Real time subscriber billing at a subscriber location in an unstructured communication network
OwnerRobert S. Blockinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method are provided for real time subscriber billing at a subscriber location in an unstructured communication network. Account information is stored for at least one subscriber at the subscriber location. A determination is made, based on the account information, whether the subscriber has a sufficient balance for a desired service. Service is authorized or denied to the subscriber based on the determination. Additional account information is stored at the service provider location and used to monitor the service record of the subscriber and update the service provided to the subscriber, accordingly.
Claims20
A system for real time subscriber billing at a subscriber location in an unstructured communication network, the system comprising:
- means for storing account information for at least one subscriber at the subscriber location;
- means for determining, based on said account information, whether the subscriber has a sufficient balance for a desired service;
- and
- means for authorizing or denying service to the subscriber based on the determination, wherein the service is a communication session between subscribers directly connected to each other in the unstructured network.
A method for real time subscriber billing at a subscriber location, in an unstructured communication network, the method comprising the steps of:
- storing account information for at least one subscriber;
- determining, based on said account information, whether the subscriber has a sufficient balance for a desired service;
- and
- authorizing or denying service to the subscriber based on the determination, wherein the service is a communication session between subscribers directly connected to each other in the unstructured network.
A system for real time subscriber billing at a subscriber location in an unstructured communication network, the system comprising:
- means for storing account information for at least one subscriber at the subscriber location;
- means for determining, based on said account information, whether the subscriber has a sufficient balance for a desired service;
- and
- means for authorizing or denying service to the subscriber based on the determination, wherein the service is an Internet session, a pay-per-view television program, or authorization to run a computer program, and the service is provided without control by a central device in the unstructured network.
A method for real time subscriber billing at a subscriber location, in an unstructured communication network, the method comprising the steps of:
- storing account inform ation for at least one subscriber;
- determining, based on said account information, whether the subscriber has a sufficient balance for a desired service;
- and
- authorizing or denying service to the subscriber based on the determination, wherein the service is an Internet session, a pay-per-view television program, or authorization to run a computer program, and the service is provided without control by a central device in the unstructured network.
A system for real time subscriber billing in a standard network routing path, comprising:
- means for storing account information for at least one subscriber;
- means for determining, based on said account information, whether the subscriber has a sufficient balance for a desired service;
- means for authorizing or denying service to the subscriber based on the determination, wherein at least one of the means for storing, the means for determining, and the means for authorizing or denying service is located outside a subscriber location, within the standard network routing path;
- means for detecting cost signals generated at predetermined intervals, an amount of time elapsed, or an amount of data processed during the service;
- means for counting a number of cost signals generated, the amount of time elapsed, or an amount of data processed;
- and
- means for comparing the count with a predetermined threshold, wherein the determining means bases the determination on said comparison.
A method for real time subscriber billing in a standard network routing path, the method comprising the steps of:
- storing account information for at least one subscriber;
- determining, based on said account information, whether the subscriber has a sufficient balance for a desired service;
- authorizing or denying service to the subscriber based on the determination, wherein at least one of the steps of storing, determining, and authorizing or denying service is performed outside a subscriber location, within the standard network routing path between the subscriber and an entity with which the subscriber desires to communicate using the desired service;
- detecting cost signals generated at predetermined intervals, an amount of time elapsed, or an amount of data processed during the service;
- counting the number of cost signals, the amount of time elapsed, or the amount of data processed;
- and
- comparing the count with a predetermined threshold, wherein the step of determining bases the determination on said comparison.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.