SERVICE UTILIZATION BROWSER PLUG-IN
A method of using a data monitoring service may include transmitting a request for subscriber billing status information; in response to the request, receiving the subscriber billing status information in a response message; formatting a status message based in part on the received subscriber billing status information, the status message including an estimated cost for a billing cycle of the subscriber; and presenting the status message in a network application.
1 . A method comprising:
transmitting a request for subscriber billing status information;
in response to the request, receiving the subscriber billing status information in a response message;
formatting a status message based in part on the received subscriber billing status information, the status message including an estimated cost for a billing cycle of the subscriber; and
presenting the status message in a network application.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
parsing the response message to determine a base charge amount; and
parsing the response message to determine a billing estimate for the billing cycle of the subscriber.
3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
changing the format of the status message when the billing estimate for the billing cycle is over the base charge amount by a threshold amount.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
periodically transmitting the request for the subscriber billing status information; and
updating the status message based on subscriber billing status information received in response to the periodically transmitted request.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the status message is displayed in a web browser and is displayed separate from content of a web page.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the request for subscriber billing status information includes a subscriber identification.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
storing a plurality of billing thresholds; and
alerting a user each time a billing threshold of the plurality of billing thresholds is reached or passed.
9 . A computer-readable storage device comprising instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, configure the at least one processor to:
transmit a request for subscriber billing status information;
in response to the request, receive the subscriber billing status information in a response message;
format a status message based in part on the received subscriber billing status information, the status message including an estimated cost for a billing cycle of the subscriber; and
present the status message in a network application.
10 . The computer-readable storage device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
parse the response message to determine a base charge amount; and
parse the response message to determine a billing estimate for the billing cycle of the subscriber.
11 . The computer-readable storage device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
change the format of the status message when the billing estimate for the billing cycle is over the base charge amount by a threshold amount.
12 . The computer-readable storage device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
periodically transmit the request for the subscriber billing status information; and
update the status message based on subscriber billing status information received in response to the periodically transmitted request.
13 . The computer-readable storage device of claim 9 , wherein the status message is displayed in a web browser and is displayed separate from content of a web page.
14 . The computer-readable storage device of claim 9 , wherein the status message includes a future estimated billing for the billing cycle.
15 . A system comprising:
a storage device comprising instructions;
at least one processor to execute the instructions, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
transmit a request for subscriber billing status information;
in response to the request, receive the subscriber billing status information in a response message;
format a status message based in part on the received subscriber billing status information, the status message including an estimated cost for a billing cycle of the subscriber; and
present the status message in a network application.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the status message includes data identifying data usage of devices associated with the subscriber during the billing cycle.
17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the status message is formatted as a percentage indicating a ratio of data usage of the subscriber during the billing cycle to allowed data usage of the subscriber for the billing cycle.
18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the status message is a graphical status message indicating a range of possible future billing estimates.
19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the request for the subscriber usage information includes a subscriber identification.
20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the request includes an application protocol interface key.