response to receipt of the authorization; and

program code instructions configured to cause receipt of data from the selected content provider in response to sending the generated request to the selected content provider.