Message broadcasting billing system and method

• US 7,917,413 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2006
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Envision IT LLC
• Original Assignee: Envision IT LLC
• Inventors: Wood, Mark Andrew, Preston, Kevin Russell, Weiser, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F. Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROJAS, HAJIME S
• Application Number:
  US11/602,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20070117538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,590 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• 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 12/1432 Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

A system and method for billing for network usage for broadcast transmission to broadcast message receiving devices located within a broadcast target area includes validating the broadcast message record for transmission over a broadcast transmission network and generating a validated broadcast message record as a function of the validating. The method also includes determining a density of broadcast receiving devices associated with the broadcast transmission network in the broadcast target area, calculating an area for message broadcast transmission within the broadcast target area served by the broadcast transmission network, and determining a length of the broadcast message contained within the validated broadcast message record. The method further includes calculating an incurred broadcast message billing amount for the broadcast message as a function of the determined broadcast message length, the calculated broadcast area, the determined density, the broadcast message originator identifier, and a broadcast transmission network billing rate parameter.

Claims

1. A method of billing for transmitting a broadcast message to broadcast message receiving devices located within a broadcast target area by a broadcast transmission network using wireless cell broadcast channel technology, the method comprising:

in computer executable instructions of a broadcast billing module associated with the broadcast transmission network adapted to provide a cell broadcast transmission of the broadcast message within a broadcast record to broadcast receiving devices located within the broadcast target area,

receiving a validated broadcast message record after authorizing forwarding of a broadcast message to the broadcast transmission network over a wireless cell broadcast channel, the validated broadcast message record including the broadcast message, the broadcast target area, and a broadcast message originator identifier;

determining a density of broadcast receiving devices associated with the broadcast transmission network in the broadcast target area;

calculating an area served for wireless cell broadcast transmission within the broadcast target area by the broadcast transmission network;

determining a length of the broadcast message contained within the validated broadcast message record; and

generating an incurred broadcast message billing amount for the forwarded broadcast message as a function of

the determined broadcast message length,

the determined density,

the calculated broadcast area served,

the broadcast message originator identifier, and

a broadcast message billing rate parameter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the validated broadcast message record includes a request repetition rate for the broadcast message, further comprising in computer executable instructions determining a number of transmissions of the broadcast message by the broadcast transmitting network over the cell broadcast channel as a function of the requested repetition rate, wherein generating includes generating the incurred broadcast message billing amount as a function of the determined number of transmissions.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the requested repetition rate is about 15 repetitions and a repetition rate is one broadcast message every minute for 15 minutes.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in computer executable instructions of a broadcast message server coupled to the broadcast message billing module

validating the broadcast message record for transmission by the broadcast transmission network, said validating creating the validated broadcast message record prior to the receiving of said validated broadcast message record by the broadcast billing module;

generating the validated broadcast message record as received by the broadcast billing module; and

authorizing the forwarding the validated broadcast message record to a distributor for distribution to the broadcast transmission network.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein validating the broadcast message record for transmission over the broadcast transmission network is a function of one or more of the broadcast message originator identifier, the broadcast target area, and a broadcast transmission network parameter.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the broadcast message billing rate parameter includes a broadcast message shot, the broadcast message shot being a function of a base density and a base length.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the broadcast message shot is defined as a function of about 15 broadcast message pages of message text transmitted to an area served having approximately 10,000 broadcast message subscribers, wherein a broadcast message page is about equal to 80 bytes of data.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising in computer executable instructions defining the broadcast message shot utilizing a base density for the broadcast target area and a base length for the broadcast message.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising in computer executable instructions determining a base number of transmissions by the broadcast transmission network, wherein defining the broadcast message shot includes defining as a function of the base number of transmissions.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein determining the base density includes determining a base subscriber count for at least one of the broadcast transmission network and a particular broadcast transmission network serving area.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the incurred broadcast message billing amount is a function of a broadcast transmission network parameter associated with the broadcast transmission network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast message billing module includes a billing data interface for coupling to a remote computer system, further comprising in computer executable instructions issuing a billing invoice over the billing data interface to a broadcast message system by the broadcast transmission network in response to transmitting the broadcast message to broadcast message receiving devices located within the broadcast target area served by the broadcast transmission network.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein the broadcast message billing module includes a billing data interface for coupling to a remote computer system, in computer executable instructions issuing a billing invoice over the billing data interface to a broadcast message originator by the broadcast message system in response to validating, routing, and forwarding the broadcast message as provided by the broadcast message originator for transmission to broadcast message receiving devices located in the broadcast target area.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein the broadcast message billing module includes a billing data interface for coupling to a remote computer system, in computer executable instructions issuing a billing invoice over the billing data interface to a first broadcast message system by a second broadcast message system in response to validating, routing and forwarding the broadcast message as provided by the first broadcast message system for transmission to broadcast message receiving devices located in a broadcast target area served by the second broadcast message system.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein the broadcast message billing module includes a billing data interface for coupling to a remote computer system, in computer executable instructions issuing a billing invoice over the billing data interface to a broadcast message monitoring system by a broadcast message system in response to the broadcast message system providing a copy of the validated broadcast message record to the broadcast message monitoring system.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the broadcast message monitoring system provides the broadcast message to a broadcast message receiving device located in an area different from the broadcast target area within the validated broadcast message record and wherein the issued billing invoice is a function of the provided broadcast message.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising

wherein the broadcast message billing module includes a billing data interface for coupling to a remote computer system, in computer executable instructions issuing a billing invoice over the billing data interface including the incurred broadcast message billing amount and a fixed fee for a billing period.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising

in computer executable instructions appending the incurred broadcast message billing amount to the validated broadcast message record.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising

in computer executable instructions setting a reporting flag associated with validated broadcast message record following the appending of the incurred broadcast message billing amount.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising

in computer executable instructions storing in a memory of the broadcast message billing module the incurred broadcast message billing amount in a broadcast message originator file and in a broadcast transmission network file.

21. A system for billing a broadcast message system for network usage for broadcast message transmission, the system comprising:

a broadcast message billing module including a processor and memory and having computer executable instructions configured for receiving a validated broadcast message record after authorizing forwarding of a broadcast message contained within the validated broadcast message record to a broadcast transmission network over a wireless cell broadcast data channel, the broadcast message billing module associated with the broadcast transmission network adapted to provide a wireless cell broadcast transmission of the broadcast message within the validated broadcast message record to broadcast receiving devices located within a broadcast target area,

the broadcast message billing module having computer executable instructions configured for

determining a density of broadcast receiving devices located within the broadcast target area served by the broadcast transmission network,

calculating an area served for cell broadcast transmission by the broadcast transmission network within the broadcast target area,

determining a length of the broadcast message contained within the validated broadcast message record; and

generating an incurred broadcast message billing amount as a function of one or more of

the determined broadcast message length,

the determined density,

the calculated broadcast area served,

a broadcast message originator identifier, and

a broadcast transmission network billing rate parameter.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the broadcast message system includes

a broadcast request interface configured for receiving a broadcast message record having a broadcast message, a defined broadcast target area, and a broadcast message originator identifier,

a broadcast admission control module having computer executable instructions configured for

receiving the broadcast message record,

validating the broadcast message record for transmission over a broadcast message transmission network, and

generating a validated broadcast message record as a function of the validating, and

a broadcast message distributor module configured for receiving the validated broadcast message record and forwarding the broadcast message to the broadcast transmission network.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein validating the broadcast message record for transmission over the broadcast transmission network is a function of one or more of the broadcast message originator identifier, the broadcast target area, and a broadcast transmission network parameter.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the broadcast message billing module includes computer executable instructions configured for

appending the incurred broadcast message billing amount to the validated broadcast message record.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the broadcast message billing module includes computer executable instructions configured for

storing in the memory of the broadcast message billing module the incurred broadcast message billing amount in a broadcast message originator file and in a broadcast transmission network file.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the validated broadcast message record includes a request repetition rate for the broadcast message and wherein the broadcast message billing module includes computer executable instructions determining a number of transmissions of the broadcast message by the broadcast transmitting network over the cell broadcast channel as a function of the requested repetition rate, wherein generating includes generating the incurred broadcast message billing amount as a function of the determined number of transmissions.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the requested repetition rate is about 15 repetitions and a repetition rate is one broadcast message every minute for 15 minutes.

28. The system of claim 21 wherein the broadcast transmission network billing rate parameter includes a broadcast message shot, the broadcast message shot being a function of a base density and a base length.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising computer executable instructions for defining the broadcast message shot utilizing the base density for the broadcast target area and the base length for the broadcast message.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising computer executable instructions determining a base number of transmissions by the broadcast transmission network, wherein defining the broadcast message shot includes defining as a function of the base number of transmissions.

31. The system of claim 29, further comprising determining the base density including determining a base subscriber count for at least one of the broadcast transmission network and a particular broadcast transmission network serving area.

32. The system of claim 28 wherein the broadcast message shot is defined as a function of about 15 broadcast message pages of message text transmitted to an area served having approximately 10,000 broadcast message subscribers, wherein a broadcast message page is about equal to 80 bytes of data.

33. The system of claim 21 wherein generating the incurred broadcast message billing amount is a function of a broadcast transmission network parameter associated with the broadcast transmission network.

34. The system of claim 21 wherein the broadcast message billing module includes a billing data interface for coupling to a remote computer system, further comprising in computer executable instructions issuing a billing invoice over the billing data interface by the broadcast transmission network in response to transmitting the broadcast message to broadcast message receiving devices located within the broadcast target area served by the broadcast transmission network.

35. The system of claim 21, further comprising the broadcast message billing module including a billing data interface for coupling to a remote computer system and computer executable instructions for issuing a billing invoice over the billing data interface to a broadcast message originator by the broadcast message system in response to validating, routing, and forwarding the broadcast message as provided by the broadcast message originator for transmission to the broadcast message receiving devices located in the broadcast target area.

36. The system of claim 21, further comprising the broadcast message billing module including a billing data interface for coupling to a remote computer system and computer executable instructions for issuing a billing invoice over the billing data interface to a first broadcast message system by a second broadcast message system in response to validating, routing and forwarding the broadcast message as provided by the first broadcast message system for transmission to broadcast message receiving devices located in a broadcast target area served by the second broadcast message system.

37. The system of claim 21, further comprising the broadcast message billing module having a billing data interface for coupling to a remote computer system and computer executable instructions for issuing a billing invoice over the billing data interface to a broadcast message monitoring system by the broadcast message system in response to the broadcast message system providing a copy of the validated broadcast message record to the broadcast message monitoring system.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the broadcast message monitoring system provides the broadcast message to a broadcast message receiving device located in an area different from the broadcast target area within the validated broadcast message record and wherein the issued billing invoice is a function of the provided broadcast message.

39. The system of claim 21, further comprising the broadcast message billing module having a billing data interface for coupling to a remote computer system and computer executable instructions for issuing a billing invoice over the billing data interface including the incurred broadcast message billing amount and a fixed fee for a billing period.

40. The system of claim 24, further comprising

the broadcast billing module having computer executable instructions for setting a reporting flag associated with validated broadcast message record following the appending of the incurred broadcast message billing amount.