Billing engine and method of use

A method for data utilization tracking in a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device being associated with a mobile operator network and having a cellular network transceiver to communicate with the mobile operator network on the cellular network and a second transceiver different from the cellular network transceiver, the method comprising:

• transmitting a predetermined signal from a wireless access point;
• receiving an authentication request from the wireless communication device using the second transceiver, the authentication request including identification information that uniquely identifies the wireless communication device;
• in response to the authentication request, transmitting at least a portion of the identification information to an authentication server;
• the authentication server performing an authentication process for the wireless communication device requesting authentication based on the identification information of the wireless communication device;
• receiving an authentication response from the authentication server in response to the authentication request and, if the wireless communication device is authenticated, establishing a communication link between the 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;
• generating a log for the authenticated wireless communication device to monitor data utilization of the authenticated wireless communication device during the data off-load operational session;
• and
• establishing a communication link with the mobile operator network associated with the wireless communication device to provide the session log for the authenticated wireless communication device to the mobile operator network.

A method for data utilization tracking in a plurality of wireless communication devices, each of the plurality of wireless communication devices being associated with a respective one of a plurality of mobile operator networks and having a cellular network transceiver to communicate with the respective mobile operator networks via a cellular connection and having a second transceiver different from the cellular network transceiver, the method comprising:

• transmitting a predetermined signal from a plurality of wireless access points distributed throughout the venue;
• each of the plurality of wireless communication devices using the second transceiver to detect the predetermined signal and transmitting an authentication request in response thereto;
• at least one of the plurality of wireless access points receiving the authentication request from each of the plurality of wireless communication devices using the second transceiver, the authentication requests including identification information that uniquely identifies each of the plurality of wireless communication devices;
• in response to the authentication requests, transmitting at least a portion of the identification information of each of the plurality of wireless communication devices requesting authentication to an authentication server;
• receiving an authentication response from the authentication server for each of the plurality of wireless communication devices requesting authentication and, if the wireless communication devices are authenticated, establishing communication links between the wireless communication devices and a wide area network via the wireless access point to thereby initiate operation of the wireless communication devices in a data off-load operational session;
• generating a log corresponding to each of the plurality of authenticated wireless communication devices to monitor data utilization of each of the plurality of authenticated wireless communication devices during the respective data off-load operational sessions;
• and
• establishing communication links with the mobile operator network associated with each of the plurality of wireless communication devices to provide the session log for each of the plurality of authenticated wireless communication devices to the respective mobile operator networks.

A system for data utilization tracking in a plurality of wireless communication devices each having a cellular network connection with one of a plurality of mobile operator networks using a cellular network transceiver and a second transceiver different from the cellular network transceiver, comprising:

• a local area network (LAN) having a plurality of wireless access points and routing infrastructure communicatively coupled to the plurality of wireless access points and configured to communicate therewith;
• ones of the plurality of wireless access points serving as initial wireless access points configured to receive an authentication request from each of the plurality of wireless communication devices using the second transceiver, at the initial wireless access points, the authentication requests including identification information that uniquely identifies each of the plurality of wireless communication devices;
• an authentication server configured to receive at least a portion of the identification information of each of the plurality of wireless communication devices requesting authentication and, in response to the authentication request, to authenticate each of the plurality of wireless communication devices, and, if the wireless communication devices are authenticated, establishing communication links between the wireless communication devices and a wide area network via the LAN to thereby initiate operation of the wireless communication devices in a data off-load operational session;
• a data traffic monitor configured to monitor data traffic between the LAN and each of the plurality of authenticated wireless communication devices to thereby monitor data utilization of each of the plurality of authenticated wireless communication devices during the respective data off-load operational sessions;
• and
• a billing engine configured to establish a secure communication link with the mobile operator network associated with each of the plurality of wireless communication devices to provide the session log for each of the plurality of authenticated wireless communication devices to the respective mobile operator networks.