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

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

The present invention generally relates to wireless subscriber billing systems, and more specifically to automated account mapping for an external purchase charged to the wireless subscriber.

2. Background

Advances in technology have resulted in smaller and more powerful personal computing devices. For example, there currently exist a variety of portable personal computing devices, including laptops, wireless computing devices, such as portable wireless telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and paging devices that are each small, lightweight, and can be easily carried by users. A wireless device is any device that can communicate with other devices without being physically attached to them. Most wireless devices communicate with each other through radio frequencies.

More specifically, the portable wireless telephones, for example, further include cellular telephones that communicate voice and data packets over wireless networks. Further, many such cellular telephones are being manufactured with relatively large increases in computing capabilities, and as such, are becoming tantamount to small personal computers and hand-held PDAs. However, these smaller and more powerful personal computing devices are typically severely resource constrained. For example, the screen size, amount of available memory and file system space, amount of input and output capabilities (e.g., size of keypad and display) and processing capability may each be limited by the small size of the device. Because of such severe resource constraints, it is often typically desirable, for example, to maintain a limited size and quantity of software applications and other information residing on such remote personal computing devices (client devices).

Some of the personal computing devices utilize an application programming interface (API) or application programming interfaces (APIs), sometimes referred to as runtime environments and software platforms, that are installed onto their local computer platform and which are used, for example, to simplify operations of such devices, such as by providing generalized calls for device specific resources. Generally, an API can be considered a set of routines used by an application program to direct the performance of procedures by the computer's operating system.

Further, some such APIs are also known to provide software developers the ability to create software applications that are fully executable on such devices. In addition, some APIs are known to provide mechanisms for secure communications between such personal devices (i.e., clients) and remote devices (i.e., servers) using secure cryptographic information.

Examples of such APIs include versions of the Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless software (BREW®)) developed by QUALCOMM, Inc., of San Diego, Calif. BREW® can cooperate with a computing device's (e.g., a wireless cellular phone) operating system, and can, among other features, provide interfaces to hardware features particularly found on computing devices. BREW® can also provide these interfaces on such computing devices at a relatively low cost with respect to demands on device resources and with respect to the price paid by consumers for devices containing BREW®. Additional features of BREW® include its end-to-end software distribution platform that provides a variety of benefits for wireless service operators, software developers and computing device consumers. At least one such currently available end-to-end software distribution platform includes logic distributed over a server-client architecture, where the server performs, for example, billing, security and application distribution functionality, and the client performs, for example, application execution, security and user interface functionality.

In conventional wireless systems, a wireless client device can obtain these additional services, application and/or content from one or more servers. Typically, a server that controls billing will associate a specific Subscriber Identification (SID) to the transaction so that the transaction can be billed to the appropriate account. The SID may not be any number known to the subscriber and therefore may not be usable outside the wireless client device-to-server transaction environment. Accordingly, this limits the ability for wireless subscribers to use their established accounts for purchases other than those hosted by their carrier/operators.

The foregoing description of the related art is merely intended to provide an overview of some of the billing related processes in wireless subscriber systems and as an introduction to the BREW®) platform, which can be used in embodiments of the invention. However, the invention is not to be construed as being limited to a specific implementation, operating platform or environment.

SUMMARY OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method, for automated account mapping in a wireless subscriber billing system.

Accordingly, an embodiment of the invention can include 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; and associating the external ID with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request to an operator billing system.

Another embodiment of the invention includes 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; and logic configured to associate the external ID with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request to an operator billing system.

Another embodiment of the invention includes 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; and mapping the external ID contained in the billing request to the subscriber ID (SID).

Another embodiment of the invention includes 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; and means for mapping the external ID contained in the billing request to the subscriber ID (SID).

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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the terms “embodiments” or “embodiments of the invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.

Further, many embodiments are described in terms of sequences of actions to be performed by, for example, elements of a computing device. Also, those skilled in the art will appreciate that action sequences, method steps and functions can be interchanged without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be recognized that various actions described herein can be performed by specific circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuits (ASICs)), by program instructions being executed by one or more processors, or by a combination of both. Additionally, these sequence of actions described herein can be considered to be embodied entirely within any form of computer readable storage medium having stored therein a corresponding set of computer instructions that upon execution would cause an associated processor to perform the functionality described herein. Thus, the various aspects of the invention may be embodied in a number of different forms, all of which have been contemplated to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. In addition, for each of the embodiments described herein, the corresponding form of any such embodiments may be described herein as, for example, “logic configured to” perform the described action.

One or more embodiments of the invention may be used in conjunction with a runtime environment or platform executing on the computing device. One such runtime environment is the BREW® software previously discussed. However, one or more embodiments of the invention may be used with other types of runtime environments that, for example, operate to control the execution of applications on wireless client computing devices.

Additionally, it will be recognized to those skilled in the art that an application file type being distributed and executed may be describe herein for simplicity of description. However, an “application” may also include files having executable content, such as: object code, scripts, java file, a bookmark file (or PQA file), WML scripts, byte code, and perl scripts. In addition, an “application” referred to herein, may also include files that are not executable in nature, such as documents that may need to be opened or other data files that need to be accessed.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of one exemplary embodiment of a wireless system 100 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. System 100 can contain client devices, such as cellular telephone 102, in communication across a wireless network 104 with at least one application download server (ADS) 106 that selectively transmits software applications and components to wireless devices across a wireless communication portal or other data access to the wireless network 104. As shown here, the wireless (client) device can be a cellular telephone 102, a personal digital assistant 108, a pager 110, which is shown here as a two-way text pager, or even a separate computer platform 112 that has a wireless communication portal. This separate computer platform 112 may be fixed (e.g. desktop) or mobile (e.g. laptop). The embodiments of the invention may thus be realized on any form of client device including a wireless communication portal or having wireless communication capabilities, including without limitation, wireless modems, PCMCIA cards, personal computers, access terminals, telephones, or any combination or sub-combination thereof.

The application download server (ADS) 106 is shown here on a network 116 with other computer elements in communication with the wireless network 104. There can be a stand-alone billing server 130, and each server can provide separate services and processes to the client devices 102, 108, 110, 112 across the wireless network 104. There may also be at least one stored application database 118 that holds the software applications and content which are downloadable by the wireless devices 102, 108, 110, 112. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 is merely exemplary. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention can include one or more servers that can each perform all the described functions and contain all necessary hardware and software, or can contain only selected functionality. Further, not all of the elements (e.g., pager 110, ADS 106, database 118, etc.) illustrated are necessarily used in all the different embodiments of the invention.

In FIG. 2, a block diagram is shown that more fully illustrates system 100, including the components of the wireless network 104 and interrelation of the elements of the exemplary embodiments of the invention. System 100 is merely exemplary and can include any system that allows remote client devices, such as wireless client computing devices 102, 108, 110, 112 to communicate over-the-air between and among each other and/or between and among components connected via a wireless network 104, including, without limitation, wireless network carriers and/or servers. The application download server 106 and the stored application database 118, along with any other servers such as billing server 130 which can be used to provide cellular telecommunication services, communicate with a carrier network 200, through a data link, such as the Internet, a secure LAN, WAN, or other network. The application download server 106, server 130 and the stored application database 118 are illustrated as independent devices in this embodiment. However, these devices can also be integrated into one common server or the functionality of one or more may be distributed over multiple devices, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The carrier network 200 controls messages (typically sent as data packets) to a mobile switching center or messaging service controller (MSC) 202. The carrier network 200 communicates with the MSC 202 by a network, the Internet and/or a public switched telephone network (PSTN). Typically, the network or Internet connection between the carrier network 200 and the MSC 202 transfers data, and the PSTN connection to the MSC 202 transfers voice information. The MSC 202 can be connected to multiple base stations (BTS) 204. In a similar manner to the carrier network, the MSC 202 is typically connected to the BTS 204 by a network, the Internet and/or PSTN to communicate data and/or voice information. The BTS 204 can broadcast data messages wirelessly to the client devices, such as cellular telephone 102, by short messaging service (SMS), or other over-the-air (OTA) methods known in the art.

The client device, (here a wireless client computing device), such as cellular telephone 102, may have a computer platform 206 that can receive and execute software applications or content and/or commands transmitted from the application download server 106 and/or server 130. The computer platform 206 can include an application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC” 208), or other processor, microprocessor, logic circuit, or other data processing device. The ASIC 208 or other processor executes the application programming interface (“API’) 210 layer that interfaces with any resident programs in the memory 212 of the wireless device. The memory 212 can be comprised of read-only or random-access memory (RAM and ROM), EEPROM, flash cards, or any memory common to computer platforms. The computer platform 206 also includes a local database 214 that can hold applications not actively used in memory 212. The local database 214 is typically a flash memory cell, but can be any secondary storage device as known in the art, such as magnetic media, EEPROM, optical media, tape, soft or hard disk, and the like.

The wireless client computing device, such as cellular telephone 102, can have installed on it, or otherwise downloads, one or more software applications, such as games, news, stock monitors, and the like. For example, the cellular telephone 102 may receive one or more software applications and/or content downloaded from the download server 106. The software applications and content may be stored on the local database 214 when not in use. The cellular telephone 102 or other wireless computing device may upload resident applications stored on the local database 214 to memory 212 for execution on the API 210 when so desired by the user or invoked by another API. These download transactions are typically reported or obtained by a billing system that can generate the appropriate charges to the user of the client device among other activities discussed in greater detail below.

As used herein “client device”, “wireless device”, “client computing device” and like variations includes, for example, one or more processing circuits executing resident configured logic, where such computing devices include, for example, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontrollers, portable wireless telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and paging devices, or any suitable combination of hardware, software and/or firmware containing processors and logic configured to at least perform the operations described herein. The client device can be serviced by at least one remote server as discussed herein. Some examples of client devices which may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention include cellular telephones or other wireless communication units, PDAs, paging devices, handheld navigation devices, handheld gaming devices, music or video content download units, and other like wireless communication devices.

The wireless communication between the client device 102 and the BTS 204 can be based on different technologies, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), the global system for mobile communications (GSM), or other protocols that may be used in a wireless communications network or a data communications network. The data communication is typically between the client device 102, BTS 204, and MSC 202. The MSC 202 can be connected to multiple data networks such as the carrier network 200, PSTN, the Internet, a virtual private network, and the like, thus allowing the client device access to a broader communication network. As discussed in the foregoing, in addition to voice transmission, data can be transmitted to the client device via SMS or other OTA methods known in the art.

Referring to FIG. 3, a client device 300 is illustrated that includes an application 320 (e.g., a BREW® application) that includes the ability to securely communicate via a wireless network to the billing server 130/billing system 301. As discussed above, an ADS may function as a gateway to the billing server/billing system or other server may operate in this function. Accordingly, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 is merely for illustrative purposes and should not be construed to limit the invention.

In addition to security functions, the communication between client device 300 and billing server 130 includes verification and identification logic to identify the client device and associate it with an internal account number or Subscriber Identification (SID) 320 that is used to associate the client device with a wireless subscriber's account by an operator billing system 330, as is known in the art. The SID typically is not related to the numbers easily ascertained from the client device such as the mobile directory number (MDN) or mobile identification number (MIN). Further, the SID 320 can be any agreed upon code between the billing server 130 and the operator billing system 330 that typically generates a bill to the subscriber. For example, a SID may be a fourteen digit number and may represent a variant of the MIN or the IMSI (e.g., 310006199772376). However, the invention is not limited to this format and the SID may be any agreed upon format such as an identification code containing numbers, characters, and/or symbols and the like.

FIG. 3 further illustrates a system in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention that allows for service value billing from external (e.g., outside the wireless carrier network) billing sources 360, such as a retail merchant, external website and the like. A service value billing module (SVB) 350 can be included in a wireless subscriber billing system 301. The SVB 350 provides a billing portal for the external billing source 360 (e.g., third-party vendor, publisher, and the like) that are not part of the wireless carrier network. The SVB 350 allows the external billing source 360 to generate billing requests that are then processed through the billing system 301. In contrast to conventional systems that distribute and bill for applications directly selected from and downloaded to a client device within a carrier network, the SVB 350 allows for external transactions to be processed through the established wireless subscriber billing system 301.

An authentication feature can be included in the SVB 350 that can verify the identity of the external billing source 360 that is accessing the SVB module 350. For example, a digital certificate can be issued to the trusted service. The certificate will be associated with the carrier/operator and the trusted service (e.g., retail merchant) for validation. The external billing source 360 can digitally sign each transaction to the SVB 350 using the issued certificate. The digital signature and the digital certificate can be included in each request. The SVB 350 can then authenticate the signature on each billing request. For example, the SVB 350 can be a web-based interface and the connection to the SVB 350 can be via the Internet using an HTTPS protocol in the external billing source 360 authentication. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited to an internet connection and an HTTPS protocol and any combination of wired and/or wireless connection and suitable security/authentication system can be used to communicate the billing requests from the external billing source 360.

Accordingly, the wireless subscriber billing system 301 can receive a billing request from the external billing source 360 that is external to the carrier network. However, since the SVB-based billing events from the external billing source 360 are not directly generated within the carrier network or from the subscriber's client device 300, typically an external ID 340 will be associated with the transaction that is not the SID 320 used between the billing server 130 and the operating billing system 330. Further, for security, confidentiality and other reasons the SID 320 may not be made available outside the billing server 130 to operator billing system 330 communications. Accordingly, the external ID 340 has to be mapped to the SID 320 in order for the billing system 301 to communicate the billing request to the operator billing system 330.

A SID map database 380 can be used by the billing system 301 (e.g., SVB 350, billing server 130, or other logic module) to uniquely identify the subscriber. For example, a subscriber could use their Mobile Directory Number (MDN), e.g., the dialable phone number, mobile identification number (MIN), mobile station identity (MSID), international mobile station identity (IMSI) or other assigned unique number that can be associated with the wireless subscriber and/or client device. The MDN (or other unique number) can be transmitted with the billing request to the SVB 350. The SID map logic 370 can then access the SID map database 380 and replace the MDN or associate the MDN with the unique SID used in the billing system for processing the billing requests and transactions with the operator billing system.

However populating the SID database could be a labor intensive task given the millions of wireless client devices in use. Further not all wireless devices may be enabled for external purchases. Accordingly, SID map logic 370 can be used to automatically capture an external ID associated with the client device 300. The SID map logic 370 can further have the ability to determine the internal account number (e.g. SID) by using a heuristic that uses data obtained (e.g., the external ID) from the billing transaction between the wireless device 300 and the billing system 301. The SID map logic 370 can accept a variety of identification information (e.g., MDN, MIN, MSID, IMSI, and the like) for transactions generated by the external billing source and maps these data to an internal account number (SID) using data derived from a prior billing transaction between the wireless client device 300 and the billing system 301.

For example, during a billable event where the client device communicates with billing server 130 and billing system 301 to download an application and/or content from the wireless carrier network, a billing transaction is generated. Typically as part of the communication between the wireless client device 300 and billing system 301 identification data may be transmitted to the billing system for authentication and security purposes. For example, as part of the communication during the billable event the client device may include its MDN, MIN and other such identification information. Accordingly, the SID logic map can capture this external ID information and associate it with the SID which is communicated to the operator billing system. The SID map database 380 can store these associated IDs and can also be accessed to determine if an entry has already been made for a particular client device, so that redundant data is not stored.

If the wireless device is no longer valid (e.g., closed/transferred account, etc.) on an operator system, the operator may provide a notice (e.g., a provisioning file) to notify when the SID has been de-activated or transferred. This allows the system to mark the records in the SID mapping as inactive and when a SID is seen next (e.g., some time later when it's been reassigned to a new customer) the SID mapping can create a new active record with the SID and it's associated IDs that relate to the wireless device.

Additionally, it may be possible for a SID to map to more than one device (e.g., a common account is used for several wireless devices). In this case the system can track the SID and one or more other associated IDs in combination for each unique device. For example, the external ID can be used in combination with the SID that is retrieve and both can be communicated to the operator billing system to bill the appropriate account and provide additional reporting detail.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the invention can include an apparatus in accordance with the foregoing description. For example, an embodiment of the invention can include an apparatus including logic configured to capture an external ID associated with a wireless client device from a billable event communicated between a wireless client device and a wireless subscriber billing system, and logic configured to associate the external ID with a subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request to an operator billing system (e.g., SID Map logic 370). Also, the apparatus can include a storage medium (e.g., 380) configured to store the associated external ID and SID.

The apparatus can further include logic (e.g., SVB 350) configured to receive a billing request from an external billing source at the wireless subscriber billing system, and logic (e.g., 370) configured to map the external ID contained in the billing request to the subscriber ID (SID). Additionally, the apparatus can further include logic (e.g., billing server 130) configured to communicate the billing request to the operator billing system.

Further, in embodiments of the invention the wireless subscriber billing system can be hosted by a third party that is separate from the operator and external billing source. For example, a wireless subscriber billing system can be configured such as QUALCOMM's BREW Billing and Distribution System (BDS) that can distribute applications and content to client devices, generate billing information to the operator billing system, and provide settlement services for the application and content providers. Using aspects of embodiments of the invention, the BDS can further be enhanced to allow external billing sources to access the billing system and using an external ID to communicate the appropriate billing information to the operator billing systems. Accordingly, the wireless subscriber billing system can be enhanced to process transactions external to the wireless operator/carrier network allowing a wireless subscriber a broader usage of their wireless account.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the invention can include methods for performing the activities, functions and/or steps described herein. For example, referring to FIG. 4 a flowchart illustrating a method according to at least one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. 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, block 410. The external ID is associated with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request to an operator billing system, block 420.

For example, a BREW download/billing acknowledgment message (event) may contain all the IDs that are associated with the client device and which can be recorded in the SID map. This data may be added to the headers of the message by the underlying Brew operating environment (or in the case of a non-BREW environment buy by the gateway infrastructure). Accordingly, the sending application (e.g, on the client device) does not need to know of, or have any control over the header values.

Alternatively, on a BREW client there can be specific API calls (e.g., IBilling, IDownload, and the like) that are invoked to create a billing event and communicate the IDs. In a non-Brew environment the values can be added by the operator's gateway infrastructure or in the negotiations between the client device and the gateway or by a program resident on the client device. These examples are provided for illustration only. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention are not limited to any specific platform or data communication format and can include any system that can capture and associate the SID information automatically with respect to a billable/download event.

After the association is made the billing system can process external billing requests using the external ID. For example, a billing request can be received from an external billing source at the wireless subscriber billing system, 430 and the external ID contained in the billing request can be mapped to the subscriber ID (SID), block 440. The billing request can be communicated to the operator billing system, block 450. Accordingly, an external ID such as the MDN of the client device can be used to purchase an item from an external billing source (e.g., retail store, website, and the like) and the MDN (e.g., external ID) can be transmitted along with the other billing information (e.g., purchased item description, purchase amount, and the like) to the billing system. The external ID can be associated with the SID (internal account number) then the transaction can be communicated using the SID to the operator billing system, which will then generate the appropriate billing to the wireless subscriber.

As previously discussed, to promote security of the transaction between the external billing source and the billing system the billing request can be digitally signed at the external billing source prior to transmitting the billing request. Additional security, verification and authorization procedures can be defined by the system designer to prevent fraud based on the system design and/or policies of the operator, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and all these variations are contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. Likewise, the external ID and internal account number (e.g., SID) may be defined as needed by the system designers and is not limited to a mobile directory number (MDN), mobile identification number (MIN), mobile station identity (MSID), and/or international mobile station identity (IMSI). Further, more than one of the external IDs may be used and be associated with the SID. For example, both the MDN and the MIN may be captured and associated with the SID and one or both may be required for processing the billing requests from the external billing source. The associated external ID(s) and SID can be stored in a storage medium for ease of retrieval and organization, as discussed in the foregoing.

In further embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing methods can be implemented by the execution of a program embodied on a computer readable medium, such as the memory of a computer platform. The instructions can reside in various types of signal-bearing or data storage primary, secondary, or tertiary media. The media may comprise, for example, RAM accessible by, or residing within, the client device and/or server. Whether contained in RAM, a diskette, or other secondary storage media, the instructions may be stored on a variety of machine-readable data storage media, such as DASD storage (e.g., a conventional “hard drive” or a RAID array), magnetic tape, electronic read-only memory (e.g., ROM, or EEPROM), flash memory cards, an optical storage device (e.g. CD-ROM, WORM, DVD, digital optical tape), paper “punch” cards, or other suitable data storage media including digital and analog transmission media.

Accordingly, an embodiment of the invention can include 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, when executed causes the computing device (which can include multiple computing devices) to perform the process of capturing an external ID associated with a wireless client device from a billable event communicated between a wireless client device and a wireless subscriber billing system, and associating the external ID with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request to an operator billing system.

Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Additionally, the illustrated embodiments show separation of block elements merely for convenience of illustration and the functionalities of the various elements may be separated or integrated as desired. For example all the elements of billing system 301, can be integrated into one common device or may be distributed over several servers each in communication with each other. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of embodiments of the present invention.

While the foregoing disclosure shows illustrative embodiments of the invention, it should be noted that various changes and modifications could be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The functions, steps and/or actions of the method claims in accordance with the embodiments of the invention described herein need not be performed in any particular order. Furthermore, although elements of the invention may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. Accordingly, the foregoing description should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A method comprising: capturing an external ID associated with a wireless client device from a billable event communicated between the wireless client device and a wireless subscriber billing system;associating the external ID with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request from the wireless subscriber billing system to an operator billing system;receiving an external billing request from an external billing source at the wireless subscriber billing system, the external billing request including the external ID; andmapping the external ID contained in the external billing request to the SID, after the external billing request is received from the external billing source.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: communicating the external billing request to the operator billing system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: digitally signing the external billing request at the external billing source prior to transmitting the external billing request.

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

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

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

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

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

9. An apparatus comprising: a processor coupled to memory and configured to: capture an external ID associated with a wireless client device from a billable event communicated between the wireless client device and a wireless subscriber billing system;associate the external ID with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request from the wireless subscriber billing system to an operator billing system;receive an external billing request from an external billing source at the wireless subscriber billing system, the external billing request including the external ID; andmap the external ID contained in the external billing request to the SID, after the external billing request is received from the external billing source.

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

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

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a non-transitory storage medium configured to store the external ID and the SID.

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

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

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions, which, when executed by a machine cause the machine to perform operations, the instructions comprising: at least one instruction for causing the machine to capture an external ID associated with a wireless client device from a billable event communicated between the wireless client device and a wireless subscriber billing system;at least one instruction for causing the machine to associate the external ID with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request from the wireless subscriber billing system to an operator billing system;at least one instruction for causing the machine to receive an external billing request from an external billing source at the wireless subscriber billing system, the external billing request including the external ID; andat least one instruction for causing the machine to map the external ID contained in the external billing request to the SID, after the external billing request is received from the external billing source.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations, the instructions comprising: at least one instruction for causing the machine to communicate the external billing request to the operator billing system.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations, the instructions comprising: at least one instruction for causing the machine to decrypt the external billing request, wherein the external billing request was encrypted at the external billing source prior to transmitting the billing request.

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

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to perform operations, the instructions comprising: at least one instruction for causing the machine to store the external ID and the SID in a storage medium.

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

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

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

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

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

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