System and method for network access vending

摘要

A system, method and apparatus for vending network access by determining access pricing or tariffs for one or more of a plurality of network access regions using one or more of an eNB cell congestion level, an eNB congestion level, a quality of service level, an access technology, a level of activity by a target subscriber and the like. The access pricing is offered to potential access purchasers along with optional metadata indicative of, illustratively, user equipment and network parameters associated with the cell or eNB. The pricing may be offered via an API to allow automatic purchase decisions by access purchasers.

主权项

1. A method for vending network access, comprising:
determining access prices for each of a plurality of network access regions based on at least one network operating condition, the at least one network operating condition comprising a congestion level; and offering network region access in accordance with said access prices, wherein offering network region access comprises propagating said access prices toward a set of access purchasers, wherein said access purchasers comprise at least one of an application provider or a service provider; wherein the network region access is offered via an application programming interface (API) exposed to the access purchasers via a web services gateway, wherein the web services gateway interacts with the access purchasers to form an access marketplace providing undated network access pricing for at least a portion of the network access regions.