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US 9,215,332 B2Granted
Buddy list for blocked service
AssigneeAccenture Global Services Limited
InventorKavita Bhatt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A buddy list is used to provide a service to a user if the service is blocked. A user may store multiple profiles in a user device, and each profile identifies a different buddy list. If the user's service is blocked, the user device is configured to retrieve a profile and send a request to use a buddy list from the profile to utilize the service. If a request is rejected, another profile is tried until the request is approved or until all the profiles have been exhausted.
Claims16
A method of using a buddy list to utilize a service provided by a service provider, the method comprising:
- storing, on a first device of a first user, profiles of other users who have indicated to the service provider that the first user is allowed to utilize the service via an account of the respective other users, wherein each of the profiles identifies a different buddy list owned by one of the other users, wherein each of the buddy lists includes an identification of the first user as a buddy who may utilize the service via an account of the other user;
- detecting, by the first device, that the first device is blocked from utilizing the service;
- monitoring, by the first device, signal strength of a signal received by the first device from a cell tower;
- determining, by the first device, whether the first device is blocked from utilizing the service due to lack of the signal strength;
- in response to the determination that the first device is blocked from utilizing the service other than due to the lack of signal strength, retrieving, by the first device, a first profile from the stored profiles, wherein the first profile identifies a buddy list owned by another user who has listed the first user as a buddy to allow the first user to utilize the service via an account of the other user;
- displaying the first profile as a selectable option on a menu on a display of the first device;
- receiving, through a user interface on the first device, a selection of the first profile;
- in response to the selection of the first profile, transmitting the first profile including an identifier (ID) and password of the first user, a telephone number of the other user and a telephone number of the first user, from the first device to a server of the service provider, as a request for use of the buddy list associated with the first profile to utilize the service that is currently blocked via the account of the other user;
- if the request is denied, repeating by the first device the following until a request is approved or all of the stored profiles have been used in requests:
- retrieving another profile from the stored profiles;
- presenting the retrieved profile as a selectable option on the menu on the first device;
- receiving a selection of the retrieved profile;
- and
- requesting use of the buddy list associated with the retrieved profile to utilize the service that is currently blocked;
- and
- if the request is approved, using the service.
13 more elements
A user device configured to allow a first user to utilize a service provided by a service provider through a second user's account, the user device comprising:
- a storage device storing profiles of other users of the service who have indicated to the service provider that the first user is allowed to utilize the service via an account of the respective other users, each profile identifying a different buddy list of one of the other users of the service, wherein each of the buddy lists includes an identification of the first user as a buddy who may utilize the service via an account of the other user;
- and
- a processor to execute a registration module and an observer module, wherein the registration module is to register the first user on the buddy lists of the other users and a reserve amount for each buddy list, and the observer module is to
- detect that the user device is blocked from using the service;
- monitor a signal strength of a signal received by the first device from a cell tower;
- determine whether the first device is blocked from utilizing the service due to lack of the signal strength;
- in response to the determination that the user device is blocked from using the service other than due to the lack of signal strength, retrieve a first profile of the stored profiles, wherein the first profile identifies a buddy list owned by another user who has listed the first user as a buddy to allow the first user to utilize the service via an account of the other user;
- display the first profile as a selectable option on a menu on a display of the user device;
- receive, through a user interface on the user device, a selection of the first profile;
- transmit, from the user device to a server of the service provider, the first profile including an ID and password of the first user, a telephone number of the other user and a telephone number of the first user as a request for use of the buddy list associated with the first profile to utilize the service that is currently blocked via the account of the other user;
- if the request is denied, repeat the following until a request is approved or all of the stored profiles have been used in requests:
- retrieve another profile from the stored profiles;
- display the retrieved profile as a selectable option on the menu on the user device;
- receive a selection of the retrieved profile;
- and
- request use of the buddy list associated with the retrieved profile to utilize the service that is currently blocked;
- and
- if the request is approved, utilize the service provided by the service provider.
15 more elements
At least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer instructions that when executed by one or more processors performs a method using a buddy list to utilize a service provided by a service provider, the method comprising:
- storing, on a first device of a first user, profiles of other users of the service who have indicated to the service provider that the first user is allowed to utilize the service via an account of the respective other users, wherein each of the profiles identifies a different buddy list owned by one of the other users, wherein each of the buddy lists includes an identification of the first user as a buddy who may utilize the service via an account of the other user;
- detecting that the first device is blocked from utilizing the service;
- monitoring a signal strength of a signal received by the first device from a cell tower;
- determining whether the first device is blocked from utilizing the service due to lack of the signal strength;
- in response to the determination that the first device is blocked from utilizing the service other than due to the lack of signal strength, retrieving a first profile from the stored profiles, wherein the first profile identifies a buddy list owned by another user who has listed the first user as a buddy to allow the first user to utilize the service via an account of the other user;
- displaying the first profile as a selectable option on the menu on a display of the first device;
- receiving, through a user interface on the first device, a selection of the first profile;
- transmitting the first profile including an ID and password of the first user, a telephone number of the other user and a telephone number of the first user, from the first device to a server of the service provider, as a request for use of the buddy list associated with the first profile to utilize the service that is currently blocked via the account of the other user;
- if the request is denied, repeating the following until a request is approved or all of the stored profiles have been used in requests:
- retrieving another profile from the stored profiles;
- displaying the retrieved profile as a selectable option on the menu on the user device;
- receiving a selection of the retrieved profile;
- and
- requesting use of the buddy list associated with the retrieved profile to utilize the service that is currently blocked;
- and
- facilitating use of the service if the request is approved.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.