Method and system for data rating for wireless devices

• US 6,725,031 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2001
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telemac Corporation
• Original Assignee: Telemac Corporation
• Inventors: Watler, Theodore W., Spivak, Kenin, Pye, S. Robert, Hanley, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Lana
• Application Number:
  US10/013,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20020177429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 455/406, 455/408, 455/422, 455/575, 455/414, 455/422.1, 379/114, 705/53
• US Class Current: 455/405
• 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 12/1432 Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1439 time-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1467 involving prepayment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• 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 15/28 with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/30 the meter or calculation of charges not being controlled from an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/82 Criteria or parameters used for performing billing operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8228 Session based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/85 characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/851 : Determined tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/853 : Calculate maximum communication time or volume
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 : Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 : Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0112 : Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• 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 2215/0184 : involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 : Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 : VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 : Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2046 : Hybrid network
• 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 2215/7414 : QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/78 : Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7833 : Session based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/815 : Notification when a specific condition, service or event is met
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8162 : Calculate maximum communication time or volume
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 : Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 : Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 : Backbone network devices

Abstract

A method and system for rating a data communication session between a network and a wireless device is disclosed. According to an exemplary aspect of the method, the method monitors a series of events, namely, a setup event, a begin event and an end event, which take place during a communication session. The monitoring of such events is accomplished by a data rating application which resides on the wireless device. By monitoring such events, the data rating application is then able to rate the communication session using a number of rating methods. The rating method selected includes both how to meter the data transmitted during a data communication session and determine the rate to be applied to each metered increment. Examples of methods used to meter the data include time and volume. Different rating methods which can be used to rate the communication session include, for example, application, data utilization, source of data, data type, class of service, quality of service and transmission efficiency.

Claims

1. A system for determining a charge in connection with a data communication session, comprising:

a router disposed between a network and a wireless device; and

a data rating application configured to use a metering method to meter the data communication session and a rating method to determine a corresponding rate to be used in conjunction with the metering method, wherein the data rating application is used to determine the charge in connection with the data communication session wherein the data rating application resides in the router.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the wireless device is a mobile phone, a computer, a television, an appliance or a telephone.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the metering method is selected from a plurality of metering methods.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein the plurality of metering methods include a metering by connection method;

and

wherein the metering by connection method determines the charge in connection with the data communication session based on a connection for the data communication session being established.

5. The system according to claim 3 wherein the plurality of metering methods include a metering by time method;

and

wherein the metering by time method determines the charge in connection with the data communication session based on duration of the data communication session.

6. The system according to claim 3 wherein the plurality of metering methods include a metering by volume method;

and

wherein the metering by volume method determines the charge in connection with the data communication session based on volume of data transmitted and/or received by the wireless device during the data communication session.

7. The system according to claim 6 wherein the metering by volume method further includes metering on a per kilobyte basis, metering on a per packet basis or metering on a predetermined denomination basis.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the rating method is selected from a plurality of rating methods.

9. The system according to claim 8 wherein the data rating application is configured to select one of the plurality of rating methods based on source of data received by the wireless device during the data communication session.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein the data rating application is configured to select one of the plurality of rating methods based on type of data received by the wireless device during the data communication session.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein the rating method selected is determined by the value of a data field in the data received.

12. The system according to claim 8 wherein the data rating application is configured to select one of the plurality of rating methods based on service level selected for the data communication session.

13. The system according to claim 12 wherein the service level selected relates to speed and/or accuracy of data transmission during the data communication session.

14. The system according to claim 12 wherein the service level is selected by a user during a subscription process or via a user interface.

15. The system according to claim 1 wherein the data rating application is configured to cooperate with an accounting application to update an account relating to the wireless device.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein the accounting application resides in the wireless device.

17. The system according to claim 15 wherein the accounting application resides at a location external to the wireless device.

18. The system according to claim 1 wherein the data rating application is configured to select the rating method and the metering method upon detecting a set-up event which takes place during the course of setting up the data communication session;

and

wherein the set-up event is originated by either the network or the wireless device to indicate that the data communication session is to begin.

19. The system according to claim 1 wherein the data rating application is configured to begin determining the charge in connection with the data communication session using the metering method and the rating method upon detecting a begin event which takes place during the course of the data communication session;

and

wherein the begin event is originated by either the network or the wireless device to indicate that the data communication session has begun.

20. The system according to claim 1 wherein the data rating application is configured to end determining the charge in connection with the data communication session using the metering method and the rating method upon detecting an end event which takes place during the course of the data communication session;

and

wherein the end event is originated by either the network or the wireless device to indicate that the data communication session has ended.

21. The system according to claim 8 wherein the wireless device includes a plurality of additional applications residing therein;

and

wherein the data rating application is configured to select one of the plurality of rating methods based on which one of the plurality of additional applications residing in the wireless device will be using data received by the wireless device during the data communication session.

22. The system according to claim 1 wherein the data rating application is configured to use the rating method based on usage of data received during the data communication session.

23. The system according to claim 22 wherein the data received during the data communication session is a downloaded application;

and

wherein the charge is determined based on occurrence or duration of usage of the downloaded application.

24. A system for determining a charge in connection with a data communication session, comprising:

a router disposed between a network and a wireless device; and

a data rating application configured to select a metering method from a plurality of metering methods to meter the data communication session and a rating method from a plurality of rating methods to determine a corresponding rate to be used in conjunction with the selected metering method to determine the charge in connection with the data communication session;

wherein the data rating application resides in the router.

25. The system according to claim 24 wherein the wireless device is a mobile phone, a computer, a television an appliance or a telephone.

26. The system according to claim 24 wherein the data rating application is configured to cooperate with an accounting application to update an account relating to the wireless device.

27. The system according to claim 26 wherein the accounting application resides in the wireless device.

28. The system according to claim 26 wherein the accounting application resides at a location external to the wireless device.

29. The system according to claim 24 wherein the data rating application is configured to select the rating method and the metering method upon detecting a set-up event which takes place during the course of setting up the data communication session;

and

wherein the set-up event is originated by either the network or the wireless device to indicate that the data communication session is to begin.

30. The system according to claim 24 wherein the data rating application is configured to begin determining the charge in connection with the data communication session using the selected metering method and the selected rating method upon detecting a begin event which takes place during the course of the data communication session;

and

wherein the begin event is originated by either the network or the wireless device to indicate that the data communication session has begun.

31. The system according to claim 24 wherein the data rating application is configured to end determining the charge in connection with the data communication session using the selected metering method and the selected rating method upon detecting an end event which takes place during the course of the data communication session;

and

wherein the end event is originated by either the network or the wireless device to indicate that the data communication session has ended.

32. The system according to claim 24 wherein the wireless device includes a plurality of additional applications residing therein;

and

wherein the data rating application is configured to select the rating method from the plurality of rating methods based on which one of the plurality of additional applications residing in the wireless device will be using data received by the wireless device during the data communication session.

33. The system according to claim 24 wherein the data rating application is configured to use the selected rating method based on usage of data received during the data communication session.

34. The system according to claim 33 wherein the data received during the data communication session is a downloaded application;

and

wherein the charge is determined based on occurrence or duration of usage of the downloaded application.

35. The system according to claim 24 wherein the data rating application is configured to select the rating method from the plurality of rating methods based on source of data received by the wireless device during the data communication session.

36. The system according to claim 24 wherein the data rating application is configured to select one of the plurality of rating methods based on type of data received by the wireless device during the data communication session.

37. The system according to claim 36 wherein the rating method selected is determined by the value of a data field in the data received.

38. The system according to claim 24 wherein the data rating application is configured to select the rating method from the plurality of rating methods based on service level selected for the data communication session.

39. The system according to claim 38 wherein the service level selected relates to speed and/or accuracy of data transmission during the data communication session.

40. The system according to claim 38 wherein the service level is selected by a user during a subscription process or via a user interface.

41. The system according to claim 24 wherein the plurality of metering methods include a metering by connection method;

and

wherein the metering by connection method determines the charge in connection with the data communication session based on a connection for the data communication session being established.

42. The system according to claim 24 wherein the plurality of metering methods include a metering by time method;

and

wherein the metering by time method determines the charge in connection with the data communication session based on duration of the data communication session.

43. The system according to claim 24 wherein the plurality of metering methods include a metering by volume method;

and

wherein the metering by volume method determines the charge in connection with the data communication session based on volume of data transmitted and/or received by the wireless device during the data communication session.

44. The system according to claim 43 wherein the metering by volume method further includes metering on a per kilobyte basis, metering on a per packet basis or metering on a predetermined denomination basis.