Multiple access internet portal revenue sharing

• US 8,818,332 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2013
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Neil, Douglas R., Rivera, Jose F.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US13/901,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20130252581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/114.01, 379/114.05, 379/114.18, 379/114.2, 379/114.22, 379/114.23, 379/114.26, 379/115.01, 379/116, 379/118, 379/119, 379/121.01, 379/126, 455/406, 455/408, 455/414.1, 455/414.3, 455/414.4, 705/26.1, 705/26.35, 705/27.1, 705/34, 705/333, 705/336, 705/404, 705/40, 705/53, 726/3, 726/4, 726/7
• US Class Current: 455/408
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

A server provides Internet access to wireless devices. Billing information for each wireless device is shared with a content provider. The server formats usage information into a transaction record for the content provider. A customer of a network carrier is charged differently based upon a type of content accessed through the server.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving usage information from a server that downloads data to a client device;

receiving from the server an identifier of the client device receiving the data;

associating a type of the data to a provider of the data;

associating the usage information to the identifier of the client device;

generating a billing record for the usage information; and

sharing revenue associated with the billing record with the provider based on the type of the data.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise determining the revenue.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise formatting the billing record.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise downloading the data to the client device.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise tracking a time associated with the data downloaded to the client device.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise tracking an amount of the data downloaded to the client device.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise tracking a time associated with the usage information.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, usage information from a server that downloads data to a client device;

receiving from the server an identifier of the client device receiving the data;

associating a type of the data to a provider of the data;

associating the usage information to the identifier of the client device;

generating a billing record for the usage information; and

sharing revenue associated with the billing record with the provider based on the type of the data.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising determining the revenue.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising formatting the billing record.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising downloading the data to the client device.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising tracking a time associated with the data downloaded to the client device.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising tracking an amount of the data downloaded to the client device.

14. The method according to claim 8, further comprising tracking a time associated with the usage information.

15. A memory storing code that when executed causes a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving usage information from a server that downloads data to a client device;

receiving from the server an identifier of the client device receiving the data;

associating a type of the data to a provider of the data;

associating the usage information to the identifier of the client device;

generating a billing record for the usage information; and

sharing revenue associated with the billing record with the provider based on the type of the data.

16. The memory according to claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining the revenue.

17. The memory according to claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise downloading the data to the client device.

18. The memory according to claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise tracking a time associated with the data downloaded to the client device.

19. The memory according to claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise tracking an amount of the data downloaded to the client device.

20. The memory according to claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise tracking a time associated with the usage information.