Network Tools for Analysis, Design, Testing, and Production of Services

• US 20150163694A1
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Headwater Research LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Original Assignee: Headwater Partners I LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Inventors: Raleigh, Gregory G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,609,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0876 Aspects of the degree of configuration automation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 : Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 : Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5025 : by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 : Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 : Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 : for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 : Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0236 : Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 : for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 : using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 : by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/145 : avoiding end of session, e.g. keep-alive, heartbeats, resumption message or wake-up for inactive or interrupted session
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 : Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 : Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 : including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• 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 15/49 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 : based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 : based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 : Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 : Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8055 : Selecting cheaper transport technology for a given service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 : Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 : Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 : Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 : Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/037 : of the control plane, e.g. signalling traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 : Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 : Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 : based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 : using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/12 : using signalling between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 : Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 : using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 : Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 : Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 : Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 : Management or planning

Abstract

Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a network device collects service usage measurements for a communications device use of a service on a network; and compares the service usage measurements to a device assisted implementation of a service policy to verify the device assisted implementation of the service policy.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method of operating a network system, the method comprising:

transmitting information to a mobile device, the information enabling the mobile device to apply a data plan that provides an Internet wireless access policy having first and second Internet wireless access data traffic constraints respectively specific to each of first and second different categories of mobile device applications; and

determining whether the mobile device is applying the first and second constraints in accordance with the data plan.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first category is specific to a first mobile device software application.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first constraint includes a first data limit for the first category of the mobile device applications, and wherein determining comprises detecting an overage condition relative to the first data limit.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the first constraint includes a first data limit for the first category of the mobile device applications and the second constraint includes a second data limit for the second category of the mobile device applications, and wherein determining comprises receiving a communication from an access monitoring element of the mobile device that monitors Internet wireless access by the mobile device first and second categories of mobile device applications, respectively, against the first data limit and the second data limit.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the communication includes a notification of an overage condition relative to the first data limit or the second data limit.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises receiving from the mobile device information indicating operation within the first and second constraints.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting the information includes transmitting information defining a notifications policy for notifying a mobile device user regarding the first and second constraints.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the mobile device is applying the first and second constraints in accordance with the data plan includes receiving from the mobile device a first measure of Internet wireless access data traffic of the mobile device, receiving from a source independent of the mobile device a second measure of Internet wireless access data traffic of the mobile device, and determining whether the first measure is consistent with the second measure.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the mobile device is applying the first and second constraints in accordance with the data plan includes receiving from the mobile device a measure of Internet wireless access data traffic of the mobile device, and determining whether the measure is consistent with at least one of the constraints.

11. A network system, comprising:

means for transmitting information to a mobile device, the information enabling the mobile device to apply a data plan that provides an Internet wireless access policy having first and second Internet wireless access data traffic constraints respectively specific to each of first and second different categories of mobile device applications; and

means for determining whether the mobile device is applying the first and second constraints in accordance with the data plan.

12. A network system, comprising:

logic to transmit information to a mobile device, the information enabling the mobile device to apply a data plan that provides an Internet wireless access policy having first and second Internet wireless access data traffic constraints respectively specific to each of first and second different categories of mobile device applications; and

logic to determine whether the mobile device is applying the first and second constraints in accordance with the data plan.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first category is specific to a first mobile device software application.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the first constraint includes a first data limit for the first category of the mobile device applications and the second constraint includes a second data limit for the second category of the mobile device applications, and wherein the logic to determine whether the mobile device is applying the first and second constraints in accordance with the data plan comprises logic to detect an overage condition relative to at least one of the first data limit or the second data limit.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first constraint includes a first data limit for the first category of the mobile device applications and the second constraint includes a second data limit for the second category of the mobile device applications, and wherein the logic to determine whether the mobile device is applying the first and second constraints in accordance with the data plan comprises logic to receive a communication from an access monitoring element of the mobile device that monitors Internet wireless access by the mobile device first and second categories of mobile device applications, respectively, against the first data limit and the second data limit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the communication includes a notification of an overage condition relative to the first data limit or the second data limit.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the system further comprises logic to receive information from the mobile device information indicating operation within the first and second constraints.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the system further comprises logic to transmit information to the mobile device defining a notifications policy for notifying a mobile device user regarding the first and second constraints.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the logic to determine whether the mobile device is applying the first and second constraints in accordance with the data plan comprises logic to receive from the mobile device a first measure of Internet wireless access data traffic of the mobile device, logic to receive from a source independent of the mobile device a second measure of Internet wireless access data traffic of the mobile device, and logic to determine whether the first measure is consistent with the second measure.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the logic to determine whether the mobile device is applying the first and second constraints in accordance with the data plan comprises logic to receive from the mobile device a measure of Internet wireless access data traffic of the mobile device, and logic to determine whether the measure is consistent with at least one of the constraints.