Feature management of a communication device

• US 8,634,803 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kajeet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kajeet, Inc.
• Inventors: Neal, Daniel John, Politi, Carol Ann, Weintraub, Ben Julian, Baker, Matthew Donald, Geller, Steven Ira, Kesser, Douglas Owen
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer, Temica M
• Application Number:
  US13/787,004
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 455405-408, 455/410, 455/411, 705/52, 705/53
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 based on the service used
• 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 17/10 Account details or usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/35 Pay as you go
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system and method for the real-time management of a device, and more particularly to the establishment and enforcement of policies or rules associated with the feature or functions that may be performed with the device, such as making and receiving calls, exchanging data, playing games and music, sending and receiving email, accessing web sites, and paying for goods and services. If a child or employee is using the device, there may be a need to regulate how that device can be used and to determine who will pay for what goods or services. In addition to providing all of the features associated with a device, service providers need to be able to establish and enforce rules (policies) regulating how and when that device can be used and who will pay for a good or service requested by the user of the device.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising a memory bearing instructions that, when executed on the computing device, cause the computing device to at least:

access a restriction by the computing device, the restriction being derived from a plan that is managed at a server and that is associated with units of value, the restriction being associated with a number of the units of value that can be used to execute a function on the computing device;

determine whether executing the function on the computing device to interact with a remote computing device violates the restriction;

send a request to the server in response to determining that executing the function on the computing device violates the restriction, the request indicative of an identification of the remote computing device;

receive from the server a decision to allow execution of the function on the computing device, the decision being based on the identification of the remote computing device;

execute the function based on the decision; and

send information to the server usable to deduct units of value from remaining units of value in the plan based on the execution of the function.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a mobile phone, and wherein the server is associated with a service provider of the plan.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the restriction is loaded based on an identification of a user associated with the computing device or an identification of the computing device.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the function comprises one or more of voice calling, messaging, data surfing, gaming, content accessing, goods purchasing, and service purchasing.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the units of value represent credits usable to pay for a service or an application.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the restriction limits the execution of the function based on a charge associated with the execution and based on the number of the units of value.

7. The computing device of claim 6, wherein the execution of the function violates the restriction when the charge associated with the execution of the function exceeds the number of the units of value.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the decision is further based on a list of one or more contacts stored at the server, wherein the list of one or more contacts is associated with one or more remote computing devices, and wherein the decision permits the execution of the function when the identification matches a contact from the list of one or more contacts or a remote computing device from the one or more remote computing devices associated with the list.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to at least:

associate the computing device with an account managed at a server, the account being associated with units of value and with a plurality of computing devices, the account allocating a set of the units of value to a function of the computing device, the allocation being based on input associated with an administrator;

access, by the computing device, a list of allowed contacts and blocked contacts, the allowed contacts being associated with remote computing devices that the computing device is allowed to interact with independently of the allocation, the blocked contacts being associated with remote computing devices that the computing device is disallowed to interact with, the list being managed by the administrator;

initiate an execution of the function on the computing device to interact with a remote computing device;

determine whether the remote computing device is associated with an allowed contact or a blocked contact;

allow or disallow the execution of the function on the computing device based on the determination; and

when the determination indicates that the remote computing device is unassociated with the list, receive from the server a decision to allow or disallow the function based on the allocated set of units of value.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the list of allowed and blocked contacts is defined by the administrator.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the execution of the function is disallowed when the determination is indicative that the remote computing device is associated with the blocked contact.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the execution of the function is allowed when it is determined that the remote computing device is associated with the allowed contact.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein units of value associated with the execution of the function are deducted from units of value associated with the account and unallocated to the function.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein units of value associated with the execution of the function are deducted from the allocated set of units of value when the allocated set of units of value comprises sufficient units of value to pay for the execution of the function and from units of value associated with the account and unallocated to the function when the allocated set of units of value lacks the sufficient units of value.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein when the determination indicates that the remote computing device is unassociated with the list, the decision allows the execution of the function when the allocated set of units of value comprises sufficient units of value to pay for the execution of the function, and the decision disallows the execution of the function when the allocated set of units of value lacks the sufficient units of value to pay for the execution of the function.

16. A method for managing a computing device, the method comprising:

accessing a restriction by the computing device, the restriction being derived from a plan that is managed at a server and that is associated with units of value, the restriction comprising a limit on a number of the units of value that can be used to execute a function of the computing device;

receiving a decision from the server allowing execution of the function, the decision being based on a first rule and a second rule, the first rule specifying whether the function is allowed to be executed agnostically of the units of value, the second rule specifying whether the function is allowed to be executed based on the plan and specifying whether units of value associated with executing the function are decremented from the number of the units of value associated with the restriction or from units of value associated with the plan and unassociated with the restriction;

executing the function based on the decision; and

decrementing units of value from the number of the units of value associated with the restriction or from units of value associated with the plan and unassociated with the restriction when the decision applies the second rule, the units of value being decremented based on the second rule.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the restriction is based on input from the administrator, wherein the plan is provided by a service provider associated with the server, wherein the first rule is defined by the service provider, and wherein the second rule is defined by the administrator.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first rule allows an execution of the function when the execution causes the computing device to interact with a computing device associated with a list of one or more contacts, wherein the list is defined by the service provider.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the second rule allows an execution of the function when the plan is associated with sufficient units of value to pay for the execution of the function.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the second rule allows an execution of the function when the number of the units of value associated with the restriction is sufficient to pay for the execution of the function.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the second rule allows an execution of the function when the number of the units of value associated with the restriction lacks sufficient units of value to pay for the execution of the function and when the units of value associated with the plan and unassociated with the restriction are sufficient to pay for the execution of the function.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the second rule allows an execution of the function when the number of the units of value associated with the restriction is insufficient to pay for the execution of the function, when the units of value associated with the plan and unassociated with the restriction are sufficient to pay for the execution of the function, and when the execution of the function causes the computing device to interact with a computing device associated with a list of one or more contacts, wherein the list is defined by the administrator.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the units of value are decremented from the number of the units of value associated with the restriction when the number of the units of value associated with the restriction comprises sufficient units of value to pay for the execution of the function.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the units of value are decremented from the units of value associated with the plan and unassociated with the restriction when the number of the units of value associated with the restriction lacks sufficient units of value to pay for the execution of the function.

25. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to at least:

associate the computing device with a restriction managed at a server, the restriction being associated with a number of units of value, the units of value being associated with a plan shared between a plurality of devices, the number of units of value being set by an administrator of the plan;

access, by the computing device, a first rule and a second rule, the first rule defining whether a function is allowed to be executed on the computing device agnostically of the units of value, the second rule determining whether the function is allowed to be executed on the computing device based on the units of value and defining whether units of value associated with executing the function are decremented from the units of value associated with the restriction or from units of value associated with the plan and unassociated with the restriction;

execute the function on the computing device based on whether the first rule or the second rule applies; and

send information to the server usable to decrement the units of value associated with the restriction or from units of value associated with the plan and unassociated with the restriction when the second rule applies.

26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the plurality of devices are associated with a restriction associated with a number of units of value.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the function is executed on the computing device based on the first rule when the execution of the function causes the computing device to interact with a remote device associated with a contact from a list of one or more contacts.

28. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the function is executed on the computing device based on the second rule when the execution of the function causes the computing device to interact with a remote device unassociated with a contact from the list of one or more contacts.

29. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the units of value are decremented from the units of value associated with the restriction when the units of value associated with the restriction comprises sufficient units of value to pay for the execution of the function and from the units of value associated with the plan and unassociated with the restriction when the units of value associated with the restriction lacks the sufficient units of value.

30. A method for managing a computing device, the method comprising:

accessing a restriction by the computing device, the restriction being derived from a plan that is managed at a server and that is associated with units of value, the restriction being associated with a number of the units of value that can be used to execute a function on the computing device;

determining whether executing the function on the computing device to interact with a remote computing device violates the restriction;

sending a request to the server in response to determining that executing the function on the computing device violates the restriction, the request including an indication of an identity of the remote computing device;

receiving from the server a decision to execute the function on the computing device, the decision being based on the indication;

executing the function on the computing device based on the decision; and

sending information to the server usable to deduct units of value from units of value remaining in the plan based on the execution of the function.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising rendering an alert that the number of the units of value in the restriction has reached a predefined threshold.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising rendering an alert that the function violates the restriction.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the information sent to the server is further usable to cause the server to send an alert to a computing device associated with an administrator of the plan, wherein the alert notifies the administrator that the function violates the restriction or that the number of the units of value in the restriction has reached a predefined threshold.