Feature management of a communication device

• US 9,137,386 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemence 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): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US14/076,110
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 managing a mobile device, the system comprising a memory bearing instructions that, when executed on the system, cause the system to at least:

receive information associated with an administrator of the mobile device, the information being indicative of a plan to charge units of value allocated from the plan and associated with a first function among one or more functions of the mobile device to a first account associated with the administrator or units of value allocated from the plan and associated with a second function among the one or more functions of the mobile device to a second account associated with a user;

generate an allowance associated with the user based on the received information, the allowance comprising one or more limits within which units of value associated with the one or more functions of the mobile device are charged to the first account or the second account based on the plan and outside of which units of value associated with the one or more functions of the mobile device are charged to the first account or are blocked;

determine whether a function initiated at the mobile device qualifies as the first function or as the second function and whether units of value associated with performing either the first function or the second function is within or outside of the one or more limits;

allow execution of the initiated function on the mobile device based on whether the initiated function qualifies as the first function or the second function, whether units of value for execution of the initiated function is within or outside of the one or more limits; and

charge the associated units of value to the first account or the second account based on the determination.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first function comprises an interaction with a remote device associated with one or more trusted contacts, and wherein the second function comprises an interaction with a remote device associated with a contact other than the one or more trusted contacts.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more limits are associated with units of value used to charge for performing the one or more functions on the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more limits are associated with a restriction imposed on one or more of making a call, receiving a call, sending a message, receiving a message, accessing a website, conducting a purchase, and downloading an application.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the execution of a function among the one or more functions is blocked when the function qualifies as the first function and when the first account lacks sufficient funds to pay for the execution of the function.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the execution of a function among the one or more functions is blocked when the function qualifies as the second function and when the allowance lacks sufficient funds to pay for the execution of the function.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the execution of a function among the one or more functions is allowed when the function qualifies as the first function and when the first account comprises sufficient funds to pay for the execution of the function.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the execution of a function among the one or more functions is allowed when the function qualifies as the second function and when the allowance comprises sufficient funds to pay for the execution of the function.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the execution of a function among the one or more functions is allowed when the function qualifies as the first function and when the allowance comprises sufficient funds to pay for the execution of the function.

10. A method for managing a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving first information from a computing device associated with an administrator, the first information being indicative of an allowance to be associated with an account of a user of the mobile device;

receiving second information from the computing device, the second information being indicative of whether units of value associated with a function of the mobile device is to be charged to the allowance or to an account of the administrator;

generating a plan based on the first information and second information, the plan associating the allowance with the account of the user and comprising a rule for determining when to charge the units of value associated with the function of the mobile device to the allowance and for determining when to charge the cost units of value associated with the function to the account of the administrator;

determining whether a units of value of a digital communication associated with a function of the mobile device should be charged to the allowance of the account or the administrator based on the rule; and

facilitating the digital communication by charging the units of value of the digital communication to the allowance or to the account of the administrator based on the determination.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the allowance comprises units of value used to pay for a service provided by a service provider of the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the rule determines that, when the function is executed on the mobile device, units of value associated with the execution is charged to the allowance when the allowance comprises sufficient funds to pay for the units of value.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the rule determines that, when the function is executed on the mobile device, units of value associated with the execution is charged to the account of the administrator when the allowance lacks sufficient funds to pay for the units of value and when the account of the administrator comprises the sufficient funds.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the rule comprises a list of one or more remote devices and determines that, when the function is executed on the mobile device, units of value associated with the execution is charged to the account of the administrator when the allowance lacks sufficient funds to pay for the units of value, when the account of the administrator comprises sufficient funds to pay for the units of value, and when the execution causes the device to interact with a remote device from the list of the one or more remote devices.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the list of one or more remote devices is defined based on the second information.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the list of one or more remote devices is defined based on third information received from the computing device associated with the administrator, the third information being indicative of one or more contacts associated with the one or more remote devices.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising sending a notification to the computing device associated with the administrator when units of value in the allowance reach a predefined threshold.

18. A system for managing a mobile device, the system comprising a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the system further comprising:

means for receiving first information from a computing device associated with an administrator, the first information being indicative of an allowance to be associated with an account of a user of the mobile device;

means for receiving second information from the computing device, the second information being indicative of whether an execution of a function of the mobile device is to be charged to the allowance or to an account of the administrator;

means for providing a plan based on the first information and second information, the plan associating the allowance with the account of the user and comprising a first rule for determining when to charge units of value for the execution of the function on the mobile device to the allowance and for determining when to charge units of value for the execution of the function to the account of the administrator;

means for determining whether units of value for a digital communication associated with the execution of the function of the mobile device should be charged to the allowance of the account or the administrator; and

means for facilitating the digital communication based on the determination by charging the units of value for the digital communication to the allowance or to the account of the administrator.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising means for updating the plan in real-time based on updated first information or updated second information received from a computing device associated with the administrator.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the plan comprises a second rule for determining when to avoid charging the allowance and the account of the administrator when the function is executed on the mobile device, the second rule being defined based of a third party and being unmodifiable by the administrator.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the plan comprises a list of one or more contacts associated with one or more remote devices, the list being defined based on the second information.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for disabling the digital communication, wherein the digital communication is disabled when the allowance lacks sufficient funds to pay for the digital communication and when the digital communication causes the mobile device to interact with a remote device associated with a contact not found on the list of one or more contacts, and wherein the digital communication is facilitated when the allowance lacks sufficient funds to pay for the digital communication and when the digital communication causes the mobile device to interact with a remote device associated with a contact found on the list of one or more contacts.