Billing Patents (Class 455/406)
  • Patent number: 9866588
    Abstract: A method at a user equipment capable of supporting at least two radio connections, the method including requesting from a remote server, using a first radio connection, a subscriber identity; receiving, at the user equipment, the subscriber identity over the first radio connection; using the subscriber identity to establish a second radio connection; and forcing the first radio connection to remain on a same network as the second radio connection. Further, a method at a user equipment capable of supporting at least two radio connections, the method receiving a subscriber authentication challenge over the second network connection; using the first radio connection to connect to the remote server to obtain an authentication challenge response for the subscriber authentication challenge; and sending the authentication challenge response over the second network connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Trevor Plestid, Sylvie Allard, Joseph Tu Long Deu-Ngoc, Keizo Marui
  • Patent number: 9866687
    Abstract: A system for sharing, with the recipient of a phone call, data provided by a caller, comprising: A phone device, equipped and configured to collect data, link it to a recipient of an outgoing phone call, and send it, and a phone device equipped and configured to present the data sent to it by another phone device, as a part of an incoming call event. In various embodiments of the invention, the system is further comprised of a server configured to transfer the data between phone devices. In other embodiments the system is also comprised of a network enabling phone calls between phone devices. In some embodiments such sharing can be done by a caller using a single operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: PICK UP MOBILE (2015) LTD
    Inventors: Lior Shacham, Ofir Oron
  • Patent number: 9836787
    Abstract: One or more financial accounts associated with a user are designated for balance monitoring and balance display. Balance increments are then defined and a unique balance indicator image, symbol, or display, is associated with each defined balance increment. One or more websites, and/or applications, are then designated to display the balance indicator images, symbols, or displays, and whenever one of the designated websites or applications is accessed, data indicating a current balance in the designated one or more financial accounts is obtained. The current balance amount is then encoded using the appropriate balance indicator image, symbol, or display, and the appropriate balance indicator image, symbol, or display, is displayed on a display device associated with the user computing system as part of, on, in, or through, the accessed designated website or application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew James Homier, Patricia Powell
  • Patent number: 9836733
    Abstract: A financial transaction system includes a governing host having a database for registering parties wishing to perform a financial transaction and processing the financial transaction. A discrete point-of-sale (POS) terminal interfaces with one party wishing to initiate a financial transaction with another party. The discrete POS terminal has a local transaction process for initial validating and enforcing of business rules governing the transaction with the one party and generating a transaction key confirming that the transaction is authorized on validating the transaction with the governing host. A facilitator device reads the transaction key on being supplied with same by the one party and communicates with the governing host to complete the transaction using a facilitator POS terminal. The discrete POS terminal is located separately and can be accessed and operated independently by the one party offline of any point-of-sale activity involving the facilitator POS terminal and the facilitator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: CULLINAN CONSULTING GROUP PTY LTD.
    Inventors: Philip Leslie Course, Frank Ajzensztat, Wens Peter Brinkman
  • Patent number: 9832032
    Abstract: A method for enabling a user terminal to receive packet data in a mobile communication system supporting a packet data service. In the method, a radio network controller receives a session start message from a core network, determines whether or not a frequency area (FA) including the user equipment supports the MBMS service, and transmits a notification message, which contains cell reselection information used when the user equipment moves into an FA supporting the MBMS service, to the user equipment when the user equipment is located in an FA, which does not support the MBMS service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kyeong-In Jeong, Soeng-Hun Kim
  • Patent number: 9826105
    Abstract: A device receives an identifier associated with a user device, and receives information associated with data usage by the user device. The device determines whether the data usage is sponsored by a sponsor based on the identifier and the information associated with the data usage. The sponsor sponsors data usage associated with particular content accessed by the user device. The device assigns charges for the data usage to an account associated with the user device when the data usage is not sponsored by the sponsor, or to an account associated with the sponsor when the data usage is sponsored by the sponsor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Manish Sharma, Kevin Flores, Devin Blong, Tushar Chaudhary, Annu Yadav, Gurudutt Pai
  • Patent number: 9819644
    Abstract: The subject matter described herein generally relates to making an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) available at a base station, such as an evolved node (eNodeB) base station, within a cellular network, for example, a long term evolution communications system. The base station can receive data in response to a data request. The received data can include a header including an international mobile subscriber identifier. The base station can generate a first data for use in performing at least one communication function based on the received international mobile subscriber identifier. The base station can transmit the first data to at least one server communicatively coupled to the base station. Related apparatuses, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: AltioStar Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: Anupam Kumar Goel
  • Patent number: 9819675
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and non-transitory data storage media are provided for secured communications where biometrics are used to secure communications sent over a data communication path. A sender of a secured communication may identify one or more biometrics required from a recipient before the recipient is allowed to interpret, read, view, or listen to the communication. Communications secured by the present invention may include email, text messages, iMessages, files, links, Universal Resource Locators (URLs), videos, photos, attachments, or other forms of electronic data or media communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: GrandiOs Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Cronin
  • Patent number: 9813891
    Abstract: Structures and protocols are presented for using or otherwise relating to a first mobile device (a smartphone or tablet computer or wearable device, e.g.) configured to be shared by two or more parties such that a subset of the parties may be addressed selectively (in content directed to such parties, e.g.) in a cost-effective manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Edward K. Y. Jung, Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud
  • Patent number: 9813888
    Abstract: When a wireless device is outside of its home service area, the device typically has to use expensive roaming data or phone services. However, as herein described, a global SIM may be inbuilt into a device, plugged into a second SIM port of the device, or may be added onto a device through one of the existing ports of the device. The global SIM allows the user to register for a service plan with a local service provider when in a foreign country. A software application on the wireless device can control the selection and purchase of local service plans, as well as control the switching of SIM data to ensure that a local SIM is used when traveling. The global SIM is capable of storing multiple registered service plans and the necessary data for the wireless device to operate as a local device when outside of the home service area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Mikael Koroukian
  • Patent number: 9807059
    Abstract: A telecommunication device for real-time communication at a border between a global transport network and a private domain of a communication network may include a proxy for a communication protocol, means for traffic using real-time communication protocols to traverse a firewall, means for real-time traffic initiated by the communication protocol to traverse a firewall, means for measuring and collecting value information about the real-time traffic over the global transport network, means for creating mutual trust between the telecommunication device and a second device with which it communicates; and means for authorizing usage of a feature for a mutually trusted communication participant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: IPALIVE AB.
    Inventor: Karl Erik Ståhl
  • Patent number: 9807596
    Abstract: The present invention provides a remote wireless smart card comprising: a smart-card model, used to be arranged in a smart-card terminal unit for the conductive connection between the card model and the smart-card terminal unit as well as the electrical signal transfer between the smart-card terminal unit and the control module; a control module, used for parsing and analyzing the interface protocol between a smart-card terminal and the destination smart card and for executing the communication protocol with the destination smart card control equipment; and a wireless communication module, used for wireless communication via the wireless network between the remote wireless smart card and the destination smart card control equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Simo Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Jing Liu, Yuan Shen, Wei Ren
  • Patent number: 9800740
    Abstract: A method including obtaining, via a first push notification received by a mobile station, a first usage amount of a mobile communication network resource allocation associated with the mobile station; storing, in the mobile station, the first usage amount; determining that the stored first usage amount is out of date; in response to the determination that the stored first usage amount is out of date, transmitting a request for a usage amount of the mobile communication network resource allocation; receiving a response to the request, the response indicating a second usage amount of the mobile communication network resource allocation; and displaying, on a display unit included in the mobile station, a graphical indication of an amount of the mobile communication network resource allocation that has been used or remains to be used, based on the second usage amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Thomas Razzano, Henry H. Li, Meera Deshpande Kumarjiguda
  • Patent number: 9800741
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application provide a charging method, a charging device, a charging system, and an authentication device. According to the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, when the available service volume of the user is not enough at the time close to the tariff switch point, the operation of forcing a user to go offline may be performed selectively, depending on the specific situation. Therefore, the operation of forcing a user to go offline can meet requirements of increasingly complicated charging policies of the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yafeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 9794421
    Abstract: A method of adapting quotas for a shared resource in a network includes: retrieving, at a charging server, a usage level and a time period for each of a plurality of communication sessions associated with the shared resource, the communication sessions corresponding to respective client devices connected to the network; determining, at the charging server, whether the shared resource can support each of the communication sessions for the corresponding retrieved usage level and time period; when the determination is negative, determining a common reduced time period for each of the communication sessions at the charging server; and at the charging server, when the reduced time period exceeds a predefined threshold, allocating quotas to each of the communication sessions from the shared resource based on the usage levels and the reduced time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: REDKNEE INC.
    Inventors: Claudia Oltmanns, Uwe Gleinig
  • Patent number: 9794788
    Abstract: A system for controlling, monitoring, and recording of wireless telecommunications services associated with penal institutions is provided comprising a portable electronic device and application executing on the device that present a listing of available call destinations based on receiving a first instruction from a first authorized party possessing the device. The application receives a second instruction comprising a choice of a first call destination from the listing. The application transmits a third instruction requesting connection with the destination and joins a second authorized party associated with the first call destination in a first voice session. The application joins the first authorized party to the first session. The application further joins the first party to a second voice session initiated by the second party based on determining that the second party initiated the second session from the first destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Brian Francis Byrne
  • Patent number: 9781751
    Abstract: A media device including a broadcast receiver that receives broadcast media from a plurality of broadcast sources where the broadcast receiver is tunable to a first broadcast source. The media device also includes a data store that stores a list of contact identifiers where each contact identifier is associated with a broadcast source. The media device includes a user interface that: i) provides a prompt to a user to enable the user to initiate contact with the first broadcast source, and ii) receives a user indication to initiate contact with the first broadcast source. The media device further includes a transceiver that initiates the contact with the first broadcast source by sending a communications session request via a communications network to the first broadcast source that includes a contact identifier associated with the first broadcast source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Allen P. Haughay, Jr., Ryan Perry
  • Patent number: 9769326
    Abstract: The present disclosure include acquiring, by a TDF entity, a correlation identifier of a data flow of an application borne by the TDF entity; and sending, by the TDF entity, first charging information to a charging system, where the first charging information carries the correlation identifier of the data flow of the application borne by the TDF entity, so that the charging system performs, according to the correlation identifier of the data flow of the application borne by the TDF entity and a correlation identifier of a data flow borne by a PCEF entity, correlation processing for the first charging information and second charging information that is sent by the PCEF entity to the charging system, where the second charging information carries the correlation identifier of the data flow borne by the PCEF entity. Thereby, accurate charging can be performed for the data flow and the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiaoqian Chai
  • Patent number: 9763065
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for transmitting information. During operation, the system receives, by a server from an initial mobile device, a request for transmitting information. The request does not specify a recipient for the information. The system obtains location and/or orientation information associated with the initial mobile device and location and/or orientation information associated with a plurality of mobile devices. The system selects from the plurality of mobile devices a subset of mobile devices based on the location and/or orientation information associated with the initial mobile device and the location and/or orientation information associated with the plurality of mobile devices, and transmits the information to the selected subset of mobile devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
    Inventor: Yunguang Luo
  • Patent number: 9762743
    Abstract: Technologies for converting mobile communications network billing records include a billing record converter system. The billing record converter system receives a data usage billing record associated with a mobile computing device communicatively coupled to a long term evolution wireless communications network. The received data usage billing record is formatted according to a real-time data usage billing record format. The received data usage billing record is converted into a new data usage billing record formatted according to a roaming data usage billing record format that corresponds to a legacy wireless communications network. The new data usage billing record is transmitted to a billing system of the legacy wireless communications network for processing. In some embodiments, the billing record converter system cumulates and converts multiple data usage billing records associated with the mobile computing device into the new data usage billing record. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Inventor: Sudir Kumar Anand
  • Patent number: 9749364
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are disclosed to provide privacy for inter-user equipment transfer (IUT) subscribers and remote parties involved in sessions with IUT subscribers. A first UE may establish a session with a remote party. The first UE may seek to perform an IUT to a second UE. The first UE may send a first request for the IUT to a service centralization and continuity application server (SCC AS). The SCC AS may receive the first request and perform an authorization. The SCC AS may determine that the requested IUT is allowed for the session. The SCC AS may send a second request to the remote party indicating the requested IUT. The remote party may evaluate the second request and may accept or reject the second request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Milan Patel
  • Patent number: 9749840
    Abstract: Generating and analyzing call detail records for various uses of mobile network resources includes, at a mobile network service bus configured to communicate with one or more service entities in a mobile core network, generating a first set of call detail records (CDRs) for messages received from the service entities in the mobile core network and a second set of CDRs for messages received from a tenant server that is providing an applications or a service on the mobile core network. Each of the CDRs included in the first set of CDRs and the second set of CDRs is tagged based on the processes involved in generating the particular CDR. Relationships are determined between the CDRs included in the first set of CDRs and the second set of CDRs based on the tagging and one or more of usage operations and network diagnostic operations are performed based on the relationships.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinod Jagannath Damle, Showen Yeh, Imnaz Meher Jilani, Raymond G. Prill, Soon Teck Gibson Ang, Walter Glenn Dixon, Kevin Franklin Clayton, Michael J. Lemen
  • Patent number: 9743311
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to improved communication quality of service in communication networks. A customer may pay different fees for different tiers of service relating to voice quality and bandwidth access. Higher service tiers may guarantee that a specific vocoder or bit rate is used; or guarantee that communication is supported by parameters such as maximum allowed dropped calls rate, jitter and latency. Availability may be guaranteed per the contract between subscribers and service providers. Different tiers may be associated with customers' records for billing purposes. High end devices may be afforded higher voice quality by comparing a given device to a look up table indicating what service level is associated therewith. A calling device or a receiving device may ask the other device to change the vocoder or bit rate to ensure a higher quality call. The user may also change the quality level before or during a call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Privilege Wireless LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Poltorak, Vladimir Kaminsky
  • Patent number: 9743281
    Abstract: A shared spectrum manager (SSM) may enable spectrum access for Tier 2 Users (T2Us) and Tier 3 Users (T3Us) while provisioning quality of access (QoA) in a dynamic shared spectrum environment while ensuring sufficient spectrum and interference protection for Tier 1 Users (T1Us). The SSM may enable new user spectrum authorizations by sending, to a regulator, a request for administrative information, and receiving, from the regulator, a policy and user authorization information for at least one user. The SSM may register a T2U with or without contacting the regulator. The SSM may perform quality based admission control by receiving periodic measurements from a master device of each T2U with an active frequency assignment indicating a Quality of Operation (QoO) experienced by the respective T2U, maintaining a map of an effective QoOs for a plurality of T2Us, and categorizing protection contours associated with each of the plurality of T2Us.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: INTERDIGITAL PATENT HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Pekka Ojanen, Martino M. Freda, Mihaela C. Beluri, Scott Laughlin, Tan B. Le, Jean-Louis Gauvreau
  • Patent number: 9734715
    Abstract: The various examples disclosed herein relate to systems, methods, and equipment that provide location and velocity monitoring of both a user's vehicle and another vehicle to avoid collision. The examples are applicable for using on-board telematics units to process that information and provide additional information based thereon such as the probability of collision. In some examples, if the chances of collision are high based on information received, warnings may be given to the vehicle's user. Based on these warnings, the user may take evasive maneuvers to reduce the probability of collision and prevent it. In other examples, if the chances of collision are high, the vehicle may decelerate without prompting from the user to minimize the impact of the collision. Any emergency reporting by the telematics unit, e.g. if a collision still occurred, may be enhanced with the relative location and velocity data from some interval the prior to emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Cellco Partnership
    Inventors: Carlos A. Cazanas, Azam Khan, Matthew Butz
  • Patent number: 9712961
    Abstract: A method and system are provided providing electronic communications between users in a similar geographic location. Mobile devices determine geographic location information based on signals received from external devices, such as GPS satellites or cell sites, and web browsers determine geographic location using external devices or third party software, such as Google Loader, or based on the IP address of the computer running the web browser. The system receives geographic location information from a mobile device or web browser in addition to a user-input message. The system distributes the message to users of the system with geographic locations within a predetermined distance from the geographic location that the message was input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Inventors: Steve Y Chen, David Y Chen
  • Patent number: 9712685
    Abstract: A method for location reporting at a charging area level granularity is provided. The method includes detecting at a mobility management entity (MME) a transition of a user equipment (UE) from a first cell to a second cell to obtain at least a second cell identifier. The method also includes determining at the MME whether the detected UE transition constitutes a transition from a first charging area to a second charging area using the second cell identifier by comparing the second cell identifier to a charging area configuration. A charging area includes a plurality of cells that are served by at least one eNodeB. The method further includes providing to a policy server a report of the determined UE transition, if it is determined that the detected UE transition constitutes a transition from the first charging area to the second charging area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Nirav Salot, Aeneas Dodd-Noble
  • Patent number: 9706463
    Abstract: A wireless communication network enables a user to select data communication accounting systems. A wireless communication device attaches to a wireless access system, and the wireless access system transfers network data characterizing Billing Identifiers (BIDs) to the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device processes the network data in combination with a user-prioritized list of accounting names to select one of the BIDs. The wireless communication device transfers the selected BID to the wireless access system, and the wireless access system directs a gateway system to use the selected BID for the wireless communication device. The gateway system exchanges user data for the wireless communication device and transfers usage data to the data communication accounting systems that is identified by the selected BID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Joao Carlos Osorio Gouvea Teixeira de Magalhaes, Lyle Walter Paczkowski
  • Patent number: 9705762
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for determining a client device identity. In one implementation, a method is provided that can include receiving a request from a client device. The method can also include determining, based on the client device request, a subscriber identification. After determining the subscriber identification, the method can include acquiring, from a transactional history database, transactional device data associated with the subscriber identification. In some embodiments, the transactional device data can include one or more counts associated with one or more device types. The method can also include determining, based on the transactional device data, the client device identity. In some embodiments, the determination of the client device identity can include selecting a device type of the one or more device types with the maximum count and setting the client device identity to the selected device type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: CITRIX SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Kannan Parthasarathy, Nicholas James Stavrakos
  • Patent number: 9699325
    Abstract: A third-party data balance transfer system enables a user of a wireless service network to transfer a data balance to another user of the wireless service network. For example, a third-party data balance transfer system may provide an interface to receive a request from a donor to transfer a data balance to a recipient. A third-party data balance transfer system may verify that the donor is eligible to transfer a data balance, and that the recipient is eligible to receive data. The third-party data balance transfer system may forward a message to the recipient when the eligibility of the donor and recipient are verified. The message may include instructions that direct the recipient to perform certain actions to activate the transfer a data balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Archana N. Shukla, Mervin G. Johnson, Alexandra Fradkin, Tarun Verma
  • Patent number: 9693225
    Abstract: A method at a user equipment capable of supporting at least two radio connections, the method including requesting from a remote server, using a first radio connection, a subscriber identity; receiving, at the user equipment, the subscriber identity over the first radio connection; using the subscriber identity to establish a second radio connection; and forcing the first radio connection to remain on a same network as the second radio connection. Further, a method at a user equipment capable of supporting at least two radio connections, the method receiving a subscriber authentication challenge over the second network connection; using the first radio connection to connect to the remote server to obtain an authentication challenge response for the subscriber authentication challenge; and sending the authentication challenge response over the second network connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Trevor Plestid, Sylvie Allard, Joseph Tu Long Deu-Ngoc, Keizo Marui
  • Patent number: 9674375
    Abstract: A mobile communications device receives an indication of a balance from a server when establishment of a voice call or sending of a message is requested. The mobile communications device determines whether the balance is sufficient to place the voice call or send the message over a mobile network. If the balance is sufficient to place the voice call or send the message over the mobile network, the voice call is established or the message is sent under normal operating conditions. If the balance is insufficient to place the voice call or send the message over the mobile network, a grace period is activated and the voice call is established or the message is sent during the grace period over an available wireless local-area network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: TEXTNOW, INC.
    Inventors: Derek Ting, Tristan Huntington, Rich Wong
  • Patent number: 9674685
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, from a user device associated with an end user, a request for content provided by a content provider. The method includes determining whether the requested content is to be provided on a data toll network, determining whether the requested content includes data toll free content in response to a determination that the requested content is to be provided on the data toll network, and applying graphic elements indicating data toll free status of data toll free sections of the requested content in response to a determination that the requested content includes data toll free content. The method further includes providing the requested content including the applied graphic elements to the user device, and billing data usage associated with providing the data toll free sections to the end user device to the content provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: Michael Buonomo, Evgenia Jane Florins
  • Patent number: 9674731
    Abstract: A wireless end-user device can communicate data using a home network or a roaming network. The device stores a network service usage activity classification list that indicates which of a plurality of background data traffic policies to apply respectively to each of a plurality of applications resident on the device. A processor on the device determines which type of network the device currently connects through, and whether a particular application is currently operating as a background application. According to the applicable policy, a given application operating in the background may be allowed to perform network service usage activities on both network types, on only one of the network types, or on neither of the network types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Headwater Research LLC
    Inventors: Gregory G. Raleigh, James Lavine, Alireza Raissinia
  • Patent number: 9667633
    Abstract: A social networking system includes information identifying a machine (e.g., a robot, a drone, a computer, a thermostat, etc.) and a connection between the machine and an owner of the machine, which is a user of the social networking system capable of authorizing an action by the machine. The owner of the machine associates permissions associated with various actions by the machine, where a permission associated with an action identifies one or more criteria for performing the action. Permissions may specify types of connections between social networking system users and the owner of the machine via the social networking system to allow social networking system users with specific types of connections to the owner of the machine to perform certain actions using the machine. Information describing an action performed by the machine may be communicated to other users of the social networking system via any suitable communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Wiley, Adam Michael Beaton, Alan Dean Olsen
  • Patent number: 9661151
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus, and a system for determining a policy and charging rule function entity. The method includes: receiving, by a first PCRF, a first request message transmitted by a first routing agent device, where the first request message carries an IP address of a user; inquiring a pre-stored corresponding relationship between the IP address of the user and an identity of a PCRF currently serving the user according to the IP address of the user, and determining an identity of a second PCRF currently serving the user; and transmitting a message carrying the identity of the second PCRF to the first routing agent device. The method realizes that session information of the same user can be routed to the same PCRF when a biplane DRA is under a multi-PCRF networking, and provides reliable DRA signaling network networking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chunsheng Li, Feng Wu, Xuejin Tian
  • Patent number: 9660922
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for adjusting or modifying content request messages in a video streaming environment. An aggregation device is configured to receive a content request message from a client device. The content request message has a request for a first content file of a video stream of a content file type with a first bit rate. The aggregation device determines the first bit rate. The aggregation device then accesses a database that stores a plurality of content files of the content file type at a corresponding plurality of bit rates and determines all available bit rates of the content file type. Network conditions are analyzed for client devices to determine whether the content request message should be adjusted to request a second content file with a second bit rate that is lower than the first bit rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Sangeeta Ramakrishnan
  • Patent number: 9654837
    Abstract: Provided are a method and device for providing a video of an Internet Protocol TV or Interactive Personal TV (IPTV) service. The method includes: detecting whether an IPTV service system is accessible for a Set Top Box (STB) or not; and when the IPTV system is detected to be inaccessible for the STB, providing a video for the STB through a Content Delivery Network (CDN) subsystem. By the technical solution, the technical problems that the user cannot enjoy services such as the video service in case of upgrading, server failure or network failure in the related technology are solved, and live video service can still be provided for the user even though the service of the IPTV service system is inaccessible due to upgrading, server failure or network failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fanzhong Meng
  • Patent number: 9654646
    Abstract: A mechanism for a user equipment is described. The mechanism comprises allocating a secure memory area, wherein said secure memory area being inaccessible by a user of the user equipment; generating an charging identifier relating to proximity communication involving the user equipment; collecting proximity service charging data during the proximity communication; storing the charging identifier and the proximity service charging data in the secure memory area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS OY
    Inventors: Gerald Goermer, Vesa Pauli Hellgren, Li Zhu
  • Patent number: 9648024
    Abstract: A social networking system includes information identifying a machine (e.g., a robot, a drone, a computer, a thermostat, etc.) and a connection between the machine and an owner of the machine, which is a user of the social networking system capable of authorizing an action by the machine. The owner of the machine associates permissions associated with various actions by the machine, where a permission associated with an action identifies one or more criteria for performing the action. Permissions may specify types of connections between social networking system users and the owner of the machine via the social networking system to allow social networking system users with specific types of connections to the owner of the machine to perform certain actions using the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Wiley, Karthiha Parker
  • Patent number: 9646293
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a subscription management service, which can be in-band or out-of-band, which allows users to extend their subscription or temporarily side-step payment limits on a subscription without disrupting the user's experience. The various embodiments can be operable in all on-demand services including, but not limited to, video services, voice services, video/voice services, text services, Web services, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Nitin Khanna, Aarne Laur
  • Patent number: 9628976
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method by a terminal in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes transmitting first information including a public land mobile network identifier (PLMN ID) for a sponsored service, to a first server operated by a service provider, receiving, in response to the first information, second information including a token related to the sponsored service from the first server, transmitting third information requesting the sponsored service based on the token to a second server operated by a network operator corresponding to the PLMN ID, and receiving authentication information from the second server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sangsoo Jeong, Songyean Cho
  • Patent number: 9614771
    Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a system control services, where the method includes: receiving, by a PCRF, congestion state information on a cell, resource-related information on the cell, and subscriber-related information on a UE in an activated state in the cell that are sent by an access network device; generating, by the PCRF, a QoS policy and/or a charging policy for the UE in the activated state in the cell according to the congestion state information on the cell, the resource-related information on the cell, and the subscriber-related information on the UE in the activated state in the cell; sending, by the PCRF, the generated QoS policy and/or charging policy to a PCEF, so as to enable the PCEF to execute the QoS policy and/or the charging policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusheng Hu, Weihua Qiao
  • Patent number: 9609475
    Abstract: A method of providing information regarding a mobile station adapted for communication via a communication system is provided. In the method an area event notification request is received at a location service entity provided in association with the communication system, the area event notification request containing information associated with the identity of the mobile station and an area of interest. Monitoring for an event indicative of a change in the presence status of the mobile station relative to said area of interest is then activated. A notification is signalled in response to detection of such event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Sebastian Kraufvelin, Jan Kall, Tomi Varonen
  • Patent number: 9609143
    Abstract: A method may include receiving information identifying a radio frequency (RF) usage policy that is associated with a user equipment (UE). The UE may communicate with a network using RF signals, and the RF access signaling usage policy may identify an RF access signaling usage threshold. The RF access signaling usage threshold may identify a quantity of bearers and an action to perform based on the UE requesting the quantity of bearers. The method may include causing a gateway device to monitor RF access signaling usage of the UE. The method may include receiving an RF access signaling usage update. The method may include determining that the RF access signaling usage satisfies the RF access signaling usage threshold based on the RF access signaling usage update. The method may include causing an action to be performed based on the RF access signaling usage policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Ye Huang, Priscilla Lau, Raymond So
  • Patent number: 9602995
    Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing online and offline charging data are disclosed. In some implementations, a charging trigger machine (CTM) determines that charging data for a mobile user account at an online charging system (OCS) and charging data for the mobile user account at an offline charging system (OFCS) are to be synchronized. The CTM sends a credit control request (CCR) to the OCS. The CTM sends an account charging request (ACR) to the OFCS simultaneously with sending the CCR to the OCS and in response to determining that the charging data at the OCS and the charging data at the OFCS are to be synchronized. The ACR includes an instruction for a service data container (SDC) level trigger to be added to an output charging data record (CDR) created at the OFCS and associated with the mobile user account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Chiaverini, Javier A. Ferro, Barry F. Hoffner
  • Patent number: 9602676
    Abstract: A system and method for managing group-based charging for network usage and spending. A server computing device that includes an offline charging system (OFCS) component may be configured to receive a communication message that includes a first attribute, determine/identify a group of user equipments that includes a first user equipment device that is associated with the received communication message, and determine a charging attribute state for the determined group of user equipments based on the first attribute and a second attribute associated with a second user equipment device in the group of user equipments. The server may apply a charging event, determine whether the charging attribute state of the group of user equipments changed as a result of applying the charging event, and notifying a listener component of a new charging attribute state in response to determining that the charging attribute state of the group of user equipments changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: OPENET TELECOM LTD.
    Inventors: Bart Lehane, Alan McNamee, Andrew D'Souza, Cameron Ross Dunne
  • Patent number: 9596023
    Abstract: The invention provides a computer-implemented system (and corresponding method) arranged and configured to manage, manipulate or monitor a plurality of devices provided in association with a unit. The unit may be a vehicle or structure, such as an automotive vehicle, a boat, a trailer or building. The vehicle or structure may be an incident command unit. The invention enables a user to monitor or manage the plurality of devices via a consolidated interface. The plurality of devices may include a satellite support mechanism supporting satellite-related equipment provided in association with the unit; and the system may comprise a satellite controller component to enable a user to manipulate and/or re-orientate the satellite support mechanism via the consolidated interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Excelerate Technology Limited
    Inventor: David Savage
  • Patent number: RE46395
    Abstract: A method for delivering messages in a telecommunications network where the first text-form message of the session N is delivered to the user of the service such that the sender address (the A number) is converted to correspond to the session number N and the session stage J, in stages 2-n of the session N, a text-form message is received from the user of the message service at the sender address defined in the message in the previous stage, and the session proceeds according to the contents of the message such that the sender address (the A number) is converted to correspond to the session number N and the new session stage J, and the next text-form message of session N is sent to the user of the message service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: BookIT Oy Ajanvarauspalvelu
    Inventor: Jukka Kalevi Salonen
  • Patent number: RE46653
    Abstract: The present publication discloses a method and system for sending messages in a telecommunications network. In the method, a first text-form message is sent to a user of the service, a reply to the first text-form message is received from the user of the service to an address defined in the previous message, if the reply is of the correct form and content, the desired service is sent to the user of the service. According to the invention, the user of the message service is offered a second service by a message, the information (such as the sending number is text-message traffic) defining the reply address of which differs from that of the first message, and the second offer message is sent with a sending delay, which depends of the content or type of the first service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: BOOKIT OY AJANVARAUSPALVELU
    Inventor: Jukka Kalevi Salonen