Methods and systems for controlling network service quality

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling levels of quality of service (QoS) for transmitting data between a terminal and a network, comprising:

enforcing a first level of a QoS to a connection between the terminal and the network;

receiving a specific user-requested, second level of the QoS from the terminal, wherein the specific user-requested second level of the QoS is independent of network availability;

determining, after receiving the specific user-requested, second level of the QoS, a currently-available level of the QoS on the network;

determining a third level of the QoS based at least in part on the currently-available level of the QoS on the network and based in part on the received specific user-requested, second level of the QoS; and

enforcing the third level of the QoS to the connection between the terminal and the network.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing display, via a user interface, of a currently-enforced level of the QoS on the terminal.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising enabling adjustment of the currently-enforced level of the QoS from the terminal.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the QoS pertains to a best-effort-based maximum speed of data transmission over the network.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the QoS pertains to both a best-effort-based maximum speed of data transmission over the network and a maximum amount of data volume allowed for the transmission over a period of time.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first level of the QoS includes a first best-effort-based maximum speed of data transmission and a first maximum data volume, and the second level of the QoS includes a second best-effort-based maximum speed of data transmission and a second maximum data volume.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the third level of the QoS comprises:

determining whether a user account balance is sufficient for the second level of the QoS.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first level of the QoS is associated with a first data plan and the second level of the QoS is associated with a second data plan.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein enforcing the third level of the QoS comprises switching from the first data plan to the second data plan.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the specific user-requested, second level of the QoS includes at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of minimum network speed, maximum network speed, amount of data volume that is permitted to transmit over the network, latency of data transmission, priority of data traffic from a user's device with respect to traffic from other devices on the network, priority of data traffic to a user's device with respect to traffic from other devices on the network, amount of data transmission bandwidth, resolution of types of data, bandwidth, and error rates of transmitted data.

11. A computer-implemented method for providing specific combinations of maximum network speeds and maximum bandwidths by network traffic control comprising:

enforcing a first combination of a first maximum network data speed and a first maximum data volume to one or more connections between a terminal and a communication destination over a network when the terminal is connected to the network;

receiving a user-specified request from the terminal for a second combination of a second maximum network speed and a second maximum data volume while the terminal is connected to the network, wherein the user-specified request is independent of network availability;

assessing a currently-available maximum network speed and maximum data volume on the network;

determining that the second maximum network speed and the second maximum data volume received in the user-specified request are available based on the assessed currently-available maximum network speed and maximum data volume on the network; and

based on the determination that the second maximum network speed and the second maximum data volume received in the user-specified request are available, enforcing the second combination of the second maximum network data speed and the second maximum data volume to at least some of the one or more connections between the terminal and the network.

12. A system for providing a specific maximum network speed by real-time modulation of network traffic control comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory, including instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the computer system to at least:

enforce a predetermined maximum network speed to one or more connections between a terminal and the network;

receive a request for a desired maximum network speed from the terminal, wherein the desired maximum network speed is independent of network availability;

validate the desired maximum network speed based at least in part on a user account balance;

assess a currently-available maximum network speed after receiving the request for a desired maximum network speed from the terminal;

determine that desired maximum network speed is within the assessed currently-available maximum network speed;

enforce the desired maximum network speed to at least some of the one or more connections between the terminal and the network;

detect invalidity of the desired maximum network speed; and

change, in response to the detected invalidity, the currently-enforced maximum network speed to the predetermined maximum network speed.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein:

the system comprises of a first network and a second network that are connected via a gateway, a maximum network speed allowed in the first network being no more than a maximum network speed allowed in the second network;

the terminal is connected to the gateway using the first network;

the gateway is connected to a destination terminal using the second network; and

the desired maximum network speed is enforced in the first network or at the gateway.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein validating the desired maximum network speed based at least in part on a user account balance comprises validating purchase of an amount of data volume that is associated with the second level of the QoS.