I. Field
The present invention generally relates to wireless devices and wireless networks. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method that permits accurate and reliable transaction data for third party application sales and services to wireless telecommunication devices across a wireless network, and can provide accurate data sufficient to bill wireless service subscribers for the billable transactions.
II. Description of the Related Art
Wireless devices, such as cellular telephones, communicate packets including voice and data over a wireless network. In existing wireless telecommunication systems, such as cellular telecommunication systems, fees are typically charged by a wireless network provider to a wireless service subscriber for the initial activation of a telecommunication device and then fees can be charged for ongoing airtime and device usage. However, existing wireless network systems, such as cellular networks, typically do not account for other activities at the telecommunication device beyond airtime usage.
If the subscriber of the wireless device desires to download and use a software application or upgrade the functionality of the wireless device, the subscriber will typically either call a service provider or contact the service provider through another electronic means, such as through a separate Internet access. In some instances, the service provider can transmit the application to the wireless device across the wireless network (through a one time direct access download) or allow the user access a network site within the wireless device through the wireless network, and at such site the application is downloadable or accessible to the wireless device. The access of the wireless device to the application most typically occurs through a secure-socket layer (SSL) or other secure data link. Otherwise, service personnel of the provider must have physical access to the telecommunication device to install the software or upgrade the components thereof.
The existing systems for monitoring and billing for wireless telecommunication device activity thus do not allow a service provider to bill or account for activities by the wireless device that not occur on the computer devices of that provider, and which are not accomplished through a secure data link. Further, the wireless device provider does not have a method to reliably bill its subscribers for any service provided to its subscribers through a third party solely across the wireless network without some manner of direct communication between the provider and the third party. Accordingly, the present invention is primarily directed to a system and method that allows the billing for wireless device billable transaction events that occur on the wireless network from the wireless devices of the subscribers interacting with other computer devices on the wireless network.
The present invention is a system, method, and computer program that utilizes gathered authenticated data to bill wireless device subscribers for any billable interaction with applications and services resident on third party computer devices that are accessible through a wireless network, such as a cellular telecommunication network. The system uses authenticated transaction data that is created when a wireless device conducts a billable transaction, such as an application download or service subscription, whereby the data is a secure indication that a wireless device has performed a specific billable transaction event. The transaction data is aggregated to generate reliable billing data for billable transaction events, and the billing data can be gathered and billed from a billing computer on the network, or the billing data can be sent to a wireless service provider for billing to the wireless device subscriber.
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprising a server is provided. The server is operable to gather authenticated transaction data to generate billing for wireless devices conducting transactions across a wireless network. The server is further operable to receive transaction event data from one or more wireless devices and authenticate the transaction event data. The server is further operable to aggregate the authenticated transaction event data into transaction event billing data such that each transaction event is billable to a specific wireless device that effected the transaction event. The transaction event data is caused by one or more billable transaction events generated by the specific wireless device interacting with a computer device over the wireless network. Each of the billable transaction events is capable of generating an authenticated transaction event data configured to verify that a specific billable transaction event has been generated by a specific wireless device. Each authenticated transaction event data includes a first key from the computer device participating in the billable transaction event and a second key from the specific wireless device. The first key identifies the billable transaction event and the second key identifies the specific wireless device.
In another embodiment, a server for gathering authenticated transaction data to generate billing for wireless devices conducting transactions across a wireless network is provided. The server comprises means for receiving transaction event data from one or more wireless devices and means for authenticating the transaction event data. The server further includes means for aggregating the authenticated transaction event data into transaction event billing data such that each transaction event is billable to a specific wireless device that effected the transaction event. The transaction event data is caused by one or more billable transaction events generated by the specific wireless device interacting with a computer device over the wireless network. Each of the billable transaction events is capable of generating an authenticated transaction event data configured to verify that a specific billable transaction event has been generated by the specific wireless device. Each authenticated transaction event data includes a first key from the computer device participating in the billable transaction event and a second key from the specific wireless device. The first key identifies the billable transaction event and the second key identifies the specific wireless device.
In still another embodiment, a wireless device operable to generate authenticated transaction data from conducting transactions across a wireless network with a computer device is provided. The wireless device includes means for interacting with the computer device across the wireless network to cause a billable transaction event. The wireless device further includes means for generating authenticated transaction event data. The authenticated transaction event data verifies a performance of a specific billable transaction event by a specific device. The authenticated transaction event data comprises a first key associated with the billable transaction event received from the computer device, and a second key identifying the specific wireless device. Further included in the wireless device is means for selectively transmitting the authenticated transaction event data to a billing device in selective communication with the wireless network.
In yet another embodiment, a computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations is provided. The instructions include at least one instruction for interacting with a computer device across a wireless network to cause a billable transaction event. The instructions further include at least one instruction for generating authenticated transaction event data. The authenticated transaction event data verifies a performance of a specific billable transaction event by a specific wireless device. The authenticated transaction event data comprises a first key associated with the billable transaction event received from the computer device, and a second key identifying the special wireless device. Further included in the instructions is at least one instruction for selectively transmitting the authenticated transaction event data to a billing device in selective communication with the wireless network.
In yet another embodiment, the system includes the wireless network supporting at least data communication thereacross, and one or more wireless computer devices are in selective communication with other computer devices across the wireless network. Each wireless device has the ability to conduct billable transactions with the other computer devices and the occurrence of a billable transaction causes authenticated transaction event data to be generated through which it can be verified that a specific wireless device has performed a specific transaction event. At least one billing computer is in selective communication with the wireless network and gathers at least some of the transaction event data for the wireless devices and authenticates and aggregates the transaction event data into transaction event billing data whereby each transaction event is billable to the specific wireless device that effected that transaction event. The billing computer can either send a bill to the wireless device subscriber or send the billing data to another entity, such as wireless service provider, to enable the other entity to bill for the transaction events.
The method for utilizing authenticated transaction data to generate billing for wireless devices conducting transactions across a wireless network includes the steps of causing a billable transaction event to occur on the wireless network through the wireless computer device interacting with another computer device across the wireless network, and then generating authenticated transaction event data through which it can be verified that the specific wireless devices has performed the specific transaction event. Finally, the method includes the step of aggregating the authenticated transaction event data into transaction event billing data such that each transaction event is billable to the specific wireless device that effected that transaction event. The method can further include the step of transmitting a bill directly to the wireless device subscriber for the transaction events caused by the wireless device, or the transaction event billing data can be transmitted to another device on the network.
The system and method accordingly give wireless service providers the ability to bill reliably for wireless telecommunication device transactions, such as application download and execution that occur solely on the wireless network with third party computer devices. Through use of the system, the wireless service provider has an advantage in that the provider can give wireless airtime subscribers access to additional value-added services of third parties and effectively bill and capture the revenue from the third party services. Moreover, the billing system does not require that the subscriber contact the service provider or the third party outside of the computing environment in order to receive or access the additional service.
Other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent after review of the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention, and the Claims.
With reference to the figures in which like numerals represent like elements throughout,
As shown here, the wireless device can be a cellular telephone 12, with a graphics display 13, a personal digital assistant 18, a pager 20 with a graphics display, which is shown here as a two-way text pager, or even a separate computer platform 22 that has a wireless communication portal, and may otherwise have a wired connection 24 to a network or the Internet. The system 10 can thus be performed on any form of remote computer module including a wireless communication portal, including without limitation, wireless modems, PCMCIA cards, access terminals, personal computers, access terminals, telephones without a display or keypad, or any combination or sub-combination thereof. Further, the term “application” as used herein is intended to encompass executable and nonexecutable software files, raw data, aggregated data, patches, and other code segments.
In the system 10, one or more wireless devices 12, 18, 20, and 22 are in selective communication with other computer devices across the wireless network 14, such as through a voice or data call between devices. Each wireless device has the ability to conduct billable transactions with other computer devices, such as an application download, execution, service or other value-added interaction, and the occurrence of a billable transaction causes authenticated transaction event data 74 (
The one or more wireless devices 12, 18, 20, and 22, typically at the direction of an end-user operating the device, selectively communicate with other computer devices across a wireless network, application download server 16, which can partially exist on a local server-side network 26 with other computer elements in communication with the wireless network 14, such as a billable transaction event database 28 that can contain either authenticated or non-authenticated transaction event data for the wireless devices. All of the components can work in tandem to gather data relative to billable transaction events of the wireless devices 12, 18, 20, and 22 and aggregate the transaction event data at the billing computer 30 as is further described herein. However, it should be noted that all server-side functions can be performed on one server, such as billing computer 30. Further, any computer or server-side computer platform can provide separate services and processes to the wireless devices 12, 18, 20, and 22 across the wireless network 14.
The server-side components communicate with a carrier network 40 through a data link, such as the Internet, a secure LAN, WAN, or other network. The carrier network 40 controls messages (generally in the form of data packets) sent to a messaging service controller (“MSC”) 42. The carrier network 40 communicates with the MSC 42 by a network, the Internet and/or POTS (“plain ordinary telephone system”). Typically, the network or Internet connection between the carrier network 40 and the MSC 42 transfers data, and the POTS transfers voice information. The MSC 42 is connected to multiple base stations (“BTS”) 44. In a similar manner to the carrier network, the MSC 42 is typically connected to the BTS 44 by both the network and/or Internet for data transfer and POTS for voice information. The BTS 44 ultimately broadcasts messages wirelessly to the wireless devices, such as cellular telephone 12, by short messaging service (“SMS”), or other over-the-air methods known in the art.
The wireless device, such as cellular telephone 12, has a computer platform 50 that can receive and execute software applications transmitted from the application download server 16. The computer platform 50 includes, among other components, an application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”) 52, or other processor, microprocessor, logic circuit, programmable gate array, or other data processing device. The ASIC 52 is installed at the time of manufacture of the wireless device and is not normally upgradeable. The ASIC 52 or other processor executes an application programming interface (“API”) layer 54 that interfaces with any resident programs in the memory 56 of the wireless device. The memory can be comprised of read-only or random-access memory (RAM and ROM), EPROM, EEPROM, flash cards, or any memory common to computer platforms. The computer platform 50 also includes a local database 58 that can hold the software applications not actively used in memory 56, such as the software applications downloaded from the third party application download server 16. The local database 58 is typically comprised of one or more flash memory cells, but can be any secondary or tertiary storage device as known in the art, such as magnetic media, EPROM, EEPROM, optical media, tape, or soft or hard disk.
Cellular telephones and telecommunication devices, such as cellular telephone 12, are being manufactured with increased computing capabilities and are becoming tantamount to personal computers and hand-held personal digital assistants (“PDAs”). These “smart” cellular telephones allow software developers to create software applications that are downloadable and executable on the processor, such as ASIC 52, of the cellular device. The wireless device, such as cellular telephone 12, can download many types of applications, such as games and stock monitors, or simply data such as news and sports-related data. The downloaded data or executed applications can be immediately displayed on the display 13 or stored in the local database 58 when not in use. The software applications can be treated as a regular software application resident on the wireless device 12, 18, 20, and 22, and the user can selectively upload stored resident applications from the local database 58 to memory 56 for execution on the API 54. The user of the wireless device 12, 18, 20, and 22 can also selectively delete a software application from the local database 58. As a result, end-users of cellular telephones 12 can customize their telephones with programs, such as games, printed media, stock updates, news, or any other type of information or program available for download from application download servers through the wireless network 14.
The use of these value-added services of third parties by the wireless device 12, 18, 20, and 22 cause billable transaction events for which the wireless network service provider will bill the subscriber of the wireless device, who is not necessarily the end-user of the wireless device at the time of the billable event. The billable events typically occur from the end-user conducting some activity with applications provided from the third party application download server 30. Examples of billable events include, but are not to be limited to, downloading an application from a third party application download server 16 on the wireless network 14 to the wireless device computer platform 50, the execution of an application on the wireless device 12, 18, 20,22; accessing an application resident on another computer device on the wireless network 14, such as application download server 16, or an accessible database, or other parameter of execution or interaction therewith.
The system 10 accordingly allows a third party, such as an independent software vendor or developer, either through the third parties own computer devices or through a network carrier 40, to provide software applications as downloadable to the wireless device. A multitude of computer devices can be involved in the ultimate delivery of applications and services, and the wireless device 12, 18, 20, and 22 can make several accesses to one or more third party computer devices. The system 10 can thus after-bill the carrier 40 for their subscriber billable event transactions, which typical is a different fee than what the carrier 40 will use to bill their subscribers, and the billing computer 30 can aggregate and generate the transaction event billing data and can provide the data to the wireless service provider.
To illustrate the possible services provided from the third party application download server 30 to the wireless devices 12, 18, 20, and 22,
In one embodiment of the system 10, the billable transaction event data for the one or more wireless devices 12, 18, 20, and 22 is ultimately gathered at billing computer 30 such that the billing information for each wireless device that the billing computer accounts for is contained at the billing computer 30. As embodied in
In sum, as embodied in
If the user has not requested the download of an application at decision 84, a determination is made as to whether the user has requested to exit the menu, as shown at decision 92. If the user has not requested to exit from the menu at decision 92, the process returns to decision 84 and iterates decision 84 to determine if a download has been requested, and decision 92 to determine if menu exit has been requested. If the user requested menu exit at decision 92, the access of the wireless device 12, 18, 20, and 22 to the menu of the application download server 16 is ended.
The process can be alternately embodied such that the transaction event generation process (step 108) is performed on another computer on the wireless network 14. Further, the transaction event data can be transmitted to one or more other computers on the wireless network 14, instead of solely the billing computer 30.
Otherwise, if transaction event billing data transmission has been requested at decision 118, then the stored authenticated transaction data is aggregated into transaction event billing data, as shown at step 120, and then the transaction event billing data is sent to the wireless service provider billing computer 41, as shown at step 122. Alternately, billing for the wireless devices 12, 18, 20, and 22 can be generated at step 120 and then sent to the wireless devices 12, 18, 20, and 22 themselves, transmitted to another computer such as a wireless service provider computer 41, or the transaction billing data can be converted into actual printed bills for mailing to the wireless service subscriber for the wireless devices 12, 18, 20, and 22.
It can be seen that the system 10 thus provides a method for utilizing authenticated transaction data to generate billing for wireless devices 12, 18, 20, and 22 conducting transactions across a wireless network 14 supporting at least data communication thereacross, having the steps of causing a billable transaction event to occur on the wireless network 14 through a wireless computer device interacting with another computer device across the wireless network 14, generating authenticated transaction event data 74 that is usable to verify that the specific wireless device has performed the specific transaction event, authenticating the transaction event data, and then aggregating the transaction event authentication data 74 into transaction event billing data such that each transaction event is billable to the specific wireless device 12, 18, 20, and 22 that effected that transaction event The step of aggregating the authenticated transaction event data can occur at a billing computer 30 in selective communication with the wireless network 14. The method can also have the step of billing the wireless device subscriber for the transaction events caused by their wireless device(s).
The method can be embodied so as to include the step of generating a bill to the subscriber of each wireless computer device 12, 18, 20, and 22 based upon the authenticated and aggregated transaction event authentication data. The method can also include the steps of generating transaction event billing data based upon the authenticated transaction event data 74, and transmitting the transaction event billing data to a service provider, such as wireless service provider billing computer 41. The step of causing a billable transaction event can be downloading an application to the wireless computer device 12, 18, 20, and 22 from another computer device across the wireless network, as described in
In view of the method being executable on the computer platform of a computer device such as billing computer 30, the present system includes a program resident in a computer readable medium, where the program directs a server or other computer device having a computer platform to perform the steps of the method. The computer readable medium can be the memory of the billing computer 30, or can be in a connective database, such as billable transaction event database 28. Further, the computer readable medium can be in a secondary storage media that is loadable onto a wireless device computer platform, such as a magnetic disk or tape, optical disk, hard disk, flash memory, or other storage media as is known in the art.
In the context of
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. 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.
The subject application is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S. patent application entitled “BILLING SYSTEM WITH AUTHENTICATED WIRELESS DEVICE TRANSACTION EVENT DATA,” filed on Jun. 30, 2003, having U.S. application Ser. No. 10/610,439. This application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10610439 | Jun 2003 | US |
Child | 11757373 | Jun 2007 | US |