# US 2016/0366285 A1 · Billing engine and method of use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0366285 A1 - Document ID: US20160366285A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/246,165 - Filed: 2016-08-24 - Published: 2016-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2009-03-03 - Assignees: Mobilitie, LLC - Applicants: Mobilitie, LLC - Inventors: Gary Bernard Jabara; Lloyd Frederick Linder; Jonathan Mason Buck; Justin Ryan Best; Eric Keith Chun; Zabrina Valencia Guizar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160366285A1 ## CPC - G06Q 30/0259: {based on store location} - H04L 63/0892: {by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols} - H04M 15/8044: {Least cost routing} - H04M 15/8055: {Selecting cheaper transport technology for a given service} - H04M 15/8083: {involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts} - H04M 15/8214: {Data or packet based} - H04M 15/8228: {Session based} - H04M 15/93: {using near field or similar technologies} - H04W 4/24: Accounting or billing - H04W 8/186: {Processing of subscriber group data} - H04W 12/062: Pre-authentication - H04W 12/068: {using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications} - H04W 12/084: using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol - H04W 24/08: Testing, {supervising or monitoring} using real traffic - H04L 2101/622: Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses - H04W 8/205: {Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier} - H04W 76/45: for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks - H04W 88/04: adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A wireless communication device associated with a mobile operator network transmits an authentication request for network access via a wireless access point (AP) using a transceiver other than the cellular network transceiver. Device authentication can occur directly with the mobile operator network or via a proxy server. Upon authentication, the requesting device may access a wide area network in a data off-load operational mode and the data flow to and from the device via the AP is monitored and reported to mobile operator network associated with the requesting device. The wireless communication device can communicate with any of a plurality of APs distributed in a venue during the data off-load operational mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for data utilization tracking in a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device being associated with a one of a plurality of mobile operator networks and using a cellular network transceiver to communicate therewith, the method comprising: transmitting a predetermined signal from a plurality of wireless access points (APs) distributed throughout the venue; at least one of the plurality of wireless access points receiving an authentication request from the wireless communication device, using a second transceiver different from the cellular network transceiver, the authentication request including identification information that uniquely identifies the wireless communication device and identifies the mobile operator network associated with the wireless communication device; in response to the authentication request, transmitting at least a portion of the identification information of the wireless communication device requesting authentication to an authentication server; receiving an authentication response from the authentication server for the wireless communication device requesting authentication and, upon authentication of the wireless communication device, establishing a communication link between the authenticated wireless communication device and a wide area network via the wireless access point to thereby initiate operation of the wireless communication device in a data off-load operational session; monitoring data utilization of the authenticated wireless communication device during the respective data off-load operational session; and establishing a communication link with the mobile operator network associated with the wireless communication device to provide an indication of data utilization for the authenticated wireless communication device to the mobile operator network associated therewith. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting the identification information of the wireless communication device requesting authentication comprises transmitting the identification information of the wireless communication device requesting authentication to an authentication server for the respective mobile operator network identified as associated with the wireless communication device requesting authentication. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting the identification information of the wireless communication device requesting authentication comprises transmitting the identification information of the wireless communication device requesting authentication to a proxy authentication server for authentication for any of the plurality of mobile operator networks. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring data utilization comprises monitoring a quantity of data downloaded to the wireless communication device and monitoring a quantity of data uploaded from the wireless communication device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the communication link with the mobile operator network to provide the indication of data utilization is initiated following termination of the data off-load operational session. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of APs are operated by one of the plurality of mobile operator networks. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of APs are operated by the venue. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the off-load operational session may be conducted between the wireless communication device and any of the plurality of APs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising terminating a cellular network connection between the wireless communication device and the mobile operator network upon establishing the off-load operational session. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the communication link with the mobile operator network comprises transmitting the indication of data utilization for the authenticated wireless communication device to the mobile operator network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the communication link with the mobile operator network comprises permitting the mobile operator network to access the utilization data for the authenticated wireless communication device associated with the mobile operator network. ### Claim 12 A system for data utilization tracking in a wireless communication device having a cellular network connection with one of a plurality of mobile operator networks using a cellular network transceiver, comprising: a local area network (LAN) having a plurality of wireless access points (APs) and routing infrastructure communicatively coupled to the plurality of APs and configured to communicate therewith; ones of the plurality of APs, serving as an initial wireless access point, configured to receive an authentication request from the wireless communication device using a second transceiver different from the cellular network transceiver, at the initial AP, the authentication request including identification information that uniquely identifies the wireless communication device and identifies the mobile operator network associated with the wireless communication device; an authentication server configured to receive at least a portion of the identification information of the wireless communication device requesting authentication and, in response to the authentication request, to authenticate an identity of the wireless communication device, and, upon authentication of the wireless communication device, authorizing the establishment of a communication link between the authenticated wireless communication device and a wide area network (WAN) via the LAN to thereby initiate operation of the wireless communication device in a data off-load operational session; a data traffic monitor configured to monitor data traffic between the WAN and the authenticated wireless communication device to thereby monitor data utilization of the authenticated wireless communication device during the data off-load operational session; and a billing engine configured to establish a secure communication link with the mobile operator network associated with the wireless communication device to provide data utilization information for the authenticated wireless communication device to the associated mobile operator network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein the authentication server is proxy authentication server serving as a proxy for the mobile operator network associated with the wireless communication device wherein the wireless communication device requesting authentication to the proxy authentication server is authenticated without direct authentication by the associated mobile operator network. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 for use with an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server associated with the mobile operator network associated with the wireless communication device, wherein the authentication server is configured to establish a secure communication link with the AAA server of the mobile operator network and to transmit the authentication request from the wireless communication device requesting authentication to the AAA server of the mobile operator network and wherein the authentication of the wireless communication device requesting authentication is performed by the AAA server of the associated mobile operator network. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein the data traffic monitor is configured to monitor a quantity of data downloaded from the WAN to the wireless communication device via the LAN and to monitor a quantity of data uploaded from the wireless communication device to the WAN via the LAN. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein the LAN is operated by one of the plurality of mobile operator networks. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein the LAN is located in a venue and is operated by the venue. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein the off-load operational session may be conducted between the wireless communication device and any of the plurality of APs. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein the billing engine is further configured to establish the secure communication link with the mobile operator network and to transmit the data utilization information for the authenticated wireless communication device associated with the mobile operator network. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12 wherein the billing engine is further configured to establish the secure communication link with the mobile operator network and permit access to the data utilization information for the authenticated wireless communication device associated with the mobile operator network.