Feature management of a communication device

• US 8,774,754 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kajeet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kajeet, Inc.
• Inventors: Kesser, Douglas Owen, Neal, Daniel John, Politi, Carol Ann, Weintraub, Ben Julian, Baker, Matthew Donald, Geller, Steven Ira
• Primary Examiner(s): MEHRA, INDER P
• Application Number:
  US13/786,735
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455405-408, 455410-411, 455/414, 455/417, 455/452.2, 455/414.1, 455/456.4, 379/114.04, 379/114.2, 379/13, 379/114.01, 379/114.02, 379/114.03, 379/114.05, 379/114.06, 379/126, 379/126.01, 379/144.03, 705/34, 705/35, 705/38, 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 system for controlling a first computing device, the system comprising a memory bearing instructions that, when executed on the system, cause the system to at least:

allocate units of value to an allowance associated with a use of a function of the first computing device, the allowance being associated with a plan managed by an administrator and shared with a second computing device, the allocation of the units of value being based on input associated with the administrator;

determine a list of one or more computing devices that the first computing device is allowed to exchange data with independently of the allowance;

determine a rule that determines whether to deduct units of value associated with the use of the function from the units of value allocated to the allowance or from units of value associated with the plan and unallocated to the allowance, the determination being based on whether the use of the function is associated with exchanging data with one or more computing devices from the determined list; and

deduct units of value from the units of value allocated to the allowance or from units of value associated with the plan and unallocated to the allowance based on the rule when the function is executed, wherein units of value are deducted from the units of value associated with the plan and unallocated to the allowance when the function is executed to exchange data with one or more computing devices from the determined list, and wherein units of value are deducted from the units of value allocated to the allowance when the function is executed to exchange data with one or more computing devices that are not on the determined list.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the allowance is associated with an identification of a user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the allowance is associated with the first computing device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined list is based on the input associated with the administrator.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined list is based on contacts stored on the first computing device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined list is based on data received by the system from a server over a communications network.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for controlling a first computing device, the medium storing thereon instructions that, when executed on a system, cause the system to at least:

allocate a number of units of value from units of value associated with a plan to a function associated with the first computing device;

store information associated with a second computing device that the first computing device is allowed to interact with dependently on the plan and independently of the allocated number of units of value; and

determine whether to deduct units of value associated with a use of the function from the allocated number of units of value or from units of value remaining in the plan, the determination being based on whether the use of the function is associated with interacting with the second computing device, wherein the first computing device is enabled, in real time, to use the function to interact with the second computing device when a total units of value in the allocated number of units of value reaches a threshold.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the function comprises allowing a voice call on the first computing device, and wherein the units of value are associated with airtime credits to perform the voice call.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the function comprises allowing a message to be sent from or received at the first computing device, and wherein the units of value are associated with a cost of performing the function.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the function comprises executing a data download to or upload from the first computing device, and wherein the units of value are associated with an amount of downloaded or uploaded data when the function is executed.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the function comprises a purchase transaction, and wherein the units of value are associated with an amount of the purchase transaction.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the allocation is based on information associated with an administrator of the plan, wherein the information is received at the system from a third computing device associated with the administrator and in communication over a network with the system, wherein the information comprising the number of the units of value and an identification of the function, and wherein the allocation of the number of the units of value is updated in real-time based on the information.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the allocation is based on an identification of a user or an identification of the first computing device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising instructions that, when executed on the system, cause the system to at least:

store information associated with a third computing device that the first computing device is enabled to interact with independently of the plan and independently of the allocated number of units of value, the information associated with the third computing device being based on input associated with a service provider of the plan; and

determine whether to refrain from deducting units of value associated with the use of the function from the plan based on whether the use of the function is associated with interacting with the third computing device.

15. A method for controlling a first computing device, the method comprising:

allocating a number of units of value from units of value associated with a plan to a function associated with the first computing device based on input associated with an administrator of the plan;

determining a list of one or more computing devices that the first computing device is allowed to interact with dependently on the units of value associated with the plan and independently of the allocated number of units of value;

deducting units of value from the allocated number of units of value when performing the function is within the allocated number of units of value;

deducting units of value from units of value that are associated with the plan and that are not allocated to the function when performing the function is associated with a charge that exceeds the allocated number of units of value and causes the first computing device to interact with one or more of the computing devices associated with the list; and

disallowing, in real time, the first computing device from performing the function when performing the function is associated with a charge that exceeds the allocated number of units and causes the first computing device to interact with one or more computing devices unassociated with the list, wherein the input associated with the administrator is inputted at a second computing device and is received from the second computing device over a network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first computing device is a telecommunication device, and wherein the plan is provided by a service provider associated with the telecommunication device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the units of value associated with the plan are associated with a charge for using the telecommunication device to access a network associated with the service provider, wherein the charge is defined by the service provider.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the list of one or more computing devices is associated with one or more trusted contacts identified by the administrator.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising sending a notification to a second computing device associated with the administrator when a total units of value in the allocated number of units of value reaches a threshold.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising sending a notification to the first computing device when a total value in the allocated number of units of value reaches a threshold.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the input is inputted at the second computing device via a graphical user interface of a website.

22. A system for controlling a first computing device, the system comprising:

means for providing a plan and an allowance, the plan being associated with a set of units of value, the allowance being associated with a subset of the units of value from the set of units of value and being associated with a function of the first computing device, the subset of the units of value being generated based on information associated with an administrator of the plan;

means for generating information associated with a second computing device, the information allowing the first computing device to use the function to interact with the second computing device dependently on the plan and independently of the allowance; and

means for determining whether to deduct units of value associated with a use of the function from the subset of units of value or from units of value remaining in the set of units of value, the determination being based on whether the use of the function is associated with interacting with the second computing device, wherein the first computing device is enabled to use the function to interact with the second computing device when a total units of value in the subset reaches a threshold.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the information associated with the second computing device comprises an identification of the second computing device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the identification of the second computing device comprises an internet protocol address of the second computing device.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the identification of the second computing device comprises a phone number associated with the second computing device.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the information associated with the second computing device comprises an identification of an entity associated with the second computing device.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the entity is at least one of a person or a company, and wherein the identification is at least a name of the person, a nickname of the person, or a uniform resource locator of a website of the company.

28. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for controlling a first computing device, the medium storing thereon instructions that, when executed on a system, cause the system to at least:

allocate a number of units of value from units of value associated with a plan to a function associated with the first computing device;

store information associated with a second computing device that the first computing device is allowed to interact with dependently on the plan and independently of the allocated number of units of value; and

determine whether to deduct units of value associated with a use of the function from the allocated number of units of value or from units of value remaining in the plan, the determination being based on whether the use of the function is associated with interacting with the second computing device, wherein the allocation is based on information associated with an administrator of the plan, wherein the information is received at the system from a third computing device associated with the administrator and in communication over a network with the system, wherein the information comprising the number of the units of value and an identification of the function, and wherein the allocation of the number of the units of value is updated in real-time based on the information.

29. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for controlling a first computing device, the medium storing thereon instructions that, when executed on a system, cause the system to at least:

allocate a number of units of value from units of value associated with a plan to a function associated with the first computing device;

store information associated with a second computing device that the first computing device is allowed to interact with dependently on the plan and independently of the allocated number of units of value; and

determine whether to deduct units of value associated with a use of the function from the allocated number of units of value or from units of value remaining in the plan, the determination being based on whether the use of the function is associated with interacting with the second computing device, wherein the allocation is based on information associated with an administrator of the plan;

store information associated with a third computing device that the first computing device is enabled to interact with independently of the plan and independently of the allocated number of units of value, the information associated with the third computing device being based on input associated with a service provider of the plan; and

determine whether to refrain from deducting units of value associated with the use of the function from the plan based on whether the use of the function is associated with interacting with the third computing device.

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

allocating a number of units of value from units of value associated with a plan to a function associated with the first computing device based on input associated with an administrator of the plan;

determining a list of one or more computing devices that the first computing device is allowed to interact with dependently on the units of value associated with the plan and independently of the allocated number of units of value;

deducting units of value from the allocated number of units of value when performing the function is within the allocated number of units of value;

deducting units of value from units of value that are associated with the plan and that are not allocated to the function when performing the function is associated with a charge that exceeds the allocated number of units of value and causes the first computing device to interact with one or more of the computing devices associated with the list;

disallowing, in real time, the first computing device from performing the function when performing the function is associated with a charge that exceeds the allocated number of units and causes the first computing device to interact with one or more computing devices unassociated with the list; and

sending a notification to a second computing device associated with the administrator when a total units of value in the allocated number of units of value reaches a threshold.