Automated account mapping in a wireless subscriber billing system

• US 9,185,234 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Horel, Gerald Charles, Klein, Michelle, Nguyen, Phil Tien
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Huy C
• Application Number:
  US11/360,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20070197189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,548 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 379/114.27, 379/115.01, 705/77, 705/78
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• 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 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/48 Secure or trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements or encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/753 Network based account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/755 Account identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/765 Linked or grouped accounts, e.g. of users or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8214 Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8242 Transaction based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0156 Secure and trusted billing, e.g. trusted elements, encryption, digital signature, codes or double check mechanisms to secure billing calculation and information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7218 : Network based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7222 : Account identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/724 : Linked accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/782 : Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7846 : Transaction based
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

Systems and methods for automated account mapping in a wireless subscriber billing system are disclosed. An external ID associated with a wireless client device is captured from a billable event communicated between a wireless client device and a wireless subscriber billing system. Then, the external ID is associated with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request to an operator billing system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

capturing an external ID associated with a wireless client device from a billable event communicated between the wireless client device and a wireless subscriber billing system;

associating the external ID with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request from the wireless subscriber billing system to an operator billing system;

receiving an external billing request from an external billing source at the wireless subscriber billing system, the external billing request including the external ID; and

mapping the external ID contained in the external billing request to the SID, after the external billing request is received from the external billing source.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating the external billing request to the operator billing system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

digitally signing the external billing request at the external billing source prior to transmitting the external billing request.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the external ID comprises at least one of a mobile directory number (MDN), mobile identification number (MIN), mobile station identity (MSID), and international mobile station identity (IMSI).

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the external ID and the SID in a storage medium.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the external ID is captured during a first download transaction between the wireless client device and a carrier network that generates the billable event.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the SID is not provided to the external billing source.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the external billing request is received after the associating, and wherein the external ID is mapped to the SID after the receiving.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a processor coupled to memory and configured to;

capture an external ID associated with a wireless client device from a billable event communicated between the wireless client device and a wireless subscriber billing system;

associate the external ID with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request from the wireless subscriber billing system to an operator billing system;

receive an external billing request from an external billing source at the wireless subscriber billing system, the external billing request including the external ID; and

map the external ID contained in the external billing request to the SID, after the external billing request is received from the external billing source.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to communicate the external billing request to the operator billing system.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the external ID comprises at least one of a mobile directory number (MDN), mobile identification number (MIN), mobile station identity (MSID), and international mobile station identity (IMSI).

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a non-transitory storage medium configured to store the external ID and the SID.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the external ID is captured during a first download transaction between the wireless client device and a carrier network that generates the billable event.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is the wireless subscriber billing system hosted by a third party other than the operator billing system or the external billing source.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions, which, when executed by a machine cause the machine to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

at least one instruction for causing the machine to capture an external ID associated with a wireless client device from a billable event communicated between the wireless client device and a wireless subscriber billing system;

at least one instruction for causing the machine to associate the external ID with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request from the wireless subscriber billing system to an operator billing system;

at least one instruction for causing the machine to receive an external billing request from an external billing source at the wireless subscriber billing system, the external billing request including the external ID; and

at least one instruction for causing the machine to map the external ID contained in the external billing request to the SID, after the external billing request is received from the external billing source.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

at least one instruction for causing the machine to communicate the external billing request to the operator billing system.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

at least one instruction for causing the machine to decrypt the external billing request, wherein the external billing request was encrypted at the external billing source prior to transmitting the billing request.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the external ID comprises at least one of a mobile directory number (MDN), mobile identification number (MIN), mobile station identity (MSID), and international mobile station identity (IMSI).

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

at least one instruction for causing the machine to store the external ID and the SID in a storage medium.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the external ID is captured during a first download transaction between the wireless client device and a carrier network that generates the billable event.

21. A server comprising:

means for capturing an external ID associated with a wireless client device from a billable event communicated between the wireless client device and a wireless subscriber billing system;

means for associating the external ID with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request from the wireless subscriber billing system to an operator billing system;

means for receiving an external billing request from an external billing source at the wireless subscriber billing system, the external billing request including the external ID; and

means for mapping the external ID contained in the external billing request to the SID, after the external billing request is received from the external billing source.

22. The server of claim 21, further comprising:

means for communicating the external billing request to the operator billing system.

23. The server of claim 21, wherein the external ID comprises at least one of a mobile directory number (MDN), mobile identification number (MIN), mobile station identity (MSID), and international mobile station identity (IMSI).

24. The server of claim 21, further comprising:

means for storing the external ID and the SID in a storage medium.

25. The server of claim 21, wherein the external ID is captured during a first download transaction between the wireless client device and a carrier network that generates the billable event.