Revenue Sharing

• US 20140330687A1
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 9,934,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• 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, usage information describing data used by an application at a mobile device;

receiving, by the server, an identifier of the mobile device receiving the data;

storing, by the server, an association between the usage information, the identifier of the mobile device, and a provider of the application;

generating, by the server, a billing record for the usage information; and

sharing, by the server, revenue associated with the billing record with the provider of the application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising downloading the data to the mobile device.

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

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a message to an address associated with the mobile device, the message describing the data used by the application.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a voice message describing the data used by the application.

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

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a text message describing the data used by the application.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving usage information describing data used by an application at a mobile device;

receiving an identifier of the mobile device receiving the data;

storing an association between the usage information, the identifier of the mobile device, and a provider of the application;

generating a billing record for the usage information; and

sharing revenue associated with the billing record with the provider of the application.

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

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

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise sending a message to an address associated with the mobile device, the message describing the data used by the application.

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

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

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a text message describing the data used by the application.

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

receiving usage information describing data used by an application at a mobile device;

receiving an identifier of the mobile device receiving the data;

storing an association between the usage information, the identifier of the mobile device, and a provider of the application;

generating a billing record for the usage information; and

sharing revenue associated with the billing record with the provider of the application.

16. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise downloading the data to the mobile device.

17. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise monitoring a time associated with the data used by the application.

18. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise sending a message to an address associated with the mobile device, the message describing the data used by the application.

19. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a voice message describing the data used by the application.

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