BILLING ENGINE AND METHOD OF USE

摘要

A wireless communication device associated with a mobile operator network transmits an authentication request for network access via a wireless access point (AP) using a transceiver other than the cellular network transceiver. Device authentication can occur directly with the mobile operator network or via a proxy server. Upon authentication, the requesting device may access a wide area network in a data off-load operational mode and the data flow to and from the device via the AP is monitored and reported to mobile operator network associated with the requesting device. The wireless communication device can communicate with any of a plurality of APs distributed in a venue during the data off-load operational mode.

主权项

1. A method for data utilization tracking in a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device being associated with a one of a plurality of mobile operator networks and using a cellular network transceiver to communicate therewith, the method comprising:
transmitting a predetermined signal from a plurality of wireless access points (APs) distributed throughout the venue; at least one of the plurality of wireless access points receiving an authentication request from the wireless communication device, using a second transceiver different from the cellular network transceiver, the authentication request including identification information that uniquely identifies the wireless communication device and identifies the mobile operator network associated with the wireless communication device; in response to the authentication request, transmitting at least a portion of the identification information of the wireless communication device requesting authentication to an authentication server; receiving an authentication response from the authentication server for the wireless communication device requesting authentication and, upon authentication of the wireless communication device, establishing a communication link between the authenticated wireless communication device and a wide area network via the wireless access point to thereby initiate operation of the wireless communication device in a data off-load operational session; monitoring data utilization of the authenticated wireless communication device during the respective data off-load operational session; and establishing a communication link with the mobile operator network associated with the wireless communication device to provide an indication of data utilization for the authenticated wireless communication device to the mobile operator network associated therewith.