Back to results
US 8,831,517 B2Granted
Devices, systems, and methods for sponsored tethered connectivity
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
InventorNemmara K. Shankaranarayanan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed which relate to establishing an STC connection by tethering a special purpose connected device (SPCD) through a tethering mobile device having network access. The SPCD accesses an application server on the network, and is authenticated before service to the SPCD begins. Once authenticated, the service provider is billed for the STC connection instead of a user of the tethering mobile device.
Claims17
A tethering mobile device for establishing sponsored tethered connectivity, the tethering mobile device comprising:
- a short-range wireless communication transceiver;
- a long-range wireless communication transceiver;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising
- receiving, via the short-range wireless communication transceiver, a sponsored tethered connectivity request from a special purpose connectivity device, the sponsored tethered connectivity request comprising account information identifying an account belonging to a service provider, an identification of an application server controlled by the service provider, and an identification of a home mobile operator, wherein the identification of the application server controlled by the service provider, the account information identifying the account belonging to the service provider, and the identification of the home mobile operator are part of a pre-approved set used to confirm that the special purpose connectivity device is authorized to access the application server controlled by the service provider,
- in response to the sponsored tethered connectivity request, establishing, via the long-range wireless communication transceiver, a sponsored tethered connectivity connection between the special purpose connectivity device and the application server on a network, the application server controlled by the service provider, and
- forwarding, via the sponsored tethered connectivity connection, data between the special purpose connectivity device and the application server controlled by the service provider, wherein a cost of usage of the sponsored tethered connectivity connection is billed to the account belonging to the service provider instead of an account associated with the tethering mobile device and instead of an account associated with the special purpose connectivity device.
5 more elements
A server for establishing a sponsored tethered connectivity, the server comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising
- receiving, via a tethering mobile device, a sponsored tethered connectivity request from a special purpose connectivity device, the sponsored tethered connectivity request comprising account information identifying an account belonging to a service provider, an identification of an application server controlled by the service provider, and an identification of a home mobile operator,
- determining whether the identification of the application server controlled by the service provider, the account information identifying the account belonging to the service provider, and the identification of the home mobile operator are part of a pre-approved set used to confirm that the special purpose connectivity device is authorized to access the application server controlled by the service provider,
- establishing, through the tethering mobile device, a sponsored tethered connectivity connection between the special purpose connectivity device and the application server controlled by the service provider, and
- instructing an accounting server to bill a cost of usage of the sponsored tethered connectivity connection to the account belonging to the service provider instead of an account associated with the tethering mobile device and instead of an account associated with the special purpose connectivity device.
4 more elements
A method for establishing sponsored tethered connectivity, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a server comprising a processor via a tethering mobile device, a sponsored tethered connectivity request from a special purpose connectivity device, the sponsored tethered connectivity request comprising account information identifying an account belonging to a service provider, an identification of an application server controlled by the service provider, and an identification of a home mobile operator;
- determining that the identification of the application server controlled by the service provider, the account information identifying the account belonging to the service provider, and the identification of the home mobile operator are part of a pre-approved set used to confirm that the special purpose connectivity device is authorized to access the application server controlled by the service provider;
- establishing, by the server through the tethering mobile device, a sponsored tethered connectivity connection between the special purpose connectivity device and the application server controlled by the service provider;
- and
- instructing, by the server, an accounting server to bill a cost of usage of the sponsored tethered connectivity connection to the account belonging to the service provider instead of an account associated with the tethering mobile device and instead of an account associated with the special purpose connectivity device.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.