Network tools for analysis, design, testing, and production of services

• US 9,179,308 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2012
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• 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): Huq, Obaidul
• Application Number:
  US13/451,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20120203677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 370/230, 370/241, 370/252, 370/351, 370/389, 370/395.1, 370/395.2, 370/395.21, 370/395.4, 370/395.42, 370/395.43
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

A method comprising receiving information identifying a first Internet data service of two or more Internet data services accessible to a user of an end-user communications device via a wireless network; generating instructions based on the information, the instructions for causing the end-user communications device to generate a first measure of the first Internet data service and for causing the end-user communications device to report the first measure to a network-attached server, the first measure expressing data usage only for the first Internet data service of the two or more Internet data services; providing the instructions to the end-user communications device; and determining whether the first measure is consistent with a second measure of the first Internet data service, the second measure generated independently from generation by the end-user communications device of the first measure.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving information identifying a first Internet data service of two or more Internet data services accessible to a user of an end-user mobile device via a wireless network;

generating instructions based on the information, to instruct the end-user mobile device to generate a first measure of the first Internet data service and to report the first measure to a network-attached server, the first measure expressing data usage only for the first Internet data service of the two or more Internet data services, the first measure providing a measure of usage of a particular type of network to access the first Internet data service, the particular type of network selected from among several network types that the end-user device is capable of connecting with to access the first Internet data service, the first measure excluding any usage to access the first Internet data service of network types other than the particular type of network;

providing the instructions to the end-user mobile device;

receiving the first measure; and

determining whether the first measure is consistent with a second measure of the first Internet data service, the second measure generated independently from generation by the end-user mobile device of the first measure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the first measure is consistent with the second measure comprises determining whether the first measure is within a tolerance of the second measure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network-attached server is a first network-attached server, and wherein receiving information comprises receiving the information through a user interface of the first network-attached server or a second network-attached server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the first measure is consistent with the second measure is performed by the end-user mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the network-attached server is a first network-attached server, and wherein the method further comprises causing the first network-attached server or a second network-attached server to send the second measure to the end-user mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the network-attached server is a first network-attached server, and wherein determining whether the first measure is consistent with the second measure is performed by the first network-attached server or a second network-attached server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the network-attached server is a first network-attached server, and further comprising:

the first network-attached server or a second network-attached server instructing the end-user mobile device to send a test message that utilizes the first Internet data service; and

generating the second measure dependent on receipt of the test message at the first network-attached server or the second network-attached server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the network-attached server is a first network-attached server, and further comprising receiving, from the end-user mobile device at the first network-attached server or at a second network-attached server, information about a network to which the end-user mobile device is connected or previously has been connected.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the information about the network includes information identifying a network type.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the network-attached server is a first network-attached server, and further comprising:

obtaining an authorization from a user of the end-user mobile device; and

after obtaining the authorization from the user of the end-user mobile device, allowing the end-user mobile device to send the first measure to the first network-attached server or to a second network-attached server.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the network-attached server is a first network-attached server, and wherein the instructions are first instructions, and further comprising providing one or more second instructions to the end-user mobile device to instruct the end-user mobile device to report to the first network-attached server or to a second network-attached server information about an integrity of a device agent that generates the first measure.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises, when the first measure generated by the end-user mobile device is determined to be not consistent with the second measure, downloading a device agent to the end-user mobile device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the device agent is adapted to cause the end-user mobile device to measure usage by the end-user mobile device of the first Internet data service.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the network-attached server is a first network-attached server, and wherein the information is first information, and further comprising sending an updated measure of the first Internet data service to the end-user mobile device based on second information from the first network-attached server or from a second network-attached server.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending to the end-user mobile device a notification comprising information about the usage of the particular type of network to access the first Internet data service, the notification adapted for presentation to a user through a user interface of the end-user mobile device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the notification identifies whether the particular type of network is a roaming network.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the network-attached server is a first network-attached server, and further comprising authenticating the end-user mobile device at the first network-attached server or at a second network-attached server.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending test data to the end-user mobile device, and wherein the first measure comprises a measure of data usage for the test data, and wherein the second measure is based on the test data.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising downloading a device agent to the end-user mobile device, the device agent adapted to cause the end-user mobile device to generate the first measure, the device agent having one or more characteristics distinguishing the device agent from a previous version of the device agent.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the first measure comprises a measure of usage of the wireless network to access the first Internet data service by a particular application of a plurality of applications on the end-user mobile device.

21. A method, comprising:

receiving information identifying a first Internet data service of two or more Internet data services accessible to a user of an end-user mobile device via a wireless network;

generating instructions based on the information, to instruct the end-user mobile device to generate a first measure of the first Internet data service and to report the first measure to a first network-attached server, the first measure expressing data usage only for the first Internet data service of the two or more Internet data services;

providing the instructions to the end-user mobile device;

receiving the first measure;

determining whether the first measure is consistent with a second measure of the first Internet data service, the second measure generated independently from generation by the end-user mobile device of the first measure;

downloading a device agent to the end-user mobile device, the device agent adapted to cause the end-user mobile device to generate the first measure, the device agent having one or more characteristics distinguishing the device agent from a previous version of the device agent; and

receiving, at the first network-attached server or at a second network-attached server, a report from the device agent, the report providing information about a scan of the end-user mobile device performed by the device agent.