IP Library Granted Patent US 9,292,400
Granted Patent B1
US 9,292,400 · App. 13/530,021 · Granted Mar 22, 2016

System, method, and computer program for determining a network for a user

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,292,400
App. No.
13/530,021
Granted
Mar 22, 2016
Kind
B1
Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining a network for a user. In use, a network-related event associated with a user is identified. Additionally, a score is calculated for the user, in response to the identification of the event. Further, a network is determined for the user, based on the score.

Claims (49)

1. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, comprising:

computer code for identifying a network-related event associated with a user, the network-related event including:

an initiation of communications over a first communications network by the user, and

a determination that the first communications network has become congested;

computer code for determining whether a predetermined priority level is associated with the user, in response to the identification of the event; and

computer code for selecting a network for the user, based on the determining, including:

maintaining the communications of the user over the first communications network upon determining that the predetermined priority level is associated with the user,

upon determining that the predetermined priority level is not associated with the user:

determining whether a second communications network is available to the user,

offloading the communications of the user to the second communications network, upon determining that the second communications network is available to the user, and

maintaining the communications of the user over the first communications network and assigning the user a lower amount of network resources over the first communications network, upon determining that the second communications network is not available to the user.

2. The computer program of claim 1 , wherein the network-related event includes a notification from a usage monitor that the user is nearing a network usage quota.

3. The computer program of claim 1 , wherein the network-related event includes a determination that one or more additional networks have become available for connection by a device of the user while the device of the user is currently connected to a network.

4. The computer program of claim 1 , further comprising calculating the score for the user, utilizing one or more factors.

5. The computer program of claim 4 , wherein the one or more factors include a profile of the user.

6. The computer program of claim 4 , wherein the one or more factors include an indication as to whether the user is a prepaid or a postpaid customer of a network service provider.

7. The computer program of claim 4 , wherein the one or more factors include a type of network services package purchased by the user from a network service provider.

8. The computer program of claim 4 , wherein the one or more factors include an indication as to whether the user is a heavy or light consumer of a network service provider.

9. The computer program of claim 4 , wherein the one or more factors include a condition of one or more networks.

10. The computer program of claim 4 , wherein the one or more factors include a cost associated with the one or more networks.

11. The computer program of claim 4 , wherein the one or more factors include an application type being run by the user.

12. The computer program of claim 4 , further comprising mapping the score to a network, utilizing a table.

13. The computer program of claim 4 , wherein the score calculated for the user indicates a priority of the user with respect to network resource allocation.

14. The computer program of claim 13 , wherein a first user with a higher calculated score than a second user has a higher priority during network resource allocation than the second user.

15. The computer program of claim 1 , wherein offloading the user to the second network includes connecting the user to the second network.

16. A method, comprising:

identifying a network-related event associated with a user, the network-related event including:

an initiation of communications over a first communications network by the user, and

a determination that the first communications network has become congested;

determining whether a predetermined priority level is associated with the user, in response to the identification of the event; and

selecting a network for the user, based on the determining, including:

maintaining the communications of the user over the first communications network upon determining that the predetermined priority level is associated with the user,

upon determining that the predetermined priority level is not associated with the user:

determining whether a second communications network is available to the user,

offloading the communications of the user to the second communications network, upon determining that the second communications network is available to the user, and

maintaining the communications of the user over the first communications network and assigning the user a lower amount of network resources over the first communications network, upon determining that the second communications network is not available to the user.

17. A system, comprising:

a processor for:

identifying a network-related event associated with a user, the network-related event including:

an initiation of communications over a first communications network by the user, and

a determination that the first communications network has become congested;

determining whether a predetermined priority level is associated with the user, in response to the identification of the event; and

selecting a network for the user, based on the determining, including:

maintaining the communications of the user over the first communications network upon determining that the predetermined priority level is associated with the user,

upon determining that the predetermined priority level is not associated with the user:

determining whether a second communications network is available to the user,

offloading the communications of the user to the second communications network, upon determining that the second communications network is available to the user, and

maintaining the communications of the user over the first communications network and assigning the user a lower amount of network resources over the first communications network, upon determining that the second communications network is not available to the user.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is coupled to memory via a bus.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2016
From: AMDOCS SOFTWARE SYSTEMS LIMITED
To: AMDOCS DEVELOPMENT LIMITED; AMDOCS SOFTWARE SYSTEMS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 039695/0965 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 22, 2012
From: RAPAPORT, NIR; DAVID, RONEN
To: AMDOCS SOFTWARE SYSTEMS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 028831/0506 →