System and method for managing end user approval for charging in a network environment

• US 8,005,954 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2004
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Menditto, Louis F., White, John G., Batz, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin; Kenny S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nooristany; Sulaiman
• Application Number:
  US10/928,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20060047814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,552 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/226, 705/40, 705/39, 705/26
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

An apparatus for managing information in a network environment is provided that includes a content service gateway operable to communicate with an end user in order to facilitate a communication session. The communication session relates to a request by the end user for content or for a service. A quota server coupled to the content service gateway is operable to receive a service authorization request from the content service gateway relating to the communication session. The service authorization request operates to authorize access to the service or to the content for the end user.

Claims

1. An apparatus for managing information in a network environment, comprising:

a content service gateway coupled to a hardware storage memory, operable to;

send one or more service verification requests corresponding to one or more end user requests by an end user for content or for a service in a communication session, the service verification requests sent to a quota server to request a service verification during which the quota server determines that the end user has agreed to pay for a quota of the service or the content;

inform the quota server of an identity of the end user and the service or the content that is to be billed to the end user via a service authorization;

receive a service verification response from the quota server, the service verification response indicating the quota and comprising an instruction to stop sending a subsequent service verification request to the quota server;

turn off the service verification in response to the instruction of the service verification response to stop sending a subsequent service verification request to the quota server for service or content in the communication session;

receive a second end user request for additional service or content;

determine that the quota cover the additional service or content; and

allow the end user to access the additional service or content according to the second user request without sending a subsequent request to the quota server for service or content in the communication session.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the content service gateway operable to:

inform the quota server of an identity of the end user and the service or the content that is to be billed to the end user via a service authorization.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the content service gateway operable to:

receive a service authorization response that indicates a level of quota associated with the end user, the quota not released until the end user agrees to pay for the quota.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, a service verification request to the quota server including an identity of the end user and the service or the content that was requested.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the content service gateway operable to:

communicate a redirect message to the end user, the redirect message generated in response to determining that the end user has not previously agreed to pay for the content or for the service.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the content service gateway further operable to:

send a redirect message that specifies a location that is sought to be accessed by the end user and an address of a notification server.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the content service gateway operable to:

receive an additional redirect message comprising;

the content or the service that was requested by the end user, and

a token indicating that the end user has agreed to proposed billing associated with the content or the service.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, the quota server operable to:

recognize that the end user has agreed to pay for the content or the service, and

send a response that includes the quota, which allows the communication session to be facilitated.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, the content service gateway operable to:

receive a forward action from the quota server, the forward action resulting in the end user being permitted to access the content or the service.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the content service gateway is operable to remove a token from an end user request, the token indicating that the end user has agreed to billing associated with the content or the service.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, the content service gateway operable to:

allow the end user to access selected information in one or more subsequent requests after having been authorized for the content or the service.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, the content service gateway operable to:

communicate with a billing system element in order to manage distribution of the quota provided to the end user.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein access to the service or to the content is granted for the end user on a per-service basis such that the end user is not queried for subsequent authorizations for the communication session.

14. A method for managing information in a network environment, comprising:

sending, by a content service gateway, send one or more service verification requests corresponding to one or more end user requests by an end user for content or for a service in a communication session, the service verification requests sent to a quota server to request a service verification during which the quota server determines that the end user has agreed to pay for a quota of the service or the content;

informing the quota server of an identity of the end user and the service or the content that is to be billed to the end user via a service authorization;

receiving a service verification response from the quota server, the service verification response indicating the quota and comprising an instruction to stop sending a subsequent service verification request;

turning off the service verification in response to the instruction of the service verification response to stop sending a subsequent service verification request to the quota server for service or content in the communication session;

receiving, at the content service gateway, a second end user request for additional service or content;

determining that the quota covers the additional service or content; and

allowing the end user to access the additional service or content according to the second end user request without sending a subsequent request to the quota server for service or content in the communication session.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a service authorization response that indicates a level of quota associated with the end user, the quota not released until the end user agrees to pay for the quota.

16. The method of claim 14, a service verification request to the quota server including an identity of the end user and the service or the content that was requested.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

communicating a redirect message to the end user, the redirect message generated in response to determining that the end user has not previously agreed to pay for the content or for the service.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

sending a redirect message that specifies a location that is sought to be accessed by the end user and an address of a notification server.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving an additional redirect message comprising;

the content or the service that was requested by the end user, and

a token indicating that the end user has agreed to proposed billing associated with the content or the service.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein access to the service or to the content is granted for the end user on a per-service basis such that the end user is not queried for subsequent authorizations for the communication session.

21. A system for managing information in a network environment, comprising:

means for sending, by a content service gateway, one or more service verification requests corresponding to one or more end user requests by an end user for content or for a service in a communication session, the service verification requests sent to a quota server to request a service verification during which the quota server determines that the end user has agreed to pay for a quota of the service or the content;

means for informing the quota server of an identity of the end user and the service or the content that is to be billed to the end user via a service authorization;

means for receiving a service verification response from the quota server, the service verification response indicating the quota and comprising an instruction to stop sending a subsequent service verification request to the quota server;

means for turning off the service verification in response to the instruction of the service verification response to stop sending a subsequent service verification request to the quota server for service or content in the communication session;

means for receiving, at the content service gateway, a second end user request for additional service or content;

means for determining that the quota covers the additional service or content; and

means for allowing the end user to access the additional service or content according to the second end user request without sending a subsequent request to the quota server for service or content in the communication session.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a service authorization response that indicates a level of quota associated with the end user, the quota not released until the end user agrees to pay for the quota.

23. The system of claim 21, a service verification request to the quota server including an identity of the end user and the service or the content that was requested.

24. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for communicating a redirect message to the end user, the redirect message generated in response to determining that the end user has not previously agreed to pay for the content or for the service.

25. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for sending a redirect message that specifies a location that is sought to be accessed by the end user and an address of a notification server.

26. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for receiving an additional redirect message comprising;

the content or the service that was requested by the end user, and

a token indicating that the end user has agreed to proposed billing associated with the content or the service.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein access to the service or to the content is granted for the end user on a per-service basis such that the end user is not queried for subsequent authorizations for the communication session.

28. Software for managing information in a network environment, the software being embodies in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer code such that when executed is operable to:

send, by a content service gateway, one or more service verification service authorization requests corresponding to one or more end user requests by an end user for content or for a service in a communication session, the service verification requests sent to a quota server to request a service verification during which the quota server determines that the end user has agreed to pay for a quota of the service or the content;

inform the quota server of an identity of the end user and the service or the content that is to be billed to the end user via a service authorization;

receive a service verification response from the quota server, the service verification response indicating, the quota and comprising an instruction to stop sending a subsequent service verification request to the quota server;

turn off the service verification in response to the instruction of the service verification response to stop sending a subsequent service verification request to the quota server for service or content in the communication session;

receive at the content service gateway, a second end user request for additional service or content;

determine that the quota covers the additional service or content; and

allow the end user to access the additional service or content according to the second end user request without sending a subsequent request to the quota server for service or content in the communication session.

29. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the code is further operable to:

receive a service authorization response that indicates a level of quota associated with the end user, the quota not released until the end user agrees to pay for the quota.

30. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 28, a service verification request to the quota server including an identity of the end user and the service or the content that was requested.

31. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the code is further operable to:

communicate a redirect message to the end user, the redirect message generated in response to determining that the end user has not previously agreed to pay for the content or for the service.

32. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the code is further operable to:

send a redirect message that specifies a location that is sought to be accessed by the end user and an address of a notification server.

33. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the code is further operable to:

receive an additional redirect message comprising;

the content or the service that was requested by the end user, and

a token indicating that the end user has agreed to proposed billing associated with the content or the service.

34. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein access to the service or to the content is granted for the end user on a per-service basis such that the end user is not queried for subsequent authorizations for the communication session.