US20130023230A9 - System and Methods for Carrier-Centric Mobile Device Data Communications Cost Monitoring and Control - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing carrier-centric data communications cost monitoring and controls are provided. In an embodiment, the method operates by receiving a registration request associated with a subscriber session, determining current data usage associated with the subscriber, and receiving data usage thresholds. The method further comprises receiving quotas associated with the subscriber session and collecting data usage information associated with the subscriber session. The method sends a notification to the subscriber when a pre-determined quota is exceeded during the subscriber session and controls data usage. The cost monitoring and control system comprises a usage policy server and a usage policy application. The usage policy application allows a carrier to offer alterations to terms of a subscription. The usage policy application displays current data usage information on a per-network and per-application basis using subscriber profile information, subscriber session information, and prior subscriber usage history provided by the usage policy server.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/153,910, entitled System and Methods for Mobile Device-Based Data Communications Cost Monitoring and Control, filed on May 4, 2009 by Momtahan et al., which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.
• The present application also claims priority to commonly owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/186,831, entitled, Usage Measurement Collection and Analysis to Dynamically Regulate Customer Network Usage, filed on Aug. 6, 2008 by Jones et al., which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.
• The present application is also related to commonly owned, co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 12/708,299, entitled Adaptive Window Size for Network Fair Usage Controls, by Foottit et al., which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates generally to communications networks, more particularly, to monitoring and controlling data communications costs within wireless communications networks.
BACKGROUND
• Portable computing devices such as laptop computers, personal data assistants (PDAs), smart phones and the like are in common usage, many featuring data communications support, powerful processors, larger and more colorful displays, and wireless networking and internet browsing capabilities. These advances in mobile technology have resulted in a dramatic increase in the volume of data communicated on wireless networks. These advances, coupled with subscribers seeking expanded mobility, will drive subscribers install and run data-hungry applications on their mobile devices. Data traffic is growing due to a combination of increasing market share of data-centric portable devices such as IPHONE™ and BLACKBERRY™ devices, lower wireless data subscription costs, higher wireless data throughput, and easier mobile access to data-intensive applications and rich content such as video. These trends are driving ever-increasing demands for wireless data communications.
• Typically, users gain access to wireless data networks by purchasing a subscription plan from a service provider. In response to the explosive growth in mobile data traffic, service providers currently offer a wide variety of wireless subscription plan features such as actual usage plans, flat-rate plans, bandwidth caps that limit the amount of data per month for a mobile device, pre-paid and post-paid data plans. These plans typically impose limits on subscriber bandwidth consumption, often combined with additional fees for exceeding those limits. Bandwidth caps can alleviate network congestion by reducing overall mobile data traffic, but these caps reduce the attractiveness of data service for subscribers.
• In a flat rate subscription plan a subscriber pays a fee for a billing cycle and is entitled to a set amount of network usage (i.e., a usage quota) during the billing cycle. For example, a subscriber may pay $30 for a month and be entitled to 500 minutes of network time. The usage quota can be specified as a time per billing cycle amount (e.g., 500 minutes per month) or as a data volume per billing cycle amount (e.g., 40 Mega Bytes per month). In some flat rate subscription plans, the usage quota is unlimited.
• In an actual usage subscription plan a subscriber pays a set rate based on the actual amount of network usage during a billing cycle. For example, a user may pay $1 per minute of network usage. Actual usage plans can have incentives/penalties based on a subscriber's usage during a billing cycle. For example, in a subscription plan a subscriber may pay $1 per Mega Byte (MB) for the first 50 MBs and $2 per Mega Byte (MB) for every MB used beyond 50 MBs during the billing cycle. Subscription plans can combine aspects of flat rate plans and usage plans. For example, a subscriber may pay $30 per month for 40 MBs of wireless data usage and $1 per MB for every minute used after 40 MBs.
• In the plans described above, as well as other subscriber plans, it is useful for a subscriber to be able to monitor his/her usage against one or more quotas.
• Given the increasing versatility of mobile devices, it is helpful to implement a means by which these mobile devices can be used to monitor and control data communication costs, and to improve the subscriber experience.
• Previous methods for network data communications cost monitoring and control are largely provider-centric, leaving the user with limited options to control and monitor costs. For example, a subscriber may be able to display cumulative consumption in MBs for the current month to determine if a monthly quota has been exceeded, but the subscriber cannot dynamically control and manage data communications costs without permanently changing his/her subscription plan. Provider-centric systems monitor usage and may allow subscribers to access usage information via a provider's web server, but they do not allow subscribers to set real time usage controls. For example, provider-centric systems do not allow subscribers to set data usage thresholds, quotas, or caps on their devices each day based upon prior usage. Prior network data control techniques result in extra charges (i.e., due to roaming) and surprise data charges for subscribers who exceed bandwidth caps.
• In prior systems, subscribers must rely on providers to monitor and control data usage. When a portable device moves to another provider network (i.e., roam), the amount of data usage information is limited to what the network the device is roaming in provides. For example, subscribers may not know what data charges (i.e., tariffs) apply while roaming. Prior techniques can result in excessive fees for subscribers who have unknowingly exceeded their plan's data quotas or caps. Subscribers cannot dynamically manage and control data costs for current data connections from their portable devices. In prior systems, subscribers only have data usage information in terms of overall volume of data used for all applications on a device, rather than the amount of data user per application. This lack of device-centric control and transparency limits the subscriber experience and causes subscribers to unnecessarily curtail their data usage.
• What is therefore needed are systems and methods for providing device-based data communications cost monitoring and controls on a per application basis. What is further needed are systems and methods to allow subscribers to monitor and control expenditures on data services by providing proactive notification when subscribers are approaching bandwidth caps. What is also needed are systems and methods to allow subscribers to modify their plans either temporarily or permanently depending on their needs by providing add-on service availability (i.e., the ability to dynamically raise a bandwidth cap temporarily).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods that improve data communication usage and cost monitoring operations. An embodiment of the invention includes a system for monitoring and control of the data usage that is based on a subscriber's device. Methods are disclosed that use a distributed system that runs on user equipment and mobile devices.
• In an embodiment, a system provides subscribers with access to real-time information about data usage, and are given warnings that they are close to reaching bandwidth caps. The system notifies subscribers when they are close to reaching bandwidth caps or quotas and offers subscribers an opportunity to upgrade to a next service tier.
• The invention also provides a method for managing data usage by allowing subscribers to gradually reduce download speeds, block some types of traffic, redirect device connection to on-portal applications, or select a new Quality of Service (QoS) level in order to manage bandwidth consumption. In this way, the invention makes different options available to subscribers, and lets them decide how to best-manage data usage according to their needs and priorities.
• The invention additionally includes methods that use a distributed usage monitoring and control system that comprises applications that run on user devices.
• Embodiments of the invention also include methods for performing cost monitoring and control on a per-application basis.
• In an embodiment, the invention includes a centralized system for global monitoring and control of a plurality of mobile devices from a single, cross-provider (i.e., global) perspective.
• Subscription data is used to calculate the likelihood of exceeding a quota (i.e., a quota breach) at a given time and this information is provided to a user of a mobile device. U.S. application Ser. No. 12/186,831, filed Aug. 6, 2008 and entitled “Usage Measurement Collection and Analysis to Dynamically Regulate Customer Network Usage,” describes methods and systems for calculating the likelihood of a quota breach. The present application includes the capabilities described therein. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a notification is sent to a subscriber when it is determined that a quota breach is likely to occur. In a related embodiment, subscribers are given the opportunity to change a service tier associated with their subscription in order to prevent a likely quota breach.
• In an embodiment, a service provider can present marketing offers (i.e., ‘special offers’) to a subscriber that provide the subscriber with an opportunity to change a service tier associated with their subscription. In further embodiments, acceptance of marketing offers can change service tiers associated with a subscriber's home network or roamed networks. According to embodiments of the invention, marketing offers can be sent to a subscriber by their home network service provider or roamed network service providers and are presented on the subscriber's mobile device.
• In embodiments, both dynamic and static subscriber characteristics relative to a current usage session can be used to allow a subscriber to proactively manage data usage. Dynamic characteristics can be dynamic relative to the start of a usage session or relative to the usage session generally. An example of a dynamic characteristic relative to the start of a usage session is the type of data requested and the mobile applications requesting data. An example of a dynamic characteristic relative to the usage session is the total amount of data usage.
• In a further embodiment, a subscriber characteristic used in data usage calculations includes knowledge of peak usage patterns (e.g., on peak/off-peak, weekdays).
• It is an objective of the present invention that it may be incorporated into any mobile device capable of data communications.
• In another embodiment, when a subscriber is roaming and the roaming traffic is not routed through the subscriber's home service provider home agent router or network access gateway, an interaction between the roamed service provider and home service provider occurs so that the home service provider has the information needed to control data usage in the roamed or visited network.
• Another objective of the invention is to provide flexible policy descriptions for network service provider (carrier) charging plans. A further objective of the invention is to provide flexible tariff distribution. According to an embodiment of the invention, distribution of flexible policy descriptions associated to network service provider charging plans is achieved by using a provider-based architecture. In an embodiment, a provider-dependent (i.e., carrier-based) architecture is also used to distribute tariffs associated with network service providers.
• Further embodiments, features, and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of the various embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to accompanying present drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.
• FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary operating environment for providing network data communications cost monitoring and controls within a communications network, according to embodiments of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary operating environment for providing data communications cost monitoring and controls in a roaming scenario including multiple communications networks, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a provider independent system architecture for providing data communications cost monitoring and controls within a communications network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a provider-based system architecture for providing data communications cost monitoring and controls within a communications network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary message flow diagram for a method providing data communications cost monitoring and controls when the provider-based architecture provided inFIG. 4 is used, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 provides a method for monitoring and controlling data usage in accordance with the present invention.
• FIGS. 7-11 depict a graphical user interface (GUI) for a mobile device to display data usage, edit usage limits, define tariffs, and accept offers to change service tiers, according to embodiments of the invention.
• FIG. 12 depicts an exemplary computer system on which methods and systems herein may be implemented, according to embodiments of the present invention.
• The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers can indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number may identify the drawing in which the reference number first appears.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONMobile Environment
• FIG. 1 provides anexemplary operating environment100 for providing network data communications cost monitoring and controls, according to embodiments of the present invention.Operating environment100 includesuser equipment102,network access gateway120,optional service controller130, policy controller140,subscriber data repository150,usage policy server160, andapplication server farm170.Operating environment100 provides a simplified diagram of a communications network to illustrate the concepts of data communications cost monitoring and controls. As would be recognized by persons of skill in the art, embodiments of the present invention can be used in any type of communications network (e.g., wireline, wireless, or hybrid networks).
• User equipment102 is any device that provides a user access to one or more networks.User equipment102 can include, but is not limited to, a computer such asuser equipment102a, a personal digital assistant (PDA) such asuser equipment102b, a wireless phone such asuser equipment102c, a smart phone, other wireless mobile devices, and/or wired communications devices.
• Access network110 is a communications network that couplesuser equipment102 to a packet data network (not shown).Access network110 may be a third generation partnership project (3GPP) access network or a non-3GPP access network. Exemplary 3GPP access networks include the UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) and the GSM EDGE radio access network (RAN). Other access networks include, but are not limited to, WiFi, WiMAX, CDMA2000, GSM, and UMTS.
• Network access gateway120 provides an interface betweenaccess network110 and a packet data network (not shown). In a 3GPP network,network access gateway120 may be the Gateway General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (GGSN). Note thatnetwork access gateway120 may also act as a policy enforcement point.
• Policy controller140, at a high level, includes subscriber profiles and network policies needed to manage network resources, such as bandwidth, according to a subscriber, session, and/or application. A service provider may apply a policy based on business rules associated with a variety of factors (e.g., service tiers and/or dynamic parameters such as time of day).
• Policy controller140 includes a policy and charging rules function (PCRF)142 and aquota manager144. For example, in a 3GPP network,PCRF142 acts as a decision point for policy and charging control of service data flows.PCRF142 is configured to select and provide the applicable policy and charging control decisions to the policy control enforcement point.
• Usage policy server160 works in conjunction with policy controller140 to extend policy and charging control of service data flows touser equipment102. These data flows may be monitored and controlled on a per subscriber, per user equipment, or per application basis. For example, control and metering of data flows from applications hosted inapplication server farm170 touser equipment102amay be performed byusage policy server160. Alternatively, control and metering of data flows for a particular subscriber usinguser equipment102amay be performed by usage policy server without regard to the applications being invoked by the subscriber. Similarly, control and metering of data flows between a pool of related subscribers (i.e., subscribers in the same family, organization, or corporation) usinguser equipment102a-cmay be performed by usage policy sever160, regardless of the applications involved in the data flows. Although theexemplary environment200 depictsusage policy server160 as a separate server from policy controller140, as would be understood by those skilled in the relevant art(s)usage policy server160 may be implemented as software residing in policy controller140. Conversely, policy controller140 may comprise software residing onusage policy server160
• According to an embodiment of the invention, a subscriber usinguser equipment102 can set usage limits in mobileusage policy application104 running onuser equipment102. For example, a subscriber usinguser equipment102acan usemobile policy application104ato set total daily usage limits in Mega Bytes (MBs), which are communicated tousage policy server160 viaaccess network110,network access gateway120, and policy controller140. Subscribers can also set data usage notification and stop thresholds in mobileusage policy application104. Upon reaching a notification threshold (i.e., 400 MBs in the example embodiment depicted inFIG. 7), a subscriber will receive a notification onuser equipment102. At that point, the subscriber can optionally set a new, higher usage limit in mobileusage policy application104, or choose to curtail data usage. Upon reaching a stop threshold (i.e., 600 MBs in the example embodiment depicted inFIG. 7), a subscriber will be unable to use additional data services onuser equipment102 until a higher usage limit is set in mobileusage policy application104 or server-sideusage policy application164.
• Usage policy server160 provides usage policy data to policy controller140.Quota manager144 is configured to collect data communications usage and cost data.Quota manager144 provides data communications cost monitoring and data touser equipment102a-cvianetwork access gateway120 andaccess network110. If the subscriber exceeds a data usage cap or threshold,quota manager144 provides this information touser equipment102a-candusage policy server160. In an embodiment, server-sideusage policy application164 running onusage policy server160 allows subscribers to set data usage controls via a web portal (SeeFIGS. 2 and 3). Data usage controls include, but are not limited to, total daily usage thresholds, total hourly usage thresholds, per-application usage thresholds, per-device usage thresholds, and thresholds based on data sources (i.e., Uniform Resource Locator/URL addresses or Internet Protocol/IP addresses). In an alternative embodiment, a mobileusage policy application104 running onuser equipment102 allows subscribers usinguser equipment102 to set data usage controls, such as, but not limited to the thresholds mentioned above directly onuser equipment102.
• Quota manager144 is configured to provide dynamic usage controls according to a variety of techniques including, but not limited to, using pre-defined value or values, calculating fair usage windows based on one or more formulas, and/or determining new usage windows based on how quickly previous windows were violated. These techniques are described in further detail in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/708,299, entitled Adaptive Window Size for Network Fair Usage Controls, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.
• Policy controller140 is coupled tosubscriber data repository150.Subscriber data repository150 includes asubscriber profile database152, asubscriber state database154, and asubscriber usage database156. Although depicted as three separate databases inFIG. 1, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that subscriber profile, subscriber state, and subscriber usage data may be stored in any number of databases.
• Policy controller140 is further coupled tonetwork access gateway120. In an embodiment, the interface between policy controller140 andnetwork access gateway120 is a Gy interface.
• Subscriber state database154 includes information that identifies and defines a subscriber's network session. Subscriber state information includes the subscriber identifier for the session. In embodiments of the invention, subscriber identifiers may be one or more of a Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number (MSISDN), a Mobile Identification Number (MIN), a Private Identifier, information about the network such as the IP address the subscriber is currently using and what network or networks to which the subscriber is currently connected, device information such as the device being used and the version of the software, location and roaming information, and other unique state information.
• When a subscriber connects to any network, the core elements of the network assign an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the subscriber. At that time, the subscriber session begins and subscriber state information is created, derived and captured. For example, state information is typically generated either through RADIUS accounting or through interactions with the dynamic host control protocol (DHCP) service on a network. The accounting message feeds are generated to a Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) engine or an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) service from core network elements.
• Subscriber profile database152 includes static information about the subscriber. This information may include the service tier (e.g., gold, silver, bronze) assigned to the subscriber. In an embodiment of the invention, service tiers are associated with Quality of Service (QoS) levels.
• Subscriber usage database156 includes static and dynamic information related to the subscriber's history. The subscriber's history includes, but is not limited to the subscriber's data usage history. In embodiments of the present invention,subscriber usage database156 may store information about the amount of data used on a per-application basis by the subscriber'suser equipment102 in previous sessions.Usage policy server160 uses the per-application usage data from prior sessions to inform the subscriber about which applications running onuser equipment102 have consumed the most bandwidth or data based on previous behavior patterns.
• According to an embodiment of the invention, a carrier or provider-based infrastructure is used wherein the service provider infrastructure provides data metering and control. In this architecture, usage policy server and server-sideusage policy application164 are used to control and meter data usage onuser equipment102.
• In another embodiment, a carrier-independent infrastructure is used whereby metering and control is performed onuser equipment102 using mobileusage policy application104. In this embodiment, some centralized functions are performed by policy controller140 andusage policy server160, such as controlling data usage policies acrossmultiple user equipment102a-c. In this embodiment, longer-term historical storage of usage information occurs insubscriber usage database156 withinsubscriber data repository150.
• In an embodiment, a hybrid architecture gathers usage data onuser equipment102 but long-term storage of the usage data occurs insubscriber usage database156 withinsubscriber data repository150. In this way, centralization is performed within a service provider infrastructure. This architecture is useful for the roaming scenario depicted inFIG. 2 and described below.
• FIG. 2 depicts anexemplary operating environment200 for providing data communications cost monitoring and controls while roaming. Although theexemplary environment200 depicts two network service providers, homenetwork service provider220 and roamednetwork service provider230, as would be understood by those skilled in the relevant art(s),user equipment102 may connect to a plurality of roamednetwork service providers230 while roaming.
• FIG. 2 is described with continued reference to the operating environment ofFIG. 1. However,environment200 is not limited to that embodiment.
• Mobile data costs for a subscriber usinguser equipment102 may be based on data volume used within a period. For example, a subscriber's subscription may entail a charge of $60 up to a 1 Giga Byte (GB) cap of data access each month with a $3 per MB charge after the 1 GB cap has been exceeded. Data costs also vary based on the homenetwork service provider220 thatuser equipment102 is homed in or connected to. Typically, data costs increase whenuser equipment102 is roaming in roamednetwork service provider230. Due to these and other dynamic factors that can increase data costs, embodiments of the present invention enable subscribers to monitor and control expenditure on data services onuser equipment102 on a real time basis.
• In accordance with a ‘provider-centric’ embodiment of the invention, monitoring and control of usage and charging for data is performed by methods and systems that reside within homenetwork service provider220 and remain under the control of homenetwork service provider220. In the provider-centric embodiment, homenetwork access gateway120 and roamednetwork access gateway236 monitor and control packet traffic betweenuser equipment102 and theInternet210. Homenetwork access gateway120 and roamednetwork access gateway236 generate usage accounting records that are input to off-line or on-line (prepaid) billing and reporting systems residing inbase station subsystems224 and234. Examples of homenetwork access gateway120 and roamednetwork access gateway236 include, but are not limited to gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN), Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN), Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), and “Evolved NodeB (eNodeB).
• Homenetwork service provider220 and roamednetwork service provider230 may provide visibility of data usage records via a website user interface to subscribers that log in to check their account viaweb portals222 and232.
• According to an embodiment, subscribers can monitor and control their data usage viaweb portals222 and232. For example, subscribers can select service extensions, data usage boosts, a lower bandwidth service, or other alternatives via homenetwork web portal222 and/or roamednetwork web portal232. These changes are then passed tousage policy server160 and propagated to server-sideusage policy application164. In an alternative embodiment, changes made via homenetwork web portal222 and roamednetwork web portal232 are propagated to mobileusage policy application104 resident onuser equipment102.
• In another embodiment, when a subscriber is roaming and the roaming traffic is not routed through the subscriber's homeservice network provider220 home agent or homenetwork access gateway120, an interaction between ausage policy server160 in roamednetwork service provider230 and ausage policy server160 in homenetwork service provider220 is initiated. This interaction between the respective usage policy servers includes a request being sent fromusage policy server160 in homenetwork service provider220 to ausage policy server160 in roamednetwork service provider230. According to an embodiment, the request is for information that homenetwork service provider220 needs in order to affect data usage controls foruser equipment102 while it is accessing data in roamednetwork service provider230.
• In an embodiment, to prevent unexpectedly high roaming charges from roamednetwork service provider230, a subscriber usinguser equipment102 may select, usingusage policy application104 to be barred from all or some data applications while roaming in the network of roamednetwork service provider230. For instance, a subscriber using a mobile device such asuser equipment102 may wish to avoid the high cost of data services while they are outside the coverage area of homenetwork service provider220, but retain the data service when they are not roaming.
• According to an embodiment, whileuser equipment102 is using roamednetwork service provider230, a subscriber may opt to have certain applications fromapplication server farm170 blocked.
• Operators of homenetwork service provider220 and roamednetwork service provider230 can detect access to on- or off-portal applications, and they typically choose to charge less, or impose no data fees, for access to on-portal applications fromuser equipment102. In an embodiment, a subscriber may choose to select only on-portal applications (either in homenetwork service provider220 or roamed network service provider230) in order to reduce data usage and costs.
• In instances whenaccess network110 depicted inFIG. 1 becomes congested, an embodiment of the invention provides real-time traffic information fromaccess network110 and, more specifically, from individualbase station subsystems224 and234 which enables operators of homenetwork service provider220 or roamednetwork service provider230 to identify areas of congestion within theirrespective access networks110. Policy controller140 includes operator tools to contain congestion in real-time by temporarily enforcing more stringent policies (i.e., not allowing bursting behavior, or assigning lower priority to subscribers with low-tier service plans).
• In an embodiment, in order to prevent ‘bill shock’ due to exceeding data quotas and in order to extend usage control to subscribers, mobileusage policy application104 works in conjunction with policy controller140 to provide proactive notifications touser equipment102 when subscribers are nearing bandwidth usage thresholds or data roaming charge limits in roamednetwork service provider230. Subscribers can then be given choices in real-time in mobileusage policy application104, such as a service extension, a data usage boost, a lower bandwidth service, or other alternatives. In addition, operators of homenetwork service provider220 or roamednetwork service provider230 can extend control to subscribers to set personalized usage caps that can be updated in real-time based on personal financial limits, or to boost roaming data usage while a subscriber is traveling.
Data Monitoring and Control Systems
• FIG. 3 illustrates an architecture for asystem300 for providing data communications cost monitoring and controls within a communications network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.System300 is provider independent in that the architecture is distributed betweenuser equipment102 and ausage policy server160.
• FIG. 3 is described with continued reference to the operating environments ofFIGS. 1 and 2. However,system300 is not limited to those embodiments.
• In an embodiment, monitoring and control of the data usage is based onuser equipment102 using mobileusage policy application104, instead of within the infrastructure of homenetwork service provider220 or roamednetwork service providers230. This distributed system runs onuser equipment102 andusage policy server160. Insystem300, the charging/cost monitoring and control can be performed down to the level of theindividual applications306 running onuser equipment102.Applications306 may include, but are not limited to games, social networking applications, Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) applications such as Skype, and wireless access to data-intensive web sites that host multimedia content such as video.
• According to an embodiment, a device usage control subsystem (executes onuser equipment102 and monitors data flows (denoted as1-4) onuser equipment102. The device usage control subsystem comprises the following components:local store308,application controller310, and mobileusage policy application104. These components are described in the following paragraphs.
• Application controller310 is installed to mediate betweenapplications306 andcommunication stack312 ofuser equipment102. In an embodiment,communication stack312 is a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack.Application controller310 presents a virtual socket layer toapplications306.Application controller310 also counts how many bytes eachapplication306 sends and receives (denoted as data flow1).Application controller310 also stores the data usage on a per-application basis in local store308 (denoted as data flow4).Application controller310 checks for application data usage threshold limits defined in the local store by the mobileusage policy application104. In an alternative embodiment,application controller310 checks for application data usage threshold limits defined in theglobal store368 by the server-sideusage policy application164, which can be accessed via calls to Application Programming Interface (API)366.
• In an embodiment, data usage information for a single device is stored in a data store, such aslocal store308 onuser equipment102.2.Local store308 may use non-volatile storage onuser equipment102 to hold information such as, but not limited to, data usage for eachapplication306, data budgets, thresholds, tariff information, and statistics regardinghighest budget applications306. Each of these types of information is described below.
• Each of the types of information described below may optionally be stored inlocal store308 onuser equipment102. The information described below may also be periodically imported from or exported information toglobal store368 residing on one or moreusage policy servers160.
• Data ‘budgets’ forapplications306 or groups ofapplications306 can be set in mobileusage policy application104 or server-sideusage policy application164. In an embodiment, after reaching its budgeted allocation for a given period, anapplication306 is capped or blocked from further data network usage. According to this embodiment until that period is elapsed (or the budget is changed or over-ridden by a subscriber),application306 will be blocked from performing additional data transactions, thereby allowing the subscriber to control data costs that may otherwise cause ‘bill shock.’
• Thresholds forapplications306 are kept, whereby the subscriber is notified that anapplication306 or group ofapplications306, if a subscriber has set a threshold of 75% for anapplication306, when thatapplication306 has consumed 75% of its data budget, the subscriber will receive a notification atuser equipment102.
• Tariffs comprise information kept for each known potential roamednetwork service provider230 in which the subscriber can roam, so that the user has control over which roamednetwork service provider230 would be most cost-effective to use. Tariff information pertaining to a plurality of roamednetwork service providers230 may be stored in alocal store308 onuser equipment102. Tariff data for each roamednetwork service provider230 may reside in a database or data store onusage policy server160, such asglobal store368.
• According to an embodiment,local store308 may periodically import or export tariff information via data flows5 and6, respectively, toglobal store368 residing on one or moreusage policy servers160 associated with one or more roamednetwork service providers230. Tariff information stored inglobal store368 and a plurality oflocal stores308 can be used to provide flexible tariff distribution. In an embodiment of the invention, a carrier-based architecture is used to distribute tariffs stored inglobal store368 andlocal stores308.
• Statistics regardinghighest budget applications306 include cumulative data usage information kept in order to meter and display subscribers,user equipment102, and/orapplications306 using highest budgeted amount of data for a give period. For example, statistics may be kept on asingle user equipment102 regardingapplications306 on aparticular user equipment102 which have used the largest amount of data. Statistics may also be compiled onusage policy server160 regarding data usage for a plurality of subscribers and/oruser equipment102.
• In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, data usage pertaining to a plurality of subscribers is stored in a data store onusage policy server160, such asglobal store368. According to an embodiment,local store308 may periodically import or export information via data flows5 and6, respectively, toglobal store368 residing on one or moreusage policy servers160 associated with one or more network service providers.
• According to an embodiment, the types of data described in the following paragraphs are modeled byusage policy application104 and stored in a local store such aslocal store308.
• Usage entity data, including, but not limited to data identifying a network service provider such as homenetwork service provider220, network type (WiFi, 3G, etc.),user equipment102 device type, device group, subscriber or user, user group,application306, and groups ofapplications306 may be stored inlocal store308.
• Quota information, such as a quota expressed in MBs or GBs and cost for additional quota levels, may be modeled byusage policy application104 and stored in a local store such aslocal store308. Quotas may be modeled and stored on the network service provider level, subscriber level, subscriber group level, for eachapplication306, and for groups ofapplications306.
• Threshold information such as the percentage of a quota reached in a period (i.e., monthly, weekly, and/or daily) may also be stored inlocal store308. Thresholds may be modeled and stored on the network service provider level, subscriber level, subscriber group level, for eachapplication306, and for groups ofapplications306.
• In an embodiment, upon the authorization of a session, a usage breach probability is calculated by a breach probability calculation module (not shown) withinquota manager144. The usage breach probability represents the probability that the subscriber will breach his or her usage quota during the session. The usage breach probability can be based on any information and network usage statistics available at the time the session begins. For example, usage breach probability can be based on, but not limited to, the following information and network usage statistics: the current date, the billing date, the number of breaches for the subscriber, the number of breaches for all subscribers, when breaches have occurred in the past for the subscriber, when breaches have occurred for all subscribers, knowledge of peak usage patterns (e.g., on-peak/off-peak, weekdays), cumulative usage for the subscriber, and usage quota for the subscriber. Further, the following rules can be used to determine the usage breach probability: the probability of a quota breach increases towards the end of the billing period, the probability of a “repeat-offender” subscriber breaching a quota is significantly higher than the general subscriber population, a subscriber is more likely to breach at a time in the billing cycle when historic breaches have occurred, and breaches are more likely to occur at peak usage periods.
• The calculated usage breach probability is used by a usage update interval module (not shown) within policy controller140 to determine the interim interval for the session, in that a higher usage breach probability would be associated with a shorter interim interval. Further, in an embodiment where there are multiple subscribers, each with active subscriber sessions occurring simultaneously, the usage breach probability of the subscriber can be compared to the usage breach probability of other subscribers with active sessions to determine the interim interval for the subscriber. This allows resources to be optimized by using resources to monitor the subscribers most likely to breach. The interim interval is communicated externally via a network provider interface. In embodiments of the invention, the network provider interface can be part ofweb portal222 for homenetwork service provider220 orweb portal232 for roamednetwork service provider230.
• Upon the lapse of the interim interval, or an end of the subscriber session, a usage update is collected and input to the breach probability calculation module. The breach probability calculation module updates the calculation of the usage breach probability, using the information contained in the usage update. If the amount of usage in the current session is sufficiently high, the usage breach probability may increase.
• The breach analysis module also determines the degree the usage data should be analyzed. The degree to which the usage data should be analyzed is based on the updated usage breach probability. For example, a new cumulative usage total may be calculated if the usage breach probability exceeds a first threshold and the new cumulative usage total may be evaluated against the subscriber's usage quota if the usage breach probability exceeds a second threshold. Further, in an embodiment where there are multiple subscribers, each with active sessions occurring simultaneously, the usage breach probability of the subscriber can be compared to the usage breach probability of other subscribers with active sessions to optimize the level of analysis for all subscribers.
• Should the second threshold be exceeded, the cumulative usage total is evaluated against the subscriber's usage quota by the breach analysis module and a determination is made as to whether a usage breach has occurred. If a breach has occurred, the appropriate breach action occurs. For example, a notification message can be sent to the subscriber indicating the breach (e.g., SMS), subscriber traffic can be redirected, the subscriber's session can terminate, a billing record may be generated, or any combination of the above actions can be performed. Further, the subscriber's service profile can be updated accordingly.
• If a breach has not occurred, a determination is made by the breach analysis module as to whether the update is a final update, as would be the case when a subscriber seeks to end a session. In the case of a final update, a subscriber session is ended and information in the subscriber's service profile is updated accordingly.
• In a further embodiment of the current invention,system300 for providing data communications cost monitoring and controls may optionally generate a marketing response based on the analysis of the subscriber information available. For example, a subscriber who initiates a request to view a video would be notified of the likelihood of an upcoming usage breach such that the subscriber could obtain additional usage quota to support the video request. Such a marketing notification would be based on a current usage breach probability, and preferably would precede a usage breach event by sufficient time so as to add to the growth of the subscriber-network provider relationship. Such a capability is embodied in thespecial offer interface1100 described below with reference toFIG. 11, whose coupling to the breach probability calculation module provides the current usage breach probability to thespecial offer interface1100. When the current usage breach probability exceeds a marketing threshold, a message communicating a marketing offer (i.e., a ‘special offer’) may be initiated by thespecial offer interface1100 as described below with reference toFIG. 11.
• In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the ability to optimize usage collection and analysis takes advantage of the statistical correlation between various types of information and the usage breach probability of a particular subscriber. The statistical correlation can be captured in a variety of functional relationships. For example, if the three breach factors of day-of-week (designated as breach factor11), cumulative-usage (f2), and usage-quota (f3) were particularly informative as to the likelihood of a subsequent breach, a possible relationship may be captured as follows:
• 
  Usage breach probability=A*f1+B*f2+C*f3
• where A, B, and C are coefficients that have been developed so as to maximize the accuracy of the usage breach probability calculation. Various means may be used to determine these coefficients, including regression analysis. Moreover, the scope of this approach is not limited to linear relationships, but encompasses non-linear relationships, discrete relationships, and time-varying relationships. Similar relationships can also be developed for the interim interval, that can found to depend on such factors as usage breach probability and actual overall usage.
• Information regarding data costs incurred may also be modeled byusage policy application104 and stored in a local store such aslocal store308. Data costs may be modeled and stored on the network service provider level, subscriber level, subscriber group level, for eachapplication306, and for groups ofapplications306.
• Usage intervals may be stored be stored inlocal store308 on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Usage intervals pertaining to a plurality of subscribers anduser equipment102 may also be stored inglobal store368.
• Tariff information for a plurality of networks regarding data prices (i.e., expressed as cost per Byte, MB, or GB) may also be stored in a local store such aslocal store308. Tariff information is collected and stored on a network level.
Mobile Usage Policy Application
• With continued reference toFIG. 3, in an embodiment, mobileusage policy application104 provides the functionality described in the following paragraphs.
• Mobileusage policy application104 provides a user interface for monitoring and control (denoted as data flow3). An exemplary user interface is provided inFIGS. 7-11, which are described in detail below.
• Mobileusage policy application104 also defines the data and policies thatapplication controller310 andlocal store308 require (denoted asdata flow2 inFIG. 3).
• The following are the types of data usage policies defined by mobileusage policy application104 forapplication controller310 onuser equipment102.
• Mobileusage policy application104 can set data usage quotas, thresholds (including alert and stop thresholds), allowable maximum tariffs (i.e., tariff limits expressed in terms of maximum acceptable costs per Byte, MB, or GB), allowable network service providers (i.e., allowed roamednetwork service providers230 for a given subscriber,user equipment102 and/or application306), and allowable network tariff minimums. For example, mobileusage policy application104 may only allow a given subscriber,user equipment102, orapplication306 to access a roamednetwork service provider230 tariff less than a certain currency amount per storage unit (i.e., US dollars per MB or GB).
Usage Policy Server and Server Side Usage Policy Application
• In an embodiment,usage policy server160 hosts server sideusage policy application164,global store368, a Global Policy Controller, andweb portal222.
• Global store368 optionally collects data usage information fromlocal stores308 from a plurality ofuser equipment102. In an embodiment,global store368 comprises a database that provides rolled up, or peruser equipment102, per-subscriber, per-application306 breakdowns, or views of usage data within various contexts. These contexts may include, but are not limited to, corporations, organizations (i.e., departments), and a subscriber. The level of granularity of data stored inglobal store368 allows subscribers and network administrators to run data queries and generate reports regarding data usage for a single subscriber,single user equipment102, groups of subscribers, and related sets of user equipment102 (i.e., user equipment leased by an organization or corporations) for a given period. In an embodiment, these queries and reports can be accessed viaweb portal222.
• Global store368 onusage policy server160 optionally stores and distributes the peruser equipment102 information. In this way,usage policy server160 can be used to provide centralized provisioning ofuser equipment102.
• Global policy controller370 is an application onusage policy server160 that enables access toglobal store368 and drivesglobal store368 to collect information from a plurality of user equipment102 (denoted as data flow5).Global policy controller370 also drivesglobal store368 to provision information to a plurality of user equipment102 (denoted as data flow5).
Provider Based System
• FIG. 4 illustrates an architecture for a provider-basedsystem400 for providing data communications cost monitoring and controls within a communications network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is described with continued reference toFIGS. 1-3. However,system400 is not limited to those embodiments.
• In the embodiment ofsystem400, the infrastructure of a network service provider provides data usage metering and control.Usage policy server160 providesinterface404 to subscribers usinguser equipment102 to allow subscribers to monitor and control charging for data usage.
• In an embodiment the data usage metering and control is web based and accessed viaweb portal222. Alternatively, data usage metering and control is device application based usinginterface404 invoked locally onuser equipment102.Interface404 allows the device to register with usage policy server160 (denoted as data flow1). After registration,user equipment102 is synchronized withusage policy server160 andlocal store308 is updated (denoted as data flow2).
• Usage policy server160 also allows subscribers and network administrators to access web interface viaweb portal222 to fetch values for data usage attributes (denoted as data flow3) such as, but not limited to thresholds and quotas on a perapplication306, homenetwork service provider220, roamednetwork service provider230, or subscriber basis.
• Usage policy server160 also stores usage data for all registereduser equipment102 insubscriber usage database156 for a given period (e.g., 2 months).
• Usage policy server160 then registers with online and offline charging systems such as policy and charging rules function (PCRF)142. In embodiments, the charging systems may include AAA and other protocols, capable of receiving data usage information foruser equipment102.
• According to an embodiment,PCRF142 receives a bulk registration request from usage policy server160 (denoted as data flow4). The bulk registration request comprises data usage information for a plurality ofuser equipment102 that has registered withusage policy server160. The data usage information contains threshold and stoppage policies based on criteria such as data volume and the characteristics of roamednetwork service provider230.
• System400 can be used to provide flexible policy descriptions for a network service provider's charging plan. For example, a network service provider can furnish its policy and charging rules fromPCRF142 viausage policy server160. The provider-based architecture illustrated inFIG. 4 enables distribution of flexible policy descriptions corresponding to network service provider charging plans via data flows betweenPCRF142 andusage policy server160.
• System400 and the provider-based architecture depicted inFIG. 4 can also be used to provide flexible tariff distribution. Tariffs comprise information kept for each known potential roamednetwork service provider230 in which a subscriber can roam. Access to this information onuser equipment102 is useful when a subscriber wants to determine which potential roamednetwork service provider230 will be most cost-effective to use. Tariff information pertaining to a plurality of roamednetwork service providers230 may reside in a database or data store onusage policy server160 to be distributed to a plurality ofuser equipment102.
• PCRF142 accesses usage information forwarded by one or morenetwork access gateways120. In an embodiment, this usage information is received bynetwork access gateway120 via a radio access network (RAN)406.PCRF142 sends usage stream information comprising current data usage information foruser equipment102 to usage policy server160 (denoted as data flow5).
• Usage policy server160 requests thatPCRF142 control usage (i.e., affect bearer channel) foruser equipment102 once a stoppage decision is made by PCRF142 (denoted as data flow6).
Data Monitoring and Control Methods
• FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary message flow diagram for amethod500 for providing data communications cost monitoring and controls when the provider-based architecture provided inFIG. 4 is used, according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 5 is described with continued reference toFIG. 4. However,method500 is not limited to that embodiment.
• Instep505, a subscriber, usinginterface404 onuser equipment102 enters data needed to make an initial request to registeruser equipment102. In another embodiment, this step is performed by a subscriber accessing a web based user interface viaweb portal222 onusage policy server160.
• Instep510, theuser equipment102 device registration request is sent tousage policy server160.
• Instep520, data fromsubscriber usage database156 is sent fromusage policy server160 touser equipment102 in order to synchronize. In this step,user equipment102 is synchronized withusage policy server160 andlocal store308 is updated.
• Instep530, a request to fetch values for data usage attributes is sent fromuser equipment102 tousage policy server160. Attribute/value pairs fetched in this step may include application, subscriber, and/or network-based thresholds and quotas.
• Instep540, a bulk registration request is sent fromusage policy server160 toPCRF142. In this step, a bulk registration request fromusage policy server160 comprising data usage information for a plurality ofuser equipment102 that has registered withusage policy server160 is forwarded toPCRF142. In an embodiment, the data usage information contains threshold and stoppage policies based on criteria such as data volume and the characteristics of a homenetwork service provider220 or a roamednetwork service provider230.
• In step545,PCRF142 sends usage stream information comprising current data usage information foruser equipment102 tousage policy server160.
• In step550,usage policy server160 sends a request toPCRF142. In this step, a request to control data usage foruser equipment102 is sent based upon a stoppage decision made byPCRF142.
• FIG. 6 depicts aflowchart600 of an exemplary method for monitoring and controlling data usage, according to embodiments of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is described with continued reference toFIGS. 1-5. However,flowchart600 is not limited to those embodiments.
• Instep610, auser equipment102 device registration request is sent to ausage policy server160. In an embodiment this step is performed usinginterface404 onuser equipment102. In another embodiment, this step is performed by a subscriber accessing a web based user interface viaweb portal222 onusage policy server160.
• Instep620,user equipment102 is synchronized and updated using data fromsubscriber usage database156 sent fromusage policy server160. In this step,local store308 is updated.
• Instep630, values for data usage thresholds and attributes are requested fromuser equipment102. In an embodiment, thresholds and attribute/value pairs are tunable or editable on userequipment using interface404. Attribute/value pairs may include application, subscriber, and/or network-based thresholds and quotas. Thresholds may include percentage usage levels beyond which a notification is to be sent to a subscriber usinguser equipment102.
• Instep640, bulk registration is performed. The bulk registration includes collecting data usage information for a plurality ofuser equipment102 that has registered with ausage policy server160. The data usage information comprises threshold and stoppage policies based on criteria such as data volume and the characteristics of network service providers.
• Instep650, the usage stream for a subscriber is updated. In this step, usage stream information comprising current data usage information foruser equipment102 may be sent to ausage policy server160.
• Instep660, a determination whether an attribute value obtained instep630 has been exceeded. In this step, a determination is made whether any attribute value has been exceeded, such as a daily MB cap, a cap by anapplication306 running onuser equipment102, a cap foruser equipment102, and/or an overall data cap for a subscriber
• If an attribute has not been exceeded, operation proceeds to step665. If threshold has been exceeded, operation proceeds to step670.
• Instep665, a determination whether a threshold value obtained instep630 has been exceeded. In this step, a determination is made whether any threshold has been exceeded, such as a percentage threshold regarding daily usage in MBs, has been reached.
• If a threshold has been exceeded, operation proceeds to step670. If threshold has not been exceeded, operation proceeds to step680.
• Instep670, a notification is sent to subscriber. In this step, a notification may comprise a prompt ininterface404, an email message, a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message, a subscriber notification posted viaweb portal222, or any other notification capable of notifying a subscriber that a threshold has been exceeded.
• Instep675, after the notification sent instep670 has been received by a subscriber, a determination is made whether a service characteristic has been changed. In this step, a subscriber, in response to the notification sent instep670, can optionally change a service tier associated with their subscription in order to alleviate either an exceeded threshold determined instep665 or an exceeded attribute determined instep660. In this step, an upgrade to a next service tier can be made when a subscriber is close to reaching bandwidth caps or thresholds.
• If a service characteristic is modified, operation proceeds to step680. If a service characteristics are unchanged, operation proceeds to step685.
• Instep680, current total data usage is determined foruser equipment102.
• In this step, data usage forapplications306 running onuser equipment102 may also be determined. After collection and calculation of data usage information is performed in this step, control is passed back tostep650.
• Instep680, data usage is controlled onuser equipment102 after a subscriber opted to not modify service characteristics instep675 and the method ends.
Example Graphical User Interfaces
• FIGS. 7-11 depict a graphical user interface (GUI) for a mobile device to display data usage, edit usage limits, define tariffs, and accept marketing offers to change service tiers, according to embodiments of the invention.
• In an embodiment of the present invention, mobileusage policy application104 may include the exemplary interface illustrated inFIGS. 7-11.FIGS. 7-11 are described with continued reference to the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 1-4. However,FIGS. 7-11 are not limited to those embodiments. ThroughoutFIGS. 7-11, displays are shown with various hyperlinks, command regions, ‘turn wheels’, buttons, ‘slide bars’, and data entry fields, which are used to initiate action, invoke routines, enter data, view data, or invoke other functionality. For brevity, only the differences occurring within the figures, as compared to previous or subsequent ones of the figures, are described below.
• FIG. 7 illustrates adata usage interface700 that allows a subscriber to view home data used702 in homenetwork service provider220 as compared roamed data used704 while roaming in roamednetwork service provider230 for a given period. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG. 7, the period is 1 month (e.g., April), but as would as would be understood by those skilled in the relevant art(s)interface700 could display other data usage periods (i.e., hourly, daily, weekly, etc). In an embodiment,interface404 comprisesinterface700.
• A subscriber can set “Notify” and “Stop” limits by selecting, usinginput device710, limitsbutton706. Similarly, a subscriber can display and set tariffs by selecting, usinginput device710,tariffs button708.Interface700 also displaystotal data usage712.
• FIG. 8 illustrates a usage limits interface800 that allows a subscriber to set data usage limits in homenetwork service provider220 and in roamednetwork service providers230. According to an embodiment of the invention,interface404 comprisesinterface800. A subscriber, usinginput device710 or a touch screen interface withininterface800 can changeusage limits802 for one or more network service providers. In an embodiment,usage limits802 are changeable by scrolling through different values by using ‘turn wheels’ withininterface800. After one ormore usage limits802 have been changed,new usage limits802 may be saved when a subscriber, usinginput device710 or a touch screen interface withininterface800 selects savebutton804. Current, updated usage data is displayed when a subscriber, usinginput device710 or a touch screen interface withininterface800, selectsusage button806.
• FIG. 9 illustrates atariffs interface900 that allows a subscriber to display and definetariffs902 for homenetwork service provider220 and for roamednetwork service providers230. In embodiment of the invention,interface404 comprisesinterface900. In an embodiment, somepre-set tariffs902 are provided by the network service providers andother tariffs902 are editable by the subscriber ininterface900 in cases where the subscriber knows thetariff902 and a network service providers cannot know the tariff.
• FIG. 10 illustrates aninterface1000 for displaying data usage.Interface1000 is an alternative embodiment ofinterface700 depicted inFIG. 7. A subscriber, usingslide bars1006, can set “Notify” and “Stop” limits. According to an embodiment, a subscriber can display marketing offers by selecting, usinginput device710,special offers button1008. An exemplary interface for displaying and selecting marketing offers is described below with reference toFIG. 11.
• FIG. 11 illustrates aninterface1100 for displaying marketing offers presented to a subscriber by a homenetwork service provider220 and/or roamednetwork service providers230. In an embodiment, some marketing offers1102 are provided by the homenetwork service provider220 and other marketing offers1102 are offered by roamednetwork service providers230. In the exemplary embodiment depicted inFIG. 11, marketing offers1102 can include offers to increase the number of Short Messaging Service (SMS) text messages the subscriber can send and receive, a ‘DayPass’ on a roamed network, and a ‘TopUp and Go’ offer to provide a certain amount of additional data usage and/or calling minutes. In an embodiment, marketing offers1102 may be offered to a user for free or may be offered for sale to the subscriber. In an embodiment, a subscriber can select marketing offers by selecting, usinginput device710, links displayed withspecial offers1102.Interface1100 also displaystotal data usage712.
Example Computer System Implementation
• In an embodiment of the present invention, the methods and systems of the present invention described herein are implemented using well-known computers, such as acomputer1200 shown inFIG. 12. Thecomputer1200 can be any commercially available and well-known computer capable of performing the functions described herein, such as computers available from International Business Machines, Apple, Sun, HP, Dell, Cray, etc.
• Computer1200 includes one or more processors (also called central processing units, or CPUs), such asprocessor1210.Processor1210 is connected tocommunication bus1220.Computer1200 also includes a main orprimary memory1230, preferably random access memory (RAM).Primary memory1230 has stored therein control logic (computer software), and data.
• Computer1200 may also include one or moresecondary storage devices1240.Secondary storage devices1240 include, for example,hard disk drive1250 and/or removable storage device or drive1260.Removable storage drive1260 represents a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, a compact disk drive, an optical storage device, tape backup, ZIP drive, JAZZ drive, etc.
• Removable storage drive1260 interacts withremovable storage unit1270. As will be appreciated,removable storage drive1260 includes a computer usable or readable storage medium having stored therein computer software (control logic) and/or data.Removable storage drive1260 reads from and/or writes to theremovable storage unit1270 in a well-known manner.
• Removable storage unit1270, also called a program storage device or a computer program product, represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, compact disk, optical storage disk, ZIP disk, JAZZ disk/tape, or any other computer data storage device. Program storage devices or computer program products also include any device in which computer programs can be stored, such as hard drives, ROM or memory cards, etc.
• In an embodiment, the present invention is directed to computer program products or program storage devices having software that enablescomputer1200, or multiple computer1200sto perform any combination of the functions described herein
• Computer programs (also called computer control logic) are stored inmain memory1230 and/or thesecondary storage devices1240. Such computer programs, when executed,direct computer1200 to perform the functions of the present invention as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, enableprocessor1210 to perform the functions of the present invention. Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of thecomputer1200.
• Computer1200 also includes input/output/display devices1280, such as monitors, keyboards, pointing devices, etc.
• Computer1200 further includes a communication ornetwork interface1290.Network interface1290 enablescomputer1200 to communicate with remote devices. For example,network interface1290 allowscomputer1200 to communicate over communication networks, such as LANs, WANs, the Internet, etc.Network interface1290 may interface with remote sites or networks via wired or wireless connections.Computer1200 receives data and/or computer programs vianetwork interface1290. The electrical/magnetic signals having contained therein data and/or computer programs received or transmitted by thecomputer1200 vianetwork interface1290 also represent computer program product(s).
• The invention can work with software, hardware, and operating system implementations other than those described herein. Any software, hardware, and operating system implementations suitable for performing the functions described herein can be used.
CONCLUSION
• While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be understood by those skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to these examples. The invention is applicable to any elements operating as described herein. Accordingly, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims (26)

1. A method for providing data communications cost monitoring and control for a subscriber session, comprising:

receiving, at a usage policy server, a registration request associated with the subscriber session;

determining current data usage associated with the subscriber session;

receiving, at the usage policy server, one or more data usage thresholds and one or more quotas associated with the subscriber session;

collecting, at the usage policy server, data usage information associated with the subscriber session;

sending a notification to a subscriber when the subscriber exceeds a pre-determined quota during the subscriber session; and

controlling data usage for the subscriber session when the subscriber exceeds a pre-determined quota during the subscriber session

2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the notification is one or more of an email message, a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message, and a prompt in a user interface.

3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein determining current data usage comprises:

retrieving subscriber profile data from a subscriber data repository; and

determining the whether a quota has been exceeded based on a service tier associated with the subscriber.

4. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising:

sending a notification to the subscriber when a pre-determined threshold is exceeded during the subscriber session.

5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the notification is one or more of an email message, a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message, and a prompt in a user interface.

6. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising:

storing data usage information in a subscriber data repository.

7. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the usage policy server, a request to change a service tier associated with the subscriber session; and

updating a subscriber profile based upon a requested service tier change request.

8. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the usage policy server, a request to change a threshold associated with the subscriber session; and

updating a subscriber profile based upon a requested threshold change request.

9. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the usage policy server, a request to change a quota associated with the subscriber session; and

updating a subscriber profile based upon a requested quota change request.

10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more quotas comprise a maximum amount of data usage for a period, a maximum amount of data usage for an application, a maximum amount of data usage for a group of applications, and a maximum amount of data usage for a mobile device associated with the subscriber.

11. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more data usage thresholds comprise a percentage of data usage as compared to a quota.

12. A system for providing data communications cost monitoring and control for a subscriber session, comprising:

a usage policy server configured to receive a registration request associated with the subscriber session;

a usage policy application configured to determine current data usage associated with the subscriber session;

a receiving module configured to receive one or more data usage thresholds and one or more quotas associated with the subscriber session;

a collection module configured to collect data usage information associated with the subscriber session;

a notification module configured to notify a subscriber when the subscriber exceeds a pre-determined quota during the subscriber session; and

a control module configured to limit data usage for the subscriber session when the subscriber exceeds a pre-determined quota during the subscriber session.

13. The system ofclaim 12 further comprising a data usage limit module configured to receive and display modifications to data usage limits associated with the subscriber session.

14. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the data usage limit module is further configured receive and display modifications to data usage limits associated with one or more applications running on a mobile device.

15. The system ofclaim 14, wherein the data usage limit module is further configured to run on a web server.

16. The system ofclaim 14, wherein the data usage limit module is further configured to run on a mobile device.

17. The system ofclaim 12 further comprising a tariff definition module configured to receive modifications to tariffs associated with one or more network service providers.

18. The system ofclaim 17, wherein the tariff definition module is further configured to display modified tariffs associated with associated with one or more network service providers.

19. The system ofclaim 18, wherein the tariff definition module is further configured to run on a web server.

20. The system ofclaim 18, wherein the tariff definition module is further configured to run on a mobile device.

21. The system ofclaim 12 further comprising a special offer module configured to receive and display marketing offers to alter a service tier associated with the subscriber session.

22. The system ofclaim 21, wherein the special offer module is further configured receive and display marketing offers from a home network service provider associated with the subscriber session.

23. The system ofclaim 21, wherein the special offer module is further configured receive and display marketing offers from a roamed network service provider associated with the subscriber session.

24. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having computer program logic stored thereon for enabling a processor to provide data communications cost monitoring and control for a subscriber session, comprising:

a breach probability calculation module adapted to determine a usage breach probability for the subscriber session;

a breach analysis module adapted to analyze usage data based in part on the usage breach probability;

a usage update interval module adapted to determine an interim interval at which subscriber usage updates are collected based at least in part on the usage breach probability;

a network service provider interface adapted to communicate with network service provider facilities;

a subscriber profile interface adapted to interface with a subscriber profile database; and

a subscriber usage interface adapted to interface with a subscriber usage database.

25. The computer program product according toclaim 24, further comprising:

a marketing offer module adapted to generate a marketing offer in response to the breach probability calculation module determining that a usage breach probability exceeds a marketing threshold.

26. The computer program product according toclaim 25, further comprising:

a special offer interface coupled to the marketing offer module and adapted to display an offer message if the usage breach probability exceeds a marketing threshold.

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