Systems and methods of split billing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9686415-B2
Application number	US-201514934848-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2015
Priority date	Nov 6, 2015
Publication date	Jun 20, 2017
Grant date	Jun 20, 2017

Abstract

A method includes generating a request at an electronic device associated with a plurality of data usage accounts. The method also includes selectively encapsulating, by the electronic device, the request to generate an encapsulated request that identifies a destination endpoint provisioned for a first data usage account of the plurality of data usage accounts. The method further includes transmitting the encapsulated request from the electronic device to a network element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising: receiving user input during execution of a first application at an electronic device, the user input corresponding to a selection of a first data usage account of a plurality of data usage accounts associated with the electronic device and the user input indicating that data usage of the electronic device is to be billed to the first data usage account; generating a request during execution of a second application at the electronic device; based on the selection of the first data usage account, encapsulating, by the electronic device, the request to generate an encapsulated request that identifies a destination endpoint provisioned for the first data usage account; and transmitting the encapsulated request from the electronic device to a network element, wherein the encapsulated request further identifies a uniform resource locator, and wherein data usage associated with accessing the uniform resource locator is charged to the first data usage account.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the destination endpoint comprises a voice call endpoint.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the destination endpoint comprises a virtual private networking endpoint or a business endpoint.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the destination endpoint comprises a service platform.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the service platform hosts a proxy.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the proxy comprises a socket secure proxy.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of data usage accounts comprises an enterprise account and a personal account.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first application comprises a workspace application that enables switching between the plurality of data usage accounts and that enables execution of other applications from within the workspace application.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein data usage associated with each of the plurality of data usage accounts is billed separately.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first data usage account is associated with a reachable telephone number and wherein a second data usage account of the plurality of data usage accounts is associated with a pseudo-telephone number.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured to refrain from encapsulating requests while a second data usage account of the plurality of data usage accounts is selected.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising after transmitting the encapsulated request:
receiving second user input during execution of the first application, the second user input corresponding to selection of a second data usage account of the plurality of data usage accounts;
generating a second request during execution of the second application at the electronic device;
based on the selection of the second data usage account, encapsulating the second request to generate a second encapsulated request that identifies a second destination endpoint that is distinct from the destination endpoint and that is provisioned for the second data usage account; and
transmitting the second encapsulated request.

13. A network element comprising: a processor; and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to perform operations comprising: receiving, at a proxy server, an encapsulated request from an electronic device, wherein the encapsulated request identifies a destination endpoint that is distinct from the proxy server and that is provisioned for a first data usage account of a plurality of data usage accounts associated with the electronic device; determining, based on the destination endpoint, that data usage associated with the encapsulated request is to be charged to the first data usage account; extracting a request from the encapsulated request, wherein the request is associated with a uniform resource locator; and forwarding the extracted request to a server associated with the uniform resource locator.

14. The network element of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise sending a message to a billing system to indicate that the data usage associated with the encapsulated request is to be charged to the first data usage account.

15. The network element of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise: extracting a virtual private networking request or business data request from a second encapsulated request; and forwarding the extracted virtual private networking request or business data request to a virtual private networking destination or business destination.

16. The network element of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise: determining that a second encapsulated request is associated with a voice call from an over the top voice calling application; and forwarding data associated with the encapsulated request to a voice call endpoint.

17. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: receiving user input during execution of a first application at an electronic device, the user input corresponding to a selection of a first data usage account of a plurality of data usage accounts associated with the electronic device, and the user input indicating that data usage of the electronic device is to be billed to the first data usage account; generating a request during execution of a second application at the electronic device; based on the selection of the first data usage account, encapsulating the request to generate an encapsulated request that identifies a destination endpoint provisioned for the first data usage account; and transmitting the encapsulated request from the electronic device to a network element, wherein the encapsulated request further identifies a uniform resource locator, and wherein data usage associated with accessing the uniform resource locator is charged to the first data usage account.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of data usage accounts includes an enterprise account and a personal account.

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Haslestad Maryann
• Alto George
• Banoor Kiran
• Bourg Gus
• Didio Diane
• Genz Jonathan
• Herrera Gregory
• Keller Brian
• Malee Daniel P
• Mnich Richard J
• Rivard Marcel Theodore
• Roman Mildred
• Subramaniam Shilpa
• Wills Laury Ann
• Young Scott

Classifications

• H04L12/4641

  Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] (LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272) · CPC title

• H04M15/10 Primary

  Metering calls from calling party {, i.e. A-party charged for the communication} · CPC title

• H04M15/67

  Transmitting arrangements for sending billing related information · CPC title

• H04M15/56

  for VoIP communications · CPC title

• H04M15/07 Primary

  Split billing, i.e. both A-party and B-party charged for the communication · CPC title