Automated device provisioning and activation

• US 8,478,667 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2012
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US13/456,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20120208496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 705/30, 705/34, 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 455/414.1, 455/456.1, 455/461, 455/567, 726/1, 726/5, 709/202, 709/217, 709/223, 709/224, 370/230, 370/252, 370/253, 370/254, 370/351, 370/401, 379/189
• US Class Current: 705/34
• 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

Methods and systems are disclosed for monitoring traffic associated with an end-user device communicatively coupled to a network system over a wireless access network, identifying in the traffic particular data transfers within a service activity category, determining a service usage measure based on the identification of the particular data transfers within the service activity category, and, based at least in part on the service usage measure, generating a notification configured to assist in causing a user interface of the end-user device to present device-specific service usage information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

monitoring traffic associated with an end-user device communicatively coupled to a network system over one or more wireless access networks, the end-user device including at least one modem, a user interface, and at least one software component enabling the end-user device to access at least one data service over the one or more wireless access networks, the traffic comprising one or more data transfers;

identifying, in the traffic, particular data transfers within a service activity category, the service activity category identifying a set of one or more service activities less than all service activities associated with the end-user device, the service activity category identifying a particular end-user device application or a particular network communication end point;

determining a service usage measure based on the identification of the particular data transfers within the service activity category;

based at least in part on the service usage measure, generating a notification configured to assist in causing the user interface of the end-user device to present service usage information; and

obtaining a user input from a user of the end-user device, the user input associated with (1) the presented service usage information, or (2) a control policy applicable to one or more attempted or successful communications within the service activity category.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the end-user device is a first end-user device, and wherein the first end-user device is associated with a device group, and wherein the particular data transfers within the service activity category are first particular data transfers within the service activity category, and further comprising:

monitoring traffic associated with a second end-user device, the second end-user device associated with the device group; and

identifying, in the traffic associated with the second end-user device, second particular data transfers within the service activity category,

and wherein the service usage information comprises a measure of usage of at least one of the one or more wireless access networks associated with the device group.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the end-user device provides a forwarding service to one or more other devices, the forwarding service for forwarding traffic between the one or more other devices and the network system, and wherein the service usage information indicates a measure of usage of at least one of the one or more wireless access networks associated with the forwarding service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the service activity category is associated with an Internet protocol (IP) address, a network tag, uniform resource locator (URL), a domain, a website, a traffic content type, or a transaction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the service usage information comprises the service usage measure, a cost associated with the service usage measure, information associated with a service usage projection, information associated with a service plan limit, information associated with an existing overage, information associated with a projected overage, information associated with a service plan period, information associated with a wireless fidelity (WiFi) network, information associated with a roaming network, information associated with a cellular network, or information associated with a network type.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is based, at least in part, on a user preference, a service plan, a setting of the end-user device, a roaming status of the end-user device, or a type of at least one of the one or more wireless access networks.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the service usage information comprises a service offer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the service activity category identifies a background activity.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the user input comprises a response to the service offer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the user input from the user of the end-user device comprises receiving the user input from the end-user device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the control policy is configured to assist in controlling the one or more attempted or successful communications within the service activity category when the end-user device is connected to a particular wireless access network of the one or more wireless access networks.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the control policy is based at least in part on a measure of usage of at least one of the one or more wireless access networks.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising provisioning one or more network elements based on the user input, wherein at least one of the one or more network elements assists in billing for usage of at least one of the one or more wireless access networks.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the control policy is based, at least in part, on a user preference.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the service usage information comprises information about an overage condition, and wherein the user input comprises an acknowledgment of the overage condition.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying the control policy to the one or more attempted or successful communications within the service activity category.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the control policy is configured to assist in allowing, blocking, shaping, accelerating, or throttling the one or more attempted or successful communications within the service activity category.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a billing record based on the service usage measure.

19. A billing record generated using the method of claim 18.

20. A network system comprising:

means for monitoring traffic associated with an end-user device communicatively coupled to the network system over one or more wireless access networks, the end-user device including at least one modem, a user interface, and at least one software component enabling the end-user device to access at least one data service over the one or more wireless access networks, the traffic comprising one or more data transfers;

means for identifying, in the traffic, particular data transfers within a service activity category, the service activity category identifying a set of one or more service activities less than all service activities associated with the end-user device, the service activity category identifying a particular end-user device application or a particular network communication end point;

means for determining a service usage measure based on the identification of the particular data transfers within the service activity category;

means for providing a notification to the end-user device, the notification based at least in part on the service usage measure, the notification configured to assist in causing the user interface of the end-user device to present service usage information; and

means for obtaining a user input from a user of the end-user device, the user input associated with (1) the presented service usage information, or (2) a control policy applicable to one or more attempted or successful communications within the service activity category.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program code for causing a computer to execute a method comprising:

monitoring traffic associated with an end-user device communicatively coupled to a network system over one or more wireless access networks, the end-user device including at least one modem, a user interface, and at least one software component enabling the end-user device to access at least one data service over the one or more wireless access networks, the traffic comprising one or more data transfers;

identifying, in the traffic, particular data transfers within a service activity category, the service activity category identifying a set of one or more service activities less than all service activities associated with the end-user device, the service activity category identifying a particular end-user device application or a particular network communication end point;

determining a service usage measure based on the identification of the particular data transfers within the service activity category;

based at least in part on the service usage measure, generating a notification configured to assist in causing the user interface of the end-user device to present service usage information; and

obtaining a user input from a user of the end-user device, the user input associated with (1) the presented service usage information, or (2) a control policy applicable to one or more attempted or successful communications within the service activity category.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium recited in claim 21, wherein the user input comprises a directive to allow, shape, restrict, or block the one or more attempted or successful communications within the service activity category.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium recited in claim 21, wherein the method further comprises applying the control policy to the one or more attempted or successful communications within the service activity category.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium recited in claim 21, wherein the control policy is based at least in part on a measure of usage of a particular wireless access network of the one or more wireless access networks.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium recited in claim 21, wherein the control policy is based, at least in part, on a user preference.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium recited in claim 21, wherein the control policy is configured to assist in blocking, shaping, accelerating, or throttling the one or more attempted or successful communications within the service activity category.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium recited in claim 21, wherein the one or more wireless access networks include a particular wireless access network, and wherein the service usage information indicates a measure of usage of the particular wireless access network associated with the service activity category.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium recited in claim 21, wherein the user input is associated with the presented service usage information, and wherein the user input indicates a particular wireless access network of the one or more wireless access networks or a service usage measure notification format.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium recited in claim 21, wherein the service activity category identifies a background activity.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium recited in claim 21, wherein the method further comprises providing at least a portion of the notification or information associated with the notification through the user interface.