IP Library Granted Patent US 8,644,469
Granted Patent B2
US 8,644,469 · App. 13/227,509 · Granted Feb 4, 2014

Methods, systems, and products for monitoring service usage

Inventors: Jeffrey A. Aaron (Atlanta, GA); Jun-Gang Alin (Duluth, GA)
Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
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 8,644,469
App. No.
13/227,509
Granted
Feb 4, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Usage information is received that describes usage of communication services by a communications device. The usage information is compared to monitoring criteria. When the monitoring criteria is satisfied, an electronic notification message is sent to the communications device. The electronic notification message when a communications service is initiated and before an additional charge for the communications service is incurred.

Claims (37)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving usage information describing usages of a plurality of communication services by a communications device, each communication service in the plurality of communications services provided over a different communication system;

combining, at a single monitoring computer, the usage information from each different communication system;

comparing, at the single monitoring computer, the usage information to monitoring criteria for each one of the plurality of communication services;

determining multiple threshold values in the monitoring criteria are satisfied by the usage information, each one of the multiple threshold values indicating the communications device will incur additional charges for the plurality of communications services; and

sending, before the additional charges are incurred, an electronic notification message to the communications device, the electronic notification message warning of the additional charges for the plurality of communication services.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising tracking the usages of the plurality of communication services by the communications device.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising billing for the usages of the plurality of communication services.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein comparing the usage information to the monitoring criteria comprises comparing data transferred to the communications device.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising including information in the electronic notification message that the monitoring criteria are satisfied.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving the usage information comprises receiving usage of a wireless service.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein sending the electronic notification message comprises sending a text message.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein sending the electronic notification message comprises sending an email message.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein comparing the usage information to the monitoring criteria comprises comparing minutes of use to the multiple threshold values.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein comparing the usage information to the monitoring criteria comprises comparing a pattern of usage to the multiple threshold values.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising sending a promotion for a billing plan when the usage information exceeds the monitoring criteria.

12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising moving to a new billing plan when the usage information exceeds the monitoring criteria.

13. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that when executed cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving usage information describing usages of a plurality of communication services by a communications device, each communication service in the plurality of communications services provided over a different communication system;

combining the usage information from each different communication system;

comparing the usage information to monitoring criteria for each one of the plurality of communication services;

determining multiple threshold values in the monitoring criteria are satisfied by the usage information, each one of the multiple threshold values indicating the communications device will incur additional charges for the plurality of communications services; and

sending, before the additional charges are incurred, an electronic notification message to the communications device, the electronic notification message warning of the additional charges for the plurality of communication services.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise tracking the usages of the communication services by the communications device.

15. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise comparing data transferred to the communications device.

16. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise comparing an amount of data to the multiple threshold levels in a billing period.

17. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a promotion for a billing plan when the usage information exceeds the monitoring criteria.

18. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise associating a new billing plan for the communications device when the usage information exceeds the monitoring criteria.

19. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise sending the electronic notification message as one of a text message and an email message.

20. A memory storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving usage information describing usages of a plurality of communication services by a communications device, each communication service in the plurality of communications services provided over a different communication system;

combining, at a single monitoring computer, the usage information from each different communication system;

comparing, at the single monitoring computer, the usage information to monitoring criteria for each one of the plurality of communication services;

determining multiple threshold values in the monitoring criteria are satisfied by the usage information, each one of the multiple threshold values indicating the communications device will incur additional charges for the plurality of communications services; and

sending, before the additional charges are incurred, an electronic notification message to the communications device, the electronic notification message warning of the additional charges for the plurality of communication services.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2013
From: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
Reel/Frame 030046/0828 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 19, 2013
From: BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030039/0202 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 19, 2013
From: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030039/0207 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 19, 2013
From: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030039/0214 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 9, 2011
From: AARON, JEFFREY A.; ALIN, JUN-GANG
To: BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026878/0529 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 12619057 · Nov 16, 2009
Continuation 10928338 · Aug 27, 2004
Related Publication 20110320283A1 · Dec 29, 2011