Automated account mapping in a wireless subscriber billing system

Abstract

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

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of embodiments of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which are presented solely for illustration and not limitation of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a wireless network architecture that supports the client devices and servers in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a more detailed diagram of a wireless network architecture that supports the client devices and servers in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a wireless subscriber billing system architecture in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of automated account mapping in a wireless subscriber billing system in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A method comprising: capturing an external ID associated with a wireless client device from a billable event communicated between the wireless client device and a wireless subscriber billing system; andassociating the external ID with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request to an operator billing system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving the billing request from an external billing source at the wireless subscriber billing system; andmapping the external ID contained in the billing request to the subscriber ID (SID).

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: communicating the billing request to the operator billing system.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising: digitally signing the billing request at the external billing source prior to transmitting the billing request.

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

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: storing the external ID and the SID in a storage medium.

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

8. An apparatus comprising: logic configured to capture an external ID associated with a wireless client device from a billable event communicated between the wireless client device and a wireless subscriber billing system; andlogic configured to associate the external ID with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request to an operator billing system.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: logic configured to receive the billing request from an external billing source at the wireless subscriber billing system; andlogic configured to map the external ID contained in the billing request to the subscriber ID (SID).

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: logic configured to communicate the billing request to the operator billing system.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the external ID comprises at least one of a mobile directory number (MDN), mobile identification number (MIN), mobile station identity (MSID), and international mobile station identity (IMSI).

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a storage medium configured to store the external ID and the SID.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the external ID is captured during a first download transaction between the wireless client device and a carrier network that generates the billable event.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is the wireless subscriber billing system hosted by a third party other than the operator or the external billing source.

15. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for automated account mapping in a wireless subscriber billing system, the computer program comprising instructions which, upon being executed, causes the computing device to perform a process of: capturing an external ID associated with a wireless client device from a billable event communicated between the wireless client device and a wireless subscriber billing system;associating the external ID with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request to an operator billing system;receiving the billing request from an external billing source at the wireless subscriber billing system; andmapping the external ID contained in the billing request to the subscriber ID (SID).

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions which, upon being executed, causes the computing device to perform a process of: communicating the billing request to the operator billing system.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions which, upon being executed, causes the computing device to perform a process of: decrypting the billing request, wherein the billing request was encrypted at the external billing source prior to transmitting the billing request.

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

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions which, upon being executed, causes the computing device to perform a process of: storing the external ID and the SID in a storage medium.

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

21. A server comprising: means for capturing an external ID associated with a wireless client device from a billable event communicated between the wireless client device and a wireless subscriber billing system;means for associating the external ID with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request to an operator billing system;means for receiving the billing request from an external billing source at the wireless subscriber billing system; andmeans for mapping the external ID contained in the billing request to the subscriber ID (SID).

22. The server of claim 21, further comprising: means for communicating the billing request to the operator billing system.

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

24. The server of claim 21, further comprising: means for storing the external ID and the SID in a storage medium.

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