IP Library Granted Patent US 9,049,029
Granted Patent B2
US 9,049,029 · App. 11/413,550 · Granted Jun 2, 2015

Providing different network services to a network agent

Inventors: Antoni Drudis (Cupertino, CA); Bill Serra (Palo Alto, CA); Rafael Luis Brugnini Mallo (Las Rozas, ES)
Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
H04L12/14H04L12/1457
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,049,029
App. No.
11/413,550
Granted
Jun 2, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Differing network services can be provided to a single network agent such that a single agent can access services billed to different accounts. Different services and billed to different accounts by the network agent sending a network agent identifier to the network which identifies the agent. After an agent is identified, it sends a service qualifier that identifies a service being requested and an account to which the service should be billed or charged.

Claims (55)

1. A method of providing differing services through a single network to a single network agent, the method comprising:

receiving at a network a network agent identifier from a network agent, wherein the network agent identifier comprises data that identifies the network agent and which identifies to the network a plurality of services that the network agent is eligible to receive through the network;

receiving at the network a service qualifier for the network agent, wherein the service qualifier is sent to the network from the network agent and identifies to the network a service, of the plurality of services, to be provided to the network agent through the network and that the network agent is entitled to receive, and identifies an account to be associated by the network for the service provided to the network agent, and wherein the service qualifier is determined by the network agent from a password provided by a user to the network agent;

providing the service comprising a first service through the network to the network agent when the service qualifier is a first service qualifier; and

providing the service comprising a second service through the network to the network agent when the service qualifier is a second service qualifier.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the service qualifier sent to the network from the network agent identifies to the network, an account balance of the account to be charged for the service provided to the network agent.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising storing within the network agent, service usage information after a service is provided through the network to the network agent.

4. The method of claim 3 , comprising revising the service qualifier for the network agent after a service is provided through the network to the network agent.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the service qualifier comprises: a DTMF tone; a spoken word; one or more alphanumeric characters; a time of day; a day of the week; a geographic location; a telephone number being called; a network service being requested; an account balance; or any combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of services comprise telecommunications services, Internet access, instant messaging service, or audio and video file downloads, or any combinations thereof.

7. A method for a network agent to obtain a first network service and a second network service of a plurality of network services of a single network, the method comprising:

sending a network agent identifier from a network agent to a network, wherein the network agent identifier comprises data that identifies the network agent and which identifies the network services the network agent is eligible to receive through the network;

determining at the network agent a network service request from a password provided by a user to the network agent;

sending the network service request from the network agent to the network, wherein the network service request identifies to the network at least one network service of a plurality of network services to be provided to the network agent through the network and that the network agent is entitled to receive, and identifies to the network one account of a plurality of accounts to be associated by the network for the service provided to the network agent;

accessing a first network service from the network when the network service request is a first service qualifier; and

accessing a second network service from the network when the network service request is a second service qualifier.

8. The method of claim 7 , comprising cross-referencing at the network agent the password to the one account of the plurality of accounts, wherein the network service request identifies to the network, an account balance of the one account of the plurality of accounts, to be charged for services provided to the network agent.

9. The method of claim 7 , comprising storing within the network agent, network service usage information after a network service is provided to the network agent.

10. The method of claim 7 , comprising revising the service qualifier for the network agent after a network service is provided to the network agent.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the service qualifier comprises: a DTMF tone; a spoken word; one or more alphanumeric characters; a time of day; a day of the week; a geographic location; a telephone number being called; a network service being requested; an account number of the one account; an account balance of the one account; or any combinations thereof.

12. A network agent configured to obtain a plurality of network services from a network, the network agent comprising:

a user interface configured to receive a password entered by a user;

a communications device capable of wireless communications with a network;

a processor operatively coupled to the user interface and to the communications device; and

memory, operatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing a network agent identifier that identifies the network agent, and storing program instructions, which when executed, cause the processor to map the password to a service the network agent is entitled to receive through the network, and to map the password to an account to be associated by the network for the service, and wherein the program instructions when executed, cause the communications device to:

send the network agent identifier from the network agent to the network, wherein the network agent identifier identifies to the network the services the network agent is eligible to receive through the network;

send a network service request from the network agent to the network, wherein the network service request identifies to the network the service the network agent is entitled to receive the account;

access a first service available to the network agent from the network when the network service request is a first service qualifier; and

access a second service available to the network agent from the network when the network service request is a second service qualifier.

13. The network agent of claim 12 , wherein the program instructions cause the communications device to send a network service request that identifies to the network, an account balance of the plurality of accounts, to be charged for by the network for the service provided to the network agent.

14. The network agent of claim 12 , wherein the program instructions cause the communications device to send a network service request comprising: a DTMF tone; a spoken word; one or more alphanumeric characters; a time of day; a day of the week; a geographic location; a telephone number being called; a network service being requested; an account number of the account; an account balance of the account; or any combinations thereof.

15. The network agent of claim 12 , wherein the network agent comprises a telephone, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer, a laptop computer, subscriber equipment of the network, or an MP3 player, or any combinations thereof.

16. A network that provides wireless services comprised of:

a switching system that provides network communications services to network agents through a wireless communications network;

a processor operatively coupled to the switching system;

memory, operatively coupled to the processor, said memory storing program instructions, which when executed, cause the switching system to:

receive a network agent identifier from a network agent, wherein the network agent identifier comprises data that identifies the network agent and which identifies network services that the network agent is eligible to receive;

receive a service qualifier for the network agent from the network agent, wherein the service qualifier identifies to the network one account of a plurality of accounts to be charged by the network for services provided to the network agent, and wherein the service qualifier identifies to the network, services the network agent is entitled to receive through the network;

provide a first network service to the network agent when the service qualifier is a first service qualifier; and

provide a second network service to the network agent when the service qualifier is a second service qualifier.

17. The network of claim 16 , wherein the program instructions, when executed, cause the switching system to send a service qualifier that identifies to the network, an account balance of a plurality of accounts, to be charged for services provided to the network agent.

18. The network of claim 16 , wherein the service qualifier comprises: a DTMF tone; a spoken word; one or more alphanumeric characters; a time of day; a day of the week; a geographic location; a telephone number being called; a network service being requested; an account balance; or any combinations thereof; and

wherein the service qualifier is comprised of data that identifies the network agent and which identifies network services that the network agent is eligible to receive.

19. The network of claim 16 , wherein the network services are comprised of: telecommunications services, Internet access, and instant messaging service.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the network comprises a single cellular telephone network, and wherein the first network service comprises cellular service for the network agent on the account comprising a first account, and wherein the second network service comprises cellular service for the network agent on the account comprising a second account different than the first account.

21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the network agent receives a password at the network agent input by a user, and wherein the network agent maps the password to the account to be identified in the service qualifier received at the switching system from the network agent.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first service comprises placing a cellular telephone call on the account comprising a first account, and wherein the second service comprises placing a cellular telephone call on the account comprising a second account.

23. The method of claim 7 , wherein the network agent comprises a cellular telephone.

24. The network agent of claim 12 , wherein the network agent comprises a cellular telephone.

25. The network agent of claim 12 , wherein the communications device comprises a radio transceiver.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first service is a different service than the second service.

27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network agent comprises a cell phone, and the network agent identifier comprises a mobile identification number (MIN) of the cell phone and an electronic serial number (ESN) of the cell phone.

28. The method of claim 1 , comprising checking at the network that there are sufficient funds in the account to pay for the service, wherein the service qualifier received at the network from the network agent comprises an account number of the account.

29. The method of claim 1 , comprising checking at the network that the account is valid.

30. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network agent identifier and the service qualifier do not comprise the password.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2024
From: HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP
To: HCL TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 069715/0743 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2015
From: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
To: HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP
Reel/Frame 037079/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2006
From: DRUDIS, ANTONI; SERRA, BILL; MALLO, RAFAEL LUIS BRUGNINI
To: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 017841/0001 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070266167A1 · Nov 15, 2007