System and Methods for Carrier-Centric Mobile Device Data Communications Cost Monitoring and Control

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing carrier-centric data communications cost monitoring and controls are provided. In an embodiment, the method operates by receiving a registration request associated with a subscriber session, determining current data usage associated with the subscriber, and receiving data usage thresholds. The method further comprises receiving quotas associated with the subscriber session and collecting data usage information associated with the subscriber session. The method sends a notification to the subscriber when a pre-determined quota is exceeded during the subscriber session and controls data usage. The cost monitoring and control system comprises a usage policy server and a usage policy application. The usage policy application allows a carrier to offer alterations to terms of a subscription. The usage policy application displays current data usage information on a per-network and per-application basis using subscriber profile information, subscriber session information, and prior subscriber usage history provided by the usage policy server.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 153,910, entitled System and Methods for Mobile Device-Based Data Communications Cost Monitoring and Control, filed on May 4, 2009 by Momtahan et al., which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.[0002]The present application also claims priority to commonly owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 186,831, entitled, Usage Measurement Collection and Analysis to Dynamically Regulate Customer Network Usage, filed on Aug. 6, 2008 by Jones et al., which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.[0003]The present application is also related to commonly owned, co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 708,299, entitled Adaptive Window Size for Network Fair Usage Controls, by Foottit et al., which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0004]The present invention ...

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