WO2003094000A2

WO2003094000A2 - System for internet usage determination

Info

Publication number: WO2003094000A2
Application number: PCT/US2003/013418
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fred S. Cook; Terry M. Frederick
Original assignee: Sprint Communications Company, L. P.
Priority date: 2002-05-02
Filing date: 2003-04-30
Publication date: 2003-11-13
Also published as: AU2003231199A8; WO2003094000A3; AU2003231199A1

Abstract

An Internet portal system (102) is described that is comprised of a monitor system (104) and a usage data system (106). The monitor system monitors Internet usage between a plurality of users (108) and a plurality of services (110) to generate usage data. The usage data system processes the usage data to maintain a data structure to correlate individual users with individual services and to indicate the Internet usage for individual user-service combinations.

Description

INTERNET USAGE DETERMINATION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of telecommunications, and in particular to

Internet portal operational methods, systems, and software.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many users access services over the Internet. Internet portals are often used to securely interface the users with the services. In many cases, an Internet portal provides a user with an interface to services of a common interest. An Internet portal might use log in screens, password checks, and encrypted account information to provide secure interfaces. One example of an Internet portal is the Charles Schwab web site, www.schwab.com, or PeopleSoft HR portals. Typically, a user logs in to the Internet portal. The Internet portal checks a password to verify the user's account. The user selects one or more services through the Internet portal. For instance, the user selects a first service and communicates with the first service for thirty minutes. The user then selects a second service and communicates with the second service for an hour. The user then selects a third service and communicates with the third service for an hour and a half. The user might input credit card information to secure a purchase of the services. The credit card information can be encrypted to protect the user's credit card information. When the user is done using the services, the user logs off of the Internet portal. A bill can then be generated that sets forth the time the user spent logged in to the Internet portal. In the above example, the user would be billed for three hours of Internet usage.

Unfortunately, Internet portals are not currently adapted to track or audit usage that correlates individual users with individual services. In the above example for instance, the Internet portal would not track how long the user communicated with the first service, the second service, and the third service separately. The Internet portal may only be able to tell the amount of time the user was logged into the portal. SUMMARY OF THE SOLUTION

The invention helps solve the above problems by tracking and/or auditing Internet usage on a per-user per-service basis. The invention advantageously allows individual users, companies, corporations, etc., to more closely track use of services. The invention also advantageously allows the cost of the services to be distributed among multiple users. The invention also advantageously allows per user licensed software to be used.

One embodiment of the invention comprises an Internet portal system comprised of a monitor system and a usage data system. The monitor system monitors Internet usage between a plurality of users and a plurality of services to generate usage data. The usage data system processes the usage data to maintain a data structure to correlate individual users with individual services and to indicate the Internet usage for individual user-service combinations. The data structure may also indicate maximum/minimum users per service per time frame.

In some examples of the invention, the usage data system processes the data structure to determine a utilization of the Internet portal system by one of the users. In some examples of the invention, the usage data system processes the data structure to determine a utilization of one of the services by one of the users.

In some examples of the invention, the usage data system generates billing information from utilizations of the Internet portal system by one of the users. In some examples of the invention, the usage data system generates billing information from utilizations of one of the services by one of the users.

In some examples of the invention, the usage data system generates billing information for a provider of one of the services from utilizations of one of the plurality services by one of the users. Other examples of the invention that are included within the scope of the invention are provided below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The same reference number represents the same element on all drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates an Internet portal system in an example of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an operation of the Internet portal system in FIG. 1 in an example of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a usage data system in an example of the invention. FIG. 4 illustrates another example of an Internet portal system in an example of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an operation of the Internet portal system in FIG. 4 in an example of the invention. FIG. 6 illustrates a data structure for the Internet portal system in FIG. 4 in an example of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-6 and the following description depict specific examples to teach those skilled in the art how to make and use the best mode of the invention. For the purpose of teaching inventive principles, some conventional aspects have been simplified or omitted. Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations from these examples that fall within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described below can be combined in various ways to form multiple variations of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific examples described below, but only by the claims and their equivalents.

Internet Portal System - FIGS. 1-2

FIG. 1 illustrates Internet portal system 102 in an example of the invention. Internet portal system 102 comprises monitor system 104 and usage data system 106. Internet portal system 102 is linked to users 108 and to services 110. These links could include other communication systems, networks, or connections that are not shown in FIG. 1 for the purpose of clarity.

Monitor system 104 includes any system configured to monitor Internet usage between the plurality of users 108 and the plurality of services 110 to generate usage data.

Monitor system 104 could be comprised of optical and/or electronic circuitry, such as data couplers and filters. Monitor system 104 could also be comprised of an enhanced/extended

Radius authorization system and/or an edge device, such as an IP service switch.

Usage data system 106 includes any system configured to process the usage data to maintain a data structure that correlates individual users 108 with individual services 110.

The data structure indicates the Internet usage for individual user-service combinations.

Usage data system 106 could be comprised of a programmed general-purpose computer or a special purpose processing circuitry. Usage data may indicate individual users, individual services, and amounts of usage by the individual users of the individual services. For example, usage data could include the name of the user, the name of the service, an amount of data transferred to provide the service, an amount of time taken to provide the service, and a processor, disk, or other resource used. An individual user could be a person, a group, a business entity, or some other consumer of services provided through Internet portal system 102. An individual service could be video on demand, audio on demand, or some other type of data product provided through Internet portal system 102.

FIG. 2 illustrates an operation 200 of Internet portal system 102 in an example of the invention. Operation 200 of Internet portal system 102 commences in step 202. Monitor system 104 monitors Internet usage between the plurality of users 108 and the plurality of services 110 to generate usage data in step 204. Usage data system 106 processes the usage data to maintain a data structure to correlate individual users 108 with individual services 110 in step 206. Usage data system 106 then indicates the Internet usage for individual user-service combinations in step 208. Once the Internet usage is indicated, the operation ends in step 210. Based on this disclosure, those skilled in the art will appreciate how to modify existing communication systems to make and use Internet portal system 102.

Usage Data System - FIG. 3 FIG. 3 illustrates a usage data system 306 in an example of the invention. Usage data system 306 may be an example of usage data system 106 in FIG. 1. Usage data system 306 includes processing system 308, communication interface 304, and storage system 310. Processing system 308 is linked to communication interface 304 and storage system 310. Communication interface 304 is linked to monitor system 104, which is linked to user 108 and service 110. One user 108 and one service 110 is illustrated in FIG. 3 for clarity, but many users 108 and many services 110 may be linked to monitor system 104. Examples of service 110 could include audio on demand such as digital music and video on demand such as pay-per-view movies. Other examples include bandwidth on demand such as private branch exchanges (PBX) that can request a number of voice grade channels (NGC) based on a need. Other examples include shared resources such as printers, enterprise software, servers, facsimile machines, computers, financial reporting systems, and scheduling services. Storage system 310 stores data structure 312 and application software 314. Application software 314 could comprise an application program, firmware, or some other form of machine-readable processing instructions. Storage system 310 may also store other software. Examples of other software include operating systems, general utility software, drivers, and networking software.

Usage data system 306 could be comprised of a programmed general-purpose computer, although those skilled in the art will appreciate that other programmable or special purpose circuitry and equipment may be used. Usage data system 306 may use a client server architecture where operations are distributed among a server system and client devices that together comprise elements 304, 308, 310, 312, and 314.

Communication interface 304 could comprise a network interface card (NIC), modem, port, or some other communication device. Communication interface 304 may be distributed among multiple communication devices. Processing system 308 could comprise a computer microprocessor, logic circuit, or some other processing device. Processing system 308 may be distributed among multiple processing devices. Storage system 310 could comprise a disk, tape, integrated circuit, server, or some other memory device. Storage system 310 may be distributed among multiple memory devices.

Processing system 308 retrieves and executes application software 314 from storage system 310. When executed by processing system 308, application software 314 directs communication interface 304 to receive usage data from monitor system 104. Monitor system 104 monitors Internet usage between user 108 and service 110 to generate the usage data. Processing system 308 processes the usage data to maintain data structure 312 to correlate user 108 with service 110, and to indicate the Internet usage for individual user- service combinations. When further executed by processing system 308, application software 314 directs processing system 308 to (1) process data structure 312 to determine a utilization of an Internet portal system by user 108 in FIG. 1 , (2) generate billing information for user 108 based on the utilization of the Internet portal system, (3) process data structure 312 to determine a utilization of service 110 by user 108, and (4) generate billing information for user 108 based on the utilization of service 110.

Example of an Internet Portal System - FIGS. 4-6 FIG. 4 illustrates an Internet portal system 402 in an example of the invention.

Internet portal system 402 comprises monitor system 404 and usage data system 406. Internet portal system 402 connects to services 410 and to company 408 through Internet Service Provider 409. Company 408 and services 410 link to Internet portal system 402 via an Internet connection 418. Company 408 is comprised of users 431-433. Services 410 comprise a video service 441, an audio service 442, and a company records service 443. FIG. 5 illustrates an operation of Internet portal system 402 in an example of the invention. Operation 500 of Internet portal system 402 commences in step 502. Internet portal system 402 receives a login request from a user 431 in step 504. User 431 may transmit the login request using a communication device such as a computer terminal. Internet portal system 402 determines whether to grant user 431 access in step 506. Internet portal system 402 may make this determination based on available capacity of Internet portal system 402, the identity of user 431, or other factors. If access is granted, Internet portal system 402 transmits a list of services 410 to user 431 for display in step 508. User 431 selects one of the services 410, such as service 441, and Internet portal system 402 receives the selection from user 431 in step 510. Internet portal system 402 determines whether to grant user 431 access to the selected service 441 in step 512. Internet portal system 402 may make this determination based on availability of service 441, whether user 431 has a membership with service 441 , or other factors. If access is granted, Internet usage system 402 transmits an authorization to user 431 for access to service 441 in step 514. Once user 431 has access to service 441, monitor system 404 monitors Internet usage by user 431 in communicating with service 441 to generate usage data in step 516. Monitor system 404 receives requests for access and access termination messages to generate the usage data.

Usage data system 406 receives the usage data from monitor system 404. Usage data system 406 processes the usage data to maintain a data structure in step 518. The data structure correlates user 431 with service 441. Usage data system 406 uses a security mechanism in Internet portal system 402 to process the usage data. Security mechanisms, such as RADIUS, are known to those familiar with Internet portals. For instance, when Internet portal system 402 grants user 431 access, Internet portal system 402 creates a user authentication/authorization request for user 431. The request may require modification of the RADIUS server. The user authentication/authorization request is used to create a user state object that records all services 410 and/or applications that user 431 accesses. When user 431 requests a service, the authorization extension is invoked, and the user state object records the user state change. The authorization extension also notifies the portal state object of the state change. The authorization extension then checks to see if a state object exists for service 441 that user 431 is to access. If no state object exists, then one is created. The service state object is notified about the requested use and it adjusts the application instance state.

If user 431 decides that service 441 is no longer needed, user 408 transmits a termination request to Internet portal system 402. Access to Internet portal system 402 can also be terminated upon completion of service 441. Upon termination, the service state object notifies the user state object and the portal state object. In response to the notification, the user state object and the portal state object adjust their current state. At each state transition, each state object registers the state change to an audit object.

Usage data system 406 uses the above state objects to maintain and update the data structure. Usage data system 406 then indicates the Internet usage for user-service combinations in step 520 based on the data structure. Internet portal system 402 may use the above process to track or audit Internet usage by users 432-433 in communicating with services 441-443.

Usage data system 406 processes the data structure in step 522. Based on the data structure, usage data system 406 may determine a utilization of Internet portal system 402 by user 431 in step 524. Usage data system 406 may also determine a utilization of service 441 by user 431 in step 526. Upon completing steps 524 and 526, usage data system 406 generates billing information for user 431 or for service 441 based on the utilization of Internet portal system 402 and the utilization of service 441 in step 528. The billing information typically indicates data regarding the user's name, address, phone number, account number, and credit card number. Once the billing information is generated, usage data system 406 updates the data structure in step 530. The operation ends in step 532.

One or more of services 410 could pay for the expenses of Internet portal system 402 for user 431. This scenario is like a toll free call, such as an 800 call in telecommunications. In some examples, when user 431 accesses one of these services 410, the billing information that is generated for the utilization of the services 410 is allocated to the provider of the services 410. The billing information that is generated for the utilization of Internet portal system 402 is sent to the provider of services 410 for payment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a data structure 600 in an example of the invention. Data structure could be used by Internet portal system 402 in FIG. 4. Data structure 600, in this example, correlates users 431-433 with services 441-443. For example, data structure 600 includes an amount of data transferred from one of the services 441-443 to one of the users 431-433. Data structure 600 comprises a USER field, a GROUP field, a SERVICE field, a USAGE field, a COST field, and a BILL field. The USER field includes information regarding users 431 -433. Examples of a USER field include user identification, address, phone number, and credit card information. The GROUP field identifies if the user belongs to a particular group. If so, the GROUP field identifies that group to allow group-wise utilizations to be determined. The SERVICE field includes information regarding services 441-443. Examples of a SERVICE field include bandwidth on demand, video on demand, and audio on demand. The USAGE field includes information regarding an amount of a service 441-443 used. Examples of a USAGE field include number of bits transferred or amount of time spent using a service 441 -443. The COST field includes information regarding a cost of a service 441-443. Examples of a COST field include a price in dollars for a service 441-443. The BILL field includes information regarding a billing of a service 441-443, such as account numbers, contact information, addresses, cycles, or pointers to this information. Examples of the BILL field include billing information for individual user- service combinations and a total billing amount for all services used.

Usage data system 406 may maintain the data fields of data structure 600 as follows. User 431 logs onto Internet portal system 402 and selects service 441. Service 441 transmits data to user 431. User 431 and service 441 are illustrated in data structure 600 in the USER field and the SERVICE field respectively. Usage data system 402 monitors usage for service 441 based on time, number of bits transferred, or service performed and updates the USAGE field as USAGE 1. A cost is associated with the usage for service 441 and is allocated Cl in the COST field. Once user 431 logs off Internet portal system 402, or completes use of service 441, usage data system 406 calculates billing information on service 441 used by user 431 at the cost of Cl for the usage of USAGE 1. User 431 then selects service 442. Service 442 transmits data to user 432. Usage data system 402 monitors usage for service 442 based on time, number of bits transferred, or service performed and updates the USAGE field as USAGE 2. A cost is associated with the usage for service 442 and is allocated C2 in the COST field. Once user 431 logs off Internet portal system 402, or completes use of service 442, usage data system 406 calculates billing information on service 442 used by user 431 at the cost of C2 for the usage of USAGE 2.

Billing information is allocated in the BILL field of data structure 600. The billing information could include what party is to be billed for the particular services 441-443. For example, when user 431 uses service 441 , user 431 is billed for service 441. When user 431 uses service 442, service 442 may be a toll-free site and service 442 is billed for any Internet portal system 402 usage provided to user 431.

One advantage of the system described in FIGS. 4-6 is that Internet portal system 402 is able to track or audit Internet usage on a per user-per service basis. Assume that users 431, 432, and 433 are departments working on different projects within company 408. Using Internet portal system 402, company 408 is able to receive billing information from Internet portal system 402 that sets apart service 441-443 use for each different department. The billing information can also set apart service 441-443 use for individual workers within each department. Thus, company 408 can more closely track where company resources are being used. Company 408 can also more accurately track costs, such as costs of services 441-443, associated with individual projects.

Another advantage of the system is that Internet portal system 402 can provide a concurrent-use license capability for services. Based on data structure 600, Internet portal system 402 can determine the following.

Internet portal system 402 can determine a utilization of Internet portal system 402 by one of the users 408. Internet portal system 402 can generate billing information for one of the users 408 based on the utilization of Internet portal system 402. Internet portal system 402 can determine a utilization of one of the services 410 by one of the users 408. Internet portal system 402 can generate billing information for one of the users 408 based on the utilization of the one of the services 410. Internet portal system 402 can generate billing information for a provider of one of the services 410 based on the utilization of the one of the users 408. Internet portal system 402 can determine an aggregate utilization of Internet portal system 402 by more than one of the users 408. Internet portal system 402 can determine an aggregate utilization of one of the services 410 by more than one of the users 408.

In one example, users 431-433 could be groups within company 408. In such a case, utilization of a service could be allocated to a group. For example, assume that Western Sales Group of Big Company used 56 hours of demographic service for a 10% portion of total usage of Big Company. Based on usage information generated by Internet portal system 402, Big Company can apportion 10% of overhead costs to Western Sales Group. Also, one or more groups could be licensed for a particular utilization of a service. Based on usage information generated by Internet portal system 402, one may determine whether a group exceeds a prescribed license value. Access or authorization may be denied to the group, or a user within the group, if the prescribed license value.

The above-described elements can be comprised of instructions that are stored on storage media. The instructions can be retrieved and executed by a processor. Some examples of instructions are software, program code, and firmware. Some examples of storage media are memory devices, tapes, disks, integrated circuits, and servers. The instructions are operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to operate in accord with the invention. Those skilled in the art are familiar with instructions, processors, and storage media. Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations of the above-described embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific examples and illustrations discussed above, but only by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS We claim:

1. An Internet portal system (102), comprising: a monitor system (104) configured to monitor Internet usage between a plurality of users (108) and a plurality of services (110) to generate usage data; the Internet portal system being characterized by: a usage data system (106) configured to process the usage data to maintain a data structure to correlate individual users with individual services and to indicate the Internet usage for individual user-service combinations.

2. The Internet portal system (102) of claim 1 further comprising a storage system configured to store the data structure.

3. The Internet portal system ( 102) of claim 1 , wherein the data structure indicates user identifications, service types, and durations of the Internet usage for the service types by the plurality of users (108).

4. The Internet portal system (102) of claim 1, wherein the data structure includes an amount of data transferred from one of the plurality of services ( 110) to one of the plurality of users (108).

5. The Internet portal system (102) of claim 1 , wherein the usage data system (106) is further configured to process the data structure to determine a utilization of the Internet portal system by one of the plurality of users (108).

6. The Internet portal system (102) of claim 5, wherein the usage data system (106) is further configured to generate billing information for the one of the plurality of users (108) based on the utilization of the Internet portal system.

7. The Internet portal system (102) of claim 1 , wherein the usage data system (106) is further configured to process the data structure to determine a utilization of one of the plurality of services (110) by one of the plurality of users (108).

8. The Internet portal system (102) of claim 7, wherein the usage data system (106) is further configured to generate billing information for the one of the plurality of users (108) based on the utilization of the one of the plurality of services (110).

9. The Internet portal system (102) of claim 7, wherein the usage data system (106) is further configured to generate billing information for a provider of the one of the plurality of services (110) based on the utilization of the one of the plurality of users (108).

10. The Internet portal system (102) of claim 1 , wherein the usage data system (106) is further configured to determine an aggregate utilization of the Internet portal system by more than one of the plurality of users (108).

11. The Internet portal system (102) of claim 1 , wherein the usage data system (106) is further configured to determine an aggregate utilization of one of the plurality of services

(110) by more than one of the plurality of users (108).

12. A product for operating an Internet portal system, the product comprising: a monitor system (104) that monitors Internet usage between a plurality of users (108) and a plurality of services (110) to generate usage data; a processing system (308); and a storage system (310) configured to store application software (314) and a database (312); the product being characterized by the application software being configured when executed by the processing system to: receive and process the usage data to maintain the data structure to correlate individual users with individual services and to indicate the Internet usage for individual user-service combinations.

13. The product of claim 12, wherein the application software (314) is further configured to direct the processing system (308) to store the data structure (312).

14. The product of claim 12, wherein the data structure (312) indicates user identifications, service types, and durations of the Internet usage for the service types by the plurality of users (108).

15. The product of claim 12, wherein the data structure (312) includes an amount of data transferred from one of the plurality of services (110) to one of the plurality of users (108).

16. The product of claim 12, wherein the application software (314) is further configured to direct the processing system (308) to process the data structure (312) to determine a utilization of the Internet portal system by one of the plurality of users (108).

17. The product of claim 16, wherein the application software (314) is further configured to direct the processing system (308) to generate billing information for the one of the plurality of users (108) based on the utilization of the Internet portal system.

18. The product of claim 12, wherein the application software (314) is further configured to direct the processing system (308) to process the data structure (312) to determine a utilization of one of the plurality of services (110) by one of the plurality of users (108).

19. The product of claim 18, wherein the application software (314) is further configured to direct the processing system (308) to generate billing information for the one of the plurality of users (108) based on the utilization of the one of the plurality of services (110).

20. The product of claim 18, wherein the application software (314) is further configured to direct the processing system (308) to generate billing information for a provider of one of the plurality of services (110) based on the utilization of the one of the plurality of users (108).

21. The product of claim 12, wherein the application software (314) is further configured to direct the processing system (308) to determine an aggregate utilization of the Internet portal system (102) by more than one of the plurality of users (108).

22. The product of claim 12, wherein the application software (314) is further configured to direct the processing system (308) to determine an aggregate utilization of one of the plurality of services (110) by more than one of the plurality of users (108).

23. A method (200) of operating an Internet portal system ( 102), the method comprising: monitoring (204) Internet usage between a plurality of users (108) and a plurality of services (108) to generate usage data; the method being characterized by: processing (206) the usage data to maintain a data structure that correlates individual users with individual services; and indicating (208) the Internet usage for individual user-service combinations.

24. The method (200) of claim 23, further comprising storing the data structure.

25. The method (200) of claim 23, wherein the data structure indicates user identifications, service types, and durations of the Internet usage for the service types by the plurality of users (108).

26. The method (200) of claim 23, wherein the data structure further includes an amount of data transferred from one of the plurality of services (110) to one of the plurality of users (108).

27. The method (200) of claim 23 , further comprising processing the data structure to determine a utilization of the Internet portal system (102) by one of the plurality of users (108).

28. The method (200) of claim 27, further comprising generating billing information for the one of the plurality of users (108) based on the utilization of the Internet portal system (102).

29. The method (200) of claim 23 , further comprising processing the data structure to determine a utilization of one of the plurality of services (110) by one of the plurality of users (108).

30. The method (200) of claim 29, further comprising generating billing information for the one of the plurality of users (108) based on the utilization of the one of the plurality of services (110).

31. The method (200) of claim 29, further comprising generating billing information for a provider of one of the plurality of services (110) based on the utilization of the one of the plurality of users (108).

32. The method (200) of claim 23, further comprising determining an aggregate utilization of the Internet portal system (102) by more than one of the plurality of users (108).

33. The method (200) of claim 23, further comprising determining an aggregate utilization of one of the plurality of services (110) by more than one of the plurality of users (108).