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US 8,526,911 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for determining costs associated with sending communications
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorsYan Li, Zhimin Du
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for determining a charge for a communication with one or more devices may include identifying a communication from a first device to a second device. The methods and apparatus may further include determining if the first device has a relationship with the second device by identifying another communication between the first device and the second device prior to the time of the communication, and determining a charge amount based upon the determining.
Claims42
A method of determining a charge for a communication with one or more devices, comprising:
- identifying a communication from a first device to a second device;
- determining if the first device has a relationship with the second device by identifying another communication between the first device and the second device prior to the time of the communication, wherein determining if the first device has the relationship with the second device further comprises determining whether the relationship is established within a configurable time period from a time of the communication;
- applying a first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined;
- and
- applying a second charge amount for the communication if the relationship is not determined;
- wherein
- applying the first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined further comprises initially applying an initial charge amount and subsequently applying an adjustment amount after the relationship is determined, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.
4 more elements
At least one processor configured to determine a charge for a communication with one or more devices, comprising:
- a first module for identifying a communication from a first device to a second device;
- a second module for determining if the first device has a relationship with the second device by identifying another communication between the first device and the second device prior to the time of the communication, wherein determining if the first device has the relationship with the second device further comprises determining whether the relationship is established within a configurable time period from a time of the communication;
- a third module for applying a first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined;
- and
- a fourth module for applying a second charge amount for the communication if the relationship is not determined;
- wherein
- applying the first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined further comprises initially applying an initial charge amount and subsequently applying an adjustment amount after the relationship is determined, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.
4 more elements
A computer program product for determining a charge for a communication with one or more devices, comprising:
- a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
- at least one instruction executable by the computer to identify a communication from a first device to a second device;
- at least one instruction executable by the computer to determine if the first device has a relationship with the second device by identifying another communication between the first device and the second device prior to the time of the communication, wherein to determine if the first device has the relationship with the second device further comprises determining whether the relationship is established within a configurable time period from a time of the communication;
- at least one instruction executable by the computer to apply a first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined;
- and
- at least one instruction executable by the computer to apply a second charge amount for the communication if the relationship is not determined;
- wherein
- applying the first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined further comprises initially applying an initial charge amount and subsequently applying an adjustment amount after the relationship is determined, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.
5 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for identifying a communication from a first device to a second device;
- means for determining if the first device has a relationship with the second device by identifying another communication between the first device and the second device prior to the time of the communication, wherein determining if the first device has the relationship with the second device further comprises determining whether the relationship is established within a configurable time period from a time of the communication;
- means for applying a first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined;
- and
- means for applying a second charge amount for the communication if the relationship is not determined;
- wherein
- applying the first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined further comprises initially applying an initial charge amount and subsequently applying an adjustment amount after the relationship is determined, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.
4 more elements
An apparatus for determining a charge for a communication with one or more devices, comprising:
- a communication receiving component operable to identify a communication from a first device to a second device;
- a communication relationship determiner operable to determine if the first device has a relationship with the second device by identifying another communication between the first device and the second device prior to the time of the communication, wherein the communication relationship determiner is further operable to determine whether the relationship is established within a configurable time period from a time of the communication;
- a billing component operable to apply a first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined;
- and
- the billing component operable further to apply a second charge amount for the communication if the relationship is not determined;
- wherein applying the first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined further comprises initially applying an initial charge amount and subsequently applying an adjustment amount after the relationship is determined, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.
3 more elements
A method for receiving a charge at a wireless device for sending a communication to a second device, the method comprising:
- sending a communication from a wireless device to a second device;
- receiving a first charge for sending the communication if a relationship exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication, wherein determining the relationship further comprises determining whether the relationship is established within a configurable time period from a time of the communication;
- and
- receiving a second charge for sending the communication if a relationship does not exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication;
- wherein
- applying the first charge amount further comprises initially applying an initial charge amount and subsequently applying an adjustment amount after the relationship is determined, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.
3 more elements
At least one processor configured to receive a charge at a wireless device for sending a communication to a second device, comprising:
- a first module for sending a communication from a wireless device to a second device;
- a second module for receiving a first charge for sending the communication if a relationship exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication, wherein determining if the first device has the relationship with the second device further comprises determining whether the relationship is established within a configurable time period from a time of the communication;
- and
- a third module for receiving a second charge for sending the communication if a relationship does not exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication;
- wherein
- receiving the first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined further comprises initially receiving an initial charge amount and subsequently receiving an adjustment amount after the relationship is determined, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.
3 more elements
A computer program product for receiving a charge at a wireless device for sending a communication to a second device, comprising:
- a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:
- at least a first instruction executable by the computer to send a communication from a wireless device to a second device;
- at least a second instruction executable by the computer to receive a first charge for sending the communication if a relationship exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication, wherein determining if the first device has the relationship with the second device further comprises determining whether the relationship is established within a configurable time period from a time of the communication;
- and
- at least a third instruction executable by the computer to receive a second charge for sending the communication if a relationship does not exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication;
- wherein
- receiving the first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined further comprises initially receiving an initial charge amount and subsequently receiving an adjustment amount after the relationship is determined, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- means for sending a communication from a wireless device to a second device;
- means for receiving a first charge for sending the communication if a relationship exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication, wherein determining if the first device has the relationship with the second device further comprises determining whether the relationship is established within a configurable time period from a time of the communication;
- and
- means for receiving a second charge for sending the communication if a relationship does not exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication;
- wherein
- receiving the first charge amount for the communication if the relationship is determined further comprises initially receiving an initial charge amount and subsequently receiving an adjustment amount after the relationship is determined, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.
3 more elements
An apparatus for receiving a charge at a wireless device for sending a communication to a second device, the apparatus comprising:
- a communication request component operable to send a communication from a wireless device to a second device;
- the communication request component is further operable to receive a first charge for sending the communication if a relationship exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication, wherein determining the relationship further comprises determining whether the relationship is established within a configurable time period from a time of the communication;
- and
- the communication request component is further operable to receive a second charge for sending the communication if a relationship does not exists between the wireless device and the second device, wherein the relationship is determined by identifying whether another communication occurred between the wireless device and the second device prior to sending the communication;
- wherein
- applying the first charge amount further comprises initially applying an initial charge amount and subsequently applying an adjustment amount after the relationship is determined, wherein the first charge amount is less than the second charge amount.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.